ماذاwhat أحَدِّثُI tell عنْof بَحْرٍa sea سَبَحتُI swam بهin it
ماذا أحَدِّثُ عنْ بَحْرٍ سَبَحتُ به
حدِّثْtell عنِof البَحْرِthe sea لاno إثْمٌsin ولاand no حَرَجُblame
حدِّثْ عنِ البَحْرِ لا إثْمٌ ولا حَرَجُ
What shall I tell of a sea in which I swam?
What can I say about an ocean I've swum in?
Tell of the sea—there is no sin and no blame.
Speak of the sea, no sin nor burden.
دَحاهُspread it out مُبْتَدِعُthe Originator of الأشْياءِall things مُسْتَوياًlevel
دَحاهُ مُبْتَدِعُ الأشْياءِ مُسْتَوياً
ماnot إنْemphatic particle بهِin it دَركٌa descending level كلاّcertainly not ولاand no دَرَجُascending steps
ما إنْ بهِ دَركٌ كلاّ ولا دَرَجُ
The Originator of all things spread it out level.
Its Maker spread it smooth and level,
There is no descent in it—no, nor any ascent.
No hills or valleys within to trouble.
حتّىuntil إذاwhen ماemphatic particle المَنارُthe beacon الفَرْدُsolitary لاحَappeared لَناto us
حتّى إذا ما المَنارُ الفَرْدُ لاحَ لَنا
صِحْتُI cried out ابْشِرِيrejoice ياO مَطاياmounts جاءَكِhas come to you الفَرَجُrelief
صِحْتُ ابْشِرِي يا مَطايا جاءَكِ الفَرَجُ
Until, when the solitary beacon appeared to us,
Until the lone lighthouse began to shine,
I cried: Rejoice, O mounts—relief has come to you!
"Rejoice, O ship! Your refuge comes in time."
قَرُبْتِyou have drawn near منْto عامِرٍʿĀmir داراًin abode ومَنزِلَةًand in station
قَرُبْتِ منْ عامِرٍ داراً ومَنزِلَةً
والشّاهِدُand the witness العَدْلُtrustworthy هَذاthis الطِّيبُperfume والأرَجُand fragrance
والشّاهِدُ العَدْلُ هَذا الطِّيبُ والأرَجُ
You have drawn near to ʿĀmir, in abode and station,
We neared a home well built and warmly lit,
And the trustworthy witness is this perfume and fragrance.
With fragrant gardens blessed and brightly lit.
Sol 6.1