رَأىsaw اللَّهGod مَاwhat أرْضاهُpleased Him منof سَعْيهِhis striving الأَسْنَىnoblest
رَأى اللَّه مَا أرْضاهُ من سَعْيهِ الأَسْنَى
فَجَدَّدَso He renewed بالعَامِin the year الجَدِيدِnew لهُfor him الحُسْنَىthe finest reward
فَجَدَّدَ بالعَامِ الجَدِيدِ لهُ الحُسْنَى
God saw in his noblest striving what pleased Him,
so in the new year He renewed for him the finest reward.
وشَيَّدand strengthened بالتأييدِwith support أرْكانَthe pillars أمْرِهِof his rule
وشَيَّد بالتأييدِ أرْكانَ أمْرِهِ
فلَمso not تُبْقِdid leave لِلأَعداءِfor the enemies صَوْلَتُهُhis onslaught رُكْناa pillar
فلَم تُبْقِ لِلأَعداءِ صَوْلَتُهُ رُكْنا
And with His aid He strengthened the pillars of his rule,
so his onslaught left his enemies no pillar standing.
غَزَتْهُمْinvaded them جُيوشُarmies الرُّعْبِof terror قَبْلَbefore جُيُوشِهِhis armies
غَزَتْهُمْ جُيوشُ الرُّعْبِ قَبْلَ جُيُوشِهِ
فإِنfor if أُخِذُواthey were captured هَوْناًeasily فقَدthen already وُقِذُواthey were battered وَهْناinto weakness
فإِن أُخِذُوا هَوْناً فقَد وُقِذُوا وَهْنا
Armies of terror invaded them before his armies;
if they were captured easily, they had already been battered into weakness.
وعَيَّدَتِand celebrated الأَضْحَىthe Feast of Sacrifice خِلالَamid دِيارِهِمْtheir homes
وعَيَّدَتِ الأَضْحَى خِلالَ دِيارِهِمْ
فَلاso no غَرْوَwonder أنْthat قِيدُواthey were led لِنَحْرِهمto their slaughter بُدْناas sacrificial camels
فَلا غَرْوَ أنْ قِيدُوا لِنَحْرِهم بُدْنا
His armies celebrated the Feast of Sacrifice amid their homes,
so no wonder they were led like sacrificial camels to their slaughter.
ألاbehold تِلْكَthose أعْنَاقُthe necks البِلادِof the lands بِأسْرِهاin their entirety
ألا تِلْكَ أعْنَاقُ البِلادِ بِأسْرِها
خَواضِعbowed لَمَّاafter دَوَّخَhe subdued السَّهْلَthe plain والحَزْناand rugged ground
خَواضِع لَمَّا دَوَّخَ السَّهْلَ والحَزْنا
Behold, the necks of all the lands
are bowed, after he subdued both plain and rugged ground.
أَبَىrefused النَّصْرُvictory أَنْthat يَلْوِيdefault بِدَيْنٍon a debt لِواؤُهits banner
أَبَى النَّصْرُ أَنْ يَلْوِي بِدَيْنٍ لِواؤُه
فَمَنْشُورُهُso its unfurled banner يَطْوِيrolls up المَعَاقِلَthe fortresses والمُدْناand cities
فَمَنْشُورُهُ يَطْوِي المَعَاقِلَ والمُدْنا
Victory refused to let its banner leave a debt unpaid,
so its unfurled banner rolls up fortresses and cities.
إذَاif المَغْرِبُthe Maghrib الأَقْصَىfarthest رَمَىcast بِقِيَادِهits reins
إذَا المَغْرِبُ الأَقْصَى رَمَى بِقِيَادِه
إلَيْهِto him فَماذاthen what يَصْنَعُcan do المَشْرِقُthe East الأَدْنَىnearer
إلَيْهِ فَماذا يَصْنَعُ المَشْرِقُ الأَدْنَى
If the Far Maghrib has surrendered its reins
to him, what can the nearer East do?
كأَنِّيَas though I بالزَّوْراءِbehold al-Zawra تَخْطُبُseeking أمْنَهُhis protection
كأَنِّيَ بالزَّوْراءِ تَخْطُبُ أمْنَهُ
وقَدand already بَثَّhe spread فِيin مَرَّاكشَMarrakesh العَدْلَjustice والأمْناand safety
وقَد بَثَّ فِي مَرَّاكشَ العَدْلَ والأمْنا
It is as though I see al-Zawra seeking his protection,
while he has spread justice and safety through Marrakesh,
وَزَحْزَحَand drove away بالتَّوْحيدِthrough monotheism عَنْfrom جَنَبَاتِهاits environs
وَزَحْزَحَ بالتَّوْحيدِ عَنْ جَنَبَاتِها
عَصائِبَbands للتَّثْليثِdevoted to the Trinity جَارُواthey acted unjustly بِهاin it سُكْنَىin residence
عَصائِبَ للتَّثْليثِ جَارُوا بِها سُكْنَى
and, through the creed of God's oneness, driven from its environs
the Trinitarian bands who had dwelt there unjustly.
كَأَنْas though لمnot تكُنْit had been للمُؤْمِنينَfor the believers مَغانِياًdwellings
كَأَنْ لم تكُنْ للمُؤْمِنينَ مَغانِياً
فَهاso here هِيَit is للكُفَّارِfor unbelievers وَاoh أَسَفَاmy grief مَغْنَىa dwelling
فَها هِيَ للكُفَّارِ وَا أَسَفَا مَغْنَى
As though it had never been a dwelling for believers,
there it is, alas, a dwelling for unbelievers!
يَعِزُّis grievous علَىto اللُّسْنِthe eloquent المَصاقِعmasterful orators أنَّهاthat it
يَعِزُّ علَى اللُّسْنِ المَصاقِع أنَّها
تُراطِنُspeaks foreign tongues with فيin أفْدانِهاits palaces عُجُماًforeigners لُكْناof halting speech
تُراطِنُ في أفْدانِها عُجُماً لُكْنا
It pains the eloquent, masterful orators that it
jabbers in its palaces with halting-tongued foreigners.
هُمُthey اتَّخَذُواestablished فيهاin it الكَنَائِسchurches ضِلَّةًin error
هُمُ اتَّخَذُوا فيها الكَنَائِس ضِلَّةً
وَهُمْand they جَعَلواascribed للَّهِto God فيماin what افْتَرَوْهُthey fabricated ابْناa son
وَهُمْ جَعَلوا للَّهِ فيما افْتَرَوْهُ ابْنا
They established churches there in their error,
and in their fabrications assigned God a son.
وكَمْand many a سَيِّدٍlord منْهُمamong them يُطاعُis obeyed احْتكامُهhis judgment
وكَمْ سَيِّدٍ منْهُم يُطاعُ احْتكامُه
عَهدناهُwe knew him عَبْداًa slave لِلْعَبِيدِto slaves بِهاin it قِنَّاa chattel bondsman
عَهدناهُ عَبْداً لِلْعَبِيدِ بِها قِنَّا
And many a lord among them, whose judgments are obeyed,
we once knew there as a chattel slave to slaves.
ضَمانٌa pledge عَلىupon سَيْفِthe sword الإمارَةِof sovereignty بَرْيُهُمْcutting them down
ضَمانٌ عَلى سَيْفِ الإمارَةِ بَرْيُهُمْ
وإبْراءُand curing قَوْمٍa people بَيْنَamong أظْهُرِهِمْtheir ranks ضمْناailing
وإبْراءُ قَوْمٍ بَيْنَ أظْهُرِهِمْ ضمْنا
The sword of sovereignty is pledged to cut them down
and heal a people ailing in their midst.
وأَمَّاand as for تِلمسانٌTlemcen وفاسٌand Fez وَسَبْتَةٌand Ceuta
وأَمَّا تِلمسانٌ وفاسٌ وَسَبْتَةٌ
فَتِلْكَthen those لِيُمناهtoward his right hand أَعِنَّتُهاtheir reins تُثْنَىare turned
فَتِلْكَ لِيُمناه أَعِنَّتُها تُثْنَى
As for Tlemcen, Fez, and Ceuta,
their reins are turned toward his right hand.
حُقوقٌrights لَهُof his لَمْnot يَرْتَضِwould accept العَضْبُthe keen sword عَضْبَهاtheir curtailment
حُقوقٌ لَهُ لَمْ يَرْتَضِ العَضْبُ عَضْبَها
فَهَبَّso it sprang up لَهاfor them مُسْتَرْجِعاًreclaiming شَدَّgreat was ماwhat أَغْنَىit accomplished
فَهَبَّ لَها مُسْتَرْجِعاً شَدَّ ما أَغْنَى
They are his rights; the keen sword would not accept their curtailment,
so it sprang to reclaim them—how great its service!
ألانَتْmade yield لَهُto him الصَّعْبَthe intractable الأَبِيَّthe defiant كَتَائِبٌbattalions
ألانَتْ لَهُ الصَّعْبَ الأَبِيَّ كَتَائِبٌ
مِنَof العَزْمِresolve تَسْتَشْلِيrousing كَتائِبَهhis battalions الخُشْناrugged
مِنَ العَزْمِ تَسْتَشْلِي كَتائِبَه الخُشْنا
Battalions made the stubborn and defiant yield to him,
battalions of resolve, spurring on his rugged troops.
وأسْعَدَتِand aided البِيضُthe white swords الصَّوارِمُsharp-cutting بَأسَهُhis might
وأسْعَدَتِ البِيضُ الصَّوارِمُ بَأسَهُ
فمِنْso some are فالِقٍcleaving رَأساًa head ومِنْand some are قَاصِمٍshattering مَتْناa back
فمِنْ فالِقٍ رَأساً ومِنْ قَاصِمٍ مَتْنا
White, cutting swords gave aid to his might,
one cleaving a head, another shattering a back.
ويَاand oh لِرضَىfor the delight أرْضِof the land الجَزِيرَةِof the Peninsula بالذِيin him who
ويَا لِرضَى أرْضِ الجَزِيرَةِ بالذِي
تَيَمّمهاheaded toward it يُنْهِيconveys لَهاto it الفَوْزَvictory بالأَهْناwith utmost felicity
تَيَمّمها يُنْهِي لَها الفَوْزَ بالأَهْنا
And how the land of the Peninsula rejoices in him who
has set his course toward it, announcing the happiest triumph!
فأَنْدَلُسٌso al-Andalus قَدْalready بُشِّرَتْhas received glad tidings بِلِقائِهِof meeting him
فأَنْدَلُسٌ قَدْ بُشِّرَتْ بِلِقائِهِ
تَرَقّبُawaits منْfrom تلْقائِهhis direction الفُلْكَthe ships والسُّفْناand vessels
تَرَقّبُ منْ تلْقائِه الفُلْكَ والسُّفْنا
Al-Andalus has received glad tidings of meeting him;
it awaits the ships and vessels coming from his direction.
لِنُصْرَتِهِfor his aid ماthat أشْرَفَتْlooked out راسِياتُهاits steadfast mountains
لِنُصْرَتِهِ ما أشْرَفَتْ راسِياتُها
وَماand that صَيَّرَتْit has made عِلْماًknowledge يَقيناًcertain بِهاin it الظَّنّاconjecture
وَما صَيَّرَتْ عِلْماً يَقيناً بِها الظَّنّا
It is for his aid that its steadfast mountains look out,
and that it has turned conjecture there into certain knowledge.
لَعَلَّperhaps بِلاداًlands حَالَhas changed بالرّومِthrough the Rum حُسْنُهاtheir beauty
لَعَلَّ بِلاداً حَالَ بالرّومِ حُسْنُها
يُعيدُrestores عَلَيهَاto them غَزوُهُhis campaign الظَّافِرُvictorious الحُسْناthe fairest state
يُعيدُ عَلَيهَا غَزوُهُ الظَّافِرُ الحُسْنا
Perhaps lands whose beauty has been spoiled by the Rum
will have their beauty restored by his victorious campaign.
فَيَرْتَشِفُthen will sip الصَّادِيthe thirsty بِهاin them الماءَthe water سَلْسَلاًsweet-flowing
فَيَرْتَشِفُ الصَّادِي بِها الماءَ سَلْسَلاً
ويَغْتَبِقُand drinks at evening الضَّاحِيthe sun-exposed النَّسيمَthe breeze بِهَاin them لَدْناgentle
ويَغْتَبِقُ الضَّاحِي النَّسيمَ بِهَا لَدْنا
Then the thirsty will sip sweet-flowing water there,
and those exposed to the sun will drink its gentle breeze at evening.
وعَانٍand captive عَلىto الحَرْبِwar العَوَانِoft-renewed دِيارُهاits dwellings
وعَانٍ عَلى الحَرْبِ العَوَانِ دِيارُها
بِماthrough what مُنِيَتْthey suffered مِنْهُمْfrom them قَديماًof old وَماand what تُمْنىthey suffer
بِما مُنِيَتْ مِنْهُمْ قَديماً وَما تُمْنى
And its dwellings, captive to recurring war
through what they suffered from them of old and still suffer,
تُؤَمِّلُhopes for يَحْيَىYahya المُرْتَضَىal-Murtada لِحَياتِهاfor its life
تُؤَمِّلُ يَحْيَى المُرْتَضَى لِحَياتِها
وَتَرْجوand hopes for بِلُقْياهthrough meeting him الإقالَةَdeliverance والمَنَّاand favor
وَتَرْجو بِلُقْياه الإقالَةَ والمَنَّا
look to Yahya al-Murtada for life,
and hope through meeting him for deliverance and favor.
إِمامُan imam هُدىًof guidance أعْياoutstripped الأَئِمَّةَthe imams هَدْيُهhis example
إِمامُ هُدىً أعْيا الأَئِمَّةَ هَدْيُه
فَأَرْبىthus he surpassed عَلَيْهِمthem زينَةًin splendor ونَمَاand grew وَزْناin weight
فَأَرْبى عَلَيْهِم زينَةً ونَمَا وَزْنا
An imam of guidance whose example no other imams can match,
he exceeds them in splendor and surpasses them in weight.
فَيَفْضُلُthus he surpasses جهْدَthe utmost effort المُحْسِنينَof benefactors بِعَفْوِهِwith his effortless bounty
فَيَفْضُلُ جهْدَ المُحْسِنينَ بِعَفْوِهِ
ويَغْلُبُand outstrips شَدَّthe sprint السَّابِقينَof the frontrunners إِذاwhen اسْتَأنىhe takes his time
ويَغْلُبُ شَدَّ السَّابِقينَ إِذا اسْتَأنى
His effortless bounty outdoes benefactors' utmost efforts,
and he outstrips the frontrunners' sprint while taking his time.
تَبَحْبَحَhe dwelt at ease فيin السُّلْطانِsovereignty والمَجْدِand glory والعُلَىand exaltation
تَبَحْبَحَ في السُّلْطانِ والمَجْدِ والعُلَى
فَمَظْهَرُهُthus his outward bearing الأَسْمَىmost exalted وعُنْصُرهand his stock الأَسْنَىmost illustrious
فَمَظْهَرُهُ الأَسْمَى وعُنْصُره الأَسْنَى
He dwells at ease in sovereignty, glory, and exaltation:
his outward bearing most exalted, his stock most illustrious.
جَبابِرَةthe mighty الأمْلاكِkings خاضِعَةٌsubmissive لهto him
جَبابِرَة الأمْلاكِ خاضِعَةٌ له
فَمِنso some are لاثِمٍkissing ذَيْلاًa hem وَمنand some are لاثِمٍkissing رُدْناa sleeve
فَمِن لاثِمٍ ذَيْلاً وَمن لاثِمٍ رُدْنا
The mightiest kings submit to him,
some kissing his hem, some kissing his sleeve.
لئِنif indeed عُنِيَis devoted الدّينُthe faith الحَنيفupright بِحُبِّهِto loving him
لئِن عُنِيَ الدّينُ الحَنيف بِحُبِّهِ
فَماthen never زالَhas he ceased بالنَّصْرِwith victory العَزيزِmighty لَهُfor it يُعْنىto be concerned
فَما زالَ بالنَّصْرِ العَزيزِ لَهُ يُعْنى
If the upright faith has devoted itself to loving him,
he has never ceased to seek mighty victory for it.
مُجيبٌanswering إِذاwhen يُدعَىhe is called مُجابٌanswered إِذاwhen دَعَاhe calls
مُجيبٌ إِذا يُدعَى مُجابٌ إِذا دَعَا
كَريمٌnoble إِذاwhen يُسمَىhe is named عَظيمٌgreat إِذاwhen يُكنَىhe is given an honorific
كَريمٌ إِذا يُسمَى عَظيمٌ إِذا يُكنَى
He answers when called and is answered when he calls,
noble when named, great when addressed by his honorific.
لهُhis العِلْمُknowledge سِيماa distinguishing mark والسّمُوُّand loftiness عَلامةًa sign
لهُ العِلْمُ سِيما والسّمُوُّ عَلامةً
فيُوْتِيكَso he gives to you مُفْتَراًsmiling ويُفْتيكَand counsels you مُفْتَنَّاwith versatile mastery
فيُوْتِيكَ مُفْتَراً ويُفْتيكَ مُفْتَنَّا
Knowledge is his hallmark, loftiness his sign:
he gives to you with a smile and counsels you with versatile mastery.
وَماand not هوَhe إِلاbut الطَّوْدُa lofty mountain فَضْلَin surpassing رَجَاحَةٍgravity
وَما هوَ إِلا الطَّوْدُ فَضْلَ رَجَاحَةٍ
وَإنْand though هَزَّهُsways him إنْشادُthe recitation مادِحِهِof his praiser غُصناlike a bough
وَإنْ هَزَّهُ إنْشادُ مادِحِهِ غُصنا
He is nothing less than a mountain in surpassing gravity,
though his praiser's recitation sways him like a bough.
وَمِنْand among عَجَبٍmarvels أَنَّthat الجَوَادَthe steed يُقلّهcarries him
وَمِنْ عَجَبٍ أَنَّ الجَوَادَ يُقلّه
وفِيand in بُرْدِهِhis cloak رَضْوَىRadwa وفِيand in صَدْرِهِhis breast الدّهْناal-Dahna
وفِي بُرْدِهِ رَضْوَى وفِي صَدْرِهِ الدّهْنا
And it is a marvel that a steed can carry him,
with Radwa within his cloak and al-Dahna within his breast.
عَلىin ثِقَةٍtrust مِنin فَيْضِthe overflow راحَتِهِof his palm الوَرىall people
عَلى ثِقَةٍ مِن فَيْضِ راحَتِهِ الوَرى
إِذاwhen صَدَقَproves true الإمْحَالُdrought فاتَّهَمواthen they blame المُزْناthe rain clouds
إِذا صَدَقَ الإمْحَالُ فاتَّهَموا المُزْنا
People trust the overflowing bounty of his palm:
when drought proves true, they blame the rain clouds.
يَبيعُhe sells بأَعْلاقِfor the precious treasures المَحَامِدِof praise وَفْرَهُhis wealth
يَبيعُ بأَعْلاقِ المَحَامِدِ وَفْرَهُ
ولاand no غَبَناًmisjudgment يَخْشىhe fears هُناكَthere وَلاnor غَبْناloss in trade
ولا غَبَناً يَخْشى هُناكَ وَلا غَبْنا
He sells his riches for the precious treasures of praise,
fearing neither misjudgment there nor loss.
حَباناhe favored us بِتَأمِيرِby appointing الأَميرِthe emir مُحَمَّدMuhammad
حَبانا بِتَأمِيرِ الأَميرِ مُحَمَّد
فَيَاoh, then لكَfor you مِنْof حَابٍa benefactor ومَوْقِعهand his standing مِنَّاamong us
فَيَا لكَ مِنْ حَابٍ ومَوْقِعه مِنَّا
He favored us by appointing the emir Muhammad:
what a benefactor, and how high his place among us!
وأتْبَعَand followed حُسْناهhis favor بِإحْسَانِهِwith his kindness لَنَاto us
وأتْبَعَ حُسْناه بِإحْسَانِهِ لَنَا
وأنْعُمُهand his blessings تَنْثالpour down مَثْنَىin pairs عَلىupon مَثْنىpairs
وأنْعُمُه تَنْثال مَثْنَى عَلى مَثْنى
He followed his favor with further kindness to us,
his blessings pouring down in pairs upon pairs.
وخَلفَهُand in his stead فِيناamong us يَقُومُhe attends بِمُلْكِهِto his kingdom
وخَلفَهُ فِينا يَقُومُ بِمُلْكِهِ
ويَدْرَأُand wards off عَنَّاfrom us فادِحَthe crushing weight الخَطْبِof calamity إِنْif عَنَّاit arises
ويَدْرَأُ عَنَّا فادِحَ الخَطْبِ إِنْ عَنَّا
And in his stead he upholds his kingdom among us,
and wards off crushing calamity from us, should it arise.
نَراهُwe see him بِهِin him خَلْقاًin form وخُلْقاًand character وسِيرَةًand conduct
نَراهُ بِهِ خَلْقاً وخُلْقاً وسِيرَةً
تَقَيّلهhe follows his example فيهاin these كَأنْas though لمnot يَسِرْhe had departed عَنَّاfrom us
تَقَيّله فيها كَأنْ لم يَسِرْ عَنَّا
In him we see his father in form, character, and conduct;
he follows his example in these, as though he had not left us.
مشَابِهُresemblances فيهِin him مِنْfrom أبيهِhis father كَرِيمَةٌnoble
مشَابِهُ فيهِ مِنْ أبيهِ كَرِيمَةٌ
ومِنْand part of كَرَمِthe nobility الآبَاءِof fathers أنْthat يَنْجُبَprove worthy الأَبْنَاthe sons
ومِنْ كَرَمِ الآبَاءِ أنْ يَنْجُبَ الأَبْنَا
In him are noble resemblances to his father,
and worthy sons are a sign of their fathers' nobility.
لَئِنْif indeed غَرُبَتْhas set شَمْسُthe sun العُلىof glory فَهِلالُنَاthen our crescent
لَئِنْ غَرُبَتْ شَمْسُ العُلى فَهِلالُنَا
يُنيرُilluminates لَنَاfor us اللَّيْلَthe night البَهِيمَpitch-black إِذَاwhen جَنَّاit grows dark
يُنيرُ لَنَا اللَّيْلَ البَهِيمَ إِذَا جَنَّا
If the sun of glory has set, our crescent
lights our pitch-black night when darkness closes in.
بإِمْرَتِهِunder his rule تَخْتالُwalks proudly عِزّةُthe pride أنْفُسٍof souls
بإِمْرَتِهِ تَخْتالُ عِزّةُ أنْفُسٍ
وَلَولاand were it not for أواقِيهاtheir protectors العِظَامُmighty هُنَاhere هُنَّاwe would be humbled
وَلَولا أواقِيها العِظَامُ هُنَا هُنَّا
Under his rule our souls' pride walks exultant;
without their mighty protectors here, we would be humbled.
جَبُنْتُI quailed لِيومِat the day البَيْنِof parting فانْهَلَّso poured down مَدْمَعِيmy tears
جَبُنْتُ لِيومِ البَيْنِ فانْهَلَّ مَدْمَعِي
وكُنْتُand I was قُبَيْلَjust before البَيْنِthe parting لاnot أعرِفُknowing الجُبنَاfear
وكُنْتُ قُبَيْلَ البَيْنِ لا أعرِفُ الجُبنَا
I quailed at the day of parting, and my tears poured down,
though just before the parting I had known no fear.
وجُنَّand went mad جنَانِيmy heart لَوْعَةًwith anguish وصَبَابَةًand longing
وجُنَّ جنَانِي لَوْعَةً وصَبَابَةً
إلَىfor الحَضْرَةِthe court العَلْياءِexalted والعَقْلِand reason إذْwhen جُنَّاit went mad
إلَى الحَضْرَةِ العَلْياءِ والعَقْلِ إذْ جُنَّا
My heart went mad with anguish and longing
for the exalted court—my reason, too, went mad.
عَسَىperhaps رُؤْيَةُseeing المَوْلَىthe lord تَؤُولُwill turn بِضِلَّتِيmy bewilderment
عَسَى رُؤْيَةُ المَوْلَى تَؤُولُ بِضِلَّتِي
إلَىinto الرّأيِsound judgment فيin تَقْبيلِkissing راحَتِهِhis palm اليُمْنَىright
إلَى الرّأيِ في تَقْبيلِ راحَتِهِ اليُمْنَى
Perhaps seeing my lord will turn my bewilderment
to sound judgment, as I kiss his right palm.
فَلَهْفِيoh, my sorrow لِعَبْدٍfor a servant فيamong الأَصِحَّاءِthe healthy قاعِدٍsitting
فَلَهْفِي لِعَبْدٍ في الأَصِحَّاءِ قاعِدٍ
أعَادَتْهُhave reduced him أحْكَامُthe decrees الزَّمَانِof time مِنto one of الزَّمنَىthe infirm
أعَادَتْهُ أحْكَامُ الزَّمَانِ مِن الزَّمنَى
Alas for a servant sitting among the healthy,
whom time's decrees have made one of the infirm.
يَقولونَthey say مَاwhat أضناهُhas wasted him قلتُI said أحُجّهُمrefuting them
يَقولونَ مَا أضناهُ قلتُ أحُجّهُم
هَوَىlove of الغُرّةِthe brow الغَرَّاءradiant صيَّرَنيhas made me مُضْنَىwasted
هَوَى الغُرّةِ الغَرَّاء صيَّرَني مُضْنَى
'What has wasted him?' they ask. I reply, confuting them:
'Love of that radiant brow has left me wasted.'
وَماand not ضَرَّنيharms me أَنِّيthat I am مَرِيضٌsick وَمُدْنَفٌand gravely ill
وَما ضَرَّني أَنِّي مَرِيضٌ وَمُدْنَفٌ
إِذاif أَناI لَمْnot أمْرَضْam sick فُؤاداًin heart وَلاnor ذِهْناin mind
إِذا أَنا لَمْ أمْرَضْ فُؤاداً وَلا ذِهْنا
It harms me not that I am sick and wasting,
so long as neither my heart nor my mind is sick.
ولَمْand not يُبْلِنيhas worn me out إلاexcept تَوَقّدَthe blaze خَاطِريof my thought
ولَمْ يُبْلِني إلا تَوَقّدَ خَاطِري
ولاand no عَجَبٌwonder أنthat يأكُلeats الصَّارِمُthe keen sword الجَفْناthe sheath
ولا عَجَبٌ أن يأكُل الصَّارِمُ الجَفْنا
Nothing has worn me out but the blaze of my thought;
no wonder the sharp sword eats through its sheath.
بِحَسْبيsufficient for me رِضَىthe approval المَوْلَىof the lord وحُسْنُand the goodness اصْطِنَاعِهِof his patronage
بِحَسْبي رِضَى المَوْلَى وحُسْنُ اصْطِنَاعِهِ
عِلاجاًas a remedy بِهِthrough it أبْقَىI survive إِذاwhen خِفْتُI fear أَنْthat أَفْنَىI perish
عِلاجاً بِهِ أبْقَى إِذا خِفْتُ أَنْ أَفْنَى
My lord's approval and his kindly patronage suffice me
as a cure that keeps me alive when I fear I may perish.
سَأُرْضِيI shall satisfy نَدَاهhis bounty مُثْنِياًpraising وَمُثَنِّياًand redoubling praise
سَأُرْضِي نَدَاه مُثْنِياً وَمُثَنِّياً
وَمِثْليand one like me إِذاwhen أثنَىhe praises عَلىfor جُودِهhis generosity ثَنَّىrepeats it
وَمِثْلي إِذا أثنَى عَلى جُودِه ثَنَّى
I shall satisfy his bounty, praising and redoubling praise;
one such as I, when praising his generosity, praises twice.
وَأَسْتَنُّand I race فيin شَأْوِthe course المدائِحِof panegyrics سابِقاًin the lead
وَأَسْتَنُّ في شَأْوِ المدائِحِ سابِقاً
وَهَيهاتbut how far off لاnot تُحصِيcan enumerate المَدائِحُthe panegyrics ماwhat سَنَّاhe has established
وَهَيهات لا تُحصِي المَدائِحُ ما سَنَّا
I shall race ahead in the course of panegyrics,
yet how far short! No praise can number all he has established.
Sol 6.1