تَخَطَّتْshe passed by وَفَوْدُand the temple-lock of اللَّيْلِnight بَانَappeared بِهِin it الْوَخْطُgray flecks
تَخَطَّتْ وَفَوْدُ اللَّيْلِ بَانَ بِهِ الْوَخْطُ
وَعَسْكَرُهُand its army الزَّنْجِيُّZanj هَمَّthreatened بِهِit الْقِبْطُthe Copts
وَعَسْكَرُهُ الزَّنْجِيُّ هَمَّ بِهِ الْقِبْطُ
She passed by as gray flecks appeared in night’s temple-lock,
and the Copts threatened its Zanj army.
أَتَاهُcame to it وَلِيدُthe newborn of الصَّبْحِdawn مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter كَبْرَةٍold age
أَتَاهُ وَلِيدُ الصَّبْحِ مِنْ بَعْدِ كَبْرَةٍ
أَيُولَدُis one born أَجْنَاhunchbacked نَاحِلُthin of الْجِسْمِbody مُشْمَطُّgray-flecked
أَيُولَدُ أَجْنَا نَاحِلُ الْجِسْمِ مُشْمَطُّ
The newborn dawn came to it after old age:
is one born stooped, thin of body, and gray-flecked?
كَأَنَّas though النَّجُومَthe stars الزُّهْرَradiant أَعْشَارُten-verse markers of سُورَةٍa surah
كَأَنَّ النَّجُومَ الزُّهْرَ أَعْشَارُ سُورَةٍ
وِمِنْand from خَطَرَاتِdartings of الرَّجْمِmeteor-hurling أَثْنَاءَهَاbetween them مَطُّa lengthened stroke
وِمِنْ خَطَرَاتِ الرَّجْمِ أَثْنَاءَهَا مَطُّ
The radiant stars seemed ten-verse markers of a surah,
with shooting stars drawing long strokes between them.
وَقَدْand already وَرَدَتْthey had reached نَهْرَthe river of الْمَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way سَحْرَةًbefore dawn
وَقَدْ وَرَدَتْ نَهْرَ الْمَجَرَّةِ سَحْرَةً
غَوَائِصَdiving فِيهِinto it مِثْلَlike مَاwhat تَفْعَلُdo الْبَطُّducks
غَوَائِصَ فِيهِ مِثْلَ مَا تَفْعَلُ الْبَطُّ
They had reached the Milky Way’s river before dawn,
diving into it just as ducks do.
وَقَدْand already جَعَلَتْshe began تَفْلِيto comb بِإَنْمُلِهَاwith her fingertips الْفَلاَthe wilderness
وَقَدْ جَعَلَتْ تَفْلِي بِإَنْمُلِهَا الْفَلاَ
وَيُرْسَلُand is sent مِنْهَاfrom her فِيthrough غَدَائِرِهِits tresses مُشْطُa comb
وَيُرْسَلُ مِنْهَا فِي غَدَائِرِهِ مُشْطُ
She began to comb the wilderness with her fingertips,
and a comb from her passed through its tresses.
يَحِفُّrecedes عُبَابُthe swell of اللَّيْلِnight عَنْهَاfrom her جَوَاهِراًas jewels
يَحِفُّ عُبَابُ اللَّيْلِ عَنْهَا جَوَاهِراً
فَيَكْثُرُso becomes abundant فِيهَاamong them النَّهْبُplundering لِلْحِينِat once وَاللَّقْطُand gathering
فَيَكْثُرُ فِيهَا النَّهْبُ لِلْحِينِ وَاللَّقْطُ
Night’s billowing sea receded from her in jewels,
and much snatching and gathering of them followed at once.
فَعَادَتso she visited خَيَالاًa phantom مِثْلَهَاlike her غَيْرَexcept أَنَّهُthat he
فَعَادَت خَيَالاً مِثْلَهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ
مِنَfrom الْبَثِّgrief وِالشَّكْوَىand complaint يَبِينُis audible لَهُfrom him لَغْطُa murmur
مِنَ الْبَثِّ وِالشَّكْوَى يَبِينُ لَهُ لَغْطُ
She visited a phantom like herself, except that he
betrayed a murmur of grief and complaint.
سَرَتْshe traveled by night سِلْخَthe span of شَهْرٍa month فِيin تَلَفُّتِthe turning of مُقْلَةٍan eye
سَرَتْ سِلْخَ شَهْرٍ فِي تَلَفُّتِ مُقْلَةٍ
عَلىon قَتبthe camel-saddle of الأَحْلاَمِdreams تَسْمُوshe rises وَتَنْحَطُّand descends
عَلى قَتب الأَحْلاَمِ تَسْمُو وَتَنْحَطُّ
She crossed a month’s span in the turning of an eye,
rising and falling on the camel-saddle of dreams.
لِيَfor me اللَّهُGod مِنْagainst نَفْسٍa soul شَعَاعٍscattered وَمُهْجَةٍand a heart’s blood
لِيَ اللَّهُ مِنْ نَفْسٍ شَعَاعٍ وَمُهْجَةٍ
إِذَاwhen قُدِحَتْit is struck لَمْnot يَخْبُgoes out مِنْfrom زَنْدِهَاits fire-stick سَقْطُa spark
إِذَا قُدِحَتْ لَمْ يَخْبُ مِنْ زَنْدِهَا سَقْطُ
God help me against a scattered soul and a heart’s blood
whose sparks, once struck from its fire-stick, never die;
وَنُقْطَةُand the core of قَلْبٍa heart أَصْبَحَتْhas become مَنْشَأَthe birthplace of الْهَوَىlove
وَنُقْطَةُ قَلْبٍ أَصْبَحَتْ مَنْشَأَ الْهَوَى
وَنَفْسٌand a soul لِغَيْرِto other than اللَّهِGod مَاnot خَضَعَتْhas bowed قَطُّever
وَنَفْسٌ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ مَا خَضَعَتْ قَطُّ
and a heart’s core that has become love’s birthplace,
and a soul that has never bowed to any but God.
لَرِيعَwould surely be startled لَهَاfor her الأَحْرَاسُthe guards مِنِّيfrom me بِطَارِقٍby a night visitor
لَرِيعَ لَهَا الأَحْرَاسُ مِنِّي بِطَارِقٍ
مَفَارِقُهُhis hair-partings شُمْطٌgray-flecked وَأَسْيُافُهُand his swords شُمْطُgray-flecked
مَفَارِقُهُ شُمْطٌ وَأَسْيُافُهُ شُمْطُ
For her, the guards would surely be startled by a night visitor from me,
his hair-partings gray-flecked, his swords gray-flecked too.
تُنَاقِلُهُbears him onward كَوْمَاءُa high-humped she-camel سَامِيَةُlofty in الذُّرَىhumps
تُنَاقِلُهُ كَوْمَاءُ سَامِيَةُ الذُّرَى
وَيَقْذِفُهُand flings him onward شَهْمُa spirited mount مِنَfrom النِّيقِthe peak مُنْحَطُّplunging down
وَيَقْذِفُهُ شَهْمُ مِنَ النِّيقِ مُنْحَطُّ
A high-humped she-camel, lofty-backed, bears him onward,
and a spirited mount plunging from a peak hurls him along.
وَلَوْلاَand were it not for النُّهَىreason لَمْnot تَسْتَبِنْwould become clear سُبُلُthe paths of الْهُدَىguidance
وَلَوْلاَ النُّهَى لَمْ تَسْتَبِنْ سُبُلُ الْهُدَى
وَكَادَand almost وزَانُthe weight of الْحَقِّtruth يُدْرِكُهُovertakes it الْغَمْطُdisdain
وَكَادَ وزَانُ الْحَقِّ يُدْرِكُهُ الْغَمْطُ
Were it not for reason, the paths of guidance would not be clear,
and the weight of truth would all but be overtaken by disdain.
وَلَوْلاَand were it not for عَوَادِيthe onslaughts of الشَّيْبِgray hair لَمْnot يَبْرَحِwould cease الْهَوَىlove
وَلَوْلاَ عَوَادِي الشَّيْبِ لَمْ يَبْرَحِ الْهَوَى
يُهَيِّجُهُstirs it نُؤْيٌa tent-ditch عَلَىupon الرَّمْلِthe sand مُخْتَطُّtraced
يُهَيِّجُهُ نُؤْيٌ عَلَى الرَّمْلِ مُخْتَطُّ
Were it not for gray hair’s onslaughts, love would never cease
being stirred by a tent-ditch traced upon the sand.
وَلَوْلاَand were it not for أَمِيرُthe commander of الْمُسلِمينَthe Muslims مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad
وَلَوْلاَ أَمِيرُ الْمُسلِمينَ مُحَمَّدٌ
لَهَالَتْwould surely terrify بِحَارُthe seas of الرَّوْعِterror وَاحْتَجَبَand would be concealed الشَّطُّthe shore
لَهَالَتْ بِحَارُ الرَّوْعِ وَاحْتَجَبَ الشَّطُّ
Were it not for Muhammad, Commander of the Muslims,
the seas of terror would appall, and the shore would disappear.
يَنُوبُstands in عَنِfor الإِصْبَاحِdawn إِنْif مَطَلَdelays الدُّجَىdarkness
يَنُوبُ عَنِ الإِصْبَاحِ إِنْ مَطَلَ الدُّجَى
وَيَضْمنُand guarantees سُقْيَاwatering of السَّرْحِthe grazing herds إِنْif عَظُمَgrows severe الْقَحْطُdrought
وَيَضْمنُ سُقْيَا السَّرْحِ إِنْ عَظُمَ الْقَحْطُ
He stands in for dawn if darkness delays,
and guarantees water for the grazing herds if drought grows severe.
تُقِرُّacknowledge لَهُto him الأَمْلاَكُthe kings بِالشِّيَمِfor the virtues الْعُلَىlofty
تُقِرُّ لَهُ الأَمْلاَكُ بِالشِّيَمِ الْعُلَى
إِذَاwhen بُدِلَis exchanged الْمَعْرُوفُkindness أَوْor نُصِبَis established الْقِسْطُjustice
إِذَا بُدِلَ الْمَعْرُوفُ أَوْ نُصِبَ الْقِسْطُ
Kings acknowledge his lofty virtues
when kindness is exchanged or justice established.
أَرَادُوهُthey sought him فَارْتَدُّواthen recoiled وَجَارَوْهُand raced him فَانْثَنُواthen turned back
أَرَادُوهُ فَارْتَدُّوا وَجَارَوْهُ فَانْثَنُوا
وَسَامَوْهُand rivaled him فِيon مَرْقَىthe ascent of الْجَلاَلَةِmajesty فَانْحَطُّواthen sank down
وَسَامَوْهُ فِي مَرْقَى الْجَلاَلَةِ فَانْحَطُّوا
They sought him, then recoiled; they raced him, then turned back;
they rivaled him on the ascent of majesty, then sank below.
تُبرُّsurpass عَلَىbeyond الْمُدَّاحِthe panegyrists غُرُّthe finest of خِلاَلِهِhis qualities
تُبرُّ عَلَى الْمُدَّاحِ غُرُّ خِلاَلِهِ
وَمَاand what رَسَمُواthey drew فَوْقَupon الطُّرُوسِthe pages وَمَاand what خَطُّواthey wrote
وَمَا رَسَمُوا فَوْقَ الطُّرُوسِ وَمَا خَطُّوا
His radiant qualities surpass the panegyrists
and what they have drawn upon the pages and written.
تَعَلَّمَlearned مِنْهُfrom him الدَّهْرُTime حَالَيْهِits two ways فِيamong الْوَرَىhumankind
تَعَلَّمَ مِنْهُ الدَّهْرُ حَالَيْهِ فِي الْوَرَى
فَآوِنَةًso at times يَسْخُوit is generous وَآوِنَةًand at times يَسْطُوit strikes
فَآوِنَةً يَسْخُو وَآوِنَةً يَسْطُو
Time learned from him its two ways with humankind:
at times it gives generously, and at times it strikes.
وَتَجْمَعُand unites بَيْنَbetween الْقَبْضِwithholding وَالْبَسْطِand giving كَفُّهُhis hand
وَتَجْمَعُ بَيْنَ الْقَبْضِ وَالْبَسْطِ كَفُّهُ
بِحِكْمَةِwith the wisdom of مَنْHim who فِيin كَفِّهHis hand الْقَبْضُwithholding وَالْبَسْطُand giving
بِحِكْمَةِ مَنْ فِي كَفِّه الْقَبْضُ وَالْبَسْطُ
His hand unites withholding and giving,
with the wisdom of Him in whose hand are withholding and giving.
خَلاَئِقُtraits قَدْindeed طَابَتْare sweet مَذَاقاًin taste وَنَفْحَةًand fragrance
خَلاَئِقُ قَدْ طَابَتْ مَذَاقاً وَنَفْحَةً
كَمَاas مُزِجَتْwas mixed بِالْبَارِدِwith cool الْعَذْبِsweet إِسْفَنْطُwine
كَمَا مُزِجَتْ بِالْبَارِدِ الْعَذْبِ إِسْفَنْطُ
Traits sweet in taste and fragrance,
like wine mixed with cool, sweet water.
أَسِبْطَO grandson of الإِمَامِthe Imam الْغَالِبِيِّal-Ghalibi مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
أَسِبْطَ الإِمَامِ الْغَالِبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَيَاand O فَخْرَpride of مَلْكٍa king كُنْتَyou were أَنْتَyou لَهُto him سِبْطُa grandson
وَيَا فَخْرَ مَلْكٍ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ لَهُ سِبْطُ
O grandson of the Ghalibi Imam Muhammad,
O pride of a king whose grandson you are,
وَقَتْكَmay guard you أَوَاقِيthe protections of اللَّهِGod مِنْagainst كُلِّevery غَائِلٍassailant
وَقَتْكَ أَوَاقِي اللَّهِ مِنْ كُلِّ غَائِلٍ
فَأَيُّthen what سِلاَحٍweapon مَاwhat is الْمِجَنُّthe shield وَمَاand what is اللَّمْطُthe hide buckler
فَأَيُّ سِلاَحٍ مَا الْمِجَنُّ وَمَا اللَّمْطُ
may God’s protections guard you against every assailant!
What weapon, then—what shield, what hide buckler—could compare?
لَقَدْindeed زَلْزَلَتْshook مِنْكَfrom you الْعَزَائِمُthe resolves دَوْلَةًa realm
لَقَدْ زَلْزَلَتْ مِنْكَ الْعَزَائِمُ دَوْلَةً
أَنَاخَتْencamped عَلَىupon الإِسْلاَمِIslam تَجنِيcommitting wrong وَتَشْتَطُّand overreaching
أَنَاخَتْ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ تَجنِي وَتَشْتَطُّ
Your resolves have indeed shaken a realm
that had encamped upon Islam, doing wrong and exceeding bounds:
إِيَالَةُa dominion of غَدْرٍtreachery ضَعْضَعَshattered اللَّهُGod رُكْنَهاits pillar
إِيَالَةُ غَدْرٍ ضَعْضَعَ اللَّهُ رُكْنَها
وَنَادَىand called بأَهْلِيهَاto its people التّبَارُruin فَلَمْso not يُبْطُواthey delayed
وَنَادَى بأَهْلِيهَا التّبَارُ فَلَمْ يُبْطُوا
a dominion of treachery—God shattered its pillar,
and ruin called its people, who did not delay.
عَلَىat قَدَرٍan appointed time جَلَّىrevealed بِكَthrough you اللهُGod بُؤْسَهَاits misery
عَلَى قَدَرٍ جَلَّى بِكَ اللهُ بُؤْسَهَا
وَلاَand not يَكْمُلُis complete البُحْرَانُthe crisis أَنthat يَنْضَجَripens الْخَلْطُthe bodily humor
وَلاَ يَكْمُلُ البُحْرَانُ أَن يَنْضَجَ الْخَلْطُ
At the appointed time, God revealed its misery through you;
a crisis cannot be complete until the bodily humor ripens.
وَكَانُواand they had نَعِيمَthe bliss of الْجَنَّتَيْنِthe two gardens تَفَيَّأُواenjoyed the shade of
وَكَانُوا نَعِيمَ الْجَنَّتَيْنِ تَفَيَّأُوا
وَلَمَّاwhile not yet يَقَعْhad occurred مِنْهَاfrom them النُّزُولُdeparture وَلاَnor الْهَبْطُdescent
وَلَمَّا يَقَعْ مِنْهَا النُّزُولُ وَلاَ الْهَبْطُ
They had enjoyed the blissful shade of the two gardens,
before any departure or descent from them had yet occurred;
فَقَدso indeed عُوِّضُواthey were compensated بِالأُثْلِwith tamarisk والْخَمْطِand bitter-fruited trees بَعْدَهَاafterward
فَقَد عُوِّضُوا بِالأُثْلِ والْخَمْطِ بَعْدَهَا
وَهَيْهَاتَand far from it أَيْنَwhere الأَثْلُtamarisk مِنْهَاbeside that وَمَاand what الْخَمْطُbitter fruit
وَهَيْهَاتَ أَيْنَ الأَثْلُ مِنْهَا وَمَا الْخَمْطُ
then were given tamarisk and bitter-fruited trees in exchange.
Yet how far apart! What is tamarisk beside that, and what is bitter fruit?
فَمِنْso among them طَائِحٍfallen فَوْقَupon الْعَرَاءِthe open ground مُجَدَّلٍstruck down
فَمِنْ طَائِحٍ فَوْقَ الْعَرَاءِ مُجَدَّلٍ
وَمِنْand among them رَاسِفٍdragging fetters فِيin الْقَيْدِchains أَرْهَقَهُhas crushed him الضَّغْطُconstraint
وَمِنْ رَاسِفٍ فِي الْقَيْدِ أَرْهَقَهُ الضَّغْطُ
Some lay fallen, struck down on the bare ground,
and some dragged their fetters, crushed by constraint.
وَأَلْحَفَand clothed مِنْكَthrough you اللهُGod أُمَّةَthe community of أَحْمَدٍAhmad
وَأَلْحَفَ مِنْكَ اللهُ أُمَّةَ أَحْمَدٍ
أَمَانَاًin safety كَمَاas يَضْفُوdrapes عَلَىover الْغَادَةِthe graceful maiden الْمِرْطُthe mantle
أَمَانَاً كَمَا يَضْفُو عَلَى الْغَادَةِ الْمِرْطُ
Through you God clothed Ahmad’s community
in safety, as a mantle drapes over a graceful maiden.
أَنَمْتَyou lulled to sleep عَلَىon مَهْدِthe cradle of اْلأَمَانِsafety عُيُونَهَاits eyes
أَنَمْتَ عَلَى مَهْدِ اْلأَمَانِ عُيُونَهَا
فَيُسْمَعُso is heard مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter السُّهَادِsleeplessness لَهَاfrom it غَطٌّsnoring
فَيُسْمَعُ مِنْ بَعْدِ السُّهَادِ لَهَا غَطٌّ
You lulled its eyes to sleep in the cradle of safety,
and after sleeplessness its snores could be heard.
وَصَمَّand grew deaf صَدَىthe echo of الدُّنْيَاthe world فَلَمَّاthen when رَجَمْتَهَاyou pelted it
وَصَمَّ صَدَى الدُّنْيَا فَلَمَّا رَجَمْتَهَا
تَزَاحَمَcrowded مُرْتَادٌa seeker عَلَيْهَاupon it وَمُخْتَطُّand a settler
تَزَاحَمَ مُرْتَادٌ عَلَيْهَا وَمُخْتَطُّ
The world’s echo was deafened; when you pelted it,
seekers and settlers crowded upon it.
وَأَحْكَمْتَand you secured عَقْدَthe covenant of السَّلمِpeace لَمْnot تَأَلُyou fell short بَعْدَهُafter it
وَأَحْكَمْتَ عَقْدَ السَّلمِ لَمْ تَأَلُ بَعْدَهُ
وَفَاءًin faithfulness فَصَحَّso held true الْعَقْدُthe covenant وَاسْتَوْثَقَand became secure الرَّبْطُthe bond
وَفَاءً فَصَحَّ الْعَقْدُ وَاسْتَوْثَقَ الرَّبْطُ
You secured the covenant of peace and afterward never failed
in faithfulness; the covenant held true, its bond secure.
وَأَيْقَنَand became certain مُرْتَابٌa doubter وَأَصْحَبَand became tractable نَافِرٌa skittish one
وَأَيْقَنَ مُرْتَابٌ وَأَصْحَبَ نَافِرٌ
وَأَذْعَنَand submitted مُعْتَاَصٌan intractable one وَأَقْصَرَand desisted مُشْتَطُّan overreacher
وَأَذْعَنَ مُعْتَاَصٌ وَأَقْصَرَ مُشْتَطُّ
The doubter became certain; the skittish grew tractable;
the intractable submitted, and the overreaching desisted.
وَلِلَّهِand to God belongs مَبْنَاكَyour building الَّذِيwhich مُعْجِزَاتُهُits marvels
وَلِلَّهِ مَبْنَاكَ الَّذِي مُعْجِزَاتُهُ
أَبَتْrefused أَنْto يُوَفِّيَهَاrender them fully الشِّفَاهُthe lips أَوِor الْخَطُّwriting
أَبَتْ أَنْ يُوَفِّيَهَا الشِّفَاهُ أَوِ الْخَطُّ
How wondrous, by God, your building, whose marvels
defied full description by lips or writing!
وَأَنْسَتْand made forget غَرِيبَthe stranger in الدَّارِthe land مَسْقَطَthe falling-place of رَأْسِهِhis head
وَأَنْسَتْ غَرِيبَ الدَّارِ مَسْقَطَ رَأْسِهِ
وَمِنْand from دُونِbefore فَرْخَيْهِhis two fledglings الْقَتَادَةُthe thorn-tree وَالْخَرْطُand thorn-stripping
وَمِنْ دُونِ فَرْخَيْهِ الْقَتَادَةُ وَالْخَرْطُ
They made the stranger forget his birthplace,
though thorn-tree and thorn-stripping lay between him and his two fledglings.
تَنَاسَبَتِwere harmonious الأَوْضَاعُthe arrangements فِيهِin it وَأَحْكَمَتْand were perfected
تَنَاسَبَتِ الأَوْضَاعُ فِيهِ وَأَحْكَمَتْ
عَلَىaccording to قَدَرٍdue proportion حَتَّىeven الأَرَائِكِthe couches وَالْبُسْطُand carpets
عَلَى قَدَرٍ حَتَّى الأَرَائِكِ وَالْبُسْطُ
Its arrangements were harmonious and perfected
in due proportion, even its couches and carpets.
فَجَاءَso it came عَلَىin وَفْقِaccord with الْعُلَىloftiness رَائِقَlovely in الْحُلَىadornment
فَجَاءَ عَلَى وَفْقِ الْعُلَى رَائِقَ الْحُلَى
كَمَاas سُمِطَwas made a necklace الْمَنْظُومُthe strung gems أَوْor نُظِمَwas strung السِّمْطُthe necklace
كَمَا سُمِطَ الْمَنْظُومُ أَوْ نُظِمَ السِّمْطُ
It thus accorded with loftiness, lovely in adornment,
like ordered gems made a necklace, or a necklace strung.
وَلِلَّهِand to God belongs إِعْذَارٌa circumcision feast دَعَوْتyou invited لَهُto it الْوَرَىhumankind
وَلِلَّهِ إِعْذَارٌ دَعَوْت لَهُ الْوَرَى
فَهَبُّواso they hastened لِدَاعِيهِto its summoner الْمُهِيبِawe-inspiring وَإِنْeven though شَطُّواthey were far away
فَهَبُّوا لِدَاعِيهِ الْمُهِيبِ وَإِنْ شَطُّوا
How splendid, by God, the circumcision feast to which you called humankind!
They hastened to its awe-inspiring caller, though far away.
تَقُودُهُمُleads them الزُّلْفَىnearness وَيَدْعُوهُمُand calls them الرِّضَىfavor
تَقُودُهُمُ الزُّلْفَى وَيَدْعُوهُمُ الرِّضَى
وَيَحْدُوهُمُand urges them onward الْخَصْبُplenty الْمُضَاعَفُredoubled وَالْغَبْطُand felicity
وَيَحْدُوهُمُ الْخَصْبُ الْمُضَاعَفُ وَالْغَبْطُ
Nearness leads them, and favor calls them,
while redoubled plenty and felicity urge them onward.
وَأَغْرَيْتَand you spurred on بِالبُهْمِupon the lambs الْعِلاَجَthe preparation تَحَفِّياًin lavish care
وَأَغْرَيْتَ بِالبُهْمِ الْعِلاَجَ تَحَفِّياً
فَلَمْso not يُذْخَرِwas spared الشِّيءُthe thing الْغَرِيبُrare وَلاَnor السِّمْطُroast meat
فَلَمْ يُذْخَرِ الشِّيءُ الْغَرِيبُ وَلاَ السِّمْطُ
You lavished solicitous preparation upon the lambs,
sparing neither rare delicacy nor roast meat.
أَتَتْthey came صُوَراًin forms مَعْلُولَةًresulting عَنْfrom مِزَاجِهَاtheir composition
أَتَتْ صُوَراً مَعْلُولَةً عَنْ مِزَاجِهَا
وَأَصْلُand the source of اخْتِلاَفِdifference in الصُّورَةِform الْمَزْجُmingling وَالْخَلْطand mixing
وَأَصْلُ اخْتِلاَفِ الصُّورَةِ الْمَزْجُ وَالْخَلْط
They came in forms produced by their composition,
for differences of form arise from mingling and mixture.
قَضَيْتَyou repaid بِهَاwith them دَيْنَthe debt of الزَّمَانِTime وَلَمْand not يَزَلْhas ceased
قَضَيْتَ بِهَا دَيْنَ الزَّمَانِ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ
أَلَدَّmost contentious كَذُوبَfalse in الْوَعْدِpromise يَلْويevading payment وَيَشْتَطُّand overreaching
أَلَدَّ كَذُوبَ الْوَعْدِ يَلْوي وَيَشْتَطُّ
With them you repaid Time’s debt, though it has ever remained
bitterly contentious, false in promise, evasive and overreaching.
وَأَرْسَلْتَand you released يَوْمَon the day of السَّبْقِracing كُلَّevery طِمِرَّةٍnimble mare
وَأَرْسَلْتَ يَوْمَ السَّبْقِ كُلَّ طِمِرَّةٍ
كَمَاas تُرْسَلُis launched الْمَلْمُومَةthe compact mass النَّارُfire وَالنَّفْطُand naphtha
كَمَا تُرْسَلُ الْمَلْمُومَة النَّارُ وَالنَّفْطُ
On race day you loosed every nimble mare,
as a compact mass of fire and naphtha is launched.
رَنَتْshe gazed عَنْfrom كَحِيلٍa kohl-dark eye كَالْغَزَالِlike a gazelle إِذَاwhen رَنَاit gazes
رَنَتْ عَنْ كَحِيلٍ كَالْغَزَالِ إِذَا رَنَا
وَأَوْفَتْand she rose high بِهَادٍwith a neck كَالظَّلِيمِlike a male ostrich إِذَاwhen يَعْطُوit stretches upward
وَأَوْفَتْ بِهَادٍ كَالظَّلِيمِ إِذَا يَعْطُو
She gazed from a kohl-dark eye, like a gazelle when it gazes,
and raised a neck like a male ostrich stretching upward,
وَقَامَتْand she stood عَلَىon مَنْحُوتَةٍa carved piece مِنْof زَبَرْجَدٍchrysolite
وَقَامَتْ عَلَى مَنْحُوتَةٍ مِنْ زَبَرْجَدٍ
تَخُطُّshe scores عَلَىupon الصُّمِّsolid rocks الصّلاَبِhard إِذَاwhen تَخْطُوshe steps
تَخُطُّ عَلَى الصُّمِّ الصّلاَبِ إِذَا تَخْطُو
and stood upon legs carved from chrysolite,
scoring hard, solid stone whenever she stepped.
وَكُلِّand every عَتِيقٍnoble steed مِنْamong تَمَاثِيلِthe statues of رُومةٍRome
وَكُلِّ عَتِيقٍ مِنْ تَمَاثِيلِ رُومةٍ
تَأَنَّقَtook pains فِيin اسْتِخْطَاطِهِdesigning it الْقَسُّthe priest وَالْقُمْطُand the count
تَأَنَّقَ فِي اسْتِخْطَاطِهِ الْقَسُّ وَالْقُمْطُ
And every noble steed, a statue of Rome,
whose design priest and count had artfully perfected.
وَطَاعِنةٍand one piercing نَحْرَthe throat of السُّكَاكِthe sky أَعَانَهَاhelped it
وَطَاعِنةٍ نَحْرَ السُّكَاكِ أَعَانَهَا
عَلَىin الْكَوْنِexistence عِرْقٌa root وَاشِجٌdeeply entwined وَلِحىًand bark سُبْطُsmooth
عَلَى الْكَوْنِ عِرْقٌ وَاشِجٌ وَلِحىً سُبْطُ
And a shaft piercing the throat of the sky, sustained
in being by a deep-entwined root and smooth bark,
تَلَقَّفُit gulps down حَيَّاتِthe serpents of الْعَصِيِّthe rods إِذَاwhen هَوَتْthey plunge
تَلَقَّفُ حَيَّاتِ الْعَصِيِّ إِذَا هَوَتْ
فَثُعْبَانُهَاso its serpent لاَnot يَسْتتِمُّis completed لَهُfor it سَرْطُa swallowing
فَثُعْبَانُهَا لاَ يَسْتتِمُّ لَهُ سَرْطُ
gulping down the serpents of the rods when they plunged,
its serpent’s swallowing never reaching completion.
أَزَرْتَyou made visit بِهَاby it بَحْرَthe sea of الْهَوَاءِair سَفِينَةٌa ship
أَزَرْتَ بِهَا بَحْرَ الْهَوَاءِ سَفِينَةٌ
عَلَىin الْجَوِّthe sky لاَnot الْجُودِيِّal-Judi كَانَwas لَهَاfor it حَطُّa landing
عَلَى الْجَوِّ لاَ الْجُودِيِّ كَانَ لَهَا حَطُّ
By it you sent a ship to visit the sea of air,
its landing in the sky, not on al-Judi.
وَطَارَدْتَand you hunted مِقْدَامَthe champion of الصُّوَارِthe herd بِجَارِحٍwith a predator
وَطَارَدْتَ مِقْدَامَ الصُّوَارِ بِجَارِحٍ
يُصَابُis struck بِهِby it مِنْهُof him الصِّمَاخُthe ear-hole أَوor الإِبْطthe armpit
يُصَابُ بِهِ مِنْهُ الصِّمَاخُ أَو الإِبْط
You hunted the herd’s champion with a predator
that struck it in the ear-hole or armpit.
مَتِينُstout of الشَّوَىlimbs فِيon رَأْسِهِhis head سَمْهَرِيَّةٌslender spears
مَتِينُ الشَّوَى فِي رَأْسِهِ سَمْهَرِيَّةٌ
مُقَصِّرَةٌfalling short عَنْهُنَّof them مَاwhat يُنْبِتُproduces الْخَطُّal-Khatt
مُقَصِّرَةٌ عَنْهُنَّ مَا يُنْبِتُ الْخَطُّ
Stout-limbed, he bore slender spears upon his head,
beside which all the shafts al-Khatt grows fall short.
وَقَدْand already كَانَhe was ذَاpossessing تَاجٍa crown فَلَمَّاthen when تَعَلَّقَاthe two clung
وَقَدْ كَانَ ذَا تَاجٍ فَلَمَّا تَعَلَّقَا
بِسَامِعَتَيهِto his two ears زَانَهُadorned him مِنْهُمَاfrom the two قُرْطُan earring
بِسَامِعَتَيهِ زَانَهُ مِنْهُمَا قُرْطُ
He already wore a crown; when the pair clung
to his ears, they adorned him with earrings.
وَجِيءَand was brought بِشِبْلِwith the cub of الْمُلْكِkingship يُنْجِدُstrengthens عَزْمَهُhis resolve
وَجِيءَ بِشِبْلِ الْمُلْكِ يُنْجِدُ عَزْمَهُ
عَلَيْهِfor it الْحِفَاظُhonor الْجَعْدُfirm وَالْخُلُقُand character السَّبْطُgentle
عَلَيْهِ الْحِفَاظُ الْجَعْدُ وَالْخُلُقُ السَّبْطُ
The cub of kingship was brought forth, his resolve strengthened
for the deed by firm honor and a gentle disposition.
سَمَحْتَyou were generous بِهِwith him لَمْnot تَرْعَyou heeded فَرْطَexcess of ضَنَانَةٍattachment
سَمَحْتَ بِهِ لَمْ تَرْعَ فَرْطَ ضَنَانَةٍ
وَفِيand in مِثْلِهَاits like مِنْof سُنَّةٍa sacred practice يُتْرَكُis abandoned الْفَرْطُexcess
وَفِي مِثْلِهَا مِنْ سُنَّةٍ يُتْرَكُ الْفَرْطُ
You freely offered him, giving no heed to excessive attachment;
in such a sacred practice, excess is abandoned.
فَأقْدمَso he advanced مُخْتَاراًwillingly وَحَكَّمَand gave authority to عَاذِراًa circumciser
فَأقْدمَ مُخْتَاراً وَحَكَّمَ عَاذِراً
وَلَمْand not يَشْتَمِلْencompassed مَسْكٌa grip عَلَيهِupon him وَلاَnor ضَبْطُrestraint
وَلَمْ يَشْتَمِلْ مَسْكٌ عَلَيهِ وَلاَ ضَبْطُ
He advanced willingly and gave a circumciser authority,
with neither grip nor restraint enclosing him.
وَلَوْand if غَيْرُother than ذَاتِthe sake of اللَّهِGod رَامَتْهُhad sought him نَضْنَضَتْwould have flickered
وَلَوْ غَيْرُ ذَاتِ اللَّهِ رَامَتْهُ نَضْنَضَتْ
قَناًspears كَالأَفَاعِيlike vipers الرَّقْطِspeckled أَوْor دُونَهَاbeneath them الرَّقْطُthe speckled vipers
قَناً كَالأَفَاعِي الرَّقْطِ أَوْ دُونَهَا الرَّقْطُ
Had anything but God’s cause sought him, there would have flickered
spears like speckled vipers—yet vipers fall short of them—
وَأَسْدُand lions of نِزَالٍcombat مِنْfrom ذُؤَابَةِthe crest of خَزْرَجٍKhazraj
وَأَسْدُ نِزَالٍ مِنْ ذُؤَابَةِ خَزْرَجٍ
بِهَاليلُnoble champions لاّnot رُومُRomans of الْقَدِيمold وَلاَnor قِبْطُCopts
بِهَاليلُ لاّ رُومُ الْقَدِيم وَلاَ قِبْطُ
and lions of combat from the crest of Khazraj,
noble champions, not Romans of old nor Copts.
جِلاّدُهُمُtheir swordplay مَثْنَىtwofold إِذَاwhen اشْتَجَرَgrows tangled الْوَغَىbattle
جِلاّدُهُمُ مَثْنَى إِذَا اشْتَجَرَ الْوَغَى
كَأَنَّas though رُعَاةًherdsmen بِالْعِضَاهِat the thorn-trees لَهَاfor them خَبْطُa beating
كَأَنَّ رُعَاةً بِالْعِضَاهِ لَهَا خَبْطُ
Their blows come doubled when battle grows tangled,
like herdsmen beating the thorn-trees.
كَتَائِبُbattalions أَمْثَالِlike الْكِتَابِwriting تَتَالِياًin succession
كَتَائِبُ أَمْثَالِ الْكِتَابِ تَتَالِياً
فَمِنْso from بِيضِهَاtheir white swords شكْلٌvowel marks وَمِنْand from سُمْرِهَاtheir brown spears نَقْطُdots
فَمِنْ بِيضِهَا شكْلٌ وَمِنْ سُمْرِهَا نَقْطُ
Battalions like lines of writing following one another,
their white swords its vowel marks, their brown spears its dots.
دَلِيلُهُمُtheir guide الْقُرْآنُthe Qur’an يَاoh حَبَّذَاhow excellent الْهُدَىthe guidance
دَلِيلُهُمُ الْقُرْآنُ يَا حَبَّذَا الْهُدَى
وَرَهْطُهُمُand their kin الأَنْصَارُthe Ansar يَاoh حَبَّذَاhow excellent الرَّهْطُthe kin
وَرَهْطُهُمُ الأَنْصَارُ يَا حَبَّذَا الرَّهْطُ
Their guide is the Qur’an—how excellent the guidance!
Their kin are the Ansar—how excellent the clan!
وَبِيضٌand white swords كَأَمْثَالِlike البُرُوقِlightning flashes غَمَامُهَاtheir clouds
وَبِيضٌ كَأَمْثَالِ البُرُوقِ غَمَامُهَا
إِذَاwhen وَشَعتْthey streak سُحْبَthe clouds of الْقَتَامbattle-dust دَمٌblood عَبْطٌfreshly shed
إِذَا وَشَعتْ سُحْبَ الْقَتَام دَمٌ عَبْطٌ
And white swords like lightning flashes, whose clouds—
when they streak the clouds of battle-dust—are fresh blood.
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it حُكْمٌa decree يُطَاعُis obeyed وَسُنَّةٌand a sacred practice
وَلَكِنَّهُ حُكْمٌ يُطَاعُ وَسُنَّةٌ
وَأَعْمَالُand deeds of بِرٍّpiety لاَnot يَلِيقُbefits بَهَاthem الْحَبْطُnullification
وَأَعْمَالُ بِرٍّ لاَ يَلِيقُ بَهَا الْحَبْطُ
But this is a decree to obey, and a sacred practice,
and deeds of piety that must not come to nothing.
وَرُبَّتَand many a نَقُصٍloss لِلْكَمَالِto perfection مَآلُهُits outcome
وَرُبَّتَ نَقُصٍ لِلْكَمَالِ مَآلُهُ
وَلاَand no غَرْوَwonder فَالأَقْلاَمُfor pens يُصْلِحُهَاimproves them الْقَطُّtrimming
وَلاَ غَرْوَ فَالأَقْلاَمُ يُصْلِحُهَا الْقَطُّ
Many a loss has perfection as its outcome;
no wonder: pens are improved by trimming.
فَهُنّيتَهُso may you rejoice in it صُنْعاًas a deed وَدُمْتَand may you remain مُمَلَّكاًenthroned
فَهُنّيتَهُ صُنْعاً وَدُمْتَ مُمَلَّكاً
عَزِيزاًmighty تَشِيدُyou raise الْمَعْلُوَاتِlofty works وَتَخْتَطُّand lay plans
عَزِيزاً تَشِيدُ الْمَعْلُوَاتِ وَتَخْتَطُّ
May this deed bring you joy, and may you remain enthroned,
mighty, raising lofty works and tracing their plans.
وَدُونَand below الَّذِيwhat يُهْدِيbestows ثَنَاؤُكَyour praise فِيamong الْوَرَىhumankind
وَدُونَ الَّذِي يُهْدِي ثَنَاؤُكَ فِي الْوَرَى
مِنَof الطِّيبِfragrance مَاwhat تُهْدِيoffers الأَلُوَّةُaloeswood وَالقُسْطُand costus
مِنَ الطِّيبِ مَا تُهْدِي الأَلُوَّةُ وَالقُسْطُ
The fragrance your praise spreads among humankind surpasses
all the scent that aloeswood and costus offer.
رَضِيتَyou were content وَمَنْand whoever لَمْnot يَرْضَis content بِاللَّهِwith God حَاكِماًas judge
رَضِيتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِاللَّهِ حَاكِماً
ضَلاَلاًin error فَلِلَّهِthen to God belongs الرِّضَاapproval وَلَهُand to Him السُّخْطُdispleasure
ضَلاَلاً فَلِلَّهِ الرِّضَا وَلَهُ السُّخْطُ
You were content; whoever is not content with God as judge
does so in error: God’s are approval and displeasure.
حَيَاتُكَyour life لِلإِسْلاَمِfor Islam شَرْطُthe condition of حَيَاتِهِits life
حَيَاتُكَ لِلإِسْلاَمِ شَرْطُ حَيَاتِهِ
وَلاَand not يُوجَدُexists الْمَشْرُوطُthe conditioned إِنْif عُدِمَis absent الشَّرْطُthe condition
وَلاَ يُوجَدُ الْمَشْرُوطُ إِنْ عُدِمَ الشَّرْطُ
Your life is the condition of Islam’s life,
and the conditioned cannot exist when its condition is absent.
Sol 6.1