اللَّهُGod عَنْon behalf of تِلكَthose المَناقِبِnoble qualities دَافِعُa defender
اللَّهُ عَنْ تِلكَ المَناقِبِ دَافِعُ
ولَهاand for them مِنfrom المَحْذورِdreaded harm واقٍa guardian مانِعُa protector
ولَها مِن المَحْذورِ واقٍ مانِعُ
God defends those noble qualities,
God defends those virtues from blame,
And guards and protects them against dreaded harm.
And protects them from all harm and shame.
لَوْلاwere it not for اليَقينُcertainty بأَنَّهَاof their being مَعْصُومةٌprotected
لَوْلا اليَقينُ بأَنَّهَا مَعْصُومةٌ
لَتَفَجَّرَتْwould have burst forth بِدَمِwith the blood of القُلوبِhearts مَدامِعُtear ducts
لَتَفَجَّرَتْ بِدَمِ القُلوبِ مَدامِعُ
Were it not for certainty that they are protected,
Were I not certain they're infallible,
Tear ducts would burst with the blood of hearts.
My heart would weep tears, inconsolable.
زَرَّتْbuttoned shut علىover الصَّبْرpatience النّفُوسُsouls جُيوبَهاtheir bosom-openings
زَرَّتْ على الصَّبْر النّفُوسُ جُيوبَها
والذُّعْرُand terror فيهاwithin them لِلْجَوانِحِof the ribs خالِعُa wrenching force
والذُّعْرُ فيها لِلْجَوانِحِ خالِعُ
Souls buttoned their bosoms over patience,
Patience' robe is rended at the seams,
While terror within them wrenched their ribs apart.
And terror rends all hearts it seems.
وتَعَلَّلَتْand they took comfort بِسُؤالِهَاin their questioning وجَوَابِهِمْand their reply
وتَعَلَّلَتْ بِسُؤالِهَا وجَوَابِهِمْ
الفَضْلُexcellence ناجٍsafe والتَّداوِيand treatment ناجِعُeffective
الفَضْلُ ناجٍ والتَّداوِي ناجِعُ
And took comfort in their questions and the reply they received:
In their asking and answers intertwined,
Excellence is safe, and the treatment is effective.
Virtue sighs, and healing's undermined.
أنَّىhow تَضيرُcan harm شِكايةٌan ailment مِنْfrom جودِهِhis generosity
أنَّى تَضيرُ شِكايةٌ مِنْ جودِهِ
وَوُجودُهُand his existence لِلخَلْقِfor creation طُرّاًall نافِعُbeneficial
وَوُجودُهُ لِلخَلْقِ طُرّاً نافِعُ
How could an ailment born of his bounty do harm,
How can plaints of His bounty e'er cause loss?
When his existence benefits all creation?
His existence for creation is gain across.
عَجَباًwonder لِمُخلِصِهاat whoever brought it through إلَىto نادِيthe gathering-place of النَّدَىgenerosity
عَجَباً لِمُخلِصِها إلَى نادِي النَّدَى
والعالَمُand the realm العُلْوِيُّheavenly عَنْهُin his defense يُقارِعُdoes battle
والعالَمُ العُلْوِيُّ عَنْهُ يُقارِعُ
Wonder at whoever brought it into generosity's court,
A wonder - his devotees in meadows of dew,
While the heavenly realm does battle in his defense!
While the highest realm is aloof from him too.
آراؤُهُhis counsels بِيضٌwhite swords تُسَلُّare drawn قَوَاطِعٌcleaving
آراؤُهُ بِيضٌ تُسَلُّ قَوَاطِعٌ
وَجداؤُهand his bounty سُمْرٌbrown spears تُمَدُّare extended شَوارِعُleveled to strike
وَجداؤُه سُمْرٌ تُمَدُّ شَوارِعُ
His counsels are white swords, drawn and cleaving,
His views are white, cutting sharp dissent,
And his bounty brown spears, extended and leveled.
His raiment saffron, down broad ways sent.
جَرَّbrought on الشّجونَsorrows الجُونَdark عارِضُthe cloud of سُقْمِهِhis sickness
جَرَّ الشّجونَ الجُونَ عارِضُ سُقْمِهِ
فالدَّهْرso time منon جَرَّاهُits account خاشٍfearful خاشِعُhumbled
فالدَّهْر من جَرَّاهُ خاشٍ خاشِعُ
The cloud of his sickness brought dark sorrows,
Sorrow drew grief to weaken his health,
So time is fearful and humbled on its account.
So time's oppressed are fearful in stealth.
هَلاwhy not بِناto us سَدَكclung التَّألُّمُsuffering لاnot بِهِto him
هَلا بِنا سَدَك التَّألُّمُ لا بِهِ
إنَّindeed العَبيدَservants عَنon behalf of المُلوكِkings تُدَافِعُdefend
إنَّ العَبيدَ عَن المُلوكِ تُدَافِعُ
Why did suffering not cling to us, rather than him?
Why should pain block us, and not him?
For servants defend kings.
For slaves defend kings from harm's brim.
غاضَebbed التَّحَدُّثtalk بالضَّنَىof wasting illness وبِحَسْبِنَاand enough for us
غاضَ التَّحَدُّث بالضَّنَى وبِحَسْبِنَا
أَنْthat غاضَebbed مِنْof ماءِthe waters of العَنَاءِsuffering النابِعُthe welling flow
أَنْ غاضَ مِنْ ماءِ العَنَاءِ النابِعُ
Talk of wasting sickness ebbed; enough for us
Speaking of woe diminished for us is enough,
That the welling waters of suffering have run dry.
For distress' water flowed, though rough.
حتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen الإبْلالُrecovery صَحَّwas confirmed تَوَاتُراًthrough successive reports
حتَّى إِذَا الإبْلالُ صَحَّ تَوَاتُراً
وَصَلَbrought الحُبُورَjoy بهِof it الدّليلُthe proof القاطِعُconclusive
وَصَلَ الحُبُورَ بهِ الدّليلُ القاطِعُ
Until, when recovery was confirmed by successive reports,
Until restoration came, evidence accrued
Conclusive proof of it brought rejoicing.
And reached loved ones, conclusive and shrewd.
شُفِيَwas healed الأَميرُthe prince فَكُلُّso every قَلْبٍheart ساكِنٌstill
شُفِيَ الأَميرُ فَكُلُّ قَلْبٍ ساكِنٌ
بَعدَafter الخُفوقِpalpitations وكُلُّand every طَرْفٍeye هاجِعُasleep
بَعدَ الخُفوقِ وكُلُّ طَرْفٍ هاجِعُ
The prince is healed: every heart is still
The prince healed, so every heart calmed,
After its fluttering, and every eye sleeps.
Fear departed, and every glance tamed.
وَبداand appeared سَناهُhis radiance فَلاso no عَدُوٌّenemy آمِنٌsecure
وَبدا سَناهُ فَلا عَدُوٌّ آمِنٌ
يَرجوhopes for النَّجاةَescape ولاand no وَلِيٌّally جازِعُafraid
يَرجو النَّجاةَ ولا وَلِيٌّ جازِعُ
His radiance appeared: no enemy is secure,
His glory emerged, no foe feels safe,
Hoping to escape, and no ally is afraid.
No friend despairs or wavers in faith.
رُوحُthe spirit of الوَرَىhumankind سِرُّthe secret of العُلَىglory مَعْنَىthe essence of الهُدَىguidance
رُوحُ الوَرَى سِرُّ العُلَى مَعْنَى الهُدَى
فَرْدٌpeerless لأَشتاتِof the scattered kinds of المَكارِمِnoble virtues جَامِعُa gatherer
فَرْدٌ لأَشتاتِ المَكارِمِ جَامِعُ
The spirit of humankind, the secret of glory, the essence of guidance,
Soul of the world, secret of highness, essence of guidance,
Unique, he gathers all the scattered noble virtues.
Singular in gathering virtue's shards for alliance.
لِلدِّينِfor faith والدُّنياand the world بِعِصْمةِat the preservation of ذاتهِhis person
لِلدِّينِ والدُّنيا بِعِصْمةِ ذاتهِ
إِعْجابُthe wonder of مَنْwhoever هُوَhe فيin حِماهُhis protection وَادِعُat ease
إِعْجابُ مَنْ هُوَ في حِماهُ وَادِعُ
For faith and the world, his preservation inspires
For religion and life, by his being kept safe,
The wonder of one resting at ease within his protection.
Even those under his care marvel and waive.
ياoh حُسْنَthe beauty of مَوْقعِthe impact of بُرْئِهِhis recovery مِنamong أُمَّةٍa people
يا حُسْنَ مَوْقعِ بُرْئِهِ مِن أُمَّةٍ
لَولاهُbut for him حاقwould have closed in بِهمaround them عَذابٌa torment واقِعُsure to befall
لَولاهُ حاق بِهم عَذابٌ واقِعُ
Oh, how welcome his recovery is to a people!
O beauty of his innocence `gainst a nation,
Without him, a torment sure to fall would have engulfed them.
Without him, torment upon them would weigh like spoliation.
كانُواthey were مِنfrom الشُّبَهِdoubts المُضِلَّةِmisleading فيin دُجىًdarkness
كانُوا مِن الشُّبَهِ المُضِلَّةِ في دُجىً
فَجَلاso dispelled غَياهِبَهاits deep darkness هُداهُhis guidance السَّاطِعُradiant
فَجَلا غَياهِبَها هُداهُ السَّاطِعُ
They were in darkness from misleading doubts,
Ensnared in misleading doubts, clouded in dim,
Then his radiant guidance dispelled its deep gloom.
His guidance shone light, their mis`ry made slim.
مَلأَتْfilled إيالَتُهhis rule اللَّياليthe nights حَبْرَةًjoy
مَلأَتْ إيالَتُه اللَّيالي حَبْرَةً
وَالحادِثاتُand calamities فَواجِئٌsudden shocks وفَوَاجِعُand grievous blows
وَالحادِثاتُ فَواجِئٌ وفَوَاجِعُ
His rule filled the nights with gladness,
His rule filled nights with turmoil rife,
Though calamities are sudden shocks and grievous blows.
Events suddenly turned, full of strife.
وحَيَاةand by the life of يَحْيَىYahya المُرْتَضَىal-Murtada (the chosen) ماnot شَاقَaroused longing فِيduring
وحَيَاة يَحْيَى المُرْتَضَى ما شَاقَ فِي
أَثْناءِthe course of شَكْواهhis illness الحَمَامُthe doves السَّاجِعُcooing
أَثْناءِ شَكْواه الحَمَامُ السَّاجِعُ
And by Yahya al-Murtada's life, no longing stirred during
The life of the chosen Yahya in the throes,
His illness at the cooing of the doves.
Even the doves sobbed during his woes.
كَلاno indeed وَلاnor رَاقَdelighted الرَّبيعُspring وزَهْرُهُand its blossoms
كَلا وَلا رَاقَ الرَّبيعُ وزَهْرُهُ
فيin ناظِرٍan eye وَهوَthough it was النَّضِيرُfresh اليانِعُflourishing
في ناظِرٍ وَهوَ النَّضِيرُ اليانِعُ
No, nor did spring and its blossoms delight
Nay, spring with its blooms could not appease,
Any eye, though it was fresh and flourishing.
Despite its peerless blossoms and breeze.
وَلَقدand indeed تَنَكَّرَgrew strange كُلُّevery شَيْءthing دُونَهُwithout him
وَلَقد تَنَكَّرَ كُلُّ شَيْء دُونَهُ
حتَّىeven المَغانِيdwellings الآهِلاتُinhabited بَلاقِعُdesolate wastes
حتَّى المَغانِي الآهِلاتُ بَلاقِعُ
And indeed, everything grew strange in his absence,
All but him seemed to change in their ways,
Even inhabited dwellings were desolate wastes.
Even the rooftop singers lost their lays.
غَلَبَprevailed التَّوَلُّهُbewilderment فالعُقولُso minds غوارِبٌsinking from sight
غَلَبَ التَّوَلُّهُ فالعُقولُ غوارِبٌ
لَمَّاwhen تَحَجَّبَhe veiled himself والكُروبُand sorrows طَوالِعُrising
لَمَّا تَحَجَّبَ والكُروبُ طَوالِعُ
Bewilderment prevailed, so minds sank from sight,
Seclusion prevailed, minds wandered away,
When he veiled himself and sorrows rose.
As sorrows arose at the start of day.
وَكأَنَّand as though بَرْدَthe coolness of الظِّلِّshade قَيْظٌsummer heat لافِحٌscorching
وَكأَنَّ بَرْدَ الظِّلِّ قَيْظٌ لافِحٌ
وكأَنَّand as though عَذْبَthe sweetness of العَيْشِlife سُمٌّpoison ناقِعُdeadly
وكأَنَّ عَذْبَ العَيْشِ سُمٌّ ناقِعُ
As though the coolness of shade were scorching summer heat,
Shelter's cold seemed like scorching rays,
And as though life's sweetness were a deadly poison.
Sweet living seemed a toxic craze.
يَسْوَدُّturns black مُبْيضُّthe white of الصِّفاحِsword blades الناصِعُdazzlingly pure
يَسْوَدُّ مُبْيضُّ الصِّفاحِ الناصِعُ
وَيَضيقُand grows narrow مُنْفَسِحُthe open expanse of البَراحِopen ground الواسِعُwide
وَيَضيقُ مُنْفَسِحُ البَراحِ الواسِعُ
The dazzling white of sword blades turns black,
The brightening whitener itself grew dark,
And wide-open expanses grow constricted.
The expanding space itself grew stark.
وَكأَنَّand as though ساعاتِthe hours of الثَّواءِlingering لِطولِهاbecause of their length
وَكأَنَّ ساعاتِ الثَّواءِ لِطولِها
حِجَجٌyears رَوائِبُstagnant للنُّفوسِto souls رَوائِعُterrifying
حِجَجٌ رَوائِبُ للنُّفوسِ رَوائِعُ
As though the hours of lingering, so prolonged,
As if hours of anguish were ages long,
Were stagnant years that filled souls with dread.
Hearts roamed, distressed by sorrow's throng.
فالآنَso now دانَyielded بِهِthrough him القَصيُّthe farthest منof المُنَىhopes
فالآنَ دانَ بِهِ القَصيُّ من المُنَى
ودَناand drew near منَof المَنِّbounty القَصِيِّdistant الشاسِعُthe far-off
ودَنا منَ المَنِّ القَصِيِّ الشاسِعُ
Now, through him, the farthest of hopes has yielded,
But now the distant goal feels close at hand,
And the farthest of distant favors has drawn near.
The unreachable wish feels near and grand.
وتَطَلَّعَتْand loomed لِلكافِرينَfor the unbelievers مَصَارِعٌplaces of death
وتَطَلَّعَتْ لِلكافِرينَ مَصَارِعٌ
وتَمَهَّدَتْand were made smooth بالمُؤْمِنينَfor the believers مَضَاجِعُresting places
وتَمَهَّدَتْ بالمُؤْمِنينَ مَضَاجِعُ
And places of death loom for the unbelievers,
Horizons of doom loom for unbelievers,
And resting places are made smooth for the believers.
While rest awaits hearts of faithful believers.
وَبَدَتْand appeared تَزينُto grow beautiful مَشَاهِدٌscenes ومَحَاضِرٌand gatherings
وَبَدَتْ تَزينُ مَشَاهِدٌ ومَحَاضِرٌ
وغَدَتْand became تَطيبُpleasant مَصَائِفٌsummer retreats ومَرَابِعُand springtime dwellings
وغَدَتْ تَطيبُ مَصَائِفٌ ومَرَابِعُ
And scenes and gatherings began to look fair,
Scenes and dwellings now exude delight,
And summer retreats and springtime dwellings grew pleasant.
As do couches and shelters invite site.
لاقَىattained السَّلامَةَwell-being فالزّمَانُso time مُسالِمٌat peace
لاقَى السَّلامَةَ فالزّمَانُ مُسالِمٌ
دونَwithout انْتِقاضٍrupture والأَمانُand security مُشايِعُa companion
دونَ انْتِقاضٍ والأَمانُ مُشايِعُ
He attained well-being, so time is at peace,
Safety he found, so times make peace,
Without rupture, and security keeps him company.
Fears reassure and perils cease.
وتَرَشُّفُand the sipping of النُّعْمَىblessings بهِthrough him مُتَنَاسِقٌharmonious
وتَرَشُّفُ النُّعْمَى بهِ مُتَنَاسِقٌ
وتَشَرُّفُand the ennobling of الدّنياthe world بهِthrough him مُتَتَابِعُunceasing
وتَشَرُّفُ الدّنيا بهِ مُتَتَابِعُ
And the sipping of blessings through him is harmonious,
Blessings descend on him in a queue,
And the world gains honor through him without cease.
As gifts of life align in view.
مَلِكٌa king تَقَدَّسَwas sanctified فيamong المُلوكِkings مَقامُهُhis station
مَلِكٌ تَقَدَّسَ في المُلوكِ مَقامُهُ
فَخَصَائِصٌthus qualities مَلَكِيَّةٌangelic وطَبَائِعُand dispositions
فَخَصَائِصٌ مَلَكِيَّةٌ وطَبَائِعُ
A king whose station among kings is sanctified,
A king sanctified, exalted his station,
Thus his qualities and dispositions are angelic.
His royal traits and disposition.
أَضْحَىhas become لهto him شَرَفُthe honor of الْكَمَالِperfection مُسَلَّماًconceded
أَضْحَى له شَرَفُ الْكَمَالِ مُسَلَّماً
هَيْهَاتَfar from possible ماthere is no فيamong العَالَمِينَall beings مُنازِعُa rival
هَيْهَاتَ ما في العَالَمِينَ مُنازِعُ
The honor of perfection is conceded to him;
Supreme perfection is agreed his right,
A rival is unthinkable: none exists among all beings.
None in the worlds can match his might.
فيin المُونِقَيْنِthe two delights رُوائِهِhis beauty وثَنَائِهِand praise of him
في المُونِقَيْنِ رُوائِهِ وثَنَائِهِ
ماwhat تَشْتَهيهِdesire it نَوَاظِرٌeyes وَمَسَامِعُand ears
ما تَشْتَهيهِ نَوَاظِرٌ وَمَسَامِعُ
In the two delights—his beauty and praise of him—
In prose or verse of his feats told,
Is what eyes and ears desire.
All sights and sounds hunger to behold.
فَرَعَovertopped الكَوَاكِبَthe stars فيin التَّرَقِّيascent بَيْتُهُhis house
فَرَعَ الكَوَاكِبَ في التَّرَقِّي بَيْتُهُ
للَّهِto God بَيْتٌa house لِلْكَوَاكِبِover the stars فارِعُtowering
للَّهِ بَيْتٌ لِلْكَوَاكِبِ فارِعُ
His house, in its ascent, rose above the stars;
His house surpassed the stars' climb,
What a house, by God, that towers above the stars!
As God's home overshadows celestial shine.
مِنْamong زَاهِراتِthe radiant parts of حُلاهُhis adornments حِلْمٌforbearance بارِزٌeminent
مِنْ زَاهِراتِ حُلاهُ حِلْمٌ بارِزٌ
أَعْياoutdid مُعاوِيَةًMu'awiya وعِلْمٌand knowledge بارِعُoutstanding
أَعْيا مُعاوِيَةً وعِلْمٌ بارِعُ
Among his radiant adornments is eminent forbearance,
Of his ornate qualities, prominent is wisdom,
That outdid Mu'awiya, and outstanding learning.
That frustrated Mu'awiyah and discernment bespoke.
ماضٍresolute وقَدْthough perhaps تَهِنُgrow weak الظُّبىsword edges فيin مَأْزقٍa tight battle
ماضٍ وقَدْ تَهِنُ الظُّبى في مَأْزقٍ
كَثُرَabound الكُماةُarmored warriors بهِin it وقَلَّand are few مُضارِعُa peer
كَثُرَ الكُماةُ بهِ وقَلَّ مُضارِعُ
Resolute, though sword edges may weaken in a tight battle,
Decisive and few can equal him in fight,
Where armored warriors abound and his equals are few.
Abundant his bounty and little his spite.
يَصِفُbespeaks النَّجابَةَnobility والرَّجَاحَةand sound judgment خُلقُهhis character
يَصِفُ النَّجابَةَ والرَّجَاحَة خُلقُه
ويَظَلُّand he continues فيin الخَيْراتِgood deeds بَعْدstill يُسارِعُto hasten
ويَظَلُّ في الخَيْراتِ بَعْد يُسارِعُ
His character bespeaks nobility and sound judgment,
His nature tells of dignity and poise,
And still he hastens to acts of goodness.
In good he still competes and employs.
مَرْآهُhis appearance بِالطَّوْدِwith the mountain المُنِيفِlofty مُطَالِعٌbringing into view
مَرْآهُ بِالطَّوْدِ المُنِيفِ مُطَالِعٌ
فَكَأَنَّماso it is as though فَوْقَupon السَّرِيرِthe throne مُتالِعُMutali'
فَكَأَنَّما فَوْقَ السَّرِيرِ مُتالِعُ
His appearance brings a lofty mountain into view,
His vision's lofty goal is clear and high,
As though Mutali' were upon the throne.
As if atop his throne it fills the sky.
إِنْif تَفْخَرِboasts الدُّنْياthe world بهِof him وبِمُلْكِهِand of his kingship
إِنْ تَفْخَرِ الدُّنْيا بهِ وبِمُلْكِهِ
فَمُلوكُهاthen its kings خَوَلٌservants لَهُto him وَصَنائِعُand protégés
فَمُلوكُها خَوَلٌ لَهُ وَصَنائِعُ
If the world boasts of him and his kingship,
If the world boasts of him and his reign,
Then its kings are his servants and protégés.
Its kings are but servants in his domain.
مَوْلايَmy lord عَبْدُكَyour servant فيfor الرِّضَىfavor مُسْتَشْفِعٌseeking intercession
مَوْلايَ عَبْدُكَ في الرِّضَى مُسْتَشْفِعٌ
وبَنَاتُand the daughters of خاطِرِهِhis thought إليْكَto you شَوافِعُintercessors
وبَنَاتُ خاطِرِهِ إليْكَ شَوافِعُ
My lord, your servant seeks intercession for your favor,
My lord, your servant pleads for your grace,
And the daughters of his thought are intercessors with you.
As his heart's daughters seek your embrace.
هُوَhe ذاhere بِبابِكَat your door ليسَis not يَسْأَمweary of قَرْعَهknocking on it
هُوَ ذا بِبابِكَ ليسَ يَسْأَم قَرْعَه
ولَطالَماand often وَلَجَentered المُلِظُّthe persistent one القارِعُthe knocker
ولَطالَما وَلَجَ المُلِظُّ القارِعُ
Here he is at your door, never weary of knocking on it,
Behold him at your door, tireless in his knock,
And often the persistent knocker has gained entry.
Though oft rebuffed, he withstands each shock.
يَردcomes to drink السّرورُjoy مُهَنِّئاًcongratulating وَمُهَنَّأand congratulated
يَرد السّرورُ مُهَنِّئاً وَمُهَنَّأ
عِدّاًan unfailing spring يُطيلُprolongs العَبَّdeep drinking فيهِin it الكارِعُthe stooping drinker
عِدّاً يُطيلُ العَبَّ فيهِ الكارِعُ
He comes to drink of joy, congratulating and congratulated—
Joy returns to congratulate the occasion's boon,
An unfailing spring where the drinker drinks long and deep.
As days of celebration prolong soon.
وَيَوَدُّand he wishes لَوْthat مُنِحَhe were granted الإجادَةَexcellence ناظِماًas a poet
وَيَوَدُّ لَوْ مُنِحَ الإجادَةَ ناظِماً
لِتَسيرَso that they may go forth عَنْهُfrom him بَدَائِهٌimprovised verses وبَدائِعُand marvels
لِتَسيرَ عَنْهُ بَدَائِهٌ وبَدائِعُ
And he wishes he might be granted excellence as a poet,
He wishes eloquence granted to sing your praise,
So that improvised verses and marvels might go forth from him.
So his odes and poems your glory raise.
إنَّindeed الضَّراعَةَhumble entreaty لِلْقَبولِto acceptance ذَريعَةٌa means
إنَّ الضَّراعَةَ لِلْقَبولِ ذَريعَةٌ
والحَقُّand truth فيin تَخْلِيدِimmortalizing أمْركyour rule ضارِعُsupplicating
والحَقُّ في تَخْلِيدِ أمْرك ضارِعُ
Surely humble entreaty is a means to acceptance,
But pleading acceptance is sufficient reason,
And truth, in immortalizing your rule, bows in supplication.
As truth strives to immortalize your season.
Sol 6.1