سَلْask مَاwhy لسلمَىwith Salma بنَارِwith the fire of الهجْرِestrangement تَكْوِينِيshe sears me
سَلْ مَا لسلمَى بنَارِ الهجْرِ تَكْوِينِي
وَحُبُّهَاand love for her فِيin الْحَشَىthe innermost heart مِنْfrom قَبْلِbefore تَكْوِينِيmy creation
وَحُبُّهَا فِي الْحَشَى مِنْ قَبْلِ تَكْوِينِي
Ask why Salma sears me with estrangement's fire,
when love for her was in my heart before my creation.
وَفِيand in مُنَاهَاhopes of her تَمَنَّيتُI wished الْمُنَىthe wishes فَغَداand so became
وَفِي مُنَاهَا تَمَنَّيتُ الْمُنَى فَغَدا
قَلْبِيmy heart كَئِيباًsorrowful بِبَلْوَاهُabout its ordeal يُنَاجِينِيit confides in me
قَلْبِي كَئِيباً بِبَلْوَاهُ يُنَاجِينِي
And in hopes of her I wished for every wish; then grew
my heart sorrowful, confiding its ordeal to me.
وَفِيand in قِبَابِthe domes of قُباQuba قاَمَتْshe stood لَنَاbefore us بِقَبَاin a robe
وَفِي قِبَابِ قُبا قاَمَتْ لَنَا بِقَبَا
طِرَازُهَاher embroidered trim مذْهَبٌgilded فِيin حُسْنِthe beauty of تَزْيِينِadornment
طِرَازُهَا مذْهَبٌ فِي حُسْنِ تَزْيِينِ
Under the domes of Quba she stood before us in a robe,
her embroidered trim gilded in beautiful adornment.
لَمَّاwhen انْثَنَتْshe swayed فِيin الحُلَىjewels تَزْهُوshe glories بِبَهْجَتِهَاin her splendor
لَمَّا انْثَنَتْ فِي الحُلَى تَزْهُو بِبَهْجَتِهَا
وَبِالغَزَالَةِand the gazelle تُزْرِيshe puts to shame وَالسَّرَاحِينِand the wolves
وَبِالغَزَالَةِ تُزْرِي وَالسَّرَاحِينِ
When she swayed in jewels, glorying in her splendor,
she put the gazelle and the wolves to shame.
لَمَّاwhen تَفَنَّنْتُI varied my arts فِيupon أَفْنَانِthe boughs of قَامَتِهَاher stature
لَمَّا تَفَنَّنْتُ فِي أَفْنَانِ قَامَتِهَا
تَفَنَّنَتْshe grew inventive بِفُنُونِwith arts of الصَّدِّrejection تُفْنِينِيshe destroys me
تَفَنَّنَتْ بِفُنُونِ الصَّدِّ تُفْنِينِي
When I lavished my arts on the boughs of her stature,
she devised arts of rejection to destroy me.
وَتَحْسَبُand she thinks الصَّدّrejection يُسلِينِيmakes me forget مَحَبَّتَهَاlove for her
وَتَحْسَبُ الصَّدّ يُسلِينِي مَحَبَّتَهَا
هَيْهَاتَfar from it لَوْeven if أَنَّthat جَمْرَthe embers of النَّارthe fire يُصْلِينِيburns me
هَيْهَاتَ لَوْ أَنَّ جَمْرَ النَّار يُصْلِينِي
She thinks rejection will make me forget my love for her.
Never—even if the embers of fire should burn me!
النَّارthe fire فِيin كَبِدِيmy liver وَالشَّوْقُand longing يُقْلِقُنيunsettles me
النَّار فِي كَبِدِي وَالشَّوْقُ يُقْلِقُني
وَالْقُرْبُand nearness يَنْشُرُنِيunfolds me والبُعْدُand distance يَطْوِينِيfolds me away
وَالْقُرْبُ يَنْشُرُنِي والبُعْدُ يَطْوِينِي
Fire is in my liver, and longing gives me no rest;
nearness unfolds me, while distance folds me away.
وَرُكْنُand the pillar of صَبْرِيmy patience تَخَلَّىgave way فِيin الْغَرَامِpassion وَقَدْand already
وَرُكْنُ صَبْرِي تَخَلَّى فِي الْغَرَامِ وَقَدْ
تَمَكَّنَtook firm hold الحُبّlove مِنِّيof me أَيّutter تَمْكِينِmastery
تَمَكَّنَ الحُبّ مِنِّي أَيّ تَمْكِينِ
The pillar of my patience failed in passion, and
love took utter possession of me.
وَقَدْand indeed رَأَيْتُI have seen مَسِيرِيmy journey عَزَّproved difficult مَطلبُهُits attainment
وَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ مَسِيرِي عَزَّ مَطلبُهُ
وَالطَّرفُand the glance وَالظَّرفُand grace يُبْكِينِيmakes me weep ويَكْوِينِيand sears me
وَالطَّرفُ وَالظَّرفُ يُبْكِينِي ويَكْوِينِي
I have found my journey's goal hard to attain;
her glance and grace make me weep and sear me.
نَصَبْتَyou afflicted حَالِيmy state لِرَفْعِto remove الضَّمِّembrace مُنْجَزِماcut off
نَصَبْتَ حَالِي لِرَفْعِ الضَّمِّ مُنْجَزِما
بِالْكَسْرِby brokenness عَلَّperhaps بَرشْفِwith a sip of الضّمَembrace تُحْيِينِيyou revive me
بِالْكَسْرِ عَلَّ بَرشْفِ الضّمَ تُحْيِينِي
You brought me to distress, withdrawing embrace, leaving me cut off
by heartbreak; perhaps with a sip of embrace you will revive me.
يَاO صَاحfriend عُجْturn aside بالحِمَىto the sanctuary وَانْزِلْand alight بِهِمْamong them سَحَراًbefore dawn
يَا صَاح عُجْ بالحِمَى وَانْزِلْ بِهِمْ سَحَراً
وَانْظُرْand gaze لعَجْبٍin wonder أثِيلاَتِthe little tamarisks of الْبَسَاتِينِthe gardens
وَانْظُرْ لعَجْبٍ أثِيلاَتِ الْبَسَاتِينِ
O friend, turn aside to the sanctuary and alight among them before dawn;
gaze in wonder at the gardens' little tamarisks.
وَفَوْقَand above سَفْحِthe slope of عَمِيقdeep الدَّمْعِtears عُجْturn aside لِتَرَىto see
وَفَوْقَ سَفْحِ عَمِيق الدَّمْعِ عُجْ لِتَرَى
جَآذِرَthe wild-ox calves of الْحَيِّthe tribe بَيْنَamong الخُرَّدِthe sheltered maidens الْعِينِthe wide-eyed
جَآذِرَ الْحَيِّ بَيْنَ الخُرَّدِ الْعِينِ
And above the slope of deep tears, turn aside to see
the tribe's wild-ox calves among the wide-eyed maidens.
وَمِلْand turn عَلَىtoward أَثْلاَثِthe clumps of الْبَانِmoringa مُنْعَطِفاًbending your course
وَمِلْ عَلَى أَثْلاَثِ الْبَانِ مُنْعَطِفاً
وَحَيّand greet سَلْعاًSalʿ وَسَلْand ask عَنْabout حَالِthe condition of مِسْكِينِa poor man
وَحَيّ سَلْعاً وَسَلْ عَنْ حَالِ مِسْكِينِ
And turn toward the clumps of moringa, bending your course,
greet Salʿ, and ask about a poor man's plight.
ثُمَّthen آتِcome to جَزْعاًa valley bend وَجُزْand pass عَنْby حَيِّthe encampment of كَاظِمِةٍKazima
ثُمَّ آتِ جَزْعاً وَجُزْ عَنْ حَيِّ كَاظِمِةٍ
وَأقْرand convey السَّلاَمَgreetings of peace عَلَىto خَيْرِthe best of النَّبِييِنِthe prophets
وَأقْر السَّلاَمَ عَلَى خَيْرِ النَّبِييِنِ
Then come to the valley bend and pass by Kazima's encampment,
and convey greetings of peace to the best of prophets:
مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad الْمُصْطَفَىthe chosen الْمُخْتَارُthe elect مَنْthe one whose ظَهَرَتْappeared
مُحَمَّدٌ الْمُصْطَفَى الْمُخْتَارُ مَنْ ظَهَرَتْ
آياتُهُhis signs فَتَسَلَّىso found solace كُلُّevery مُحْزُونِgrieving person
آياتُهُ فَتَسَلَّى كُلُّ مُحْزُونِ
Muhammad, the chosen, the elect—made manifest were
his signs, and every grieving soul found solace.
مَنْthe one whom خَصَّهُsingled him out اللهُGod بِالْقُرْآنِwith the Qur'an مُعْجِزَةًas a miracle
مَنْ خَصَّهُ اللهُ بِالْقُرْآنِ مُعْجِزَةً
مَاnot نَالَهَاattained it مُرْسَلٌa messenger قَدْindeed جَاءَcame بِالدِّينِwith the faith
مَا نَالَهَا مُرْسَلٌ قَدْ جَاءَ بِالدِّينِ
He whom God singled out with the Qur'an, a miracle
no messenger who brought the faith had attained.
وَمِنْand from شِهَابٍa flame بَدَاappeared مِنْfrom نُورِهِhis light رَجَعَتbecame
وَمِنْ شِهَابٍ بَدَا مِنْ نُورِهِ رَجَعَت
شُهْبُthe meteors of الدَّياجِيthe dark nights رُجُوماًmissiles لِلشَّيَاطينِagainst the devils
شُهْبُ الدَّياجِي رُجُوماً لِلشَّيَاطينِ
And from a flame that shone from his light were turned
the meteors of darkness into missiles against devils.
وَفَوْقَand upon رَاحَتِهِhis palm صُمُّthe solid الْحَصَىpebbles نَطَقَتْspoke
وَفَوْقَ رَاحَتِهِ صُمُّ الْحَصَى نَطَقَتْ
وَالْمَاءُand water مِنْfrom كَفِّهِhis hand يُزْرِيputs to shame بِجَيْحُونِthe Jayhun
وَالْمَاءُ مِنْ كَفِّهِ يُزْرِي بِجَيْحُونِ
Upon his palm the solid pebbles spoke,
and water from his hand put the Jayhun to shame.
وَهُوَand he الَّذِيthe one whom اخْتَارَهُchose him البَارِيthe Creator وَأَرْسَلَهُand sent him
وَهُوَ الَّذِي اخْتَارَهُ البَارِي وَأَرْسَلَهُ
بَرّاًbenevolent رَؤُوفاًcompassionate رَحِيماًmerciful بِالْمَسَاكِينِto the poor
بَرّاً رَؤُوفاً رَحِيماً بِالْمَسَاكِينِ
He is the one the Creator chose and sent,
benevolent, compassionate, merciful to the poor.
إِنْif سَارَhe walked فِيin الرَّمْلthe sand لَمْnot يَظَهَرappeared لَهُof him أَثَرٌa trace
إِنْ سَارَ فِي الرَّمْل لَمْ يَظَهَر لَهُ أَثَرٌ
وَإِنْand if عَلاَhe trod upon الصَّخْرَthe rock عَادَbecame الصَّخْرُthe rock كَالطِّينِlike clay
وَإِنْ عَلاَ الصَّخْرَ عَادَ الصَّخْرُ كَالطِّينِ
If he walked on sand, no trace of him appeared;
if he trod upon rock, the rock became like clay.
كَأَنْas though بالرَّمْلِin the sand مَاwhat بِالصَّخْرِin the rock مِنْof جَلَدٍhardness
كَأَنْ بالرَّمْلِ مَا بِالصَّخْرِ مِنْ جَلَدٍ
شَوْقاًout of longing وَبِالصَّخْرِand in the rock مَاwhat بِالرَّمْلِin the sand مِنْof لِينِsoftness
شَوْقاً وَبِالصَّخْرِ مَا بِالرَّمْلِ مِنْ لِينِ
As though the sand possessed the rock's hardness
out of longing, and the rock possessed the sand's softness.
وَفِيand in الصَّحِيحَيْنِthe two Sahih collections أَنَّthat الجِذْعَthe palm trunk حَنَّyearned لَهُfor him
وَفِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ أَنَّ الجِذْعَ حَنَّ لَهُ
وَالْعِذْقَand the date cluster أَنَّmoaned إِلَيْهِtoward him أَيَّwhat a تَأَنِينِmoaning
وَالْعِذْقَ أَنَّ إِلَيْهِ أَيَّ تَأَنِينِ
In the two Sahih collections, the palm trunk is said to have yearned for him,
and the date cluster moaned toward him—how it moaned!
وَقَدْand indeed سَمِعْنَاwe have heard بِأَنَّthat الطَّيْرَthe birds خَاطَبَهُaddressed him
وَقَدْ سَمِعْنَا بِأَنَّ الطَّيْرَ خَاطَبَهُ
فِيin منْطِقٍspeech مُفْصِحٍarticulate مِنْwith غَيْرِno تَلْكِينِfaulty articulation
فِي منْطِقٍ مُفْصِحٍ مِنْ غَيْرِ تَلْكِينِ
We have heard that the birds addressed him
in articulate speech, without a faltering tongue.
وَالظَّبيَand the gazelle وَالضبَّand the desert lizard جَاءَاthey both came يَشْهَدَانِboth testifying بِأَنْthat
وَالظَّبيَ وَالضبَّ جَاءَا يَشْهَدَانِ بِأَنْ
لاَno شَيْءَthing أَعْظَمُgreater مِنْthan طَهٍTa-Ha وَيَاسِينِand Ya-Sin
لاَ شَيْءَ أَعْظَمُ مِنْ طَهٍ وَيَاسِينِ
The gazelle and the desert lizard came, testifying that
nothing is greater than Ta-Ha and Ya-Sin.
فَكَيْفَhow then أُحْسِنُcan I excel مَدْحاًin praise فِيof مَحَاسِنِهِhis excellences
فَكَيْفَ أُحْسِنُ مَدْحاً فِي مَحَاسِنِهِ
لَكِنَّbut لِيfor me قَبُولاَacceptance مِنْهُfrom him يَكْفِينِيsuffices me
لَكِنَّ لِي قَبُولاَ مِنْهُ يَكْفِينِي
How, then, can I fittingly praise his excellences?
Yet acceptance from him is enough for me.
أُقَبِّلُI kiss الأَرْضَthe earth إِجْلاَلاًin reverence لِهَيْبَتِهِfor his majesty
أُقَبِّلُ الأَرْضَ إِجْلاَلاً لِهَيْبَتِهِ
وَأَلْثِمُand I kiss التُّرْبَthe dust عَلَّperhaps الوَصْلَunion يُحْيِينِيwill revive me
وَأَلْثِمُ التُّرْبَ عَلَّ الوَصْلَ يُحْيِينِي
I kiss the earth in reverence for his majesty,
and press my lips to the dust, hoping union may revive me.
وَقَدْand perhaps أَقُولُI say ابْنson of حَمْدَانHamdan الْغَرِيبَthe stranger أَتَىhas come
وَقَدْ أَقُولُ ابْن حَمْدَان الْغَرِيبَ أَتَى
مُنَادِياًcalling out بِفُؤَادٍwith a heart مِنْهُof his مَحْزُونِsorrowful
مُنَادِياً بِفُؤَادٍ مِنْهُ مَحْزُونِ
And I may say: Ibn Hamdan, the stranger, has come,
calling out with his sorrowing heart:
يَاأَكْرمَO most generous of الخَلْقِcreation مِنْamong عُرْبٍArabs وَمِنْand among عَجَمِnon-Arabs
يَاأَكْرمَ الخَلْقِ مِنْ عُرْبٍ وَمِنْ عَجَمِ
وَأَحْسَنَand the finest of النَّاسِpeople مِنْin حُسْنٍbeauty وَتَزيِينand adornment
وَأَحْسَنَ النَّاسِ مِنْ حُسْنٍ وَتَزيِين
O most generous of creation, Arab and non-Arab,
and finest of people in beauty and adornment,
إِنِّيindeed I أَتَيْتُكَhave come to you فَأقْبَلْنِيso accept me وَخُذْand take بِيَدِيby my hand
إِنِّي أَتَيْتُكَ فَأقْبَلْنِي وَخُذْ بِيَدِي
وَمِنْand from لهِيبِthe blaze of لَظَىLaza جِرْنِيprotect me وَسجِّينِand Sijjin
وَمِنْ لهِيبِ لَظَى جِرْنِي وَسجِّينِ
I have come to you; accept me and take my hand.
Protect me from the blaze of Laza and from Sijjin.
وَقَدْand indeed مَدَحتُكَI praised you فَارْحَمْنِيso have mercy on me وَجُدْand be generous فَعَسَىso perhaps
وَقَدْ مَدَحتُكَ فَارْحَمْنِي وَجُدْ فَعَسَى
مِنْfrom هَوْلِthe terror of يَوْمِthe day of اللِّقَاmeeting وَالْحَشْرِand gathering تُنْجِينِيyou will save me
مِنْ هَوْلِ يَوْمِ اللِّقَا وَالْحَشْرِ تُنْجِينِي
I have praised you; have mercy and be generous; perhaps
you will save me from the terror of the Day of Meeting and Gathering.
وَكُنْand be شَفِيعِيmy intercessor فِيin النَّارِthe Fire يَاأَمَلِيO my hope
وَكُنْ شَفِيعِي فِي النَّارِ يَاأَمَلِي
لَعَلَّperhaps أَحْظَىI may attain بِأَجْرٍa reward غَيْرnot مَمْنُونِcut short
لَعَلَّ أَحْظَى بِأَجْرٍ غَيْر مَمْنُونِ
Be my intercessor in the Fire, O my hope,
that I may gain an unending reward.
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you إِلاَهُthe God of الْعَرْشِthe Throne مَاas long as صَدَحَتْsang
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ إِلاَهُ الْعَرْشِ مَا صَدَحَتْ
قُمْرِيَّةٌa turtledove فَوْقَabove أَفْنَانِthe boughs of الرَّيَاحِينِfragrant plants
قُمْرِيَّةٌ فَوْقَ أَفْنَانِ الرَّيَاحِينِ
May the God of the Throne bless you so long as sings
a turtledove upon the boughs of fragrant plants.
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you إِلاَهُthe God of الْعَرْشِthe Throne مَاas long as غَرَّدَتwarbled
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ إِلاَهُ الْعَرْشِ مَا غَرَّدَت
حَمَائِمُdoves فَوْقَabove أَغْصَانِthe branches of الْبَسَاتِينِthe gardens
حَمَائِمُ فَوْقَ أَغْصَانِ الْبَسَاتِينِ
May the God of the Throne bless you so long as warble
doves upon the branches of the gardens.
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you إِلاَهُthe God of الْعَرْشِthe Throne مَاas long as وَفَدَتْarrived
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ إِلاَهُ الْعَرْشِ مَا وَفَدَتْ
نُوَيْقَةٌa little she-camel لِحِمَىto the sanctuary of الأَطْلاَلِthe ruins تَبْرِينِيwears me thin
نُوَيْقَةٌ لِحِمَى الأَطْلاَلِ تَبْرِينِي
May the God of the Throne bless you so long as journeys
a little she-camel to the ruins' sanctuary, wearing me thin.
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you إِلاَهُthe God of الْعَرْشِthe Throne مَاas long as هَطَلَتْpoured down
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ إِلاَهُ الْعَرْشِ مَا هَطَلَتْ
مَدَامِعُthe tears of السُّحْبِclouds أَوْor عَيْنُthe eye of المُحِبِّينِlovers
مَدَامِعُ السُّحْبِ أَوْ عَيْنُ المُحِبِّينِ
May the God of the Throne bless you so long as pour down
the tears of clouds, or tears from lovers' eyes.
صَلَّىmay He bless عَلَيْكَupon you إِلاَهُthe God of الْعَرْشِthe Throne مَاas long as ضَحِكَتْsmiled
صَلَّى عَلَيْكَ إِلاَهُ الْعَرْشِ مَا ضَحِكَتْ
مَبَاسِمُthe smiling mouths of الزَّهْرِblossoms فِيin ثَغْرِthe mouth of الأَفَانِينِthe boughs
مَبَاسِمُ الزَّهْرِ فِي ثَغْرِ الأَفَانِينِ
May the God of the Throne bless you so long as smile
the blossoms' mouths within the lips of boughs.
وَأَلفُand a thousand أَلفِthousand صَلاَةٍblessings لاَno نَفَادَend لَهَاto them
وَأَلفُ أَلفِ صَلاَةٍ لاَ نَفَادَ لَهَا
مَضرُوبَةٌmultiplied فِيby ثَمَانِeight أَلْفِthousand تِسْعِينِninety
مَضرُوبَةٌ فِي ثَمَانِ أَلْفِ تِسْعِينِ
And a thousand thousand blessings, without end,
multiplied by eight thousand ninety,
عَلَيْكَupon you يَاخَيْرَO best of خَلْقِthe creation of اللهِGod قَاطِبَةًaltogether
عَلَيْكَ يَاخَيْرَ خَلْقِ اللهِ قَاطِبَةً
وَأَلْفُand a thousand أَلْفِthousand سَلاَمٍgreetings of peace فِيtimes ثَمَانِينِeighty
وَأَلْفُ أَلْفِ سَلاَمٍ فِي ثَمَانِينِ
upon you, O best of all God's creation,
and a thousand thousand greetings of peace, multiplied by eighty,
وَآلِكِand your family الْغُرِّthe radiant وَالأَصْحَابِand the Companions كُلِّهِمall of them
وَآلِكِ الْغُرِّ وَالأَصْحَابِ كُلِّهِم
وَتَابِعِيهِمْand their followers لِيَوْمِuntil the day of الْحَشْرِgathering وَالدِّينِand judgment
وَتَابِعِيهِمْ لِيَوْمِ الْحَشْرِ وَالدِّينِ
and upon your radiant family and all the Companions,
and their followers until the Day of Gathering and Judgment,
مَاas long as عطَّرَperfumed الرَّوْضُthe garden فِيin الأَسْحَارِthe predawn hours عَرفَthe scent of صبَاthe east wind
مَا عطَّرَ الرَّوْضُ فِي الأَسْحَارِ عَرفَ صبَا
وَفَاحَand wafted نَشرُthe fragrance of خُزَامَىlavender مِنَّةَa gift of نِسْرِينِwild rose
وَفَاحَ نَشرُ خُزَامَى مِنَّةَ نِسْرِينِ
as long as the garden at dawn perfumes the east wind's scent,
and lavender's fragrance wafts—a gift of wild rose—
وَمَاand as long as شَدَاsang مُنْشِدٌa singer صبٌّlovesick لِفَرْطِfrom excess of جَوىًanguish
وَمَا شَدَا مُنْشِدٌ صبٌّ لِفَرْطِ جَوىً
سَلْask مَاwhy لسَلْمَىwith Salma بِنَارِwith the fire of الهَجْرِestrangement تَكْوِينِيshe sears me
سَلْ مَا لسَلْمَى بِنَارِ الهَجْرِ تَكْوِينِي
and a lovesick singer chants in overwhelming anguish:
Ask why Salma sears me with estrangement's fire.
Sol 6.1