كَبِرتُI have grown old كَذاكَso too المَرءُa person ماas long as عاشَhe lives يَكبُرُhe grows older
كَبِرتُ كَذاكَ المَرءُ ما عاشَ يَكبُرُ
وَقَدand indeed يَهرَمُgrows decrepit الباقيthe survivor الكَبيرُthe elder المُعَمَّرُthe long-lived
وَقَد يَهرَمُ الباقي الكَبيرُ المُعَمَّرُ
I have grown old; so a man grows older as long as he lives.
One grows old just by living, even if still young at heart
And the long-lived elder who remains grows decrepit.
For time diminishes even the strongest and the oldest
لَقَدindeed كُنَّthey used to يَأتينَcome الغَوانيthe lovely women يَزُرنَنيvisit me
لَقَد كُنَّ يَأتينَ الغَواني يَزُرنَني
بِأَردانِهاin her sleeves مِسكٌmusk ذَكيٌّfragrant وَعَنبَرُand ambergris
بِأَردانِها مِسكٌ ذَكيٌّ وَعَنبَرُ
The lovely women used to come and visit me;
Once beautiful maidens used to visit me,
in her sleeves were fragrant musk and ambergris.
With perfumed dresses and sweet ambergris
وَلَمّاand when رَأَينَthey saw البيضُthe fair women شَيبيmy gray hair وَذَرنَنيthey abandoned me
وَلَمّا رَأَينَ البيضُ شَيبي وَذَرنَني
وَنادَينَنيand they called me ياO عَمُّuncle وَالشَيبُand gray hair يوذِرُcauses abandonment
وَنادَينَني يا عَمُّ وَالشَيبُ يوذِرُ
But when the fair women saw my gray hair, they abandoned me,
But when they saw the gray in my hair and I was left behind
and called me “Uncle!”—gray hair makes one forsaken.
They called me uncle and the gray hair made them flee
تَنَفَّرنَthey shrank away عَنّيfrom me حينَwhen أَبصَرنَthey saw شامِلاًspreading everywhere
تَنَفَّرنَ عَنّي حينَ أَبصَرنَ شامِلاً
عَلىover مَفرِقيmy crown كَالقُطنِlike cotton بَلrather هُوَit أَنوَرُis brighter
عَلى مَفرِقي كَالقُطنِ بَل هُوَ أَنوَرُ
They shrank from me when they saw it spreading
When they saw I had turned hoary, they became averse to me
over my crown like cotton—indeed, even brighter.
As if my hair was cotton, nay it is more radiant
وَكُنَّand they were خِلاليmy intimates يَومَwhen شَعريmy hair كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَكُنَّ خِلالي يَومَ شَعري كَأَنَّهُ
جَناحُthe wing of غُدافٍa raven أَسوَدٍblack حينَwhen يُنثَرُit is spread
جَناحُ غُدافٍ أَسوَدٍ حينَ يُنثَرُ
They were my intimates when my hair resembled
In my youth my hair was as if it were
a black raven’s wing when it is spread.
The black wings of a dove when scattered
أَريعُI pour عَلَيهِupon it البانُben oil فيin كُلِّevery لَيلَةٍnight
أَريعُ عَلَيهِ البانُ في كُلِّ لَيلَةٍ
فَيُصبِحُso by morning it becomes جَعداًcurly كَالعَناقيدِlike grape clusters يَقطُرُdripping
فَيُصبِحُ جَعداً كَالعَناقيدِ يَقطُرُ
Every night I poured ben oil upon it,
I used to bathe it every night with dew
so by morning it was curled like grape clusters, dripping.
So it would be curly like hanging grapes that drip
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI used to أَمشيwalk كَالرُدَينِيِّlike a Rudayni spear ثابِتاًsteady
وَقَد كُنتُ أَمشي كَالرُدَينِيِّ ثابِتاً
فَصِرتُthen I became كَأَنّيas though I were ظالِعُlame الرِجلِin the leg أَصوَرُbent-necked
فَصِرتُ كَأَنّي ظالِعُ الرِجلِ أَصوَرُ
I once walked as steady as a Rudayni spear;
I used to walk straight and steady like a spear
then I became as though lame of leg, my neck bent aside.
But now I walk as if mounting a staff I hold
فَبُدِّلتُso I was given in exchange شَيباًgray hair بَعدَماafter اِسوَدَّit became black حالِكٌjet-black
فَبُدِّلتُ شَيباً بَعدَما اِسوَدَّ حالِكٌ
مَتىwhenever مَسَّهُtouches it خَضبٌdye إِذاbehold هُوَit أَحمَرُis red
مَتى مَسَّهُ خَضبٌ إِذا هُوَ أَحمَرُ
Thus I was given gray hair instead of what had been jet-black;
After it had turned black, my hair turned white
whenever dye touches it, behold, it is red,
Whenever dyed, no matter the color, it would show
كَرابِيَةٍlike a hillock حَمراءَred فيon رَأسِthe summit of حالِقٍa lofty mountain
كَرابِيَةٍ حَمراءَ في رَأسِ حالِقٍ
عَلىupon شَعَفٍa summit بادٍplainly visible لِمَنto whoever يَتَبَصَّرُlooks carefully
عَلى شَعَفٍ بادٍ لِمَن يَتَبَصَّرُ
like a red hillock atop a lofty mountain,
Like a red cap on the head of a barber
upon a summit, plain to anyone who looks closely.
On a flimsy turban for those who can see
عَلاcovered الشَيبُgray hair رَأسيmy head بَعدَماafter كانَit had been أَسوَداًblack
عَلا الشَيبُ رَأسي بَعدَما كانَ أَسوَداً
وَفيand in الشَيبِgray hair آياتٌsigns لِمَنfor whoever يَتَفَكَّرُreflects
وَفي الشَيبِ آياتٌ لِمَن يَتَفَكَّرُ
Gray hair covered my head after it had been black,
My head turned white after it had been black
and in gray hair are signs for anyone who reflects.
In white hair there are signs for those who contemplate
وَبَعدَand after الشَبابِyouth الشَيبُgray hair وَالضَعفُand weakness وَالفَناand decay
وَبَعدَ الشَبابِ الشَيبُ وَالضَعفُ وَالفَنا
وَمَوتٌand death لَهُit has قَدرٌan appointed decree عَبوسٌgrim مُكَدِّرُdistressing
وَمَوتٌ لَهُ قَدرٌ عَبوسٌ مُكَدِّرُ
After youth come gray hair, weakness, and decay,
After youth comes old age and weakness and death
and death, with its grim and troubling decree.
With a gloomy appointed time that saddens
فَكَمso how many كَمhow many مِنَof الأَملاكِthe kings قَدindeed ذَلَّwas humbled مُلكُهُمtheir dominion
فَكَم كَم مِنَ الأَملاكِ قَد ذَلَّ مُلكُهُم
وَهَلand is there مِنany نَعيمٍbliss دائِمٍlasting لاnot يُغَيَّرُaltered
وَهَل مِن نَعيمٍ دائِمٍ لا يُغَيَّرُ
How many, how many kings have had their dominion humbled!
How many kings has time overpowered
And is there any lasting bliss that never changes,
Is there any lasting bliss that does not change?
سِوىexcept مُلكُthe dominion of رَبّيmy Lord ذيpossessed of الجَلالِmajesty فَإِنَّهُfor indeed He
سِوى مُلكُ رَبّي ذي الجَلالِ فَإِنَّهُ
لَهُHis is المُلكُthe dominion يَقضيHe decrees ماwhatever يَشاءُHe wills وَيَقدِرُand ordains
لَهُ المُلكُ يَقضي ما يَشاءُ وَيَقدِرُ
save the dominion of my Lord, possessed of majesty? For indeed,
Except my Lord’s kingdom, for He
His is the dominion; He decrees what He wills and ordains.
Has the kingdom, He ordains what He wishes
لَقَدindeed كانَwas قَحطانُQahtan النَدىthe generous one القَرمِthe noble chieftain جَدُّناour forefather
لَقَد كانَ قَحطانُ النَدى القَرمِ جَدُّنا
لَهُhe has مَنصِبٌa station فيin رافِعِthe lofty السَمكِheavenly vault يُشهَرُit is renowned
لَهُ مَنصِبٌ في رافِعِ السَمكِ يُشهَرُ
Qahtan, the generous chieftain, was indeed our forefather;
Our ancestor Qahtan was famous and noble
he has a station renowned in the lofty vault of heaven.
He had a high position as rainmaker
يَنالُhe reaches نُجومَthe stars of السَعدِgood fortune إِنif مَدَّhe extends كَفَّهُhis hand
يَنالُ نُجومَ السَعدِ إِن مَدَّ كَفَّهُ
تَقِلُّare diminished أَكُفٌّhands عِندَbeside ذاكَthat وَتَقصُرُand fall short
تَقِلُّ أَكُفٌّ عِندَ ذاكَ وَتَقصُرُ
He reaches the stars of good fortune if he extends his hand;
If he extended his palm, the stars of fortune he would grasp
other hands dwindle beside that and fall short.
While other palms would be too short and fail
وَرِثناwe inherited سَناءًglory مِنهُfrom him يَعلوrising high وَمَحتِداًand a lineage
وَرِثنا سَناءً مِنهُ يَعلو وَمَحتِداً
مُنيفَlofty الذُرىin its peaks ساميexalted الأَرومَةِin ancestry يُذكَرُrenowned
مُنيفَ الذُرى سامي الأَرومَةِ يُذكَرُ
We inherited from him soaring glory and a lineage
We inherited glory and leadership from him
lofty in its peaks, noble in its roots, renowned.
Exalted, known to all people near and far
إِذاwhen اِنتَسَبَتrecite their pedigrees شوسُthe proud المُلوكِkings فَإِنَّماthen indeed only
إِذا اِنتَسَبَت شوسُ المُلوكِ فَإِنَّما
لَناours is الرايَةُthe banner العُلياhighest الَّتيwhich لَيسَis not تُكسَرُbroken
لَنا الرايَةُ العُليا الَّتي لَيسَ تُكسَرُ
When proud kings recite their pedigrees, then ours alone
If the pedigree of kings is recounted
is the highest banner, which cannot be broken.
Ours is the highest flag none can lower
لَناours is مُلكُthe dominion of ذيthe possessor of القَرنَينِthe two horns هَلhas نالَattained مُلكَهُhis dominion
لَنا مُلكُ ذي القَرنَينِ هَل نالَ مُلكَهُ
مِنَamong البَشَرِhumankind المَخلوقِcreated خَلقٌa creature مُصَوَّرُfashioned
مِنَ البَشَرِ المَخلوقِ خَلقٌ مُصَوَّرُ
Ours is Dhu al-Qarnayn’s dominion—has his dominion ever been attained
We ruled the kingdom of he of the two horns
by any fashioned being among created humankind?
Did any other human as exalted rule?
بَواتِرَat Watir (uncertain reading) يَتلوhe follows الشَمسَthe sun عِندَat غُروبَهاits setting
بَواتِرَ يَتلو الشَمسَ عِندَ غُروبَها
لِيَنظُرَهاto see it فيin عَينِهاits spring حينَwhen تَحضُرُit arrives
لِيَنظُرَها في عَينِها حينَ تَحضُرُ
At Watir [uncertain reading], he follows the sun at its setting,
With gates facing sunrise and sunset
to see it in its spring when it arrives.
To watch the sun when it would disappear
وَيَسموand he ascends إِلَيهاtoward it حينَwhen تَطلُعُit rises غَدوَةًat dawn
وَيَسمو إِلَيها حينَ تَطلُعُ غَدوَةً
فَيَلمَحَهاand he glimpses it فيin بُرجِهاits celestial station حينَwhen تَظهَرُit appears
فَيَلمَحَها في بُرجِها حينَ تَظهَرُ
And he ascends toward it when it rises at dawn,
And rise high to see it at dawn
and glimpses it in its celestial station when it appears.
Catching sight of it in its tower when it appears
وَكيلاًas a guardian بِأَسبابِwith the pathways of السَماءِheaven نَهارَهُthroughout his day
وَكيلاً بِأَسبابِ السَماءِ نَهارَهُ
وَلَيلاًand by night رَقيباًa watcher دائِماًunceasing لَيسَnot يَفتُرُhe slackens
وَلَيلاً رَقيباً دائِماً لَيسَ يَفتُرُ
Entrusted with heaven’s pathways throughout his day,
All day long watching the sky and its portents
and by night an unceasing watcher who never flags.
All night long an ever wakeful guard
وَأَوصَدَand he sealed سَدّاًa barrier مِنof حَديدٍiron أَذابَهُhe melted it
وَأَوصَدَ سَدّاً مِن حَديدٍ أَذابَهُ
وَمِنand from عَينِa spring of قِطرٍmolten copper مُفرَغاًpoured out لَيسَnot يَظهَرُcan be scaled
وَمِن عَينِ قِطرٍ مُفرَغاً لَيسَ يَظهَرُ
And he sealed a barrier of iron he had melted,
He built a barrier of melted iron
and copper from a spring, poured out, impossible to scale.
Poured from springs, solid, that would not crack
رَمىhe cast فيهِinto it يَأجوجاًYa’juj وَمَأجوجَand Ma’juj عِنوَةًby force
رَمى فيهِ يَأجوجاً وَمَأجوجَ عِنوَةً
إِلىuntil يَومِthe day يُدعىhe is summoned لِلحِسابِto reckoning وَيُنشَرُand is resurrected
إِلى يَومِ يُدعى لِلحِسابِ وَيُنشَرُ
He cast Ya’juj and Ma’juj inside it by force,
He confined Gog and Magog behind it
until the day he is summoned to reckoning and raised again.
Until the day of Reckoning and Revival
وَفيand in سَبَإٍSaba’ هَلwas there كانَever عِزٌّglory كَعِزِّهِمlike their glory
وَفي سَبَإٍ هَل كانَ عِزٌّ كَعِزِّهِم
لَهُمthey have حَسَبٌancestral honor مَحضٌpure لُبابٌessence وَجَوهَرُand a jewel
لَهُم حَسَبٌ مَحضٌ لُبابٌ وَجَوهَرُ
And in Saba’—was there ever glory like theirs?
In Sheba, was there ever glory like theirs?
Their ancestral honor is pure, the very essence and jewel.
Of pure lineage, essence, and jewel
وَقَدand indeed كانَthere was فيin بَينونَBaynun مُلكٌdominion وَسُؤدُدٌand lordship
وَقَد كانَ في بَينونَ مُلكٌ وَسُؤدُدٌ
وَفيand in ناعِطٍNa’it مُلكٌdominion قَديمٌancient وَمَفخَرُand a source of pride
وَفي ناعِطٍ مُلكٌ قَديمٌ وَمَفخَرُ
There was dominion and lordship in Baynun,
There was a kingdom for Banyan and Sua'd
and in Na’it ancient dominion and a source of pride.
And for Natiq an ancient glorious rule
وَأَسعَدَand As’ad كانَwere الناسُthe people تَحتَbeneath سِيوفِهِhis swords
وَأَسعَدَ كانَ الناسُ تَحتَ سِيوفِهِ
حَواهُمhe held them بِمُلكٍin a kingdom شامِخٍlofty لَيسَnot يُقهَرُcan be subdued
حَواهُم بِمُلكٍ شامِخٍ لَيسَ يُقهَرُ
And As’ad—the people were beneath his swords;
Happiest were the people under their swords
he held them in a towering kingdom that could not be subdued.
Their great kingdom could not be defeated
تَواضَعُbow low أَشرافُthe nobles of البَرِيَّةِhumankind كُلِّهاall of it
تَواضَعُ أَشرافُ البَرِيَّةِ كُلِّها
إِذاwhen ذُكِرَتare mentioned أَشرافَهاits nobles اكصيدُlordly (uncertain reading) حِميَرُHimyar
إِذا ذُكِرَت أَشرافَها اكصيدُ حِميَرُ
The nobles of all humankind bow low
The nobility of all the land's tribes bowed
when its nobles—the lordly Himyar [uncertain reading]—are named.
When the nobility of their poets, Hinwir, was praised
وَفيand in الكُفرِunbelief كُنّاwe were قادَةًleaders وَذَويand men of نُهىsound judgment
وَفي الكُفرِ كُنّا قادَةً وَذَوي نُهى
لَناwe have عَدَدُthe numbers of القِبصِa vast multitude الَذيwhich هُوَit يَكثُرُgrows numerous
لَنا عَدَدُ القِبصِ الَذي هُوَ يَكثُرُ
In unbelief we were leaders and men of sound judgment;
In unbelief we were leaders of repute
ours are the numbers of a vast throng, ever increasing.
Ours was the number of soldiers ever growing
وَأَوَّلُand the first مَنwho آوىsheltered النَبِيَّthe Prophet مُحَمَّداًMuhammad
وَأَوَّلُ مَن آوى النَبِيَّ مُحَمَّداً
نَصَرناwe gave aid وَآوَيناand we gave shelter نَذُبُّwe defend وَنَنصُرُand we support
نَصَرنا وَآوَينا نَذُبُّ وَنَنصُرُ
And we were the first to shelter the Prophet Muhammad;
We were the first to give refuge to Prophet Muhammad
we aided and sheltered him; we shield and support
We supported and sheltered him, ever loyal
عَنِon behalf of المُشرِقِthe radiant one المَيمونِthe blessed one أَحمَدَAhmad ذيpossessed of النُهىwisdom
عَنِ المُشرِقِ المَيمونِ أَحمَدَ ذي النُهى
كَأَنّاas though we were ضَراغيمُfierce lions of الفَضاthe open plain حينَwhen نُصحِرُwe enter the desert
كَأَنّا ضَراغيمُ الفَضا حينَ نُصحِرُ
the radiant, blessed Ahmad, possessed of wisdom.
From the blessed rising east, Ahmad the revered
We are like lions of the open plain when we enter the desert.
Is to us like the rising of the radiant dawn
إِذاwhen شَمَرَتgirds itself حَربٌwar وَهَزَّand shakes هَزيزُهاits tumult
إِذا شَمَرَت حَربٌ وَهَزَّ هَزيزُها
نَهَضناwe rise مَساعيراًkindlers of war لَهاfor it حينَwhen تُسعَرُit is kindled
نَهَضنا مَساعيراً لَها حينَ تُسعَرُ
When war girds itself and its clamor reverberates,
When the clamor of war rouses and rages
we rise as its firebrands when it is kindled.
We rise as fiery stallions responding to the call
نَكُبُّwe topple الكُماةَthe armored champions الشوسَthe fierce عِندَat اِصطِلائِهاfacing its fire
نَكُبُّ الكُماةَ الشوسَ عِندَ اِصطِلائِها
قَتَلناwe slew وُلاةَthe leaders of الشُركِidolatry مَنwhoever كانَwas يَكفُرُdisbelieving
قَتَلنا وُلاةَ الشُركِ مَن كانَ يَكفُرُ
We topple the fierce armored champions in its blazing heat;
We defeat the armored horsemen when they attack
we slew the leaders of idolatry, those who disbelieved.
Killing the polytheist leaders who reject belief
إِذاwhen زَفَّتِmarched swiftly الأَنصارُthe Ansar حَولَaround مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
إِذا زَفَّتِ الأَنصارُ حَولَ مُحَمَّدٍ
بِجَيشٍwith an army كَيَمٍّlike a sea مُزبِدٍfoaming حينَwhen يَزخُرُit surges
بِجَيشٍ كَيَمٍّ مُزبِدٍ حينَ يَزخُرُ
When the Ansar march swiftly around Muhammad,
When the Helpers marched around Muhammad
with an army like a foaming sea when it surges,
An army like a torrential flood
يَزُفّونَthey march swiftly حَولَaround الهاشِمِيَthe Hashimite نَبِيِّهِمtheir prophet
يَزُفّونَ حَولَ الهاشِمِيَ نَبِيِّهِم
عَلىupon وَجهِهِhis face نورٌa light مِنَfrom اللَهِGod يُزهِرُshines
عَلى وَجهِهِ نورٌ مِنَ اللَهِ يُزهِرُ
they march around the Hashimite, their prophet;
They marched around their Hashemite prophet
upon his face a light from God shines.
A light from God adorning his noble face
إِذاwhen خَطَرواthey stride proudly بِالمَشرِفِيَّةِwith Mashrafi swords وَالقَناand spears
إِذا خَطَروا بِالمَشرِفِيَّةِ وَالقَنا
فَبِخthen bravo بِخbravo لَهُمto them مِنas a عُصبَةٍband حينَwhen تَخطُرُit strides proudly
فَبِخ بِخ لَهُم مِن عُصبَةٍ حينَ تَخطُرُ
When they stride proudly with Mashrafi swords and spears,
When they walked in Al-Mashrafiyya and Al-Qana
bravo, bravo to them—what a band when it strides!
What a commotion from the regiment as it walked
إِذاwhen ماfor emphasis مَشواthey march فيin السابِغاتِample coats of mail كَأَنَّهاas though they were
إِذا ما مَشوا في السابِغاتِ كَأَنَّها
هَزيمٌa rumble مِنَof الرَعدِthunder المُجَلجِلِresounding يَزأَرُroars
هَزيمٌ مِنَ الرَعدِ المُجَلجِلِ يَزأَرُ
When they march in ample coats of mail, it is as though these were
When they marched in armor as if it were
a roaring rumble of resounding thunder.
The rumbling thunder in its might
فَضَلناwe surpassed مُلوكَthe kings of الشامِal-Sham فيin كُلِّevery مَشهَدٍencounter
فَضَلنا مُلوكَ الشامِ في كُلِّ مَشهَدٍ
لَناours is الأَثرُthe mark فيin المَرعىthe pasture وَوِردٌand coming to water وَمَصدَرُand departure from water
لَنا الأَثرُ في المَرعى وَوِردٌ وَمَصدَرُ
We surpassed the kings of al-Sham in every encounter;
We surpassed the kings of Damascus in every battle
ours is the mark in the pasture, the coming to water and departure.
For us are the meadows, watersprings and dwellings
Sol 6.1