وعُلىand glories حَفْصِيّةٍHafsid فِهْرِيّةٍFihrid
وعُلى حَفْصِيّةٍ فِهْرِيّةٍ
ذَهَبتْcarried away وَأْداًby burying alive بِعَلْياwith the lofty glory of أُدَدِUdad
ذَهَبتْ وَأْداً بِعَلْيا أُدَدِ
And glories, Hafsid and Fihrid,
On a Hafsian princess, noble and virtuous,
Have buried Udad's lofty glory alive.
She set out, sacrificing herself for the Exalted Ali.
هَذِهِthese آثَارُهُhis deeds فاسْتَمِعواso listen
هَذِهِ آثَارُهُ فاسْتَمِعوا
سُوَراًscriptural chapters مَتلُوّةًrecited فيin المَشْهَدِthe assembly
سُوَراً مَتلُوّةً في المَشْهَدِ
These are his deeds; listen, then,
These are his signs, so listen,
To chapters of scripture recited in the assembly.
Walls inscribed in the open field.
وَاستَجِيبواand respond لِمُنَاديto the herald of أمْرِهِhis command
وَاستَجِيبوا لِمُنَادي أمْرِهِ
تَخلَعُواyou will cast off الغَيَّerror بِلُبسِby donning الرّشَدِright guidance
تَخلَعُوا الغَيَّ بِلُبسِ الرّشَدِ
And answer the herald of his command:
And answer the caller's command,
You will cast off error by donning right guidance.
Shed your ignorance and don the garb of righteousness.
إنَّماonly أَنْتُمْyou لِيَحيَىto Yahya المُرْتَضَىthe Chosen (al-Murtada)
إنَّما أَنْتُمْ لِيَحيَى المُرْتَضَى
خَوَلٌservants مِنْfrom among أحْمرred أوْor أسودِblack
خَوَلٌ مِنْ أحْمر أوْ أسودِ
You are but Yahya al-Murtada's
You are but servants of the Chosen Imam,
Servants, whether red or black.
Whether you are ruddy or swarthy.
مَلِكٌa king مُدّwas reinforced لَهُfor him النّصْرُvictory بِمَنْby those who
مَلِكٌ مُدّ لَهُ النّصْرُ بِمَنْ
فيin السّمواتِthe heavens العُلَىthe highest مِنْof مَدَدِreinforcements
في السّمواتِ العُلَى مِنْ مَدَدِ
A king whose victory was reinforced by those
A king whose victory is aided by the highest
In the highest heavens, as reinforcements.
Heavens with endless aid.
لَيْسَthere is not لِلأَشْقَيْنِfor the most wretched مِنهُagainst him عاصِمٌa protector
لَيْسَ لِلأَشْقَيْنِ مِنهُ عاصِمٌ
وَلَوand even if احْتَلُّواthey occupied مَحَلَّthe station of الأَسْعَدِthe most fortunate
وَلَو احْتَلُّوا مَحَلَّ الأَسْعَدِ
The most wretched have no protector against him,
The wretched two have no protector against him,
Even if they occupy the most fortunate one's place.
Though they occupy the station of the fortunate.
كَمhow many هَوىfell مِنof كافِرٍan unbeliever فيinto كافِرِa grave
كَم هَوى مِن كافِرٍ في كافِرِ
وانْضَوَىand took shelter مِنof مُلْحِدa heretic فيin ملحَدِa tomb
وانْضَوَى مِن مُلْحِد في ملحَدِ
How many an unbeliever has fallen into a grave,
How many a disbelieving infidel fell upon another,
And many a heretic has sheltered in a tomb!
And how many an atheist retreated into unbelief!
طالَماoften أرْسَلَhe sent مِنْfrom صَعْدَتِهِhis spear
طالَما أرْسَلَ مِنْ صَعْدَتِهِ
جارِحاًa bird of prey يُغرَىis incited بِصَيدِto hunt الأَصْيَدِthe proud
جارِحاً يُغرَى بِصَيدِ الأَصْيَدِ
Often he has loosed from his spear
Often he sends forth from his lofty seat,
A bird of prey urged to hunt the proud.
A fierce attacker aroused to hunt the finest prey.
هَذِهِthis تَمْرُقُpierces through منهُout of him بائِداًperishing
هَذِهِ تَمْرُقُ منهُ بائِداً
فيin المَجالِthe arena الضّنكِthe cramped فَخرthe pride of الأيِّدِthe mighty
في المَجالِ الضّنكِ فَخر الأيِّدِ
This pierces through him as he perishes,
There they flee before him in defeat
In the cramped arena—the pride of the mighty.
In the narrow, straitened battleground.
جَأشُهُhis courage لَمّاwhen احتَواهُsurrounded him جَيْشُهُhis army
جَأشُهُ لَمّا احتَواهُ جَيْشُهُ
صارَbecame أرْسَىmore firmly rooted مَوْقِفاًin stance مِنْthan أُحُدِUhud
صارَ أرْسَى مَوْقِفاً مِنْ أُحُدِ
His courage, when his army surrounded him,
His brave army, when it clashed with the enemy
Became more firmly rooted in its stance than Uhud.
Became firmer than Uhud.
وَمَتىand whenever قارَعَhe fought أقْرانَpeers in الوَغَىbattle
وَمَتى قارَعَ أقْرانَ الوَغَى
عَلّمhe taught الأُسْدthe lions حَذارَwariness of النَّقَدِlittle sheep
عَلّم الأُسْد حَذارَ النَّقَدِ
And whenever he fought his peers in battle,
And when he fought the champions of turmoil,
He taught lions to beware of little sheep.
He taught the lions caution and wariness.
نُجِّدَwas adorned القَصْرُthe palace لَهُfor him فاعتاضَso he took instead مِنin place of
نُجِّدَ القَصْرُ لَهُ فاعتاضَ مِن
حُسْنِهِits beauty الخَيْمَةَthe tent بَينَamong الأنْجُدِthe highlands
حُسْنِهِ الخَيْمَةَ بَينَ الأنْجُدِ
The palace was adorned for him, yet he exchanged
The palace was renewed for him, yet he disdained it,
Its beauty for a tent among the highlands.
Preferring the tent between the sand dunes.
وازْدَرَىand disdained الحُلّةthe robe صَنْعانِيّةًfrom Sana'a
وازْدَرَى الحُلّة صَنْعانِيّةً
رَافِلاًstrutting فيin سابِغاتِfull-length coats of الزّرَدِchain mail
رَافِلاً في سابِغاتِ الزّرَدِ
And he disdained a robe from Sana'a,
And he scorned a Yemeni robe,
Strutting in full-length coats of mail,
Lavish with green brocade,
فَوْقَupon فَرْشٍa bed مِنْof مَواضٍkeen blades فُلُقٍcleaving
فَوْقَ فَرْشٍ مِنْ مَواضٍ فُلُقٍ
فيinto his enemies عِداهُand tall spears وَعِوالٍshattered spears قُصُدِshattered
في عِداهُ وَعِوالٍ قُصُدِ
Upon a bed of keen swords that cleave
Above a mattress of layered felt
His enemies, and tall, shattered spears.
On his personal camel for riding.
فَضْلُهُhis excellence بادٍapparent عَلَىto النّاسِthe people بِماthrough what
فَضْلُهُ بادٍ عَلَى النّاسِ بِما
خَطّhe wrote منof ذاكthat وأَوْلَىand bestowed منْof يَدِa favor
خَطّ من ذاك وأَوْلَى منْ يَدِ
His excellence is plain to all through what
His superiority on people is manifest
He has written of it and the favors he has bestowed.
Beyond any doubt.
إِنif يَكُنbe طاغِيَةُthe tyrant of الرُّومِthe Romans بَغَىhas transgressed
إِن يَكُن طاغِيَةُ الرُّومِ بَغَى
فَظُبَىthen the sword-edges of الهِنْدِIndia لَهُfor him بِالْمرْصَدِin ambush
فَظُبَى الهِنْدِ لَهُ بِالْمرْصَدِ
If the tyrant of the Romans has transgressed,
If the Roman tyrant is hostile,
Then the edges of Indian swords lie in wait for him.
The Indian swords are ready to repel him.
لَمnot يَكَدْscheme لَوif كانَhe were يَدْريto know غَيرَهhis opponent
لَم يَكَدْ لَو كانَ يَدْري غَيرَه
فيin محاباةِindulging هَوىًa desire لَمْnot يَكدِfalter
في محاباةِ هَوىً لَمْ يَكدِ
He would not have schemed, had he known his opponent,
He scarcely would have known otherwise
In indulging a desire that never flagged.
In his lustful passion.
غَرّهdeceived him البُعدُdistance وعنand in قرْبٍa short time يَرىhe will see
غَرّه البُعدُ وعن قرْبٍ يَرى
جِزْيةَthe tribute of الكُفْرِunbelief تُؤَدَّىis paid عَنby يَدِhand
جِزْيةَ الكُفْرِ تُؤَدَّى عَن يَدِ
Distance deceived him; soon he will see
Distance deluded him, yet from nearby he sees
The tribute of unbelief paid by hand.
The infidel's tribute paid by hand.
سَوْفَwill تَغْشَاهُcome upon him الجَوارِيthe ships مِلؤُهاtheir fill
سَوْفَ تَغْشَاهُ الجَوارِي مِلؤُها
مَلأa host كالأسْدِlike lions ذاتِpossessing اللبَدِmatted manes
مَلأ كالأسْدِ ذاتِ اللبَدِ
Ships will come upon him, filled with
The slave girls will soon overwhelm him,
A host like lions with matted manes.
As lionesses, rapacious and fierce.
كُلُّevery شَيحانَtall warrior تَمطَّىstretched himself مِنfrom مَطاthe back of
كُلُّ شَيحانَ تَمطَّى مِن مَطا
أَدْهَمِblack الصِّبغَةin hue سَهْلِeasy المِقْوَدِto rein
أَدْهَمِ الصِّبغَة سَهْلِ المِقْوَدِ
Each tall warrior stretches up from the back
Every fleet horse, perfectly saddled,
Of a black-hued mount, easy to rein.
Chestnut, smooth-gaited and easy to control.
يَحسَبُhe reckons البَحرَthe sea طَريقاًa road يَبساًdry
يَحسَبُ البَحرَ طَريقاً يَبساً
فَهوَso he يُجرِيهِmakes it race كَطرْفlike a steed أجْرَدِsleek
فَهوَ يُجرِيهِ كَطرْف أجْرَدِ
He reckons the sea a dry road,
He reckons the sea as dry land,
So he sends it racing like a sleek steed.
And makes it flow like a meadow.
زَحفُهُمtheir advance تَحتَbeneath لِواءthe banner of الحَقِّtruth فيin
زَحفُهُم تَحتَ لِواء الحَقِّ في
يَدِthe hand of مَذخورone held in reserve لِدَفْعto repel المُؤْيَدِthe aided one
يَدِ مَذخور لِدَفْع المُؤْيَدِ
Their advance beneath the banner of truth is in
Their march under the banner of Truth, in the hand
The hand of one held in reserve to repel the aided one.
Of the guarded, to repel the supported.
عِزّةthe glory of الجُمْعَةFriday قَدْindeed ضَاعَفَهَاhe has doubled it
عِزّة الجُمْعَة قَدْ ضَاعَفَهَا
فارْتَدَىso donned الذِّلَّةَhumiliation أهْلُthe people of الأحَدِSunday
فارْتَدَى الذِّلَّةَ أهْلُ الأحَدِ
Friday's glory he has doubled,
The glory of Friday has been doubled
So Sunday's people have donned humiliation.
While the people of Sunday suffer disgrace.
وعَلَىand incumbent upon القَائِمِthe upholder بِالتّوحِيدِof divine oneness أَنْto
وعَلَى القَائِمِ بِالتّوحِيدِ أَنْ
يُقْعِدَmake sit التثليثَthe Trinity أدْنَىthe lowest مقْعَدِseat
يُقْعِدَ التثليثَ أدْنَى مقْعَدِ
And the upholder of divine oneness must
And it is for the upholder of Monotheism
Seat the Trinity in the lowest place.
To debase Trinity to the lowest place.
صَرَخَshrieked النّاقوسُthe church bell يَبكِيlamenting يَوْمَهُits day
صَرَخَ النّاقوسُ يَبكِي يَوْمَهُ
لِتَنَاهِيbecause of the utmost extent of عُدَدٍarmaments أوْor عَدَدِnumbers
لِتَنَاهِي عُدَدٍ أوْ عَدَدِ
The church bell shrieked, lamenting its day,
The church bell tolled, weeping for its day,
At the overwhelming extent of armaments or numbers.
As the number of monks diminished.
وَاقْتَدَىand followed the example الرُّهْبَانُthe monks فِيin نُدْبَتِهِlamenting it
وَاقْتَدَى الرُّهْبَانُ فِي نُدْبَتِهِ
بِلَبيدof Labid فيconcerning أَخيهِhis brother أرْبَدِArbad
بِلَبيد في أَخيهِ أرْبَدِ
And the monks, in their lament for it, followed
The monks, in their mourning, followed
Labid mourning his brother Arbad.
Labeed's elegy for his brother Arbad.
أيُّهاO المَوْلىlord إلَيكُمto you مِدَحاًpraises
أيُّها المَوْلى إلَيكُم مِدَحاً
خَصّهاsingled them out سؤْدَدُكُمyour nobility بالسُؤْدَدِwith nobility
خَصّها سؤْدَدُكُم بالسُؤْدَدِ
O lord, here are praises for you,
O Master, to you I offer praise,
Graced by your nobility with nobility.
Reserved for your unmatched nobility.
حَبّرتembroidered مِنهاfrom them يَراعِيmy reed pen حِبراًbrocades
حَبّرت مِنها يَراعِي حِبراً
للندىfor generosity زَهوٌpride بِهاin them وَسَطَamid الندِيthe assembly
للندى زَهوٌ بِها وَسَطَ الندِي
My reed pen has fashioned from them brocades,
I have penned it, watching over the ink
In which generosity glories amid the assembly.
For the meadow, splendor amidst meadows.
لَوْif تَقَدّمتُI had come earlier بِميلادِيin my birth لَمْnot
لَوْ تَقَدّمتُ بِميلادِي لَمْ
تَتَأخّرُlag عَنbehind أَغانيthe songs of مَعْبَدِMa'bad
تَتَأخّرُ عَن أَغاني مَعْبَدِ
Had my birth come earlier, they would not
Had I been born earlier, I would not have delayed
Have fallen behind the songs of Ma'bad.
My songs for your temple.
قَرّتsettled الحالُlife بِكُمthrough you فيin نِعَمblessings
قَرّت الحالُ بِكُم في نِعَم
أنْطَقَتنِيmade me speak بِالقَوافِيin rhymes الشردِfar-ranging
أنْطَقَتنِي بِالقَوافِي الشردِ
Through you, life has settled into blessings
My state has settled through you in blessings
That made me speak in far-ranging rhymes.
That inspire me with disjointed rhymes.
فَضْلُهُhis excellence بادٍapparent عَلَىto النّاسِthe people بِماthrough what
فَضْلُهُ بادٍ عَلَى النّاسِ بِما
خَطّhe wrote منof ذاكthat وأَوْلَىand bestowed منْof يَدِa favor
خَطّ من ذاك وأَوْلَى منْ يَدِ
His excellence is plain to all through what
His superiority on people is manifest
He has written of it and the favors he has bestowed.
Beyond any doubt.
إِنif يَكُنbe طاغِيَةُthe tyrant of الرُّومِthe Romans بَغَىhas transgressed
إِن يَكُن طاغِيَةُ الرُّومِ بَغَى
فَظُبَىthen the sword-edges of الهِنْدِIndia لَهُfor him بِالْمرْصَدِin ambush
فَظُبَى الهِنْدِ لَهُ بِالْمرْصَدِ
If the tyrant of the Romans has transgressed,
If the Roman tyrant is hostile,
Then the edges of Indian swords lie in wait for him.
The Indian swords are ready to repel him.
لَمnot يَكَدْscheme لَوif كانَhe were يَدْريto know غَيرَهhis opponent
لَم يَكَدْ لَو كانَ يَدْري غَيرَه
فيin محاباةِindulging هَوىًa desire لَمْnot يَكدِfalter
في محاباةِ هَوىً لَمْ يَكدِ
He would not have schemed, had he known his opponent,
He scarcely would have known otherwise
In indulging a desire that never flagged.
In his lustful passion.
غَرّهdeceived him البُعدُdistance وعنand in قرْبٍa short time يَرىhe will see
غَرّه البُعدُ وعن قرْبٍ يَرى
جِزْيةَthe tribute of الكُفْرِunbelief تُؤَدَّىis paid عَنby يَدِhand
جِزْيةَ الكُفْرِ تُؤَدَّى عَن يَدِ
Distance deceived him; soon he will see
Distance deluded him, yet from nearby he sees
The tribute of unbelief paid by hand.
The infidel's tribute paid by hand.
سَوْفَwill تَغْشَاهُcome upon him الجَوارِيthe ships مِلؤُهاtheir fill
سَوْفَ تَغْشَاهُ الجَوارِي مِلؤُها
مَلأa host كالأسْدِlike lions ذاتِpossessing اللبَدِmatted manes
مَلأ كالأسْدِ ذاتِ اللبَدِ
Ships will come upon him, filled with
The slave girls will soon overwhelm him,
A host like lions with matted manes.
As lionesses, rapacious and fierce.
كُلُّevery شَيحانَtall warrior تَمطَّىstretched himself مِنfrom مَطاthe back of
كُلُّ شَيحانَ تَمطَّى مِن مَطا
أَدْهَمِblack الصِّبغَةin hue سَهْلِeasy المِقْوَدِto rein
أَدْهَمِ الصِّبغَة سَهْلِ المِقْوَدِ
Each tall warrior stretches up from the back
Every fleet horse, perfectly saddled,
Of a black-hued mount, easy to rein.
Chestnut, smooth-gaited and easy to control.
يَحسَبُhe reckons البَحرَthe sea طَريقاًa road يَبساًdry
يَحسَبُ البَحرَ طَريقاً يَبساً
فَهوَso he يُجرِيهِmakes it race كَطرْفlike a steed أجْرَدِsleek
فَهوَ يُجرِيهِ كَطرْف أجْرَدِ
He reckons the sea a dry road,
He reckons the sea as dry land,
So he sends it racing like a sleek steed.
And makes it flow like a meadow.
زَحفُهُمtheir advance تَحتَbeneath لِواءthe banner of الحَقِّtruth فيin
زَحفُهُم تَحتَ لِواء الحَقِّ في
يَدِthe hand of مَذخورone held in reserve لِدَفْعto repel المُؤْيَدِthe aided one
يَدِ مَذخور لِدَفْع المُؤْيَدِ
Their advance beneath the banner of truth is in
Their march under the banner of Truth, in the hand
The hand of one held in reserve to repel the aided one.
Of the guarded, to repel the supported.
عِزّةthe glory of الجُمْعَةFriday قَدْindeed ضَاعَفَهَاhe has doubled it
عِزّة الجُمْعَة قَدْ ضَاعَفَهَا
فارْتَدَىso donned الذِّلَّةَhumiliation أهْلُthe people of الأحَدِSunday
فارْتَدَى الذِّلَّةَ أهْلُ الأحَدِ
Friday's glory he has doubled,
The glory of Friday has been doubled
So Sunday's people have donned humiliation.
While the people of Sunday suffer disgrace.
وعَلَىand incumbent upon القَائِمِthe upholder بِالتّوحِيدِof divine oneness أَنْto
وعَلَى القَائِمِ بِالتّوحِيدِ أَنْ
يُقْعِدَmake sit التثليثَthe Trinity أدْنَىthe lowest مقْعَدِseat
يُقْعِدَ التثليثَ أدْنَى مقْعَدِ
And the upholder of divine oneness must
And it is for the upholder of Monotheism
Seat the Trinity in the lowest place.
To debase Trinity to the lowest place.
صَرَخَshrieked النّاقوسُthe church bell يَبكِيlamenting يَوْمَهُits day
صَرَخَ النّاقوسُ يَبكِي يَوْمَهُ
لِتَنَاهِيbecause of the utmost extent of عُدَدٍarmaments أوْor عَدَدِnumbers
لِتَنَاهِي عُدَدٍ أوْ عَدَدِ
The church bell shrieked, lamenting its day,
The church bell tolled, weeping for its day,
At the overwhelming extent of armaments or numbers.
As the number of monks diminished.
وَاقْتَدَىand followed the example الرُّهْبَانُthe monks فِيin نُدْبَتِهِlamenting it
وَاقْتَدَى الرُّهْبَانُ فِي نُدْبَتِهِ
بِلَبيدof Labid فيconcerning أَخيهِhis brother أرْبَدِArbad
بِلَبيد في أَخيهِ أرْبَدِ
And the monks, in their lament for it, followed
The monks, in their mourning, followed
Labid mourning his brother Arbad.
Labeed's elegy for his brother Arbad.
أيُّهاO المَوْلىlord إلَيكُمto you مِدَحاًpraises
أيُّها المَوْلى إلَيكُم مِدَحاً
خَصّهاsingled them out سؤْدَدُكُمyour nobility بالسُؤْدَدِwith nobility
خَصّها سؤْدَدُكُم بالسُؤْدَدِ
O lord, here are praises for you,
O Master, to you I offer praise,
Graced by your nobility with nobility.
Reserved for your unmatched nobility.
حَبّرتembroidered مِنهاfrom them يَراعِيmy reed pen حِبراًbrocades
حَبّرت مِنها يَراعِي حِبراً
للندىfor generosity زَهوٌpride بِهاin them وَسَطَamid الندِيthe assembly
للندى زَهوٌ بِها وَسَطَ الندِي
My reed pen has fashioned from them brocades,
I have penned it, watching over the ink
In which generosity glories amid the assembly.
For the meadow, splendor amidst meadows.
لَوْif تَقَدّمتُI had come earlier بِميلادِيin my birth لَمْnot
لَوْ تَقَدّمتُ بِميلادِي لَمْ
تَتَأخّرُlag عَنbehind أَغانيthe songs of مَعْبَدِMa'bad
تَتَأخّرُ عَن أَغاني مَعْبَدِ
Had my birth come earlier, they would not
Had I been born earlier, I would not have delayed
Have fallen behind the songs of Ma'bad.
My songs for your temple.
قَرّتsettled الحالُlife بِكُمthrough you فيin نِعَمblessings
قَرّت الحالُ بِكُم في نِعَم
أنْطَقَتنِيmade me speak بِالقَوافِيin rhymes الشردِfar-ranging
أنْطَقَتنِي بِالقَوافِي الشردِ
Through you, life has settled into blessings
My state has settled through you in blessings
That made me speak in far-ranging rhymes.
That inspire me with disjointed rhymes.
Sol 6.1