مُهَجٌhearts تُساقُare driven إلَىtoward الرَّدَىdeath فَتُشَاقand are stirred to longing
مُهَجٌ تُساقُ إلَى الرَّدَى فَتُشَاق
مَاwhat لاnot يُطَاقُcan be borne يُكَلَّفُare burdened with العُشَّاقُthe lovers
مَا لا يُطَاقُ يُكَلَّفُ العُشَّاقُ
Souls are driven toward death, then racked with longing.
Hearts are driven toward death and stirred to longing.
Lovers are burdened with what cannot be borne.
Lovers are burdened with what cannot be borne.
للَّهِby God منْwhat a فَرَقٍdread أَبادَdestroyed ذَماءهُمْtheir last spark of life
للَّهِ منْ فَرَقٍ أَبادَ ذَماءهُمْ
هَجْرٌestrangement أَباحَmade lawful دِمَاءَهُمْtheir blood وَفِرَاقُand separation
هَجْرٌ أَباحَ دِمَاءَهُمْ وَفِرَاقُ
By God, how many separations have drained their last lifeblood—
By God, what dread has quenched their last spark of life!
desertion that made their blood lawful to shed, and parting.
Estrangement and separation have made their blood lawful.
مَاwhatever أَسْأَرَتْleft over مِنْهاof them المَهَاthe oryx وَعُيُونُهاand their eyes
مَا أَسْأَرَتْ مِنْها المَهَا وَعُيُونُها
سَارَتْtraveled إلَيْهِtoward it تُريقُهُspilling it الأَشْواقُlongings
سَارَتْ إلَيْهِ تُريقُهُ الأَشْواقُ
How swiftly the gazelles—and their eyes—have fled from it!
Whatever the oryx and their eyes left of those hearts,
They journeyed toward him, while longings poured that lifeblood away.
longings sought out and spilled away.
أَبَداًalways لَهُمfor them شَرقٌchoking بِفَيْضِon the flood of دُمُوعِهمْtheir tears
أَبَداً لَهُم شَرقٌ بِفَيْضِ دُمُوعِهمْ
وَسَواءٌand alike الإظلامُdarkness والإشْرَاقُand daylight
وَسَواءٌ الإظلامُ والإشْرَاقُ
Forever they choke upon the flood of their tears;
Forever they choke on the flood of their tears,
darkness and daybreak are alike to them.
and darkness and daylight are alike to them.
تَجْرِيthey run وَلاand no مَيْدَانَracecourse إِلاexcept صَفْحَةٌa cheek
تَجْرِي وَلا مَيْدَانَ إِلا صَفْحَةٌ
خَيْلاًlike horses ولَكِنْand yet شُقْرُهاtheir chestnut steeds السّبَّاقُthe foremost racers
خَيْلاً ولَكِنْ شُقْرُها السّبَّاقُ
They race, with no course but the surface of a cheek—
They run, with no racecourse but a cheek,
horses—but their chestnut ones lead the race.
like horses, yet their chestnut steeds lead the race.
إنْif لاحَflashes بَرْقٌlightning أَوْor تَرَنَّمَsings أَوْرَقٌa gray dove
إنْ لاحَ بَرْقٌ أَوْ تَرَنَّمَ أَوْرَقٌ
صَبَتِyearned الضُّلوعthe ribs وَصابَتِand poured الأَحْداقُthe eyes
صَبَتِ الضُّلوع وَصابَتِ الأَحْداقُ
If lightning flashes, or a gray dove breaks into song,
If lightning flashes or a gray dove sings,
hearts yearn, and eyes rain down.
their ribs stir with longing, and their eyes pour tears.
رَقُّواthey grew tender حَواشِيَin disposition فاسْتَرَقَّهُمso enslaved them الهَوَىpassion
رَقُّوا حَواشِيَ فاسْتَرَقَّهُم الهَوَى
ياah رُبَّmany a حُرٍّfree man نَالَهُbefell him اسْتِرْقَاقُenslavement
يا رُبَّ حُرٍّ نَالَهُ اسْتِرْقَاقُ
Their tenderest parts softened, and passion enslaved them—
They grew tender in disposition, and passion enslaved them.
many a free man has been overtaken by bondage.
Ah, how many a free man has fallen into bondage!
مَلَكَتْهُمُpossessed them البِيضُthe fair women الحِسَانُthe beautiful فَلَمْso not يَكُنْwas
مَلَكَتْهُمُ البِيضُ الحِسَانُ فَلَمْ يَكُنْ
مِنْهُمfrom them علَىagainst المُلكِthe dominion العنيفِthe harsh إِباقُflight from bondage
مِنْهُم علَى المُلكِ العنيفِ إِباقُ
The fair, lovely women possessed them, and not one of them
The fair beauties possessed them, and there was no
escaped from beneath that harsh dominion.
flight from that harsh dominion on their part.
وَمِنand among العَجَائِبِthe wonders أخْذُهُنَّtheir seizing قُلوبَهُمtheir hearts
وَمِن العَجَائِبِ أخْذُهُنَّ قُلوبَهُم
غَصْباًby force فَلاso not يُرْجَىis hoped for لَهاfor them استِحْقَاقُrightful reclamation
غَصْباً فَلا يُرْجَى لَها استِحْقَاقُ
Among the wonders is their seizing of men's hearts
And among the wonders is the women's seizure of their hearts
by force, though no rightful claim to them can be hoped for.
by force, with no hope of reclaiming them by right.
وَمِنand from الزمَانِTime وعُنْفِهِand its harshness صُوِّرْنَthey were fashioned لاno
وَمِن الزمَانِ وعُنْفِهِ صُوِّرْنَ لا
عَطْفٌkindness يَجُدْنَthey bestow بهِwith it وَلاand no إِشْفَاقُcompassion
عَطْفٌ يَجُدْنَ بهِ وَلا إِشْفَاقُ
They were fashioned from Time and all its harshness: no
And from Time and its harshness they were fashioned: no
tenderness do they grant, nor any pity.
kindness do they bestow, nor any compassion.
أَشْبَهْنَهُthey resemble it فيin حَلِّundoing مَاwhat يَعْقُدْنَهُthey bind it
أَشْبَهْنَهُ في حَلِّ مَا يَعْقُدْنَهُ
غَدْراًtreacherously فَلاso no عَهْدٌpledge وَلاand no مِيثَاقُcovenant
غَدْراً فَلا عَهْدٌ وَلا مِيثَاقُ
They resemble Time in undoing whatever they bind,
They resemble it in undoing what they bind,
treacherously—there is neither pledge nor covenant.
treacherously: there is neither pledge nor covenant.
يَأْبَىhe refuses التِيthe woman whose مَاnot جَالَswung حيناًonce حِجْلُهاher anklet
يَأْبَى التِي مَا جَالَ حيناً حِجْلُها
وَلَهاand she has وِشاحٌa jeweled sash جائِلٌswinging loosely ونِطَاقُand a girdle
وَلَها وِشاحٌ جائِلٌ ونِطَاقُ
He spurns the woman whose anklet has never stirred for a moment,
He refuses her whose anklet never once swung,
though she has a swaying sash and girdle.
while her sash and girdle swing loosely.
مِنْfrom دُونِهاbefore her حُجُبٌscreens غلاظٌthick دٌونَهاbefore them
مِنْ دُونِها حُجُبٌ غلاظٌ دٌونَها
قُضْبٌswords صَقِيلاتُpolished المُتُونِthe backs رِقَاقُslender
قُضْبٌ صَقِيلاتُ المُتُونِ رِقَاقُ
Between him and her are heavy veils, and before those
Thick screens stand before her; before them stand
polished blades, slender along their backs.
slender swords with polished backs.
رَيْحَانَةُa basil sprig البُسْتَانِthe garden إِلاexcept أَنَّهاthat she
رَيْحَانَةُ البُسْتَانِ إِلا أَنَّها
مِنْof وَشْيbrocade صَنْعَاءSana'a لَهَاshe has أوْرَاقُleaves
مِنْ وَشْي صَنْعَاء لَهَا أوْرَاقُ
A sprig of basil from the garden—except that
A basil sprig of the garden, except that
her leaves are brocade woven in Sana'a.
her leaves are made of Sana'a brocade.
يُعْنَىhe cares بِهاfor her لَوْif only أَنَّهاthat she تُعْنَىcared بهِfor him
يُعْنَى بِها لَوْ أَنَّها تُعْنَى بهِ
عَانٍa captive لَهfor him بَرحُthe anguish of الغَرامِlove وِثَاقُbonds
عَانٍ لَه بَرحُ الغَرامِ وِثَاقُ
He cares for her—if only she would care for him—
He cares for her—if only she cared for him—
a captive whom love's grievous torment holds in chains.
a captive whose bonds are the anguish of love.
نَذَرَتْvowed دَمِيmy blood قَبلَbefore اقْتِراحِrequesting عِنَاقِهاher embrace
نَذَرَتْ دَمِي قَبلَ اقْتِراحِ عِنَاقِها
فِئَةٌa band لَهاit has نَحوَtoward الأَذَىharm إِعْنَاقُswift advance
فِئَةٌ لَها نَحوَ الأَذَى إِعْنَاقُ
She vowed my blood before I had even sought her embrace;
My blood was vowed to be shed before I sought her embrace,
and a band of hers rushes headlong toward harm.
by a band quick to rush toward harm.
لَمdid not تَدْرِknow أَنِّيَthat I فيin جوَارِthe protection of خَليفَةٍa caliph
لَم تَدْرِ أَنِّيَ في جوَارِ خَليفَةٍ
بِيَمينِهِin his right hand الآجالُlifespans والأرْزاقُand sustenance
بِيَمينِهِ الآجالُ والأرْزاقُ
She did not know that I dwell beneath a caliph's protection,
It did not know I was under a caliph's protection,
in whose right hand lie appointed lifespans and provisions.
in whose right hand lie lifespans and sustenance.
لاnot يُشْتَكَىis complained of فيin عَصْرِهِhis age بِإِضَافَةٍof hardship
لا يُشْتَكَى في عَصْرِهِ بِإِضَافَةٍ
وَلَهُand he has بِمَاwith what يَسَعُencompasses المُنَىwishes إِطْلاقُunrestricted giving
وَلَهُ بِمَا يَسَعُ المُنَى إِطْلاقُ
In his reign no grievance is voiced over imposition or constraint,
In his age, none complains of straitened means,
while his authority over all that death encompasses is absolute.
and his largesse is ample enough for every wish.
رَسَخَتْtook firm root مَنَابُتُهُhis roots الكَرِيمَةُthe noble فيin النَّدَىgenerosity
رَسَخَتْ مَنَابُتُهُ الكَرِيمَةُ في النَّدَى
وَتَبَحْبَحَتْand spread at ease فيat الذُّرْوَةِthe summit الأَعْراقُancestral roots
وَتَبَحْبَحَتْ في الذُّرْوَةِ الأَعْراقُ
His noble roots stand firmly planted in generosity,
His noble roots are firmly planted in generosity,
and his ancestral branches spread spaciously across the summit.
and his ancestral roots spread at ease on the summit.
مَلِكٌa king أقامَset upright صَغَاthe imbalance of الدِّيانَةِreligion والدُّنَىand worldly affairs
مَلِكٌ أقامَ صَغَا الدِّيانَةِ والدُّنَى
فَصَغَتْso inclined إلَىtoward سُلْطَانِهِhis sovereignty الآفَاقُthe horizons
فَصَغَتْ إلَى سُلْطَانِهِ الآفَاقُ
A king who straightened the crookedness of religion and worldly life,
A king who righted the imbalance of faith and worldly affairs,
so every horizon's dominion inclined toward him.
so the horizons inclined toward his sovereignty.
تَاقَتْyearned إليْهِfor him وإنَّهُand indeed he لَيَلُمُّهَاsurely gathers them
تَاقَتْ إليْهِ وإنَّهُ لَيَلُمُّهَا
بالصِّدِwith proud chiefs (uncertain reading) مِنْamong أَمْلائِهِhis retinue تَوَّاقُfull of longing
بالصِّدِ مِنْ أَمْلائِهِ تَوَّاقُ
The horizons yearned for him, though he fills them
They yearned for him, and indeed he gathers them in,
with eminent men whom his aloofness leaves yearning.
eagerly, with the proud chiefs among his retinue (reading uncertain).
هَذِيthese المَمَالِكُkingdoms والمُلُوكand kings لأَمْرِهِto his command
هَذِي المَمَالِكُ والمُلُوك لأَمْرِهِ
تَنْقَادُsubmit طيِّعَةًwillingly كَمَاjust as تَنْسَاقُthey are led
تَنْقَادُ طيِّعَةً كَمَا تَنْسَاقُ
These realms and kings submit to his command,
These kingdoms and kings, at his command,
yielding obediently, just as they are led.
yield willingly, as they are led.
سَتُجيبُهُwill answer him عَقِبَafter المَغَارِبِthe western lands شَامُهاtheir Syria
سَتُجيبُهُ عَقِبَ المَغَارِبِ شَامُها
وَسَتَقْتَدِيand will follow يَمَنٌYemen بِهِhis example وعِرَاقُand Iraq
وَسَتَقْتَدِي يَمَنٌ بِهِ وعِرَاقُ
After the Maghrib, Syria shall answer him,
Their Syria will answer him after the western lands,
and Yemen and Iraq shall follow his example.
and Yemen and Iraq will follow his example.
مَنْwho لِلعَواصِمِfor the capitals أنْthat تَفُوزَthey gain بعِصْمَةٍprotection
مَنْ لِلعَواصِمِ أنْ تَفُوزَ بعِصْمَةٍ
وَبِماand through what يُديرُhe wields تفَتَّحُare opened الأَغْلاقُthe locks
وَبِما يُديرُ تفَتَّحُ الأَغْلاقُ
Who but he can bring the strongholds safely under protection
Who can ensure the capitals win protection?
and, through what he devises, spring every lock open?
And through what he wields, the locks are opened.
كَفَلَتْpledged فَيَالِقُهُhis battalions بأنْthat تَدَعَthey leave العِدَىthe foes
كَفَلَتْ فَيَالِقُهُ بأنْ تَدَعَ العِدَى
يَوْمَon the day of الهيَاجِbattle وهَامُهاand their heads أفْلاقُsplit fragments
يَوْمَ الهيَاجِ وهَامُها أفْلاقُ
His legions guarantee that they will leave the enemy,
His battalions have pledged to leave the foe,
on battle's day, with their heads split apart.
on battle's day, with their heads in fragments.
ياO آلَhouse of أيوبَAyyub اضْعَنُواdepart عَنْfrom مِصْرِهِhis Egypt
يا آلَ أيوبَ اضْعَنُوا عَنْ مِصْرِهِ
أَوْor أَذْعنُواsubmit فَلَهُfor he has بهَاin it إحْرَاقُsetting ablaze
أَوْ أَذْعنُوا فَلَهُ بهَا إحْرَاقُ
O House of Ayyub, depart from your Egypt,
O house of Ayyub, depart from his Egypt,
or submit—for he has the power to burn it.
or submit, for he has burning in store for it.
لاno عَائِقٌobstacle يَثْنِيهِturns him back عَنْهَاfrom it مَنْwho رَأَىhas seen
لا عَائِقٌ يَثْنِيهِ عَنْهَا مَنْ رَأَى
لَيْثَthe lion of العَرِينthe lair عَنِfrom العَرِينِthe lair يُعَاقُbeing kept back
لَيْثَ العَرِين عَنِ العَرِينِ يُعَاقُ
No obstacle can turn him from it: who has ever seen
No obstacle turns him from it; who has seen
the lion of the den barred from his own den?
the lion of the lair kept from his lair?
أَماas for بَنُوthe sons of يَعْقُوبَYa'qub قَدْindeed أوْدَىbrought ruin بِهِمْupon them
أَما بَنُو يَعْقُوبَ قَدْ أوْدَى بِهِمْ
مِنْfrom بَأْسِهِhis might الإرْهَابُterror والإرْهَاقُand crushing pressure
مِنْ بَأْسِهِ الإرْهَابُ والإرْهَاقُ
As for the sons of Jacob, already ruin has fallen upon them
As for the sons of Ya'qub, they have been brought to ruin
through the terror of his might and its crushing force.
by the terror and crushing pressure of his might.
عَدِمُواthey lost الوجُودَexistence فَوَاجِئاًsudden blows وفَواجِعاًand calamities
عَدِمُوا الوجُودَ فَوَاجِئاً وفَواجِعاً
وَجَدواthey found بِهاin them طَعْمَthe taste of الحِمَامdeath وَذَاقُواand tasted
وَجَدوا بِها طَعْمَ الحِمَام وَذَاقُوا
They lost existence beneath sudden blows and calamities,
They lost existence to sudden blows and calamities;
and there they found and tasted the savor of death.
in them they found death's taste, and tasted it.
رِقُّenslavement المُلوكِof kings عَلَىupon عِتَاقِthe noble-bred جيَادِهِhis steeds
رِقُّ المُلوكِ عَلَى عِتَاقِ جيَادِهِ
وَعَلَىand upon جَدَاهُhis bounty وَمَنِّهِand his favor الإعْتَاقُemancipation
وَعَلَى جَدَاهُ وَمَنِّهِ الإعْتَاقُ
The bondage of kings rides upon his noble steeds;
The enslavement of kings is borne on his thoroughbred steeds,
through his bounty and favor comes their emancipation.
and emancipation rests upon his bounty and favor.
عَمَّتْencompassed سَعَادَتُهُhis good fortune الوُجودَall existence وإنَّمَاand only
عَمَّتْ سَعَادَتُهُ الوُجودَ وإنَّمَا
يَشْقَىsuffer بِهاthrough it المُرَّادُthe rebels والمُرَّاقُand the renegades
يَشْقَى بِها المُرَّادُ والمُرَّاقُ
His felicity has pervaded all existence; only
His good fortune has embraced all existence; only
rebels and renegades are made wretched by it.
the rebels and renegades suffer through it.
أَحْياrevived مَوَاتَthe dead land of الأَرْضِthe earth يَحْيَىYahya المُرْتَضَىal-Murtada (the chosen)
أَحْيا مَوَاتَ الأَرْضِ يَحْيَى المُرْتَضَى
حَتَّىuntil احْتَذاهُfollowed his example الوَابِلُthe downpour الغَرَّاقُthe flooding
حَتَّى احْتَذاهُ الوَابِلُ الغَرَّاقُ
Yahya al-Murtada revived the earth's dead lands,
Yahya al-Murtada brought the dead earth to life,
until the drowning downpour itself took him as its model.
until the flooding downpour took him as its model.
بَدْرُthe full moon of الهِدَايَةِguidance بَيْدَexcept أَنَّthat كَمَالَهُhis fullness
بَدْرُ الهِدَايَةِ بَيْدَ أَنَّ كَمَالَهُ
لاَnot يَعْتَريهِbefalls it لِلْمحَاقِby lunar darkening لِحَاقُan overtaking
لاَ يَعْتَريهِ لِلْمحَاقِ لِحَاقُ
A full moon of guidance—yet his perfection
A full moon of guidance, except that his fullness
can never be overtaken by the waning moon.
is never overtaken by the moon's darkening.
فَوْقَabove الكَواكِبِthe stars طُنِّبَتْwere pitched أبْياتُهُhis tents
فَوْقَ الكَواكِبِ طُنِّبَتْ أبْياتُهُ
فَلَهُso he has هُناكَthere سُرادِقٌa pavilion وَرِوَاقُand an awning
فَلَهُ هُناكَ سُرادِقٌ وَرِوَاقُ
Above the stars his lofty tents were pitched,
Above the stars his tents are pitched,
and there they have pavilion and portico.
so there he has a pavilion and an awning.
إنْif باتَspends the night لِلرَّحْمَانِto the All-Merciful يَعْنُوbows humbly وَجْهُهُhis face
إنْ باتَ لِلرَّحْمَانِ يَعْنُو وَجْهُهُ
فإِلَيْهِthen to him ظَلَّتْremained by day تَخْضَعُbow الأَعْنَاقُthe necks
فإِلَيْهِ ظَلَّتْ تَخْضَعُ الأَعْنَاقُ
If at night he bows his face before the All-Merciful,
If by night his face bows before the All-Merciful,
then all day long the necks of others bow to him.
then by day necks remain bowed before him.
فيconcerning غَيْرِهِothers than him يَقَعُarises الخِلافُdisagreement ضَرُورَةًinevitably
في غَيْرِهِ يَقَعُ الخِلافُ ضَرُورَةً
وعَلَيْهِand upon him حَقّاًtruly يَلْتَقِيmeet الأَصْفَاقُall sides
وعَلَيْهِ حَقّاً يَلْتَقِي الأَصْفَاقُ
With anyone other than him, disagreement must inevitably arise;
Disagreement over others is inevitable,
upon him, in truth, all hands meet in allegiance.
but upon him all sides truly agree.
لِلْحلمِfor forbearance سُوقٌa market فيin نَفَاقٍbrisk demand عِنْدهُwith him
لِلْحلمِ سُوقٌ في نَفَاقٍ عِنْدهُ
وبِمَاand through what يُخَوِّلُhe bestows تَكْسُدgo unsold الأَعْلاقُprecious treasures
وبِمَا يُخَوِّلُ تَكْسُد الأَعْلاقُ
For clemency there is a thriving market at his court,
Forbearance enjoys a thriving market with him,
while his largesse leaves all precious wares unsold.
and what he bestows leaves precious treasures unsold.
يُغْضِيhe lowers his eyes وَيُطْرِقُand bows his head والكَريمُand the noble man جِبِلَّةًby nature
يُغْضِي وَيُطْرِقُ والكَريمُ جِبِلَّةً
مِنْof شَأْنِهِhis disposition الإغْضَاءُlowering the eyes والإطْرَاقُand bowing the head
مِنْ شَأْنِهِ الإغْضَاءُ والإطْرَاقُ
He overlooks offenses and lowers his gaze; the noble man, by nature,
He lowers his eyes and bows his head; the innately noble
is given to forbearance and modest restraint.
have lowered eyes and bowed heads as their wont.
لَيْسَis not اليَسارُprosperity سِوَىother than رِضاهُhis favor وَلاnor الغِنَىwealth
لَيْسَ اليَسارُ سِوَى رِضاهُ وَلا الغِنَى
مَنْwhoever فَاتَهُit eludes him أزْرَىhumbles بهِhim الإمْلاقُpoverty
مَنْ فَاتَهُ أزْرَى بهِ الإمْلاقُ
There is no prosperity except his favor, nor any wealth apart from it;
Prosperity and wealth are nothing but his favor;
whoever misses it is humiliated by destitution.
whoever misses it is humbled by poverty.
دامَتْmay remain لنَاfor us الأَيَّامُthe days أَعْيَاداًfestivals بهِthrough him
دامَتْ لنَا الأَيَّامُ أَعْيَاداً بهِ
وَلهَاهُand his gifts فيaround أجْيادِناour necks أَطْواقُnecklaces
وَلهَاهُ في أجْيادِنا أَطْواقُ
May our days remain perpetual feasts through him,
May our days remain festivals through him,
and may his gifts be necklaces upon our necks.
and his gifts are necklaces about our necks.
وَالفِطْرُand the Feast of Breaking Fast مِثْلُlike النَّحْرِthe Feast of Sacrifice فيfor أعْدَائِهِhis enemies
وَالفِطْرُ مِثْلُ النَّحْرِ في أعْدَائِهِ
ممَّاbecause of what يُسالُis made to flow نَجيعُهاtheir dark blood وَيُراقُand is spilled
ممَّا يُسالُ نَجيعُها وَيُراقُ
Among his enemies, the Feast of Breaking Fast is like the Feast of Sacrifice,
And for his enemies, the Feast of Breaking Fast is like the Feast of Sacrifice,
for their dark blood flows and is poured away.
with their dark blood made to flow and be spilled.
Sol 6.1