أَمرَضَتنِيshe sickened me مَرِيضَةُlanguid اللَحظِof the glance سَكرىdrunken
أَمرَضَتنِي مَرِيضَةُ اللَحظِ سَكرى
مَرَضاًan illness ماnot إِخالُهُI think it الدهرthroughout time يَبراwill heal
مَرَضاً ما إِخالُهُ الدهر يَبرا
She, drunk and languid-eyed, made me ill
The glance of a beautiful maiden has made me lovesick
with an illness I doubt will ever heal.
With an illness time cannot cure
تَتَثَنّىshe sways غُصناًa branch وَتَبسِمُand smiles دُرّاًpearls
تَتَثَنّى غُصناً وَتَبسِمُ دُرّاً
وَتُوَلّيand turns away دِعصاًa sand dune وَتُقبِلُand approaches بَدراa full moon
وَتُوَلّي دِعصاً وَتُقبِلُ بَدرا
She sways like a branch and smiles pearls,
She sways like a branch, smiles like a pearl
turns away like a sand dune and approaches like a full moon.
Turns her back like a palm tree and faces like the full moon
فَهِيَso she كَالذابِلِlike the slender spear المُثَقَّفِstraightened قَدalready أُفwas filled out (word begins)
فَهِيَ كَالذابِلِ المُثَقَّفِ قَد أُف
عِمَwas filled out (word ends) عَجزاًat the hips وَقَدand already تَهَفهَفَbecame slender صَدراat the chest
عِمَ عَجزاً وَقَد تَهَفهَفَ صَدرا
She is like a slender, straightened lance, filled out
She is like a withered palm tree, weak and frail
at the hips, yet slender at the chest.
Her chest panting and lacking strength
أَسبَلَتshe let fall فَوقَover الشَعَرَthe hair الوَحthe luxuriant (word begins)
أَسبَلَت فَوقَ الشَعَرَ الوَح
فَluxuriant (word ends) فَكانَتso she became لَيلاًa night بِهَيماًpitch-black وَفَجراand a dawn
فَ فَكانَت لَيلاً بِهَيماً وَفَجرا
She let her luxuriant hair fall over herself,
Her hair flowing over cheeks
so she became pitch-black night and dawn.
That were like night, now bright like dawn
وَتَرَشَّفتُand I sipped رِيقَهاher saliva فَتَوَهَّمso I imagined (word begins)
وَتَرَشَّفتُ رِيقَها فَتَوَهَّم
تُI imagined (word ends) بِأَنّيthat I غَدَوتُI had become أَرشِفُI sip خَمراwine
تُ بِأَنّي غَدَوتُ أَرشِفُ خَمرا
I sipped her saliva and imagined
When I tasted her saliva I imagined
that I was now sipping wine.
I was sipping fine wine
غادَةٌa tender maiden رَخصَةُsoft الأَنامِلِof fingers مَمكُوrounded in form (word begins)
غادَةٌ رَخصَةُ الأَنامِلِ مَمكُو
رَةُrounded in form (word ends) ماwhat فيin مُفَوَّفِstriped الرَيطِthe wraps عذراa virgin
رَةُ ما في مُفَوَّفِ الرَيطِ عذرا
A tender maiden, soft-fingered, rounded of form,
A tempting girl with soft fingers
a virgin beneath her striped robes.
Full of everything that entices and excuses
أَسكَرَتنيshe intoxicated me سُكرَينِtwo intoxications مِنfrom لَحظِهاher glance القاthe deadly (word begins)
أَسكَرَتني سُكرَينِ مِن لَحظِها القا
تِلِdeadly (word ends) سُكراًan intoxication وَمَنand from جَنىthe nectar الرِيقِof the saliva سُكراan intoxication
تِلِ سُكراً وَمَن جَنى الرِيقِ سُكرا
She gave me two intoxications: one from her deadly
Her murderous glances made me drunk
glance, and one from the nectar of her saliva.
As did the sweetness of her saliva
وَرَمَتand she threw بِالجِمارِwith the pebbles تَلتَمِسُseeking الأَجthe reward (word begins)
وَرَمَت بِالجِمارِ تَلتَمِسُ الأَج
رَreward (word ends) وَقَدthough already أَسعَرَتshe kindled بِقَلبِكَin your heart جَمراembers
رَ وَقَد أَسعَرَت بِقَلبِكَ جَمرا
She cast the pebbles, seeking reward,
She plays with hearts seeking a reward
though she had kindled embers in your heart.
And sets your heart aflame with embers
كَيفَhow تُجرِيdo you shed دَمِيmy blood وَتَسعىand strive مَعَwith الساthose striving (word begins)
كَيفَ تُجرِي دَمِي وَتَسعى مَعَ السا
عِينَthose striving (word ends) تَبغيseeking مِنfrom المُهَيمِنِthe Guardian أَجراa reward
عِينَ تَبغي مِن المُهَيمِنِ أَجرا
How can you shed my blood and strive with those
How can you take my blood and race with the sword
who strive, seeking reward from the Guardian?
Seeking a prize from the Almighty?
وَلَقَدand indeed هاجَstirred ليin me رَسيساًburied longing إِلىtoward الغَوal-Ghawr (word begins)
وَلَقَد هاجَ لي رَسيساً إِلى الغَو
رِal-Ghawr (word ends) خَيالٌa phantom مِنfrom ساكِنِa dweller in الغَورal-Ghawr أَسرىcame by night
رِ خَيالٌ مِن ساكِنِ الغَور أَسرى
Indeed, buried longing for al-Ghawr was stirred in me
She unleashed upon me from her dwelling in the caves
by a phantom that came by night from a dweller in al-Ghawr.
A passionate illusion that came by night and left by day
زارَit visited سِرّاًsecretly مِنfrom العُيُونِthe eyes وَضَوّاand illuminated الthe (beginning of 'night')
زارَ سِرّاً مِن العُيُونِ وَضَوّا ال
لَيلَnight (word ends) حَتّىuntil ظَنَنتُهُI thought it زارَhad visited جَهراopenly
لَيلَ حَتّى ظَنَنتُهُ زارَ جَهرا
It visited hidden from all eyes, and lit up
He secretly visited under the cover of darkness
the night, until I thought it had come openly.
Until I thought he visited openly in daylight
مِنfrom لِوىthe winding sands of عالِجٍ‘Alij وَلَوand if أَمَّتِheaded toward العِيthe pale camels (word begins)
مِن لِوى عالِجٍ وَلَو أَمَّتِ العِي
سُpale camels (word ends) لِوىthe winding sands of عالِجٍ‘Alij لَأَرقَلنَthey would surely trot شَهراa month
سُ لِوى عالِجٍ لَأَرقَلنَ شَهرا
From the winding sands of ‘Alij; were the pale camels to head
He twisted and coiled about so much
for the winding sands of ‘Alij, they would trot for a month.
Had he persisted for a month, he would have danced
حَبَّذاhow lovely دارُهاher dwelling المُحِيلَةُdesolate بِالجِزat al-Jiz‘ (word begins)
حَبَّذا دارُها المُحِيلَةُ بِالجِز
عِal-Jiz‘ (word ends) وَأَطلالُهاand her ruins القِفارُdeserted بِبُصرىat Busra
عِ وَأَطلالُها القِفارُ بِبُصرى
How lovely her desolate dwelling at al-Jiz‘,
Blessed is her abode in Al-Jiz'
and her deserted ruins at Busra!
And her ruins at Bussra
عُجتُI turned aside أَشفِيI quench بِهاat it الغَليلَthe burning thirst فَقَدbut indeed زِدI added (word begins)
عُجتُ أَشفِي بِها الغَليلَ فَقَد زِد
تُI added (word ends) غَليلاًburning thirst عَلىupon الغَلِيلِthe burning thirst وَذِكراand remembrance
تُ غَليلاً عَلى الغَلِيلِ وَذِكرا
I turned aside there to quench my burning thirst, but only added
I tried curing my sickness through her
burning thirst to burning thirst, and remembrance.
But she only added sickness to sickness and thoughts of her
صاحَO friend مالِيwhat have I to do وَلِلهَوىand with love كُلَّماwhenever حاI sought (word begins)
صاحَ مالِي وَلِلهَوى كُلَّما حا
وَلتُI sought (word ends) عَنهُaway from it صَبراًpatience تَجَرَّعتُI swallowed صبراًbitter aloes
وَلتُ عَنهُ صَبراً تَجَرَّعتُ صبراً
O friend, what have I to do with love? Whenever I seek
My money is gone and with desire whenever
patience away from it, I swallow bitter aloes.
I tried to abstain from it I endured with patience
لاnot دُمُوعِيmy tears الغِزارُcopious تَرقاcease وَلاnor حرْheat (word begins)
لا دُمُوعِي الغِزارُ تَرقا وَلا حرْ
رُheat (word ends) فُؤادِيof my heart يُطفاis quenched وَلاnor العَينُthe eye تَكرىgrows drowsy
رُ فُؤادِي يُطفا وَلا العَينُ تَكرى
My copious tears do not cease, nor does the heat
Neither my flowing tears would stop
of my heart go out, nor does my eye grow drowsy.
Nor the burning of my heart be extinguished, nor my eyes tire
ذُبتُI melted وَجداًwith longing فَلَوso if قَضَيتُI died لَماwould not احتَجI needed (word begins)
ذُبتُ وَجداً فَلَو قَضَيتُ لَما احتَج
تُI needed (word ends) سِوىexcept مَوطِئِthe foothold البَعُوضَةِof a mosquito قَبراas a grave
تُ سِوى مَوطِئِ البَعُوضَةِ قَبرا
I have melted with longing; if I died, I would need
I wasted away with love that if I died
only a mosquito's foothold for a grave.
I would need only a niche for a mosquito as a grave
كُلَّevery يَومٍday أَلقىI meet اِعتِداءًaggression وَظُلماًand injustice
كُلَّ يَومٍ أَلقى اِعتِداءً وَظُلماً
وَأُقاسِيand I endure نَأياًdistance مُشِتّاًscattering وَهَجراand abandonment
وَأُقاسِي نَأياً مُشِتّاً وَهَجرا
Every day I meet aggression and injustice,
Each day I am wronged and treated unjustly
and endure distance that scatters us, and abandonment.
And suffer remoteness, separation, and abandonment
وَلَقَدand indeed زارَنِيvisited me المَشِيبُgrey hair فَماbut not كاwas (word begins)
وَلَقَد زارَنِي المَشِيبُ فَما كا
نَwas (word ends) وَقاراًdignity بَلrather كانَwas فيin الأُذنِthe ear وَقراdeafness
نَ وَقاراً بَل كانَ في الأُذنِ وَقرا
Grey hair has visited me, but it was not
Gray hairs have come upon me but brought no dignity
dignity: rather, it was deafness in the ear.
Rather they were as bells ringing in my ears
غادَرَتنِيthey left me المَسائِحُthe locks البِيضُwhite لاnot أُنI resent (word begins)
غادَرَتنِي المَسائِحُ البِيضُ لا أُن
كِرُI resent (word ends) مِنfrom رَبَّةِthe mistress of الغَدائِرِthe tresses غَدراbetrayal
كِرُ مِن رَبَّةِ الغَدائِرِ غَدرا
My white locks have left me so that I do not
The white flowers deserted me, I don't blame
resent betrayal from the mistress of tresses.
The fickleness of the one whose tresses flow
وَعَسىand perhaps أَنthat أَفُوزَI may win يَوماًone day لِأَسماwith Asma’ (name begins)
وَعَسى أَن أَفُوزَ يَوماً لِأَسما
ءَAsma’ (name ends) بِوَصلٍwith union فَإِنَّfor indeed لِلعُسرِfor hardship يُسراease
ءَ بِوَصلٍ فَإِنَّ لِلعُسرِ يُسرا
Perhaps one day I shall win from Asma’
Perhaps one day I may be granted
a union, for hardship has its ease.
Reunion, for ease comes after hardship
أَيُّهاO القَلبُheart لَمnot يَدَعhas left لَكَfor you فيin وَصunion (word begins)
أَيُّها القَلبُ لَم يَدَع لَكَ في وَص
لِunion (word ends) العَذارىthe maidens نِصفُhalf الهَبِيدَةِa century عُذراan excuse
لِ العَذارى نِصفُ الهَبِيدَةِ عُذرا
O heart, no excuse is left you for union
O heart, her glances left you no excuse among the chaste maidens
with maidens, now that half a century has passed.
Take from fate what is pure and from people what I know of them
خُذtake مِنَfrom الدَهرِtime ماwhat صَفاis pleasant وَمِنand from الناthe people (word begins)
خُذ مِنَ الدَهرِ ما صَفا وَمِن النا
سِpeople (word ends) فَإِنّيfor indeed I بِهِabout it وَبِالناسِand about people أَدرىknow better
سِ فَإِنّي بِهِ وَبِالناسِ أَدرى
Take what is pleasant from time and from
If you have wealth guard your honor above it all
people, for I know time and people better.
And do good whenever you can for rewards are like treasures stored for you
وَإذاand if كُنتَyou are ذاpossessor of ثَراءٍwealth مِنَof الماmoney (word begins)
وَإذا كُنتَ ذا ثَراءٍ مِنَ الما
لِmoney (word ends) فَصَيِّرهُthen make it دُونَin front of عِرضِكَyour honor سِتراa screen
لِ فَصَيِّرهُ دُونَ عِرضِكَ سِترا
And if you possess riches in money,
My friends and I became arrogant
make them a screen protecting your honor.
With youthful cheeks hoping for youthful cheeks
وَافعَلِand do الخَيرَgood ماas much as استَطَعتَyou can فَإِنَّfor indeed الthe (beginning of 'good')
وَافعَلِ الخَيرَ ما استَطَعتَ فَإِنَّ ال
خيرَgood (word ends) تَلقاهُyou will find it مِثلَlike ذُخرِكَyour store ذُخراa treasure
خيرَ تَلقاهُ مِثلَ ذُخرِكَ ذُخرا
And do good as much as you can, for
The skilled ones compete with us
you will find goodness a treasure, like your own reserves.
Erasing lines and writing lines
وَلَقَدand indeed أَغتَديI set out at dawn وَصَحبِيand my companions عَلىon الأَكthe saddles (word begins)
وَلَقَد أَغتَدي وَصَحبِي عَلى الأَك
وارِsaddles (word ends) صُعرَwith turned-aside الخُدودِcheeks يَرجُونَthey hope for صُعراproud lords
وارِ صُعرَ الخُدودِ يَرجُونَ صُعرا
I would set out at dawn, my companions on their saddles,
I said, "Mount your steeds to the best of people"
their cheeks turned aside, seeking proud lords.
Whether from pure lineage or branch or offspring
تَتَبارىvie with one another بِناwith us المَهارىthe Mahri camels وَأَيدِيand forelegs (word continues)
تَتَبارى بِنا المَهارى وَأَيدِي
هِنَّtheir (suffix) تَمحُوerase سَطراًa line وَتَكتُبُand write سَطراa line
هِنَّ تَمحُو سَطراً وَتَكتُبُ سَطرا
The Mahri camels race with us, their forelegs
So they set out across the easy plains
erasing a line and writing a line.
Towards my father creased and rugged
قُلتُI said جُوبُواtraverse الفَلاthe wilderness إِلىto أَكرَمِthe noblest of الناthe people (word begins)
قُلتُ جُوبُوا الفَلا إِلى أَكرَمِ النا
سِpeople (word ends) جَميعاًall عِرقاًin ancestry وَفَرعاًand in offspring وَنَجراand in stock
سِ جَميعاً عِرقاً وَفَرعاً وَنَجرا
I said: “Traverse the wilderness to the noblest of
The horses almost stepped into puddles
all people, in root, branch, and stock.”
Weakened by their thinness and frailty
فَاِنبَرَواso they set off يَقطَعُونَcrossing نَحوَtoward أَبِيAbu العُلal-‘Ulwan (name begins)
فَاِنبَرَوا يَقطَعُونَ نَحوَ أَبِي العُل
وانِal-‘Ulwan (name ends) سَهلاًlevel ground مِنَof البِلادِthe land وَوَعراand rugged ground
وانِ سَهلاً مِنَ البِلادِ وَوَعرا
They set off, crossing toward Abu al-‘Ulwan
Coming from a sea where you see whales
the plains and rugged reaches of the land.
Swimming about safely in its depth
وَالمَطاياand the mounts تَكادُalmost تَدخُلُenter فيinto الأَخthe needle-eyes (word begins)
وَالمَطايا تَكادُ تَدخُلُ في الأَخ
راتِneedle-eyes (word ends) سُقماًsickliness مِنَfrom الذَمِيلِtrotting وَضُمراand leanness
راتِ سُقماً مِنَ الذَمِيلِ وَضُمرا
The mounts almost pass through needle-eyes,
His palm covered the land with kindness
so wasted and lean from their trotting.
Nomads and settled folk alike
وَارِداتٍapproaching بَحراًa sea تُرىare seen السَبعَةُthe seven الأَبseas (word begins)
وَارِداتٍ بَحراً تُرى السَبعَةُ الأَب
حُرُseas (word ends) فيin سَيبِهِhis bounty ثِماداًshallow puddles وَغُدراand pools
حُرُ في سَيبِهِ ثِماداً وَغُدرا
They approach a sea beside whose bounty the seven
Like heavy clouds led by ostrich
seas seem but shallow puddles and pools.
Spreading rain over the land
غَمَرتflooded كَفُّهُhis hand البَرِيَّةَcreation بِالإِحwith kindness (word begins)
غَمَرت كَفُّهُ البَرِيَّةَ بِالإِح
سانِkindness (word ends) عُجماًnon-Arabs مَنهُمamong them وَبَدواًand nomads وَحَضراand townsfolk
سانِ عُجماً مَنهُم وَبَدواً وَحَضرا
His hand has flooded all creation with kindness:
The most forbearing of people against punishing
non-Arabs among them, nomads, and townsfolk.
The more you add to your sins the more he forgives
كَالسَحابِlike the clouds الكَنَهوَرِtowering الجَودِrain-rich قادَتdrove (word continues)
كَالسَحابِ الكَنَهوَرِ الجَودِ قادَت
هُit (suffix) النُعامىthe south wind فَطَبَّقَso it covered بِالأَرضِover the earth قَطراwith rain
هُ النُعامى فَطَبَّقَ بِالأَرضِ قَطرا
Like a towering cloud of lavish rain, driven
His two hands are divided - one for destinies
by the south wind, covering the earth in rainfall.
And the other for provision
أَحلَمُthe most forbearing of الناسِpeople عَنregarding عِقابٍpunishment إِذاwhen ماever
أَحلَمُ الناسِ عَن عِقابٍ إِذا ما
زِدتَyou increased جُرماًoffense إِلَيهِagainst him زادَكَhe increased for you غَفراforgiveness
زِدتَ جُرماً إِلَيهِ زادَكَ غَفرا
The most forbearing of men in withholding punishment: whenever
Generous with honor, he does not hoard it
you add to your offense against him, he adds to your forgiveness.
How can one who has squandered honor hoard?
راحَتاهُhis two palms مَقسُومَتانِapportioned فَلِلso for the (continues)
راحَتاهُ مَقسُومَتانِ فَلِل
آجالِappointed deaths إِحداهُماone of them ولِلرِّزقِand for sustenance أُخرىthe other
آجالِ إِحداهُما ولِلرِّزقِ أُخرى
His two palms are apportioned: to
Whenever you smell the perfume from his fingers
death belongs one, and to sustenance the other.
You find it purer than pure musk
وَافِرُabundant العِرضِin honor لَيسَdoes not يَترُكُleave وَفراًwealth
وَافِرُ العِرضِ لَيسَ يَترُكُ وَفراً
كَيفَhow يُبقيcan preserve مَنone who وَفَّرَkeeps intact العِرضَhonor وَفراwealth
كَيفَ يُبقي مَن وَفَّرَ العِرضَ وَفرا
Rich in honor, he never keeps wealth;
His hands were generous to me beyond what I deserve
how could one who preserves his honor preserve his wealth?
So I was generous in praise and gratitude
كُلَّماwhenever شِمتَyou glimpsed مِنfrom أَنامِلِهِhis fingers العَشten (word begins)
كُلَّما شِمتَ مِن أَنامِلِهِ العَش
رِten (word ends) نَدىًbounty خِلتَهاyou imagined them مِنَof السُحبِthe clouds عَشراten
رِ نَدىً خِلتَها مِنَ السُحبِ عَشرا
Whenever you glimpse from his ten
A aromatic scent the riders carry
fingers bounty, you fancy them ten clouds.
Sweet, fragrant, and perfumed
أَوسَعَتنِيlavished on me يَداهُhis two hands فَضلاًbounty مِنَfrom اللَGod (word begins)
أَوسَعَتنِي يَداهُ فَضلاً مِنَ اللَ
هِGod (word ends) فَأَوسَعتُهاso I lavished on them ثَناءًpraise وَشُكراand thanks
هِ فَأَوسَعتُها ثَناءً وَشُكرا
His hands have lavished on me bounty from God,
In howdahs that spread more fragrance
so I lavished on them praise and thanks.
When people fill them with perfume and scent
عَبَقاًa fragrance تَحمِلُcarry الرِكابُthe riding camels إِلىto الآthe horizons (word begins)
عَبَقاً تَحمِلُ الرِكابُ إِلى الآ
فاقِhorizons (word ends) مِنهُfrom it طِيباًperfume ذَكِيّاًstrongly fragrant وَعِطراand scent
فاقِ مِنهُ طِيباً ذَكِيّاً وَعِطرا
A fragrance the riding camels bear to the
Like the flowers of sweet basil bloomed by rain
horizons: sweet, potent perfume and scent from it.
And breeze blew gently over them
فيin طُروسٍwritten sheets تَزِيدُincrease نَشراًfragrance إِذاwhen ماever الthe (beginning of 'people')
في طُروسٍ تَزِيدُ نَشراً إِذا ما ال
قَومُpeople (word ends) أَمُّواsought لَهُنَّfor them طِيباًperfume وَنَشراand fragrance
قَومُ أَمُّوا لَهُنَّ طِيباً وَنَشرا
On pages that grow in fragrance whenever
A king who overpowers other kings and builds Glory upon glory and pride upon pride
people seek perfume and fragrance for them.
He is free of blame, no secrets remain hidden from him
مِثلُlike زَهرِthe blossoms of الرُبىthe hills الَّتيwhich جادَهاwatered them generously الغَيthe rain (word begins)
مِثلُ زَهرِ الرُبى الَّتي جادَها الغَي
ثُrain (word ends) وَمَرَّتand passed مِنfrom فَوقِهاabove them الرِيحُthe wind حَسرىweary
ثُ وَمَرَّت مِن فَوقِها الرِيحُ حَسرى
Like the blossoms of hills lavishly watered by
Of pure and lofty character and generous traits
rain, over which the wind passes, weary.
God prevented any meanness being seen in him
مَلِكٌa king يَقهَرُoverpowers المُلوكَthe kings وَيَبنِيand builds
مَلِكٌ يَقهَرُ المُلوكَ وَيَبنِي
شَرَفاًhonor فَوقَabove ماwhat بَنَوهُthey built it وَفَخراand glory
شَرَفاً فَوقَ ما بَنَوهُ وَفَخرا
A king who overpowers kings and builds
He proceeded to serve and receive bounty and favors from the virtuous in floods
honor above what they have built, and glory.
On an inauspicious Thursday I observed in him
فَهوَso he خِلوٌfree مِنَof المَعايِبِfaults لاnot تَلyou meet (word begins)
فَهوَ خِلوٌ مِنَ المَعايِبِ لا تَل
قىyou meet (word ends) سَرِيّاًa noble man إِلّاexcept وَتَلقاهُand you find him أَسرىnobler
قى سَرِيّاً إِلّا وَتَلقاهُ أَسرى
He is free of faults; never do you meet
A mighty Thursday in awe and glory
a noble man without finding him nobler.
Whenever the sword wavered in the lands of enemies
خُلُقاًin character طاهِراًpure وَخِيماًand in disposition كَرِيماًnoble
خُلُقاً طاهِراً وَخِيماً كَرِيماً
أَنكَرَruled out اللَهُGod أَنthat تَرىyou see فيهِin him نُكراanything vile
أَنكَرَ اللَهُ أَن تَرى فيهِ نُكرا
Pure in character, noble in disposition—
They wavered from it in fright
God has ruled out your seeing anything vile in him.
It strikes sparks against the sparks, and the sharp sword
سارَhe marched يَستَخدِمُenlisting السُعُودَgood fortunes وَيَستَقand welcomes (word begins)
سارَ يَستَخدِمُ السُعُودَ وَيَستَق
بِلُwelcomes (word ends) فَضلاًbounty مِنَof الفَضِيلَةِexcellence دَثراabundant
بِلُ فَضلاً مِنَ الفَضِيلَةِ دَثرا
He marched, making good fortune serve him, and welcoming
Repels the polished white blades
an abundant bounty of excellence.
A journey that brought elevation, and steps
فيin خَمِيسٍan army مَجرٍvast تَأَمَّلتُهُI contemplated him فِيin (word continues)
في خَمِيسٍ مَجرٍ تَأَمَّلتُهُ فِي
هِhim (suffix) خَمِيساًan army مِنَof المَهابَةِawe مَجراvast
هِ خَمِيساً مِنَ المَهابَةِ مَجرا
Within a vast army, I beheld in him
That blessed the journey and the traveling
a vast army of awe.
God renewed through him honor, fortune
وَالقَناand the spears كُلَّماwhenever تَزَعزَعَshook فيin أَرthe land (word begins)
وَالقَنا كُلَّما تَزَعزَعَ في أَر
ضِland (word ends) الأَعادِيof the enemies تَزَعزَعُواthey trembled مِنهُfrom it ذُعراin terror
ضِ الأَعادِي تَزَعزَعُوا مِنهُ ذُعرا
Whenever the spears shook in the
Capability over the enemy, and conquest
enemies' land, the enemies shook in terror of them.
How can you not be helped when you are the right hand of God's religion
يَقرَعُstrikes النَبعthe nab‘ wood حَولهُaround him النَبعَthe nab‘ wood وَالنَقand the dust (word begins)
يَقرَعُ النَبع حَولهُ النَبعَ وَالنَق
عُdust (word ends) يَرُدُّturns المَطارِدَthe lances البِيضَwhite غُبراgrey
عُ يَرُدُّ المَطارِدَ البِيضَ غُبرا
Nab‘ wood strikes nab‘ wood around him, and the
In times of distress and the left hand in ease?
dust turns the white lances grey.
Favors from you cannot be repaid, I see ingratitude
رِحلَةٌa journey أَكسَبَتbrought عُلاًeminence وَمَسيرٌand a march
رِحلَةٌ أَكسَبَت عُلاً وَمَسيرٌ
بُورِكَتblessed be it رِحلَةًas a journey وَبُورِكَand blessed be مَسرىa passage
بُورِكَت رِحلَةً وَبُورِكَ مَسرى
A journey that brought eminence, and a march:
In repaying good deeds with ingratitude
blessed be the journey, and blessed the passage!
You live bestowing benefits whether good or bad befalls you
جَدَّدَmay renew اللَهُGod فِيهِin him عِزّاًmight وَسَعداand good fortune
جَدَّدَ اللَهُ فِيهِ عِزّاً وَسَعدا
وَاِقتِداراًand power عَلىover العَدُوِّthe enemy وَقَهراand mastery
وَاِقتِداراً عَلى العَدُوِّ وَقَهرا
May God renew in him might and good fortune,
If you take a course by your grace you steer it with grace
power over the enemy and mastery.
The world was not devoid of the beauty of your rule
كَيفَhow لاnot تُجتَبىyou are chosen وَأَنتَwhile you لِدِينِfor the faith of الْthe (beginning of 'God')
كَيفَ لا تُجتَبى وَأَنتَ لِدِينِ الْ
لهِGod (word ends) يُمنىa right hand فيin النائِباتِcalamities وَيُسرىand a left hand
لهِ يُمنى في النائِباتِ وَيُسرى
How could you not be chosen, when for the faith of
Nor were you devoid of forbidding wrong and enjoining right
God you are a right hand in calamities, and a left?
مِنَنٌfavors مِنكَfrom you لَيسَnot تُكفَرُare denied إِنّيindeed I
مِنَنٌ مِنكَ لَيسَ تُكفَرُ إِنّي
لَأَرىI surely regard الكُفرَingratitude بِالصَنائِعِfor kindness كُفراunbelief
لَأَرى الكُفرَ بِالصَنائِعِ كُفرا
Your favors cannot be denied; I
surely regard ingratitude for kindness as unbelief.
عِشتَmay you live تُسدِيbestowing نَفعاًbenefit وَضُرَّاًand harm إِذاwhen حَلَّyou sweetened (word begins)
عِشتَ تُسدِي نَفعاً وَضُرَّاً إِذا حَلَّ
يتَyou sweetened (word ends) شَطراًone side بِالفَضلِwith bounty أَمرَرتَyou embittered شَطراone side
يتَ شَطراً بِالفَضلِ أَمرَرتَ شَطرا
May you live, bestowing benefit and harm: when you sweeten
one side with bounty, you make the other bitter.
لاnot خَلَتmay be empty مِنof جَمالِthe beauty of طَلعَتِكَyour countenance الدُنthe world (word begins)
لا خَلَت مِن جَمالِ طَلعَتِكَ الدُن
ياworld (word ends) وَلاand not أَعدَمَتكَmay it deprive you نَهياًforbidding وَأَمراand commanding
يا وَلا أَعدَمَتكَ نَهياً وَأَمرا
May the world never lack the beauty of your countenance,
nor deprive you of the power to forbid and command.
Partial English translation: 101 of 108 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1