كَفَانِيhas spared me الحَرُّthe heat مُنْتَجَعُa place sought for pasture الغَمَامِthe rainclouds
كَفَانِي الحَرُّ مُنْتَجَعُ الغَمَامِ
فَشُكْراًso thanks ثُمَّthen شُكرْاًthanks للإمَامِto the imam
فَشُكْراً ثُمَّ شُكرْاً للإمَامِ
The rainclouds' haven has spared me the heat,
The heat sufficed me, the place of retreat of clouds
So thanks, then thanks again, to the imam.
So thanks, then thanks to the Imam
أيادٍfavors ماas أعَمَّتْthey spread to all فيin ازْدِيادٍincrease
أيادٍ ما أعَمَّتْ في ازْدِيادٍ
كَماas انْتَثَرَscattered الفَرِيدُchoice pearls منَfrom النِّظامِthe string
كَما انْتَثَرَ الفَرِيدُ منَ النِّظامِ
Favors ever increasing as they spread to all,
Hands that have not ceased increasing
Like choice pearls scattered from their string.
As excellence scattered from order
كَأَنَّas though أرِيجَهَاtheir fragrance زَهْرُthe flowers of الرَّوابِيthe hills
كَأَنَّ أرِيجَهَا زَهْرُ الرَّوابِي
يُمَزِّقُtears open ضَاحِكاًlaughing جَيْبَthe bosom of الكمَامِthe flower sheaths
يُمَزِّقُ ضَاحِكاً جَيْبَ الكمَامِ
As though their fragrance were the flowers of the hills,
As if its fragrance is the blossom of meadows
Laughing as they tear open the bosom of their sheaths.
Laughing, tearing the veil of wraps
كأنَّas though حَديثَهَاtheir tale شَدْوُthe song of الغَوانِيlovely women
كأنَّ حَديثَهَا شَدْوُ الغَوانِي
مُطَارِحَةًexchanging أغارِيدَmelodies الحَمَامِthe doves
مُطَارِحَةً أغارِيدَ الحَمَامِ
As though their tale were the song of lovely women,
As if its talk is the chanting of singers
Exchanging melodies with the doves.
Casting off the coos of doves
هَزَزْتُI swayed لَهَاat them مَعَاطِفِيَmy shoulders ارْتِيَاحاًin delight
هَزَزْتُ لَهَا مَعَاطِفِيَ ارْتِيَاحاً
كَمَاas طَرِبَgrew rapturous النَّزيفُthe drunken man مِنَfrom المُدامِwine
كَمَا طَرِبَ النَّزيفُ مِنَ المُدامِ
I swayed my shoulders in delight at them,
I shook my coats for it in comfort
As a drunken man grows rapturous with wine.
As the drinker thrilled from the wine
وَبِتُّand I spent the night لِدرِّهاat their milk كَهْلاًmiddle-aged رَضِيعاًa suckling
وَبِتُّ لِدرِّها كَهْلاً رَضِيعاً
وَلَكِنْand yet آمِناًsafe عُقْبَىthe aftermath of الفِطَامِweaning
وَلَكِنْ آمِناً عُقْبَى الفِطَامِ
And I spent the night a middle-aged suckling at their milk,
And I spend the night for its pearls as an old infant
Yet safe from the aftermath of weaning.
But secure of the consequences of weaning
فَمَنْقُودٌso what is paid outright مِنَof الإعْطَاءِgiving هَامٍpouring down
فَمَنْقُودٌ مِنَ الإعْطَاءِ هَامٍ
ومَوْعُودٌand what is promised مِنَof الإحْظَاءfavor نَامِgrowing
ومَوْعُودٌ مِنَ الإحْظَاء نَامِ
So gifts bestowed outright pour down,
So I am driven from sublime ambition
And promised marks of favor keep on growing.
And promised from gracious bestowal
وكَائِنand how many مِنْof يَدٍa hand of bounty بَيْضَاءَwhite فِيماin what
وكَائِن مِنْ يَدٍ بَيْضَاءَ فِيما
أُؤَمِّلُI hope for مِنof سَلامٍgreeting واسْتِلامِand hand-kissing
أُؤَمِّلُ مِن سَلامٍ واسْتِلامِ
And how many a white hand of bounty lies in what
And it comes from a white hand in what
I hope for in greeting and hand-kissing.
I hope for of peace and receipt
جَدِيرٌworthy أنْto يَجُودَgive generously بِكُلِّwith every حُسْنَىgood thing
جَدِيرٌ أنْ يَجُودَ بِكُلِّ حُسْنَى
وإِحْسانٍand kindness مَقَامٌa station كَالْمَقَامِlike this station
وإِحْسانٍ مَقَامٌ كَالْمَقَامِ
Worthy to lavish every good thing
Worthy to be generous with all goodness
And kindness is a station such as this.
And favor is a position like the position
يُرَاعُis frightened الدّهْرُTime مِنby أيْدِيmy might لأَنِّيbecause I
يُرَاعُ الدّهْرُ مِن أيْدِي لأَنِّي
بِفَيْضِthrough the flood of لُهَاهُhis gifts فيin جَيْشٍan army لُهَامِvast
بِفَيْضِ لُهَاهُ في جَيْشٍ لُهَامِ
Time quails before my might, for I,
The ages wary of my hands because I
Through his overflowing gifts, am amid a mighty army.
Overflow with its ardor in a fervent army
أَلَيْسَتْis not شِكَّتِيmy battle gear لاno شَكَّdoubt مِنْهاfrom them
أَلَيْسَتْ شِكَّتِي لا شَكَّ مِنْها
مِجَنِّيmy shield أوْor سِنَانيmy spearhead أَوْor حُسَامِيmy sword
مِجَنِّي أوْ سِنَاني أَوْ حُسَامِي
Is not my battle gear, beyond all doubt, from them—
Is not my complaint without doubt from it
My shield, or my spearhead, or my sword?
My stars or my teeth or my swords?
فَلَوْso if رُمْتُI sought الكَواكِبَthe stars ظَاهَرَتْنِيwould support me
فَلَوْ رُمْتُ الكَواكِبَ ظَاهَرَتْنِي
سَعَادَتُهُhis good fortune عَلىin نَيْلِattaining المَرامِthe desired goal
سَعَادَتُهُ عَلى نَيْلِ المَرامِ
So, were I to seek the stars, I would be aided
So if I cast the stars they would show me
By his good fortune in attaining my aim.
Its felicity in attaining hopes
وَمَنْand whoever خَدَمَserves الخَلِيفَةَthe caliph فاللياليthen the nights
وَمَنْ خَدَمَ الخَلِيفَةَ فالليالي
خَوادِمُهُhis servants إلىto غَيْرِno انْصِرامِend
خَوادِمُهُ إلى غَيْرِ انْصِرامِ
And whoever serves the caliph—the nights
And whoever serves the Caliph, the nights
Are his servants, without end.
Are its servants to no end
إمامُan imam هُدىًof guidance أَبَىrefused غَيْرَanything but افْتِتاحٍa beginning
إمامُ هُدىً أَبَى غَيْرَ افْتِتاحٍ
بِإرْداءِwith the destruction of الضَّلالَةِerror واخْتِتَامِand an ending
بِإرْداءِ الضَّلالَةِ واخْتِتَامِ
An imam of guidance, accepting no opening
The Imam of guidance refused any beginning
Or closing save through the destruction of error.
Except to end error and conclusion
بِمَطْلَعِهِat his rising تَجَلَّتْcleared away كُلُّevery جُلَّىgreat calamity
بِمَطْلَعِهِ تَجَلَّتْ كُلُّ جُلَّى
كَنورِlike the light of الصُّبْحِdawn يَذْهَبُdoes away بالظَّلامِwith darkness
كَنورِ الصُّبْحِ يَذْهَبُ بالظَّلامِ
At his rising, every great calamity cleared away,
With its rise, every glory appeared
As morning's light dispels the darkness.
Like the dawn's light dispelling darkness
وأَعظَمُand greatest مَاwhen تُشاهِدُهُyou behold him مَنَاباًin service
وأَعظَمُ مَا تُشاهِدُهُ مَنَاباً
إذاwhen ماever قامَhe rises بالنُّوَبِto the trials العِظَامِgreat
إذا ما قامَ بالنُّوَبِ العِظَامِ
And you behold him at his greatest in service
And greatest what you witness it attend
When he rises to meet the gravest trials.
When it handles the greatest responsibilities
تُسامُare made to endure بهِthrough him الأَعادِيthe enemies كُلَّevery خَسْفٍhumiliation
تُسامُ بهِ الأَعادِي كُلَّ خَسْفٍ
ولَيْثُand the lion of الغِيلِthe thicket مُغْتَالُthe ambushing slayer of السَّوامِgrazing herds
ولَيْثُ الغِيلِ مُغْتَالُ السَّوامِ
Through him, enemies are subjected to every humiliation,
The enemies submit to it every lowliness
And the thicket's lion ambushes the grazing herds.
And the monster of treachery, assassin of the sublime
كَأَنَّas though بَنِيthe sons of أَبيAbu حَفْصٍHafs نُجُومٌstars
كَأَنَّ بَنِي أَبي حَفْصٍ نُجُومٌ
وَيَحْيَىand Yahya المُرْتَضَىal-Murtada بَدْرُthe full moon التَّمامِfullness
وَيَحْيَى المُرْتَضَى بَدْرُ التَّمامِ
As though the sons of Abu Hafs were stars,
It is as if the clan of Abi Hafs are stars
And Yahya al-Murtada the full moon.
And Yahya the Chosen is the full moon
إذاwhen عَقَدَhe ties الحُبَىthe kneebands فيin مُنْتَداهُhis assembly
إذا عَقَدَ الحُبَى في مُنْتَداهُ
فَماthen what are الشّمّthe lofty الهَوادِجُhowdahs (camel litters) مِنْfrom شَآمِSham
فَما الشّمّ الهَوادِجُ مِنْ شَآمِ
When he ties his kneebands in his assembly,
If it forms connections in its place of assembly
What are Sham's lofty howdahs beside him?
Then what are the Pleiades to Lesser Syria
وإنْand if وُكِلَis entrusted الحِبَاءُlargesse إلىto نَداهُhis generosity
وإنْ وُكِلَ الحِبَاءُ إلى نَداهُ
فَماthen what are البَحْرانِthe two seas عَبّاboth surged فيin الْتِطامِcollision
فَما البَحْرانِ عَبّا في الْتِطامِ
And if largesse is entrusted to his generosity,
And if the collecting of loved ones is entrusted to its closeness
What are the two seas, surging as they collide?
Then what are the two oceans compressed in the struggle
تُقَصِّرُfall short عَنْهُof him أمْلاكُthe kings of البَرَاياmankind
تُقَصِّرُ عَنْهُ أمْلاكُ البَرَايا
وعُودُand the wood of النَّبْعِthe nab‘ tree لَيْسَis not مِنَof الثِّمامِthumam grass
وعُودُ النَّبْعِ لَيْسَ مِنَ الثِّمامِ
The kings of mankind fall short of him,
Possessions of mortals fall short of it
And nab‘-wood is not thumam grass.
And promises of generosity are not complete
لأَنْفُسِهمْfor their souls بِغايتهfor his height غرامٌpassionate longing
لأَنْفُسِهمْ بِغايته غرامٌ
وَآنُفُهُمْand their noses لَوَاصِقُclinging بِالرَّغامِto the dust
وَآنُفُهُمْ لَوَاصِقُ بِالرَّغامِ
Their souls yearn passionately for his height,
For their souls its pinnacle is passion
And their noses cling to the dust.
And their noses are attached with cords
أَمَولاناO our lord أقِمْaccept عُذْرَthe excuse of القَوَافِيthe rhymes
أَمَولانا أقِمْ عُذْرَ القَوَافِي
إلَيْكَto you وإنْand though جَلَتْthey unveiled حُرَّthe choicest الكَلامِspeech
إلَيْكَ وإنْ جَلَتْ حُرَّ الكَلامِ
O our lord, accept the rhymes' apology
My Lord, excuse the failing of rhymes
To you, though they unveil the choicest speech,
To you though the speech excelled
وَفَضَّتْand they released منsome of ثَنَاكَpraise of you بِكُلِّin every نَادٍassembly
وَفَضَّتْ من ثَنَاكَ بِكُلِّ نَادٍ
كَعَرْفlike the fragrance of المِسْكِmusk مَفْضُوضَbroken open الخِتامِthe seal
كَعَرْف المِسْكِ مَفْضُوضَ الخِتامِ
And release praise of you in every assembly,
And which spilled from your branch in every call
Like the scent of musk with its seal broken.
Like the fragrance of perfumed musk unsealed
أَتُحْصِيcan they count? مَاwhat لَدَيْكَyou possess منَof المَعَاليlofty merits
أَتُحْصِي مَا لَدَيْكَ منَ المَعَالي
وقَدْand indeed أرْبَتْthey exceeded عَلَىbeyond قَطْرِthe raindrops of الغَمامِthe clouds
وقَدْ أرْبَتْ عَلَى قَطْرِ الغَمامِ
Can they count the lofty merits you possess,
Can you count what excellencies you have
When these outnumber the raindrops of the clouds?
When it has mounted to the clouds' rain?
أمَولايَO my lord ومَاand what أوْلَيْتَنِيهِyou bestowed it on me
أمَولايَ ومَا أوْلَيْتَنِيهِ
فأتْمِمْهُso complete it مِنَwith النِّعَمِblessings الجِسَامِgreat
فأتْمِمْهُ مِنَ النِّعَمِ الجِسَامِ
O my lord, and what you have bestowed on me—
My Lord, complete for me what you have granted me
Complete it with mighty blessings.
From tremendous blessings
وَسَوِّغْنِيand allow me التَشَفُّعَseeking intercession فيfor الرِّضَىfavor مِنْfrom
وَسَوِّغْنِي التَشَفُّعَ في الرِّضَى مِنْ
بَنِيكَyour sons بكُلِّthrough every جَحْجَاحٍnoble chief هُمامِvaliant
بَنِيكَ بكُلِّ جَحْجَاحٍ هُمامِ
And let me seek intercession for your favor from
And allow me to intercede, pleased
Your sons, through each noble, valiant lord.
With your sons with every zealous hero
بَرانِيhas worn me down طُولُthe length of إقْصَاءٍexclusion عَرَانيthat befell me
بَرانِي طُولُ إقْصَاءٍ عَرَاني
وفيand in يُمْناكَyour right hand بُرْءٌhealing للْكلامِfor wounds
وفي يُمْناكَ بُرْءٌ للْكلامِ
Long exclusion that befell me has worn me down,
The length of deprivation has shown me naked
And in your right hand is healing for wounds.
And in your generosity is healing for speech
ولَوْand if أَنِّيthat I لَثَمْتُI kissed الجودَbounty مِنْهاfrom it
ولَوْ أَنِّي لَثَمْتُ الجودَ مِنْها
عَفَتْvanished بالرِّيِّthrough quenching آثارُthe traces of الأوَامِthirst
عَفَتْ بالرِّيِّ آثارُ الأوَامِ
And were I to kiss the bounty from it,
And if I adhered to its generosity
The traces of thirst would vanish with its quenching.
The vestiges of hope would be covered in satisfaction
مُحَيَّاكَyour countenance المُبَشِّرُbringing glad tidings بالأمَانيof hopes
مُحَيَّاكَ المُبَشِّرُ بالأمَاني
ومَحْيَاكَand your life المُبَصِّرُgiving insight للأَنَامِto mankind
ومَحْيَاكَ المُبَصِّرُ للأَنَامِ
Your countenance heralds wishes fulfilled,
Greetings that give good news of wishes
And your life opens the eyes of mankind.
And greetings that show the path for people
وأنْتَand you ابْنُthe son of المُلوكِkings الصِّيدِmajestic لَكِنْyet
وأنْتَ ابْنُ المُلوكِ الصِّيدِ لَكِنْ
خِلالُكَyour virtues للْمَلائِكَةِbelong to the angels الْكِرَامِnoble
خِلالُكَ للْمَلائِكَةِ الْكِرَامِ
And you are the son of majestic kings, yet
And you are the son of noble kings, but
Your virtues are those of the noble angels.
Your nature is for the honorable angels
Sol 6.1