هُوَit is الفَتْحُthe conquest أَدْنىthe nearest حَوْزِهِof its domain المَغْرِبُthe Maghreb الأقْصَىthe farthest
هُوَ الفَتْحُ أَدْنى حَوْزِهِ المَغْرِبُ الأقْصَى
عَنِagainst الصَّوْلِaggression يُسْتَقْضَىits judgment is sought وبِالعَدْلِand through justice يُسْتَقْصَىis completed
عَنِ الصَّوْلِ يُسْتَقْضَى وبِالعَدْلِ يُسْتَقْصَى
This is the conquest whose nearest domain is the farthest Maghreb.
He is the opener, the West being the limit of his conquests
Against aggression its judgment is sought; through justice it is completed.
Wrongdoing is suppressed through him, and justice established
تَنَافَسَvied فِيin إِهْدَائِهِbestowing it المَاءُwater والثَّرَىand earth
تَنَافَسَ فِي إِهْدَائِهِ المَاءُ والثَّرَى
بِماthrough what عَمَّspread to all إِسْعاداًbringing happiness مُعاداًrenewed وَماand what خَصَّاbestowed specially
بِما عَمَّ إِسْعاداً مُعاداً وَما خَصَّا
Water and earth vied in bestowing it,
Water and soil compete in offering tribute
With renewed happiness spread to all and bestowed specially.
To both friend and foe in plenty and dearth
يُسِيمُprovides grazing ويُرْوِيand gives drink to النَّاسَthe people مِنْهُfrom it بِأنْعُمٍwith blessings
يُسِيمُ ويُرْوِي النَّاسَ مِنْهُ بِأنْعُمٍ
تَحَامَتْdefied ضُروباًin manifold kinds أنْbeing تُعَدَّnumbered وأَنْand being تُحْصَىreckoned
تَحَامَتْ ضُروباً أنْ تُعَدَّ وأَنْ تُحْصَى
It gives the people pasture and drink through its blessings,
He gives drink and pasture to people through favors
Whose manifold kinds defy numbering and reckoning.
Too numerous to count or reckon
تَعَرَّضَoffered themselves مِنهاamong them كالأَعارِيضِlike poetic metres لِلْمُنَىto hopes
تَعَرَّضَ مِنها كالأَعارِيضِ لِلْمُنَى
أَفانِينُvaried forms لاwithout غَمْطاًbelittlement قَرَتْهاentertained them وَلاnor غَمْصَاcontempt
أَفانِينُ لا غَمْطاً قَرَتْها وَلا غَمْصَا
From them, like poetic metres, there offered themselves to hopes
He exposes himself to hopes like visions
Varied forms that entertained them without belittlement or contempt.
Perfect, complete, brooking no diminution
فَكَامِلُهاso their perfect measure (kamil) لاnot يَدْخُلُenters الخَزْلُkhazl (metrical shortening) جَزْلَهُits richness
فَكَامِلُها لا يَدْخُلُ الخَزْلُ جَزْلَهُ
وَوافِرُهاand their ample measure (wafir) لاnot يَقْبَلُaccepts العَقْلَaql (metrical contraction) والْعَقْصَاand aqs (metrical contraction)
وَوافِرُها لا يَقْبَلُ العَقْلَ والْعَقْصَا
Their perfect measure's richness admits no metrical shortening,
Abundant, beyond reason or reckoning
And their ample measure accepts neither contraction nor curtailment.
The guidance of Yahya the Chosen revived guidance
هِدَايَةُthe guidance of يَحْيَىYahya المُرْتَضَىal-Murtada أحْيَتِrevived الهُدَىright guidance
هِدَايَةُ يَحْيَى المُرْتَضَى أحْيَتِ الهُدَى
فَهَدَّمَso he demolished ماwhat أرْسَىfounded الضَّلالُerror وَماand what رَصَّاbuilt solidly
فَهَدَّمَ ما أرْسَى الضَّلالُ وَما رَصَّا
Yahya al-Murtada's guidance revived right guidance,
Destroying the structures of misguidance consolidated
So he demolished what error had founded and built solidly.
His call humbled the lowly in obedience
وَدَعْوَتُهُand his call دانَتْsubmitted بِطَاعَتِهَاin obedience to it الدُّنَىthe worlds
وَدَعْوَتُهُ دانَتْ بِطَاعَتِهَا الدُّنَى
فَمنْthus from مَجْمَعthe meeting-place البَحْرَيْنِof the two seas لِلمَسْجِدِto the mosque الأَقْصَىthe farthest (al-Aqsa)
فَمنْ مَجْمَع البَحْرَيْنِ لِلمَسْجِدِ الأَقْصَى
The worlds submitted in obedience to his call,
So one traveling from sea to Holy Sanctuary
From the meeting-place of the two seas to al-Aqsa Mosque.
Greetings to the blessed ones through their rectitude
هَنِيئاًcongratulations لأُولِيto the people of الحَضْرَتَيْنِthe two capitals بِرُشْدِهَاfor its right guidance
هَنِيئاً لأُولِي الحَضْرَتَيْنِ بِرُشْدِهَا
إِلىtoward الحَقِّthe truth إِحْضَاراًat a gallop إِذَاwhen اسْتَقْصَرَتْit found too slow نَصَّاa swift trot
إِلى الحَقِّ إِحْضَاراً إِذَا اسْتَقْصَرَتْ نَصَّا
Congratulations to the people of the two capitals for its right guidance,
And the truth to which they guide when ways seem short
Galloping toward truth whenever it found swift trotting too slow.
They wronged not their charges yet did no injustice
أهانَتْit humbled ولَمْand did not تَظْلِمْwrong عَرَارَthe bull رُعَاتِهَاof its shepherds
أهانَتْ ولَمْ تَظْلِمْ عَرَارَ رُعَاتِهَا
لِظُلْمٍfor tyranny وَعُدْوَانٍand aggression بهِin which امْتَازَhe stood apart واخْتَصَّاand was marked out
لِظُلْمٍ وَعُدْوَانٍ بهِ امْتَازَ واخْتَصَّا
It humbled, without injustice, the bull among its shepherds,
By aggression and enmity he was marked and distinguished
For the tyranny and aggression that distinguished and marked him out.
Announcing deposition of the transgressor eloquently
وبَاحَتْand openly declared بِخَلْعِthe deposition of المُسْتَبيحِthe ravager وأَفْصَحَتْand spoke plainly
وبَاحَتْ بِخَلْعِ المُسْتَبيحِ وأَفْصَحَتْ
وقَدْand indeed فَحَصَتْit investigated عَنْهُhim فَمَاso not أحْمَدَتْfound praiseworthy فَحْصَاan inquiry
وقَدْ فَحَصَتْ عَنْهُ فَمَا أحْمَدَتْ فَحْصَا
It openly declared the ravager's deposition and spoke plainly,
When his scrutiny found no virtue to praise
Having investigated him and found no good in its inquiry.
His name she casts down and away from her pulpits
تَحُطُّcasts down وَتَذْرِيand scatters عنfrom مَنَابِرِهَاits pulpits اسْمَهُhis name
تَحُطُّ وَتَذْرِي عن مَنَابِرِهَا اسْمَهُ
وسِيمَاهُand his mark صِلاًa viper فيin عَوَادِيهِhis assaults أوor لِصَّاa thief
وسِيمَاهُ صِلاً في عَوَادِيهِ أو لِصَّا
It casts his name down and scatters it from its pulpits,
A miscreant in his habits or description
And his mark—that of a viper in his assaults, or a thief.
Banishing him, estranged from her minions
وَتُقْصِيهِand expel him طَرْداًby driving out عَنْfrom ذرَاهاits heights عِصِيّهَاits staves
وَتُقْصِيهِ طَرْداً عَنْ ذرَاها عِصِيّهَا
جَدِيراًdeserving بِأَنْto be يُقْصَىexpelled خَلِيقاًworthy بِأنْto be يُعْصَىdisobeyed
جَدِيراً بِأَنْ يُقْصَى خَلِيقاً بِأنْ يُعْصَى
Its staves drive him out, banishing him from its heights,
Worthy of banishment, fitting to be disobeyed
Deserving expulsion, worthy of being disobeyed.
So if the Trinity suffers privation
فَإِنْso if شَقِيَsuffered التَّثْلِيثُTrinitarianism مِنهاfrom it لِغُصَّةٍa choking pang
فَإِنْ شَقِيَ التَّثْلِيثُ مِنها لِغُصَّةٍ
فَقَدْthen indeed شُفِيَwas healed التَّوْحِيدُmonotheism مِمَّاof what بِهِon it غَصَّاit choked
فَقَدْ شُفِيَ التَّوْحِيدُ مِمَّا بِهِ غَصَّا
If Trinitarianism suffered a choking pang from it,
The oneness is cured of what pained it
Then monotheism was cured of what had choked it.
The religion's foe allies with paganism
وإنَّand indeed عَدُوَّthe enemy الدِّينِof the faith مَنْis whoever ظَاهَرaided العِدَىthe foes
وإنَّ عَدُوَّ الدِّينِ مَنْ ظَاهَر العِدَى
لِيَخْذُلَهُto betray it فَاسْتَنْصَرَso he sought aid from الشِّرْكَpolytheism واسْتَقْصَىand went to the utmost
لِيَخْذُلَهُ فَاسْتَنْصَرَ الشِّرْكَ واسْتَقْصَى
Indeed, the faith's enemy is whoever aided its foes
Abandoned, so aids himself through idolatry
To betray it, seeking aid from polytheism to the utmost.
Traducing Ahmad’s community to aid Jesus’ worshippers
بعُبَّادِthrough the worshippers of عِيسَىJesus هَاضَshattered أُمَّةَthe community of أحْمَدٍAhmad
بعُبَّادِ عِيسَى هَاضَ أُمَّةَ أحْمَدٍ
لأَشْيائِهَاof its possessions بَخْساًdiminishing وأعْيُنِهَاand its eyes بَخْصاgouging
لأَشْيائِهَا بَخْساً وأعْيُنِهَا بَخْصا
Through the worshippers of Jesus he shattered Ahmad's community,
Belittling their wares and spying their chastity
Diminishing its possessions and gouging its eyes.
So if he comes defeated, failed and vanquished
فَإنْso if حَانَmet his doom مَنْكُوباًstricken ونَكَّبَand turned aside حَائِناًdoomed
فَإنْ حَانَ مَنْكُوباً ونَكَّبَ حَائِناً
لَقَدْcertainly حَصَّhe sped away مُنْفَلاًrouted وَأفْلَتَand escaped مَنْحَصَّاfleeing swiftly
لَقَدْ حَصَّ مُنْفَلاً وَأفْلَتَ مَنْحَصَّا
If he fell stricken and turned aside doomed,
He had hoped to gain but is himself gained
He certainly sped away routed and escaped in headlong flight.
The Arab Hassan knew facing him
دَرَىknew الأَسْوَدُal-Aswad القَيْسِيُّal-Qaysi أَنَّthat أمَامَهُbefore him
دَرَى الأَسْوَدُ القَيْسِيُّ أَنَّ أمَامَهُ
رَدَىthe doom of الأَسْودِal-Aswad العَنْسِيِّal-Ansi مُشْبِهِهِhis counterpart خَرْصاin falsehood
رَدَى الأَسْودِ العَنْسِيِّ مُشْبِهِهِ خَرْصا
Al-Aswad al-Qaysi knew that before him lay
Was the Arab Ansari, resembling him in valor
The doom of al-Aswad al-Ansi, his counterpart in falsehood.
He wished to disobey his passion defiantly
فَوَدَّso he wished لَوif only اسْتَعْصَىhe had resisted عِنَاداًstubbornly عَلَىagainst الهَوَىdesire
فَوَدَّ لَو اسْتَعْصَى عِنَاداً عَلَى الهَوَى
بِحَيْثُwhen رَأَىhe saw المَنْجَىdeliverance عَلَيْهِfor him قَدِalready اسْتَعْصَىhad become unattainable
بِحَيْثُ رَأَى المَنْجَى عَلَيْهِ قَدِ اسْتَعْصَى
So he wished he had stubbornly resisted desire,
When he saw safety lying in disobedience
When he saw deliverance had become unattainable for him.
He fled Fes in escape, leaving it to your horses
وأَمْعَنَand fled far عَنْfrom فَاسٍFez فِرَاراًin flight وَدَعَّهُand drove him away
وأَمْعَنَ عَنْ فَاسٍ فِرَاراً وَدَعَّهُ
بخَيْلِكَwith your cavalry فَاسٌFez يَحْذَرُhe fears الفَرْسَmauling والفَرْصاand slicing
بخَيْلِكَ فَاسٌ يَحْذَرُ الفَرْسَ والفَرْصا
He fled far from Fez, driven onward
While Fes fears cavalry and cavalryman
By Fez with your cavalry, while he feared mauling and slashing.
He has in Marrakesh no peace
وَلَيْسَتْand is not لَهُfor him مَرَّاكشٌMarrakesh بِقَرارَةٍa resting place
وَلَيْسَتْ لَهُ مَرَّاكشٌ بِقَرارَةٍ
وأَنَّىand how could it ومَازَالَتْwhile it has continued مُظَاهِرَةًsupporting حِمْصَاHims
وأَنَّى ومَازَالَتْ مُظَاهِرَةً حِمْصَا
Marrakesh is no resting place for him,
Where or how when it resists staunchly?
And how could it be, when it has continued to support Hims?
It will strike him with strange blows
سَتَضْرِبُهُit will beat him ضَرْبَas the beating of الغَرَائِبِstray camels وَارِداًcoming to water
سَتَضْرِبُهُ ضَرْبَ الغَرَائِبِ وَارِداً
لِتَحْرِمَهُto deny him فيat شرْبِهاits water allotment العَبَّgulping وَالمَصَّاand sipping
لِتَحْرِمَهُ في شرْبِها العَبَّ وَالمَصَّا
It will beat him like stray camels when he comes to water,
Denied drink there, debarred from sweetness
Denying him both gulping and sipping at its water.
It makes brotherhood with the crucifers like itself
وَتُسْلِمُand it will surrender إخْوَانَthe brethren of الصَّليبِthe Cross كَأُخْتِهاlike its sister
وَتُسْلِمُ إخْوَانَ الصَّليبِ كَأُخْتِها
لِضَارِبِهِمْto one who strikes them هَبْراًwith hewing blows وَطَاعِنِهِمْand one who spears them قَعْصَاkilling instantly
لِضَارِبِهِمْ هَبْراً وَطَاعِنِهِمْ قَعْصَا
Like its sister, it will surrender the brethren of the Cross
Surrendering them to its smiter, its piercer
To him who hews them to pieces and spears them dead on the spot.
No wonder that compared to them are these
ولاand no غَرْوَwonder أنْthat قِيسَتْwas compared عَلَىwith تِلْكَthat one هَذِهِthis one
ولا غَرْوَ أنْ قِيسَتْ عَلَى تِلْكَ هَذِهِ
فَكَمْfor how many مِنْan قِيَاسٍanalogy فيabout عِدَاكَyour enemies غَداbecame نَصَّاan explicit ruling
فَكَمْ مِنْ قِيَاسٍ في عِدَاكَ غَدا نَصَّا
No wonder this one should be compared with that one,
What comparisons shall tomorrow bring to pass?
For many an analogy about your foes has become an explicit ruling.
Woe to the progeny of foreigners! Whenever
فَيَاoh, then وَهْيَweakness أسْبَابِof the supports السَّبَاسِبِof the desert plains كُلَّمَاwhenever
فَيَا وَهْيَ أسْبَابِ السَّبَاسِبِ كُلَّمَا
أذِيقُواthey were made to taste الرَّدَىdeath قَبْضاًby the handful وَسِيقُواand were driven لَهُto it قَبْصاat speed
أذِيقُوا الرَّدَى قَبْضاً وَسِيقُوا لَهُ قَبْصا
Oh, the weakness of the desert plains' supports, whenever
Afflicted and herded to it, hemmed about
They are made to taste death by the handful and driven swiftly toward it!
Woe to the dumb idols he enacted for them
وَياand oh خَرَسَthe muteness of الفُصْحِEaster الذيwhich سَنَّهُhe imposed it لَهُمon them
وَيا خَرَسَ الفُصْحِ الذي سَنَّهُ لَهُم
وغَادَرَand left فيهِin it القُسُّthe priest يَعْرضُdisplaying مَاwhat قَصَّاhe recounted
وغَادَرَ فيهِ القُسُّ يَعْرضُ مَا قَصَّا
And oh, the Easter muteness he imposed upon them,
Forsaking the eloquent who stated what he related
Leaving the priest there displaying what he had recounted
For glad tidings of guidance its meteor shining
لِحمْصٍfor Hims مِنَof البُشرَىgood news مُجيلاًcasting قِدَاحَهَاits divining arrows
لِحمْصٍ مِنَ البُشرَى مُجيلاً قِدَاحَهَا
بِهَبَّتِهَاin its rising تَسْعَىit strives لِمَحْصِto purify الهُدَىright guidance مَحْصاcompletely
بِهَبَّتِهَا تَسْعَى لِمَحْصِ الهُدَى مَحْصا
Of good news for Hims, casting its divining arrows,
Seeks by its gift the essence of guidance
As it rises, striving to purify right guidance completely.
Hail to Chefchaouen, the isle, hail to them
وَيَاand oh لشَرِيشٍfor Sharish والْجَزِيرَةِand al-Jazira يَاoh لَهَاfor it
وَيَا لشَرِيشٍ والْجَزِيرَةِ يَا لَهَا
ومَكْنَاسَةٍand Maknasa والقَصْرِand al-Qasr عَزَّgrew mighty فَلاso no وَهْصَاcrushing
ومَكْنَاسَةٍ والقَصْرِ عَزَّ فَلا وَهْصَا
And oh, Sharish and al-Jazira—what a marvel!
Meknes, and Qasr of dear independence
And Maknasa and al-Qasr—grown mighty, no longer crushed.
It found the rule of bliss to be its garb
وَلاقَتْand found علَىby حُكْمِthe decree of السَّعَادَةِhappiness بُرْدَهاits cloak
وَلاقَتْ علَى حُكْمِ السَّعَادَةِ بُرْدَها
ومَاand never بَرِحَتْceased أثْنَاءَduring شِقْوَتِهَاits misery رَهْصاbeing bruised
ومَا بَرِحَتْ أثْنَاءَ شِقْوَتِهَا رَهْصا
By happiness's decree it found its cloak,
Never moving during its wretchedness to dance
Though throughout its misery it had never escaped bruising.
It roused prayer to its Lord to suffice anxiety and doubt
وَأَثَّتْand grew plentiful رِياشاًin rich possessions فاسْتَحَثَّتْthen hastened لِدَعْوَةٍto a summons
وَأَثَّتْ رِياشاً فاسْتَحَثَّتْ لِدَعْوَةٍ
عَلَىagainst رَبِّهاits master أَنto يَكْفِيavert الحَسِّslaughter والحَصَّاand devastation
عَلَى رَبِّها أَن يَكْفِي الحَسِّ والحَصَّا
It grew rich in possessions, then hastened to a summons
Did it not buy great victory with an oath
Against its master, to avert slaughter and devastation.
Firm, neither retracting nor drawing back?
أَمَاdid it not ابْتَاعَتْpurchase الفَوْزَthe triumph العَظيمَthe great بِبَيْعَةٍwith a pledge of allegiance
أَمَا ابْتَاعَتْ الفَوْزَ العَظيمَ بِبَيْعَةٍ
مُؤَكَّدَةٍfirmly confirmed لاno نَكْثَbreach عَنْهَاof it وَلاnor نَكْصَاretreat
مُؤَكَّدَةٍ لا نَكْثَ عَنْهَا وَلا نَكْصَا
Did it not purchase the great triumph with a pledge of allegiance,
It persisted on the straight path, proceeding
Firmly confirmed, with neither breach nor retreat from it?
To an imam protecting it from attacks and gaps
وَعَاجَتْand turned عَلَىonto النَّهْجِthe path القَوِيمِthe straight فَيَمَّمَتْthen headed toward
وَعَاجَتْ عَلَى النَّهْجِ القَوِيمِ فَيَمَّمَتْ
إمَاماًan imam وَقَاهَاshielded it يُمْنهُhis good fortune الوَقْمَabasement وَالوَقْصَاand neck-breaking
إمَاماً وَقَاهَا يُمْنهُ الوَقْمَ وَالوَقْصَا
It turned onto the straight path, setting its course toward
Of the people some loved the prayer niche and war sincerely
An imam whose good fortune spared it abasement and broken necks.
Elite in effort and sublimity, a chosen essence
مِنَfrom القَوْمِthe people للْمِحْرَابِto the prayer niche والحَرْبِand war أَخْلَصُواthey devoted purely
مِنَ القَوْمِ للْمِحْرَابِ والحَرْبِ أَخْلَصُوا
كِرَامَthe noblest المَساعِيendeavors والعُلَىand high honors صَفْوَةًa chosen elite خُلْصاunalloyed
كِرَامَ المَساعِي والعُلَى صَفْوَةً خُلْصا
From a people who devoted to the prayer niche and war
They built only four mosques
Their noblest endeavors and high honors—a pure, chosen band.
And fired no passion save shields of calamity as armor
فَمَاso not عَمَرُواdid they inhabit إِلاexcept المَسَاجِدَthe mosques أرْبُعاًas dwellings
فَمَا عَمَرُوا إِلا المَسَاجِدَ أرْبُعاً
ولاand not اسْتَشْعَرُواdid they wear next to their skin إِلاexcept دُرُوعَthe armor of الوَغَىbattle قُمْصَاas shirts
ولا اسْتَشْعَرُوا إِلا دُرُوعَ الوَغَى قُمْصَا
They inhabited only mosques as their dwellings,
Fine youth equal in perfection, glorious
And wore only battle armor as their shirts.
In the scions’ disposition to describe the exemplar
تَشَابَهَresembled one another نَجْلٌa son فيin الكَمَالِperfection ونَاجِلٌand a sire
تَشَابَهَ نَجْلٌ في الكَمَالِ ونَاجِلٌ
وفيand in نَزَعَاتِthe inclinations of الفَرْعِthe branch مَاis what يَصِفُdescribes الأَصَّاthe root
وفي نَزَعَاتِ الفَرْعِ مَا يَصِفُ الأَصَّا
Son and sire resembled one another in perfection,
His serenity made leaders despair of attaining it
And the branch's inclinations reveal the root.
Far from the lofty peak to resemble the lowland
سَكِينَتُهُhis serenity أَعْيَاdefied الأَئِمَّةthe imams نَيْلُهَاattaining it
سَكِينَتُهُ أَعْيَا الأَئِمَّة نَيْلُهَا
وَهَيْهَاتَand far from it جَلَّtoo great is الطَّوْدthe mountain أّنْto يُشْبِهَresemble الدّعْصاthe sandhill
وَهَيْهَاتَ جَلَّ الطَّوْد أّنْ يُشْبِهَ الدّعْصا
His serenity was beyond the imams' reach,
He roams bearing the burden of holy war, sword bared
Far from it! The mountain is too great to resemble a dune.
Each nationality bearing spear and burden
يهِيمُis enamored بِحَمْلِof bearing الخِرْصِthe spear والسَّيْفِand the sword سَالِياًforgetting
يهِيمُ بِحَمْلِ الخِرْصِ والسَّيْفِ سَالِياً
هَوَىlove for كُلِّevery خَوْدٍtender maiden تَحْمِلُwearing الشَّنْفَthe ear-pendant والخُرْصَاand hoop earrings
هَوَى كُلِّ خَوْدٍ تَحْمِلُ الشَّنْفَ والخُرْصَا
He is enamored of bearing spear and sword, forgetting
His feats of valor conversed mouth to mouth
Love for every tender maiden wearing ear-pendants and hoop earrings.
This one cheek to cheek, and that one closely
فَقَدْfor indeed حَمَلاthe two conveyed عَنْهُfrom him أحَادِيثَtales of بَأسِهِhis valor
فَقَدْ حَمَلا عَنْهُ أحَادِيثَ بَأسِهِ
يُشَافِهُspeaks face-to-face ذاthis one خَدّاًcheek لِخَدٍّto cheek وَذَاand that one قَصَّاat the breast
يُشَافِهُ ذا خَدّاً لِخَدٍّ وَذَا قَصَّا
For the two have carried from him the tales of his valor:
He refused while striding mightily to advance cowardice
This one speaks cheek to cheek, and that one at the breast.
In fortunes of his palm deeming ease cowardice
أبَىhe refused وَهُوَwhile he was المَاضِيunwavering in العَزِيمَةِresolve رُخْصَةًindulgence
أبَى وَهُوَ المَاضِي العَزِيمَةِ رُخْصَةً
بِحَاليَةٍwith a jeweled beauty مِنْfrom كَفِّهَاher palm عَنَماًred shoots رَخْصَاtender
بِحَاليَةٍ مِنْ كَفِّهَا عَنَماً رَخْصَا
Unwavering in resolve, he refused indulgence
Nor left for past or future in knowledge, forbearance and bounty
With a jeweled beauty, tender red shoots springing from her palm.
Share or diminution
وَلَمْand did not يَتْرُكَنleave at all فيin العِلْمِlearning والحِلْمand forbearance والنَّدَىand generosity
وَلَمْ يَتْرُكَن في العِلْمِ والحِلْم والنَّدَى
لِمَاضٍfor anyone past وآتٍand anyone to come بَعْدُafterward حَظّاًa share ولاnor شِقْصَاa fraction
لِمَاضٍ وآتٍ بَعْدُ حَظّاً ولا شِقْصَا
In learning, forbearance, and generosity he left nothing
This is the Mahdist call, deriving for itself
For anyone past or coming after—not a share, not a fraction.
Injunctions of the Riser, the Guide - thereby sincerity
هِيَit is الدَّعْوَةُthe call المَهْدِيَّةُMahdian اسْتَخْلَصَتْclaimed exclusively لَهاfor itself
هِيَ الدَّعْوَةُ المَهْدِيَّةُ اسْتَخْلَصَتْ لَها
نُهَىthe understanding of القائِمِthe upholding leader الهَادِيthe guide فكَانso he became لَهَاfor it خِلْصاa devoted friend
نُهَى القائِمِ الهَادِي فكَان لَهَا خِلْصا
It is the Mahdian call that claimed for itself
In declaring it Abu Hafs ar-Rida exhorted
The understanding of the upholding guide, who became its devoted friend.
His sons, fulfilling what he enjoined them
بإِظْهارِهاto proclaim it وَصَّىenjoined أبوAbu حَفْصٍHafs الرِّضىal-Rida
بإِظْهارِها وَصَّى أبو حَفْصٍ الرِّضى
بَنِيهِhis sons فَوَفَّىso he fulfilled دُونَهُمْrather than them مَاwhat بهِconcerning it وَصَّىhe enjoined
بَنِيهِ فَوَفَّى دُونَهُمْ مَا بهِ وَصَّى
Abu Hafs al-Rida enjoined its proclamation upon
The heir apparent's guardian reinforced its apparatus
His sons; he, unlike the others, fulfilled that injunction.
As the trait of mischief to injure the flanks
وَوَلَّىand entrusted وَلِيّthe heir العَهْدِto the succession ضُرَّafflicting عُدَاتِهَاits enemies
وَوَلَّى وَلِيّ العَهْدِ ضُرَّ عُدَاتِهَا
ومِنْand among عادَةِthe habits of الضِّرْغامِthe lion أنْto يُضْرِيَtrain to hunt الحَفْصَاthe lion cub
ومِنْ عادَةِ الضِّرْغامِ أنْ يُضْرِيَ الحَفْصَا
He entrusted the heir apparent with afflicting its foes,
The full moon of guidance made truth shine
As the lion is wont to train its cub to hunt.
Plunging into the fray with the sun obscured entirely
لَقَدْindeed أوْضَحَilluminated العَلْيَاءَthe heights of glory بَدْرُa full moon of هدَايَةٍguidance
لَقَدْ أوْضَحَ العَلْيَاءَ بَدْرُ هدَايَةٍ
بِخَوْضِby plunging into الوَغَىbattle والشَّمْسِwhile the sun قَدْalready خَفِيَتْwas hidden قُرْصَاas a disc
بِخَوْضِ الوَغَى والشَّمْسِ قَدْ خَفِيَتْ قُرْصَا
Indeed, a full moon of guidance lit the heights of glory,
Eager for the religion’s victory, not coveting
By plunging into battle while the sun's disc lay hidden.
Worldly possessions with dissimulation and greed
حَرِيصاًeager علَىfor الدِّينِthe faith الحَنِيفِupright ونَصْرِهِand its victory
حَرِيصاً علَى الدِّينِ الحَنِيفِ ونَصْرِهِ
ولَيْسَand is not علَىfor الدُّنياthis world بِمُسْتَبْطِنٍharboring inwardly حِرْصاgreed
ولَيْسَ علَى الدُّنيا بِمُسْتَبْطِنٍ حِرْصا
Eager for the upright faith and its victory,
With his red standard provoking the enemies
And harboring no inward greed for the world.
To his white faith, enraged and resolute
بِرَايَتِهِwith his banner الحَمراءred يَصْطَلِمُannihilates العِدَىthe enemies
بِرَايَتِهِ الحَمراء يَصْطَلِمُ العِدَى
لِمِلَّتِهِfor his faith البَيْضَاءpure-white غَضْبَانَwrathful مُقْتَصَّاexacting retribution
لِمِلَّتِهِ البَيْضَاء غَضْبَانَ مُقْتَصَّا
With his red banner he annihilates the foes,
The deluded hoped in vain for his five towers
Wrathful and avenging for his pure-white faith.
So their steeds met the wastes' expanse
وَمَاand never أَمَّلَhoped for العَافُونَseekers of bounty خَمْسَthe five بَنَانِهِof his fingers
وَمَا أَمَّلَ العَافُونَ خَمْسَ بَنَانِهِ
فَلاقَتْthen encountered مَطَايَاهُمtheir mounts بِطَيِّin traversing الفَلاthe wastes خَمْصاhunger
فَلاقَتْ مَطَايَاهُم بِطَيِّ الفَلا خَمْصا
No seekers ever hoped for the bounty of his five fingers
His shade suffices you seeking bounty
Only to find their mounts hungry while crossing the wastes.
In shade lies what suffices you to await high noon
تَهَلُّلُهُhis radiant smile يُغْنيَكَspares you أنْhaving to تَطْلُبَseek الغِنَىwealth
تَهَلُّلُهُ يُغْنيَكَ أنْ تَطْلُبَ الغِنَى
وفِيand in الظِّلِّthe shadow ماis what يَكْفيكspares you أنْhaving to تَرْقُبَwatch for الشَّخْصاthe figure
وفِي الظِّلِّ ما يَكْفيك أنْ تَرْقُبَ الشَّخْصا
His radiant smile spares you the need to seek wealth,
O state of letters and knowledge, forgive
And the shadow suffices without your watching for the figure itself.
One eloquent, surpassing in those sweets when eloquent
أَيَاO دَولَةَrealm of الآدابِletters والعِلْمِand learning سَامِحِيindulge
أَيَا دَولَةَ الآدابِ والعِلْمِ سَامِحِي
بَليغاًan eloquent man إِذاwhen أَفْضىhe approaches لتِلكَto those الحُلَىornaments أفْصَىfalls short
بَليغاً إِذا أَفْضى لتِلكَ الحُلَى أفْصَى
O realm of letters and learning, indulge
Endure in splendor for the age and adornment
An eloquent man who, approaching those ornaments, falls short.
Your plenty does not please us to withhold remotely
ودُومِيand remain بَهاءًsplendor لِلزَّمانِfor the age وَزِينَةًand adornment
ودُومِي بَهاءً لِلزَّمانِ وَزِينَةً
وجُودُكand your generosity لاnot يَرْضَىaccepts لَنَاfor us فَيْضُهُits flood القَبْصَاmere pinches
وجُودُك لا يَرْضَى لَنَا فَيْضُهُ القَبْصَا
And remain the age's splendor and adornment;
No perfection is safe from loss
And your generosity's flood will not accept mere pinches for us.
But this perfect being secures against loss
فَكُلُّfor every تَمامٍperfection لَيْسَnot يُؤْمَنُis safe from نَقْصُهits diminution
فَكُلُّ تَمامٍ لَيْسَ يُؤْمَنُ نَقْصُه
وَهذاbut this تَمامٌperfection باهِرٌdazzling يَأمَنُis safe from النَّقْصَاdiminution
وَهذا تَمامٌ باهِرٌ يَأمَنُ النَّقْصَا
For every perfection is liable to diminish,
But this dazzling perfection is safe from decline.
Partial English translation: 98 of 100 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1