حَيَّىmay greet رُبُوعَthe dwellings of الْحَيِّthe clan مِنin نَعْمَانِNa'man
حَيَّى رُبُوعَ الْحَيِّ مِن نَعْمَانِ
جَوْدُabundance of الْحَيَاrain وَسَوَاجِمُand the streaming of الأَجْفَانِthe eyelids
جَوْدُ الْحَيَا وَسَوَاجِمُ الأَجْفَانِ
May the clan's dwellings in Na'man be greeted
The splendor of life revived Na'man's meadows
By abundant rain and tears streaming from eyes.
Generosity's tide and eyelids’ darkness fell
دَارٌa dwelling عَهِدْتُI knew بِهَاin it الشَّبِيبَةَyouth دَوْحَةًa spreading tree
دَارٌ عَهِدْتُ بِهَا الشَّبِيبَةَ دَوْحَةً
طِيبُthe sweetness of الْحَياةِlife بِهَاin it جَنِيُّripe fruit دَانِيwithin reach
طِيبُ الْحَياةِ بِهَا جَنِيُّ دَانِي
A dwelling where I knew youth as a spreading tree,
A home where I lived the prime of youth serenely
And life's sweetness there as ripe fruit within reach.
Life's goodness therein a nearby crop that swells
أَيَّامَin days when جَفْنُthe eyelid of الدَّهْرِTime عَنَّاto us مُطْبِقٌclosed
أَيَّامَ جَفْنُ الدَّهْرِ عَنَّا مُطْبِقٌ
فِيهَاin them وَأَجْفَانُand the eyes of السَّعُودِgood fortune رَوَانِيgazing
فِيهَا وَأَجْفَانُ السَّعُودِ رَوَانِي
In days when Time's eyelid was closed to us,
Days when destiny shut its eyelids over us
While the eyes of good fortune gazed upon us.
When in them fortune's eyelids were wells
بِتْنَاwe spent the night نَجُرُّtrailing بِهَاthere بُرُودَthe robes of عَفَافِنَاour chastity
بِتْنَا نَجُرُّ بِهَا بُرُودَ عَفَافِنَا
قُشُبَfresh الْجُيُوبِthe collars صَوَافِيspotless الأَردَانِthe sleeves
قُشُبَ الْجُيُوبِ صَوَافِي الأَردَانِ
We spent our nights there trailing the robes of our chastity,
We lived pulling with it our chastity's coolness
Fresh at the collars, spotless at the sleeves.
Young chests' purity, robes' loose folds
فِيamong فِتْيَةٍyoung men يَتَحَاوَرُونَexchanging بَدَائِعاًmarvels
فِي فِتْيَةٍ يَتَحَاوَرُونَ بَدَائِعاً
كَلَقِيطِlike gathered دُرٍّpearls أَوْor سَقِيطِfallen جُمَانِpearl-beads
كَلَقِيطِ دُرٍّ أَوْ سَقِيطِ جُمَانِ
Among young men exchanging marvels,
Amid lads conversing with unmatched wonders
Like gathered pearls or falling pearl-beads.
Like scattered pearls or falling stars that dwells
وَإِذَاand when ثَنَتْهُمْswayed them أَرْيَحِيَّةُthe rapture of مُطْرِبٍa singer
وَإِذَا ثَنَتْهُمْ أَرْيَحِيَّةُ مُطْرِبٍ
قُلْتَyou would say النُّعَامَىthe south wind فِيamong غُصُونِthe boughs of الْبَانِthe ban-tree
قُلْتَ النُّعَامَى فِي غُصُونِ الْبَانِ
And when a singer's rapture swayed them,
When a gentle breeze bent them, you would say
You would say: the south wind among ban-tree boughs.
Ostriches on the branches of acacia knells
غَاظَenraged الزَّمَانَTime بِهَاthere تَنَعُّمُthe ease of عِشَةٍliving
غَاظَ الزَّمَانَ بِهَا تَنَعُّمُ عِشَةٍ
فَأَحَالَهَاso it transformed it وَالدَّهْرُand Time ذُوpossesses أَلْوَانِmany colors
فَأَحَالَهَا وَالدَّهْرُ ذُو أَلْوَانِ
The ease of living there enraged Time,
An age exulted therein, basking in bliss
So it transformed it—for Time has many colors.
Which time made transient, though colorful spells
وَسَرَوْاand they traveled by night وَقَدْand already أَقْعَىcrouched الظَّلاَمُthe darkness وَغَمَّمَتْand shrouded
وَسَرَوْا وَقَدْ أَقْعَى الظَّلاَمُ وَغَمَّمَتْ
نُمُرَthe leopards of الثُّرَيَّاthe Pleiades غَابَةُthe thicket of السَّرَطَانِCancer
نُمُرَ الثُّرَيَّا غَابَةُ السَّرَطَانِ
They journeyed by night; darkness crouched, and shrouded were
They left, and darkness fell, obscuring
The Pleiades' leopards by the thicket of Cancer.
The Pleiades' cluster in Sartan's dells
فَالسُّهْدُso sleeplessness بَعْدَهُمُafter them أَلِيفُthe companion of مَحَاجِرٍeye sockets
فَالسُّهْدُ بَعْدَهُمُ أَلِيفُ مَحَاجِرٍ
وَالْوَجْدُand longing إِثْرَهُمُin their wake حَلِيفُthe ally of جَنَانِa heart
وَالْوَجْدُ إِثْرَهُمُ حَلِيفُ جَنَانِ
So after them, sleeplessness keeps company with my eyes,
Afterwards, only yearning in the heart remains
And longing, in their wake, is allied with my heart.
And in their trace, pining in the soul dwells
حَسْبِيenough for me مِنَfrom الأَيَّامِthe days أَنّيthat I بَعْدَهُمْafter them
حَسْبِي مِنَ الأَيَّامِ أَنّي بَعْدَهُمْ
لاَnot أَبْتَغِيI seek سَبَباًa means إِلَىtoward السُّلْوَانِforgetting
لاَ أَبْتَغِي سَبَباً إِلَى السُّلْوَانِ
Enough for me from the days is that, after them,
It suffices me of days that after them
I seek no path toward forgetting.
No path to ease my heartache avails or wells
وَلَرُبَّand many a مُعْتَادِhabitual practitioner of السِّفارِtravel رَمَتْcast بِهِhim
وَلَرُبَّ مُعْتَادِ السِّفارِ رَمَتْ بِهِ
أَيْدِيthe forelegs of الرِّكَابِriding camels نَوَازِحَdistant parts of الْبُلْدَانِthe lands
أَيْدِي الرِّكَابِ نَوَازِحَ الْبُلْدَانِ
And many a seasoned traveler has been flung
Many accustomed to travel, the hands of riders
By the forelegs of riding camels into far-off lands.
Have cast to the horizons of countries and fells
أَلِفَhe grew accustomed to التَّرَحُّلَwandering لاَnot يُقِيمُhe stays بِبلْدَةٍin a town
أَلِفَ التَّرَحُّلَ لاَ يُقِيمُ بِبلْدَةٍ
إِلاexcept مُقَامَthe duration of الْعَذْلِreproach فِيin الآذَانِthe ears
إِلا مُقَامَ الْعَذْلِ فِي الآذَانِ
Accustomed to wandering, he stays in no town
Who loves roaming, settling in no land
Except as long as a rebuke stays in the ears.
Save guesthood's stay during prayers' knells
عَاطَيْتُهُI shared with him رَاحاًwine مِنَof الأَدَبِliterature الَّذِيwhose
عَاطَيْتُهُ رَاحاً مِنَ الأَدَبِ الَّذِي
مُزجَتْwas mixed سُلاَفَتُهُits choicest vintage بِصِرْفِwith pure بَيَانِeloquence
مُزجَتْ سُلاَفَتُهُ بِصِرْفِ بَيَانِ
I shared with him a wine of literature, whose
I've met him with the literature whose craft
Choicest vintage was mingled with pure eloquence.
Is mingled with eloquent, lucid spells
وَهَزَزْتُand I shook دَوْحَthe spreading trees of بَدَائِهِيmy improvisations فَتَساَقَطَتْso fell
وَهَزَزْتُ دَوْحَ بَدَائِهِي فَتَساَقَطَتْ
رُطَبُripe dates of الْمَعَانِيmeanings تَسْتفَزُِّالْجَانِيrousing the gatherer
رُطَبُ الْمَعَانِي تَسْتفَزُِّالْجَانِي
And I shook the spreading trees of my improvisations, and down fell
I shook the boughs of my grove, so down fell
Ripe dates of meaning, rousing the gatherer.
Ripe fruits of meaning, fascinating and compels
فَأَصَاخَso he listened intently مُسْتمِعاًlistening وَقَالَand said تَعَجُّباًin wonder
فَأَصَاخَ مُسْتمِعاً وَقَالَ تَعَجُّباً
إنَّindeed الْخُمُولَobscurity نَتِيجَةُthe result of ألاْوْطَانِhomelands
إنَّ الْخُمُولَ نَتِيجَةُ ألاْوْطَانِ
He listened intently and said in wonder:
A listener cried out, astonished, and said
Obscurity is the fruit of one's homeland.
Indolence is the trait of homelands that dwells
وَلأنْتَand surely you يَاO هَذاَyou there ضَيَاعٌwasted worth مُغْفَلٌneglected
وَلأنْتَ يَا هَذاَ ضَيَاعٌ مُغْفَلٌ
بَيْنَbetween الْكَسَادِlack of demand وَمُرْخَصِand cheapening of الاْثْمَانِprices
بَيْنَ الْكَسَادِ وَمُرْخَصِ الاْثْمَانِ
And you, sir, are wasted, neglected worth,
As for you, oblivious fool, lost between
Amid a stagnant market and cut-rate prices.
Recession and cheapening prices that tells
هَلاّwhy not حَلَلْتَyou mounted ذُرَىthe heights of قَلُوصِكَyour young she-camel ظَاعِناًdeparting
هَلاّ حَلَلْتَ ذُرَى قَلُوصِكَ ظَاعِناً
لِتَحُلّso you may dwell إعْظَاماًin honor ذُرَىthe heights of كِيوَانِKaywan (Saturn)
لِتَحُلّ إعْظَاماً ذُرَى كِيوَانِ
Why not mount your young she-camel's hump and depart,
Why not untie your miserliness' bags, wandering
To dwell, in honor, upon the heights of Kaywan?
To solve venerating Chosroes' palace's spells?
تصداrust سيوفswords of الهندIndia فيin أجفانهاtheir scabbards
تصدا سيوف الهند في أجفانها
وَالْفَخْرُand glory إنْif بَانَتْthey emerge عَنِfrom الاْجْفَانِthe scabbards
وَالْفَخْرُ إنْ بَانَتْ عَنِ الاْجْفَانِ
Indian swords rust within their scabbards,
Indian swords in their sheaths rebuke
And glory is theirs when they leave their sheaths.
Boasting, if displayed outside their dwells
إنّindeed الثّوَانيَdelay جَدُّa veritable مُسْتَوْدَعِstorehouse of التَّوىruin
إنّ الثّوَانيَ جَدُّ مُسْتَوْدَعِ التَّوى
وَكَذاَand likewise الْهُوَيْنَيlanguor اُمُّthe mother of كُلِّevery هَوَانِhumiliation
وَكَذاَ الْهُوَيْنَي اُمُّ كُلِّ هَوَانِ
Indeed, delay is a veritable storehouse of ruin,
Repentance is the essence of remorse's abode
And likewise, languor is the mother of every humiliation.
And passion is the mother of every shame that fells
فَأجَبْتُهُso I answered him لَيْسَis not التَّنَقُّلwandering مَذْهَبِيmy way
فَأجَبْتُهُ لَيْسَ التَّنَقُّل مَذْهَبِي
كَلاّno indeed ولاَnor حَثُّurging on الرَّكَائِبِthe mounts شَانيِmy business
كَلاّ ولاَ حَثُّ الرَّكَائِبِ شَانيِ
I answered him: Wandering is not my way;
I answered: Roaming is not my doctrine
No, nor is urging on mounts my business.
No, nor spurring on of riders impels
أيُّwhich الْبِلادِlands أَؤُمُّshould I head for أَمْor أَيَّwhom among الْوَرَىmankind
أيُّ الْبِلادِ أَؤُمُّ أَمْ أَيَّ الْوَرَى
أَبْغِيI seek فَأَصْرِفُso I turn نَحْوَtoward ذَاكَthat one عِنَانِيmy reins
أَبْغِي فَأَصْرِفُ نَحْوَ ذَاكَ عِنَانِي
What land should I make for, or whom among mankind
What land is my motherland, or what place
Should I seek, turning my reins toward him?
Would I seek, steering my reigns towards its dells?
وَبِبَابِand at the gate of مَوْلاَنَاour lord الْمُؤَيَّدِthe divinely aided يُوسُفٍYusuf
وَبِبَابِ مَوْلاَنَا الْمُؤَيَّدِ يُوسُفٍ
مَاشِئْتَwhatever you wish مِنof حُسْنَىgoodness وَمِنْand of إِحْسَانِbeneficence
مَاشِئْتَ مِن حُسْنَى وَمِنْ إِحْسَانِ
At the gate of our lord, the divinely aided Yusuf,
In the court of our master al-Mu'ayyad Yusuf
Is all you wish of kindness and beneficence.
Whatever beauty and kindness you will or wells
النَّهْرُthe river مِنْfrom مِصْرٍEgypt بِهِthere وَالْقَصْرُand the palace مِنْfrom
النَّهْرُ مِنْ مِصْرٍ بِهِ وَالْقَصْرُ مِنْ
إِرَمٍIram وَرَوْضُand the garden of الشِّعْبِthe valley منfrom بوانBawwan
إِرَمٍ وَرَوْضُ الشِّعْبِ من بوان
The river there is from Egypt, and the palace from
The Nile from Egypt through him, the palace from
Iram, and the valley's garden from Bawwan.
Aleppo, and the meadows of Shibab's dells
وَسَحابُand the clouds of جُودِthe bounty of يَميِيِنهِhis right hand لاَnot يَنْثَنيceases
وَسَحابُ جُودِ يَميِيِنهِ لاَ يَنْثَني
تَسْكابُهَاtheir pouring عَنْfrom وَابِلٍa downpour هَتَّانِunceasing
تَسْكابُهَا عَنْ وَابِلٍ هَتَّانِ
And the clouds of his right hand's bounty never cease
The clouds of his generosity's rain never cease
Pouring down a drenching, unbroken shower.
Pouring a pouring that descends and excels
أيقَنْتُI knew with certainty لَمّاwhen أَنْthat مَثَلْتُI stood بِباَبِهِat his gate
أيقَنْتُ لَمّا أَنْ مَثَلْتُ بِباَبِهِ
أَنَّthat النُّجُومَthe stars تَشَوَّفَتْlooked longingly لِمَكاَنِيtoward my place
أَنَّ النُّجُومَ تَشَوَّفَتْ لِمَكاَنِي
I knew with certainty, when I stood at his gate,
I knew when I stood at his door
That the stars coveted my place.
The stars craned in longing for where I dwells
شَاهَدْتُI beheld كِسْرَىKisra منِهُin him فِيin إِيَوانِهِhis iwan
شَاهَدْتُ كِسْرَى منِهُ فِي إِيَوانِهِ
وَلَقيِتُand I met رَبَّthe lord of التّاجِthe crown ِمِنْfrom غُمْدَانِGhumdan
وَلَقيِتُ رَبَّ التّاجِ ِمِنْ غُمْدَانِ
I beheld in him Kisra within his iwan,
I saw his Chosroes in his hall
And met the lord of the crown from Ghumdan.
And found the Lord of the Crown sans guards that tells
مِنْof آلِthe house of سَعْدِSa'd الْخَزْرَجِKhazraj بْنِson of عُبَادَةٍ'Ubada
مِنْ آلِ سَعْدِ الْخَزْرَجِ بْنِ عُبَادَةٍ
صَحْبِcompanions of الرَّسُولِthe Messenger وَأَسْرَةِand household of الْفُرْقَانِthe Criterion
صَحْبِ الرَّسُولِ وَأَسْرَةِ الْفُرْقَانِ
Of the house of Sa'd of Khazraj, son of 'Ubada,
Of Sa'd al-Khazraj clan, son of 'Ubadah
Companions of the Messenger and household of the Criterion,
The Prophet's comrades, folk of the Criterion that dwells
الْمُؤثِرِينَthose favoring others عَلَىabove النُّفُوسِthemselves بِزَادِهِمْwith their provisions
الْمُؤثِرِينَ عَلَى النُّفُوسِ بِزَادِهِمْ
وَالْمفْعِمِينَand those filling حَقَائِبَthe saddlebags of الضِّيفَانِthe guests
وَالْمفْعِمِينَ حَقَائِبَ الضِّيفَانِ
Who favored others above themselves with their provisions,
Who prefer others over themselves with their provisions
And filled the guests' saddlebags.
Filling the guest's bags, they are excels
إِنْif سُوبِقُواthey are raced against سَبَقُواthey outstrip النَّدَىgenerosity أَوْor كُوثِرواthey are rivaled in abundance
إِنْ سُوبِقُوا سَبَقُوا النَّدَى أَوْ كُوثِروا
فَهُمُthen they are النُّجُومُthe stars عُلاًin loftiness وَعِزُّand grandeur of مَكَانِstation
فَهُمُ النُّجُومُ عُلاً وَعِزُّ مَكَانِ
If raced, they outstrip generosity; if rivaled in abundance,
Whether foremost or made to abound, they are the stars
They are stars in loftiness and grandeur of station.
Lofty, honored wherever their glory dwells
قَوْمُa people إذَاwhen لاَثُواthey wrap الْعَمَائِمَthe turbans وَاحْتَبْواand sit clasping their knees
قَوْمُ إذَا لاَثُوا الْعَمَائِمَ وَاحْتَبْوا
ذَلَّتْsubmitted لِعِزِّهِمُto their might ذَوُوthe wearers of التِّيجَانِcrowns
ذَلَّتْ لِعِزِّهِمُ ذَوُو التِّيجَانِ
A people who, when they wrap their turbans and sit clasping their knees,
A people when they don headdresses and inspire awe
Make the wearers of crowns submit to their might.
Those with crowns bow to their splendor that compels
أوْor قَامَrose فِيin نَادِيthe council of الْمُلُوكِkings خَطِيبُهُمْtheir orator
أوْ قَامَ فِي نَادِي الْمُلُوكِ خَطِيبُهُمْ
خَرُّواthey fell لَهُbefore him رَهَباًin awe عَلَىupon الأَذْقَانِthe chins
خَرُّوا لَهُ رَهَباً عَلَى الأَذْقَانِ
Or when their orator rises in the council of kings,
If their orator in the kings' club rises to speak
They fall before him in awe upon their chins.
They fall before him in dread that quells
أسَلِيلَO scion of مَجْدِهِمُtheir glory وَسِبْطَand descendant of فَخَارِهِمْtheir pride
أسَلِيلَ مَجْدِهِمُ وَسِبْطَ فَخَارِهِمْ
وَمُؤَمَّلَand the hope of الْقَاصِيthe far-off وَقَصْدَand the goal of الدَّانِيthe nearby
وَمُؤَمَّلَ الْقَاصِي وَقَصْدَ الدَّانِي
O scion of their glory, descendant of their pride,
Scion of their glory, inheritor of their pride
Hope of the far-off and goal of those nearby,
And the judge's hope and caller's aim that excels
أَعْلَيْتَyou raised بُنْيَاناًa structure عَلَىupon مَاwhat أَسَّسُواthey founded
أَعْلَيْتَ بُنْيَاناً عَلَى مَا أَسَّسُوا
فَتَعَاضَدَso was strengthened الْبُنْيَانُthe structure بِالْبُنْيَانِby the structure
فَتَعَاضَدَ الْبُنْيَانُ بِالْبُنْيَانِ
You raised a structure upon what they founded,
You built edifices on their foundations
And structure lent strength to structure.
So the structures buttressed each other's dwells
فَهُمُso they are الأُصُولُthe roots زَكَتْthat flourished وَلَكِنْbut إِنَّمَاonly
فَهُمُ الأُصُولُ زَكَتْ وَلَكِنْ إِنَّمَا
فَضْلُthe excellence of الْجَنَاfruit مِنْfrom شِيمَةِthe nature of الأَفْنَانِthe branches
فَضْلُ الْجَنَا مِنْ شِيمَةِ الأَفْنَانِ
They are roots that flourished; yet only
They are the roots, flourishing, but fruits' merit is only
From the branches' nature comes the excellence of fruit.
From the branches' nature the ripeness that swells
عَجَباًhow strange لِمَنْfor one who يَعْتَدُّreadies دُونَكَagainst you جُنَّةًa shield
عَجَباً لِمَنْ يَعْتَدُّ دُونَكَ جُنَّةً
وَغِرَارُand the edge of سَيْفِكَyour sword فِيin يَدthe hand of الرَّحْمَانِthe Merciful
وَغِرَارُ سَيْفِكَ فِي يَد الرَّحْمَانِ
How strange that anyone should ready a shield against you,
Wondrous is one who counts beside you a paradise
When the edge of your sword is in the Merciful's hand;
While the flash of your sword is in the Merciful's hands that excels
وَلِمَنand for one who عَصَاكَdisobeyed you وَظَنَّand imagined أَنْthat سَتُجِيرُهُwould protect him
وَلِمَن عَصَاكَ وَظَنَّ أَنْ سَتُجِيرُهُ
أَنْصَارُsupporters of جَارٍa neighbor أَوْor سَحِيقُremoteness of مَكَانِa place
أَنْصَارُ جَارٍ أَوْ سَحِيقُ مَكَانِ
And that anyone disobeys you, imagining he will be sheltered
And one who disobeys you and thinks that allies
By a neighbor's supporters or a far-distant place.
Of a neighbor or towering place will save him from hells
لكُمُyou have بَنِيsons of نَصْرٍNasr مَآثِرُglorious deeds لَمْdid not تَكُنْexist
لكُمُ بَنِي نَصْرٍ مَآثِرُ لَمْ تَكُنْ
لِبَنِيfor the sons of الرَّشِيدِal-Rashid وَلاَnor بَنِيthe sons of مَرْوَانِMarwan
لِبَنِي الرَّشِيدِ وَلاَ بَنِي مَرْوَانِ
You, sons of Nasr, have glorious deeds never possessed
You have, O Banu Nasr, remarkable feats
By the sons of al-Rashid or the sons of Marwan.
Unlike any by Banu Abbas or Banu Marwan's tells
بَاهَتْvied in pride with بِلاَدُكُمُyour lands الْبِلاَدَother lands فَأَصْبَحَتْso became
بَاهَتْ بِلاَدُكُمُ الْبِلاَدَ فَأَصْبَحَتْ
غَرْنَاطَةٌGranada تَزْهُوboastful عَلَىabove بَغْدَانِBaghdad
غَرْنَاطَةٌ تَزْهُو عَلَى بَغْدَانِ
Your lands vied in pride with other lands, until
Your lands have outshone all other lands until
Granada came to vaunt itself above Baghdad.
Granada exults over Baghdad's shells
قُمْتُمْyou upheld بِأَمْرِthe command of اللهِGod فِيthroughout أَقْطَارِهَاits regions
قُمْتُمْ بِأَمْرِ اللهِ فِي أَقْطَارِهَا
مَاranging بَيْنَbetween غِلْظَةِsternness of قُدْوَةٍan exemplar وَلِيَانِand gentleness
مَا بَيْنَ غِلْظَةِ قُدْوَةٍ وَلِيَانِ
You upheld God's command throughout its regions,
By God's command in its regions, what lies
Between an exemplar's sternness and gentleness.
Between solid base and delicate spire that dwells
قُدْتُمْyou led بِهَاthere الْجُرْدَthe sleek steeds الْمَذَاكِيَseasoned قُرَّحاًfull-grown
قُدْتُمْ بِهَا الْجُرْدَ الْمَذَاكِيَ قُرَّحاً
غُبْرَdusty النَّوَاصِيthe forelocks ضُمَّرlean الأَبْدَthe bodies (first part) انِcompletion of 'bodies'
غُبْرَ النَّوَاصِي ضُمَّر الأَبْدَ انِ
You led there sleek, seasoned steeds in their prime,
You led its well-groomed armies rent and wounded
With dusty forelocks and lean bodies.
The dust of foreheads humbled, necks that fells
وَقَهَرْتُمُand you subdued مَنْwhoever رَامَهَاsought it بِمَسَاءَةٍwith harm
وَقَهَرْتُمُ مَنْ رَامَهَا بِمَسَاءَةٍ
فَغَدَاso he became مُعَنَّىtormented by رِبْقَةِthe noose of الإِذْعَانِsubmission
فَغَدَا مُعَنَّى رِبْقَةِ الإِذْعَانِ
And you subdued whoever sought to harm it,
You vanquished those who wronged it so they became
So he became tormented by the noose of submission.
Bowed in submission's yoke that quells
لِلَّهِpraise God for يَوْمُthe day of الْمَرجِal-Marj لاَmay not بَعُدَتْcarry far away بِهِit
لِلَّهِ يَوْمُ الْمَرجِ لاَ بَعُدَتْ بِهِ
أَيْدِيthe hands of الزَّمَانِTime وَشَفَّعَتهُand may they pair it بِثَانِيwith a second
أَيْدِي الزَّمَانِ وَشَفَّعَتهُ بِثَانِي
Praise God for the day of al-Marj! May it not be borne far away
God's day has no shifting with time
By Time's hands; may they pair it with a second.
And no second intercedes or tells
صَدَمَتْهُassailed it أَحْزَابُthe hosts of الضَّلاَلِerror كَأَنَّمَاas though
صَدَمَتْهُ أَحْزَابُ الضَّلاَلِ كَأَنَّمَا
طُولُthe heights of الْجِبَالِmountains تَخُبُّtrotted فِيin أَرْسَانِhalters
طُولُ الْجِبَالِ تَخُبُّ فِي أَرْسَانِ
The hosts of error assailed it, as though
Assailed by armies of misguidance as if
Towering mountains were trotting in halters.
Tall mountains are pebbles in giants' hands that swells
هَابُواthey feared الشَّرَىShara (lion-haunt) فَتَخَاذَلَتْso faltered عَزَمَاتُهُمْtheir resolves
هَابُوا الشَّرَى فَتَخَاذَلَتْ عَزَمَاتُهُمْ
جَهْلُthe ignorance of الرُّعَاةِthe shepherds قَضَىdecreed بِهُلْكِthe death of الضَّانِthe sheep
جَهْلُ الرُّعَاةِ قَضَى بِهُلْكِ الضَّانِ
They feared Shara's lion-thicket, and their resolves failed;
They feared evil so their resolves recoiled
The shepherds' ignorance doomed the sheep.
The ignorance of shepherds destroys the lambs and fells
فَكَأَنَّهُمْso as though they were والمشْرفِيَّةُand Mashrafi swords فَوْقَهُمْabove them
فَكَأَنَّهُمْ والمشْرفِيَّةُ فَوْقَهُمْ
نَارُthe fire of الْقَبُولِacceptance أَتَتْcame عَلَىupon قُرْبَانِan offering
نَارُ الْقَبُولِ أَتَتْ عَلَى قُرْبَانِ
They seemed, with Mashrafi swords above them,
As if they and the Shamiyya above them
An offering consumed by the fire of acceptance.
Are the fire of acceptance that came to the offering and dwells
لِلَّهِpraise God for نَاراًa fire أَهْلَكَتْdestroyed عُبَّادَهَاits worshippers
لِلَّهِ نَاراً أَهْلَكَتْ عُبَّادَهَا
هِنْدِيَّةًIndian تَغْدُوgoes forth بِغَيْرِwithout دُخَانِsmoke
هِنْدِيَّةً تَغْدُو بِغَيْرِ دُخَانِ
Praise God for a fire that destroyed its worshippers,
By God, a fire that destroyed its worshippers
An Indian fire that goes forth without smoke!
Indian, proceeding without smoke that tells
نَارٌa fire وَلَكِنbut فِيon مُتُونِthe surfaces of غِرَارِهَاits blades
نَارٌ وَلَكِن فِي مُتُونِ غِرَارِهَا
مَاءٌwater يُؤَجِّجُinflames غُلَّةَthe burning thirst of الظَّمْانِthe thirsty
مَاءٌ يُؤَجِّجُ غُلَّةَ الظَّمْانِ
A fire, yet across the faces of its blades
A fire, but in its flames' depths
Is water that inflames the thirst of the parched.
Is water, kindling the thirst of souls that dwells
وَكَذُاand so السُّيُوفُthe swords مُلِثَّةٌunceasing أَنْوَاؤُهَاtheir rainstorms
وَكَذُا السُّيُوفُ مُلِثَّةٌ أَنْوَاؤُهَا
وَالشَّمْسُand the sun فِيin جَدْيٍCapricorn وَفِيand in سَرَطَانِCancer
وَالشَّمْسُ فِي جَدْيٍ وَفِي سَرَطَانِ
Such are swords: their rains are unceasing,
So too are the swords, their edges bloodied
Whether the sun is in Capricorn or in Cancer.
The sun in Cancer or Capricorn that dwells
وَرَسَمْتُمُand you inscribed تَارِيخَthe history of كُلّevery وَقِيعَةٍbattle
وَرَسَمْتُمُ تَارِيخَ كُلّ وَقِيعَةٍ
فِيon مُهْرَقِthe parchment of التَلْعَاتِthe heights وَالْكُثْبَانِand the dunes
فِي مُهْرَقِ التَلْعَاتِ وَالْكُثْبَانِ
And you inscribed the history of every battle
You inscribed the date of every calamity
On the parchment of heights and sand dunes.
In the erasing sands and dunes' swells
أَعْضَاؤُهُمْtheir limbs فِيهَاthere حُرُوفٌletters قُطِّعَتْsevered
أَعْضَاؤُهُمْ فِيهَا حُرُوفٌ قُطِّعَتْ
أَثَرُthe trace of الْمِدَادِthe ink بِهَاthere نَجِيعٌgore قَانِيcrimson
أَثَرُ الْمِدَادِ بِهَا نَجِيعٌ قَانِي
Their limbs there are severed letters;
Their body parts therein are disjointed letters
The ink's trace there is crimson gore.
The trace of the pen therein bloody that tells
فَاضْرِبْso strike بِجَيْشِكَwith your army مَاwhat lies وَرَاءَbeyond ثُغُورِهِمْtheir frontiers
فَاضْرِبْ بِجَيْشِكَ مَا وَرَاءَ ثُغُورِهِمْ
فَمِنَfor from among الْمَلاَئِكِthe angels دُونَهُbefore it جَيْشَانِtwo armies
فَمِنَ الْمَلاَئِكِ دُونَهُ جَيْشَانِ
Strike with your army what lies beyond their frontiers,
Then strike with your army what lies beyond their frontiers
For before it are two armies of angels.
For beyond it are two armies of angels that excels
لَمْnot تَلْقَyou encountered مُجْتَمَعاًa gathering لِكُفْرٍof unbelief بَعْدَهَاafter it
لَمْ تَلْقَ مُجْتَمَعاً لِكُفْرٍ بَعْدَهَا
قَدْindeed حِيلَa barrier was placed بَيْنَbetween الْعَيْرِthe ass وَالنَّزَوَانِand mounting
قَدْ حِيلَ بَيْنَ الْعَيْرِ وَالنَّزَوَانِ
You have met no gathering of unbelief since that battle;
Never again will disbelief meet assembled
The ass has been barred from mounting.
After it, the path between mounts is barred and dwells
بُشْرَاكَglad tidings to you إِنَّindeed اللهَGod أَكْملَcompleted عِيدَنَاour feast
بُشْرَاكَ إِنَّ اللهَ أَكْملَ عِيدَنَا
بِالْعَفْوِwith pardon مِنْكَfrom you وَمِنْهُand from Him بِالْغُفْرَانِwith forgiveness
بِالْعَفْوِ مِنْكَ وَمِنْهُ بِالْغُفْرَانِ
Glad tidings to you! God has completed our feast
Congratulate yourself, God has perfected our celebration
With pardon from you and forgiveness from Him.
With pardon from You and forgiveness from Him that excels
عِيدٌa feast أَعَادَrestored عَلَىto الزَّمَانِTime شَبَابَهُits youth
عِيدٌ أَعَادَ عَلَى الزَّمَانِ شَبَابَهُ
فَاعْجَبْso marvel لأَشْمَطَat a gray-haired man عِيدَrestored فِيin رَيْعَانِyouthful prime
فَاعْجَبْ لأَشْمَطَ عِيدَ فِي رَيْعَانِ
A feast that restored youth to Time;
A feast that restored the age's youth
So marvel at the gray-haired returned to his prime!
Marvel at a feast in the days of youth that dwells
أَضْحَىdawned بِكَthrough you الأَضْحَىal-Adha وَقَدْand already طَلَعَتْrose بِهِupon it
أَضْحَى بِكَ الأَضْحَى وَقَدْ طَلَعَتْ بِهِ
شَمْسُa sun وَكِلاَهُمَاand both of them شَمْسَانِtwo suns
شَمْسُ وَكِلاَهُمَا شَمْسَانِ
Through you al-Adha dawned, and upon it rose
The feast has risen with you, and with it rose
A sun—and you and it are two suns.
A sun, both suns that excels
وَمَدَدْتَand you extended لِلتَّقْبِيلِfor kissing يُمْنَاكَyour right hand الَّتِيwhich
وَمَدَدْتَ لِلتَّقْبِيلِ يُمْنَاكَ الَّتِي
هِيَit وَالْحَيَاand rain فِيin نَفْعِهَاits benefit سِيَّانِare equal
هِيَ وَالْحَيَا فِي نَفْعِهَا سِيَّانِ
You extended for kissing your right hand, which
You extended your right hand, which, for kissing
Equals rain in the benefit it brings.
It and life are equal in benefit, that tells
شكَرَتْthanked لَكَyou الدُّنْيَاthe world صَنِيعَكَyour kindness عِنْدَهاtoward it
شكَرَتْ لَكَ الدُّنْيَا صَنِيعَكَ عِنْدَها
لَمَّاwhen شَفَيْتَyou healed زَمَانَهَits infirmity الأَزْمَانِof the ages
لَمَّا شَفَيْتَ زَمَانَهَ الأَزْمَانِ
The world thanked you for your kindness to it,
The age thanked You for Your deed with it
When you healed its age-long infirmity.
When You healed its illness in the days that fells
أَنْذَرْتَyou gave warning قَبْلَbefore النُّضْجِripening لَمَّاwhen جِئْتَهَاyou came to it
أَنْذَرْتَ قَبْلَ النُّضْجِ لَمَّا جِئْتَهَا
مَلِكاًas king وَكَانَand was الْبُرْءُrecovery فِيin البُحْرَانِthe crisis
مَلِكاً وَكَانَ الْبُرْءُ فِي البُحْرَانِ
You gave warning before ripening, when you came to it
You warned before maturity when you came
As king; recovery lay in the crisis.
King, though judgment was between two oceans that dwells
مَوْلاَيَmy lord لاَdo not تَنْسَىyou forget وَسَائِلَthe claims of مَنْone who لَهُhas
مَوْلاَيَ لاَ تَنْسَى وَسَائِلَ مَنْ لَهُ
لِلدَّوْلَةِfor the dynasty الْغَرَّاءِthe radiant سَبْقُa lead رِهَانِin the race
لِلدَّوْلَةِ الْغَرَّاءِ سَبْقُ رِهَانِ
My lord, forget not the claims of one who has
My lord, forget not the efforts of those who
A winning lead in the race for the radiant dynasty.
Have prior service to the splendid state that excels
وَاسْأَلand ask مَوَاقِفَنَاour stands بِبَابِكَat your gate يَوْمَon the day لَمْnot
وَاسْأَل مَوَاقِفَنَا بِبَابِكَ يَوْمَ لَمْ
يُدْعَwas summoned لِخِدْمِتهِto its service سِوَىexcept الْخُلْصَانِthe trusted intimates
يُدْعَ لِخِدْمِتهِ سِوَى الْخُلْصَانِ
Ask of the stands we took at your gate, on the day when
Ask about our positions at your door the day none
Only trusted intimates were called to serve it.
Was called to serve but the sincere that tells
قَدْindeed كَانَused to وَالِدُكَyour father الرِّضَيthe gracious يَرْعَىhonor لَهَاfor them
قَدْ كَانَ وَالِدُكَ الرِّضَي يَرْعَى لَهَا
ذِمماًobligations وَيَذْكُرُهَاand remember them مَعَwith الأَحْيَانِthe passing times
ذِمماً وَيَذْكُرُهَا مَعَ الأَحْيَانِ
Your gracious father used to honor their
Your father, may he rest in peace, used to guard For it
Claims and remember them from time to time.
Obligations and mention it amid the times that dwells
خِدَماًservices رَآهَاhe saw them بِالْعِيَانِwith his own eyes حَمِيدَةًpraiseworthy
خِدَماً رَآهَا بِالْعِيَانِ حَمِيدَةً
وَالْمَوتُand death يَخْطُرُstrides مِنْfrom ظُبىًsword-edges لِسِنَانِto a spear-point
وَالْمَوتُ يَخْطُرُ مِنْ ظُبىً لِسِنَانِ
Services he saw with his own eyes to be praiseworthy,
A servant whom he saw with his eyes as praiseworthy
While death strode from sword-edges to spear-point.
While death lurked with grinding teeth that excels
فَلَكُمْso yours are أَيَادِيthe favors of الرِّقِّbondage فِيupon أَعْنَاقِنَاour necks
فَلَكُمْ أَيَادِي الرِّقِّ فِي أَعْنَاقِنَا
وَلَنَاand ours are حُقُوقُthe claims of نَصَائِحِloyal counsels الْعُبْدَانِthe bondsmen
وَلَنَا حُقُوقُ نَصَائِحِ الْعُبْدَانِ
So your favors bind our necks in servitude,
For you are the necks' shackles, and ours
And ours are the claims earned by bondsmen's loyal counsel.
Are the rights of advice from servants that tells
خُذْهَاtake it أَمِيرO commander of الْمُسْلِمِينَthe Muslims بَدِيعَةًa marvel
خُذْهَا أَمِير الْمُسْلِمِينَ بَدِيعَةً
سَحَبَتْtrailed بَدَائِعَهَاits marvels عَلَىover سَحْبَانِSahban
سَحَبَتْ بَدَائِعَهَا عَلَى سَحْبَانِ
Take it, Commander of the Muslims, a marvel:
Take them, Commander of the Faithful, excellent
Its marvels sweep past Sahban.
Drawing with its excellence on the orbit that dwells
تَطْوِيtraverses الْبِلاَدَthe lands مَشَارِقاًeastward وَمَغَارِباًand westward
تَطْوِي الْبِلاَدَ مَشَارِقاً وَمَغَارِباً
قُسِّيَّةًQuss-like تَثْنِيpraises بِكُلِّin every لِسَانِtongue
قُسِّيَّةً تَثْنِي بِكُلِّ لِسَانِ
It crosses lands, eastward and westward,
It folds countries together, east and west
Quss-like, praising in every tongue.
Eloquent, folding with every tongue that tells
وَيُقِرُّand acknowledges بِالتَّقْصِيرِfalling short عِنْدَupon سَمَاعِهاَhearing it
وَيُقِرُّ بِالتَّقْصِيرِ عِنْدَ سَمَاعِهاَ
رَبُّthe master of الْقَصَائِدِodes فيِamong بَنيthe sons of حَمْدَانِHamdan
رَبُّ الْقَصَائِدِ فيِ بَني حَمْدَانِ
And he admits his shortcomings upon hearing it—
While its lord admits his falling short upon hearing it
The master of odes among the sons of Hamdan.
The poems' lord of the clan of Hamdan that excels
سَلَبَتْstole نَسِيمَthe breeze of الرَّوْضِthe garden رِقَّةَthe softness of عِطْفِهِits sway
سَلَبَتْ نَسِيمَ الرَّوْضِ رِقَّةَ عِطْفِهِ
وَوَقَارُهَاand its dignity يَزْكُوrises عَلَىabove ثَهْلاَنِThahlan
وَوَقَارُهَا يَزْكُو عَلَى ثَهْلاَنِ
It stole from the garden breeze the softness of its sway,
It robbed the garden's breeze of its gentle air
And its dignity rises above Thahlan.
Its dignity purer than Thahlan's gazelles
قَضَتْdecreed الْفَصَاحَةُeloquence لِيfor me بِفَوْزِthe victory of قِدَاحِهاَits lottery arrows
قَضَتْ الْفَصَاحَةُ لِي بِفَوْزِ قِدَاحِهاَ
فِيin الشعْرِpoetry يَوْمَthe day تَنَازَعَcontended الخَصْمَانِthe two rivals
فِي الشعْرِ يَوْمَ تَنَازَعَ الخَصْمَانِ
Eloquence decreed for me the victory of its arrows
Eloquence decreed that I win its competition
In poetry, the day the two rivals contended.
The day opponents vied and competing excels
وَنبَغتُand I rose to eminence فِيin زمَنٍan age أَخيرٍlate أهْلُهُits people
وَنبَغتُ فِي زمَنٍ أَخيرٍ أهْلُهُ
مَاwhat ضَرَّharm does it do أنَّيthat I لَسْتُam not مِنْof ذُبْيَانِDhubyan
مَا ضَرَّ أنَّي لَسْتُ مِنْ ذُبْيَانِ
And I rose to eminence in an age of latecomers;
I became eminent in a late age whose people
What harm is it that I am not of Dhubyan?
It matters not that I am not from Dhubyan that dwells
مَاnot كُلُّevery مَنْone who نَظمَcomposed الْقَوافِيَrhymes شَاعِرٌa poet
مَا كُلُّ مَنْ نَظمَ الْقَوافِيَ شَاعِرٌ
أَوْor كُلُّevery مَصْقُولِpolished الْغِرَارِcutting edge يَمَانِيYemeni
أَوْ كُلُّ مَصْقُولِ الْغِرَارِ يَمَانِي
Not everyone who strings rhymes is a poet,
Not every versifier is a poet
Nor is every polished blade a Yemeni one.
Nor every polished sword a Yemeni that excels
إنْif لَمْnot أَدَعْهاَI leave it فِيin امْتدَاحِكَpraising you فَذَّةًpeerless
إنْ لَمْ أَدَعْهاَ فِي امْتدَاحِكَ فَذَّةً
مَثَلاًa proverb شُروداًfar-ranging لَسْتُI am not مِنْof سَلْمَانِSalman
مَثَلاً شُروداً لَسْتُ مِنْ سَلْمَانِ
If I do not leave it peerless in your praise,
If I did not leave it scattered loosely in your praise
A far-ranging proverb, then I am not of Salman.
An example roaming, I am not of Solomon's tells
Sol 6.1