أَلاَListen! حَدِّثَاهَاyou two, tell of it فَهْيَfor it is أُمُّthe mother of الْعَجَائِبwonders
أَلاَ حَدِّثَاهَا فَهْيَ أُمُّ الْعَجَائِب
وَمَاand not حَاضِرٌone present فيin وَصْفِهَاits description مِثْلُlike غَائِبِone absent
وَمَا حَاضِرٌ في وَصْفِهَا مِثْلُ غَائِبِ
Listen! Tell of it, you two, for it is the mother of wonders.
Tell it, for it is the mother of wonders,
And in describing it, no eyewitness is like one who was absent.
And no present equals an absent in describing it.
وَلاَand do not تُخْلِيَاyou two, leave empty مِنْهَاof it عَلَىdespite خَطَرthe peril of السُّرَىnight travel
وَلاَ تُخْلِيَا مِنْهَا عَلَى خَطَر السُّرَى
سُرُوجَthe saddles of الْمَذَاكِيmature steeds أَوْor ظُهُورَthe backs of النَّجَائِبِnoble camels
سُرُوجَ الْمَذَاكِي أَوْ ظُهُورَ النَّجَائِبِ
And despite the perils of night travel, do not leave without it
Do not leave it to the whims of fate,
the saddles of mature steeds or the backs of noble camels.
The torches of festivities or the advent of misfortunes.
وَلاَand do not تُغْفِلاَyou two, neglect مِنْfrom وَسْمِهَاits marking كُلَّمَاwhenever سَرَتْit travels by night
وَلاَ تُغْفِلاَ مِنْ وَسْمِهَا كُلَّمَا سَرَتْ
صُدُورَthe breasts of الْقَوَافِيrhymed verses أَوْor صُدُورَthe breasts of الرَّكَائِبِriding camels
صُدُورَ الْقَوَافِي أَوْ صُدُورَ الرَّكَائِبِ
Nor leave unmarked by it, whenever it journeys by night,
And do not neglect to brand it whenever it wanders,
the breasts of rhymed verses or the breasts of riding camels.
On the chests of rhymes or the chests of elegies.
وَحُطَّاand you two, set down لَهَاfor it بَيْنَbetween الْحَطِيمِal-Hatim وَزَمْزِمٍand Zamzam
وَحُطَّا لَهَا بَيْنَ الْحَطِيمِ وَزَمْزِمٍ
رِحَالاَtraveling packs مِنَof الْبُشْرَىglad tidings مِلاَءَfull الْحَقَائِبِthe saddlebags
رِحَالاَ مِنَ الْبُشْرَى مِلاَءَ الْحَقَائِبِ
And set down for it, between al-Hatim and Zamzam,
And pitch for it between al-Hatim and Zamzam,
traveling packs of glad tidings, with saddlebags full.
Saddles filled with good tidings, saddlebags brimming over.
هُوَit الْخَبرُthe report الصِّدْقُtruthful الَّذِيthat وَضَحَتْbecame clear بِهِthrough it
هُوَ الْخَبرُ الصِّدْقُ الَّذِي وَضَحَتْ بِهِ
سَبِيلُthe path of الْهُدَىguidance بَعْدَafter الْتِبَاسِthe confusion of الْمَذَاهِبِthe ways
سَبِيلُ الْهُدَى بَعْدَ الْتِبَاسِ الْمَذَاهِبِ
It is the true report that made clear
It is the true report that clarified
the path of guidance, after the ways had grown confused.
The path of guidance after the confusion of doctrines.
وَمَاand not هِيَit إلاَّexcept دَعْوَةٌa prayer يُوسُفِيَّةٌof Yusuf's
وَمَا هِيَ إلاَّ دَعْوَةٌ يُوسُفِيَّةٌ
أَثَارَتْcalled forth قَبْولَthe acceptance of اللهِGod ضَرْبَةَa stroke لاَزِبِinescapable
أَثَارَتْ قَبْولَ اللهِ ضَرْبَةَ لاَزِبِ
And it is but a prayer of Yusuf's,
It is nothing but a Joseph-like call
which unfailingly called forth God's acceptance.
That aroused God's acceptance with a decisive blow.
سَمَتْit rose نَحْوَtoward أَبْوَابِthe gates of السَّمَاءِheaven فَلَمْand was not تُرَعْalarmed
سَمَتْ نَحْوَ أَبْوَابِ السَّمَاءِ فَلَمْ تُرَعْ
بِتَشْغِيبِby the clamor of بَوَّابa gatekeeper وَلاَnor إِذْنِthe permission of حَاجِبِa chamberlain
بِتَشْغِيبِ بَوَّاب وَلاَ إِذْنِ حَاجِبِ
It rose toward heaven's gates, undaunted
It aimed for the gates of heaven, undeterred
by a gatekeeper's clamor or the need for a chamberlain's leave.
By the protest of gatekeepers or the permission of guards.
أَيُوسُفُO Yusuf إِنَّindeed الدَّهْرَtime أَصْبَحَbecame وَاقِفاًstanding
أَيُوسُفُ إِنَّ الدَّهْرَ أَصْبَحَ وَاقِفاً
عَلَىat بَابِكَyour door الْمَأمُولِhoped for مَوْقِفَthe stance of تَائِبٍa penitent
عَلَى بَابِكَ الْمَأمُولِ مَوْقِفَ تَائِبٍ
O Yusuf, Time now stands
O Joseph, time has come to stand
at your door of hope, like a penitent.
At your longed-for door, standing in repentance.
دُعَاؤَكَyour prayer أَمْضَىkeener مِنْthan مُهَنَّدَةِIndian-forged الظُّبَيsword edges
دُعَاؤَكَ أَمْضَى مِنْ مُهَنَّدَةِ الظُّبَي
وَسَعْدُكَand your fortune أَقْضَىmore decisive مِنْthan سُعُودِthe good fortunes of الْكَوَاكِبِthe stars
وَسَعْدُكَ أَقْضَى مِنْ سُعُودِ الْكَوَاكِبِ
Your prayer is keener than Indian-steel blades,
Your prayer is more guaranteed than the position of stars,
and your fortune more decisive than the fortunes of the stars.
And your fortune more decisive than the rising of planets.
سُيُوفُكَyour swords فِيin أَغْمَادِهَاtheir sheaths مُطْمَئِنَّةat peace
سُيُوفُكَ فِي أَغْمَادِهَا مُطْمَئِنَّة
وَلِكْنَّand yet سَيْفَthe sword of اللهِGod دَامِيbloodstained الْمَضَاربِthe striking edges
وَلِكْنَّ سَيْفَ اللهِ دَامِي الْمَضَاربِ
Your swords rest peacefully in their sheaths,
Your swords rest assured in their sheaths,
but God's sword is bloodstained along its striking edges.
But the sword of God, with relentless blades, remains unsheathed.
فَثِقْso trust بالَّذيin Him who أَرْعَاكَentrusted you with أَمْرthe affairs of عِبَادِهِHis servants
فَثِقْ بالَّذي أَرْعَاكَ أَمْر عِبَادِهِ
وَسَلْand ask فَضْلَهُHis bounty فَاللهُfor God أَكْرَمُthe most generous وَاهِبِgiver
وَسَلْ فَضْلَهُ فَاللهُ أَكْرَمُ وَاهِبِ
So trust in Him who entrusted you with His servants' affairs,
So trust in He who delegated you the command of His servants,
and ask His bounty, for God is the most generous giver.
And seek His bounty, for God is the most generous Giver.
لَقَدْindeed طَوَّقَcollared الأَذْفُنْشَAlfonso سَعْدُكَyour fortune خزْيَةًdisgrace
لَقَدْ طَوَّقَ الأَذْفُنْشَ سَعْدُكَ خزْيَةً
تَجِدُّis renewed عَلَىthrough مَرِّthe passage of الْعُصُورِthe ages الذَّوَاهِبِpassing away
تَجِدُّ عَلَى مَرِّ الْعُصُورِ الذَّوَاهِبِ
Indeed, your good fortune has hung disgrace about Alfonso's neck,
The ring of your fortune has adorned the throne with a treasure
a disgrace renewed through the passing ages.
That withstands the passage of ages, everlasting.
وَفَيْتَyou kept faith وَخَانَand he betrayed الْعَهْدَthe covenant فِيin غَيْرِno طَائِلٍbenefit
وَفَيْتَ وَخَانَ الْعَهْدَ فِي غَيْرِ طَائِلٍ
وَصَدَّقَand he believed أَطْمَاعَthe covetous hopes of الظُّنُونِthe conjectures الْكَوَاذِبِfalse
وَصَدَّقَ أَطْمَاعَ الظُّنُونِ الْكَوَاذِبِ
You kept faith, while he broke the covenant to no avail,
He broke faith in vain,
and put faith in the covetous hopes of false conjectures.
And believed the delusions of baseless ambitions.
جَرَىhe ran فيin مَجَاريthe courses of الْعِزِّglory غَيْرَwithout being مُقَصِّرٍremiss
جَرَى في مَجَاري الْعِزِّ غَيْرَ مُقَصِّرٍ
وَهَلْand has? نَهَضَrisen الْعُجْبُconceit الْمُخلُّruinous بِرَاكِبِwith a rider
وَهَلْ نَهَضَ الْعُجْبُ الْمُخلُّ بِرَاكِبِ
He ran along the courses of glory, sparing no effort;
He marched in the processions of glory, not falling short,
yet has ruinous conceit ever raised a rider?
For when did arrogance fail to ruin its rider?
وَغَالَبَand he challenged أَمْرَthe decree of اللهِGod جَلَّexalted is جَلاَلُهُHis majesty
وَغَالَبَ أَمْرَ اللهِ جَلَّ جَلاَلُهُ
وَلَمْand did not يَدْرِknow أَنَّthat اللهَGod أَغْلَبُthe mightiest غَالِبِconqueror
وَلَمْ يَدْرِ أَنَّ اللهَ أَغْلَبُ غَالِبِ
And he challenged God's decree—exalted is His majesty—
He overpowered God’s command—Glorious is His Majesty—
and did not know that God is the mightiest of conquerors.
Unaware that God is the greatest Conqueror.
وَللهِand God has فيin طَيِّthe folds of الْوَجُودِexistence كَتَائِبٌbattalions
وَللهِ في طَيِّ الْوَجُودِ كَتَائِبٌ
تَدقُّare minute وتخفَىand remain hidden عَنْfrom عُيُونِthe eyes of الْكَتَائِبِbattalions
تَدقُّ وتخفَى عَنْ عُيُونِ الْكَتَائِبِ
And God has battalions within the folds of existence,
To God belong in the folds of existence regiments
minute and hidden from the eyes of battalions.
That strike quietly, hidden from the eyes of regiments.
تُغِيرُthey raid عَلَىagainst الأَنْفَاسِthe breaths فِيin كُلِّevery سَاعَةٍhour
تُغِيرُ عَلَى الأَنْفَاسِ فِي كُلِّ سَاعَةٍ
وَتَكْمُنُand lurk حَتَّىeven فِيin مِيَاهthe waters of الْمَشَارِبِdrinking places
وَتَكْمُنُ حَتَّى فِي مِيَاه الْمَشَارِبِ
They raid the breaths of life at every hour,
They change every moment
and lurk even in the waters of drinking places.
And lurk even in the water we drink.
أَخَذْنَthey barred عَلَيْهِagainst him الطُّرْقَthe routes فِيin دَارِthe abode of طَارقٍTariq
أَخَذْنَ عَلَيْهِ الطُّرْقَ فِي دَارِ طَارقٍ
فَمَاso did not كَفَّward off عَنْهُfrom him الْجَيْشُthe army مِنْfrom كَفِّthe hand of نَاهِبِa plunderer
فَمَا كَفَّ عَنْهُ الْجَيْشُ مِنْ كَفِّ نَاهِبِ
They barred his routes in Tariq's abode,
They took him by surprise in the abode of the night raider,
so the army did not shield him from a plunderer's hand.
And the army did not stop stripping like a plunderer.
فَصَارَso he went إِلَىto مَثْوَىthe abode of الإِهَانِةِhumiliation ذَاهِباًdeparting
فَصَارَ إِلَى مَثْوَى الإِهَانِةِ ذَاهِباً
وَخَلَّفَand left behind عَارَthe shame of الْغَدْرِtreachery لَيْسَis not بِذَاهِبِpassing away
وَخَلَّفَ عَارَ الْغَدْرِ لَيْسَ بِذَاهِبِ
So he departed for the abode of humiliation,
He went to the abode of humiliation,
and left behind the shame of treachery, which does not pass away.
Leaving behind the shame of betrayal, indelible.
فَمِنْso some are قَارِعٍstriking فيamong قَوْمِهِhis people سنَّthe tooth of نَادِمٍone remorseful
فَمِنْ قَارِعٍ في قَوْمِهِ سنَّ نَادِمٍ
وَمِنْand some are لاَطِمٍslapping فِيwhile رَفْعِهِraising him خَدَّthe cheek of نَادِبِa mourner
وَمِنْ لاَطِمٍ فِي رَفْعِهِ خَدَّ نَادِبِ
Some among his people strike their teeth in remorse,
So he is striking his people in regret,
and others, while raising him, slap their cheeks in mourning.
And slapping his own face in grief.
مَصَائِبُcalamities أَشْجَىsaddened وَقْعُهَاtheir impact مُهَجَthe hearts of الْعِدَىthe foes
مَصَائِبُ أَشْجَى وَقْعُهَا مُهَجَ الْعِدَى
وَكَمْand how many نِعَمٍblessings فِيin طَيِّthe folds of تِلْكَthose الْمَصَائِبِcalamities
وَكَمْ نِعَمٍ فِي طَيِّ تِلْكَ الْمَصَائِبِ
Calamities whose impact saddened the hearts of foes—
The calamities that befell had an agonizing impact,
and how many blessings lie within those calamities!
And how many blessings lie in those tribulations!
شُوَاظٌa smokeless flame أَرَادَwilled اللهُGod إِطْفَاءَthe extinguishing of نَارِهِits fire
شُوَاظٌ أَرَادَ اللهُ إِطْفَاءَ نَارِهِ
وَقَدْand already لَفَحَscorched الإِسْلاَمَIslam مِنْfrom كُلِّevery جانِبِside
وَقَدْ لَفَحَ الإِسْلاَمَ مِنْ كُلِّ جانِبِ
A smokeless flame whose fire God willed to quench,
Arrogance that God wanted to extinguish,
after it had scorched Islam on every side.
And which has inflamed Islam from every side.
وَإنْand even if لَمْdid not يُصِبُstrike مِنْهُany part of him السِّلاَحُweapons فَإِنَّمَاthen only
وَإنْ لَمْ يُصِبُ مِنْهُ السِّلاَحُ فَإِنَّمَا
أُصِيبَhe was struck بِسَهْمٍby an arrow مِنْfrom دُعَائكَyour prayer صَائِبٍunerring
أُصِيبَ بِسَهْمٍ مِنْ دُعَائكَ صَائِبٍ
And even if no weapon struck him, it was only
And even if the weapon did not strike it,
by an unerring arrow from your prayer that he was struck.
It was hit by an arrow of your prayer, on target.
وَللهِand God has مِنْof أَلْطَافِهِHis gracious favors فِيtoward عِبَادِهِHis servants
وَللهِ مِنْ أَلْطَافِهِ فِي عِبَادِهِ
خَزَائِنُtreasuries مَاnever ضَاقَتْwere too narrow بِمَطْلَبِfor the request of طَالِبِa seeker
خَزَائِنُ مَا ضَاقَتْ بِمَطْلَبِ طَالِبِ
And God has, in His kindness toward His servants,
And God has for His servants, of His bounties,
treasuries never too narrow for a seeker's request.
Treasures never depleted, seek as the seeker may.
فَمَهْمَاso whenever غَرَسْتَyou plant الصَّبْرَpatience فِيin تُرْبَةthe soil of الرِّضَاcontentment
فَمَهْمَا غَرَسْتَ الصَّبْرَ فِي تُرْبَة الرِّضَا
بِحُكْمِwith the decree of الْقَضَاfate فَلْتَجْنِthen reap حُسْنَthe goodness of الْعَوَاقِبِthe outcomes
بِحُكْمِ الْقَضَا فَلْتَجْنِ حُسْنَ الْعَوَاقِبِ
So whenever you plant patience in the soil of contentment
So whatever patience you plant in the soil of acceptance,
with fate's decree, then reap good outcomes.
Expect fair consequences, as destined.
وَلاَand do not تُبْعِدِdeem unlikely الأَمْرَthe event البَعِيدَremote وُقُوعُهُits occurrence
وَلاَ تُبْعِدِ الأَمْرَ البَعِيدَ وُقُوعُهُ
فَإِنَّfor indeed اللَّيَاليthe nights أًمَّهَاتُthe mothers of الْعَجَائِبِwonders
فَإِنَّ اللَّيَالي أًمَّهَاتُ الْعَجَائِبِ
And do not discount an event whose occurrence seems remote,
And do not think the distant event impossible,
for the nights are the mothers of wonders.
For nights are the mothers of wonders.
هَنِيئاًjoy to you بِصُنْعٍfor a deed قَدْindeed كَفَاكَhas spared you عَظِمُهُits greatness
هَنِيئاً بِصُنْعٍ قَدْ كَفَاكَ عَظِمُهُ
رُكُوبَriding toward الْمَرَامِيthe aims وَاخْتِيَارَand choosing الْمَوَاكِبِcavalcades
رُكُوبَ الْمَرَامِي وَاخْتِيَارَ الْمَوَاكِبِ
May you rejoice in a deed whose greatness has spared you
Congratulations on an achievement whose greatness
riding toward your aims and choosing cavalry columns.
Spared you shooting arrows and choosing steeds.
وَدْونَكَand take it for yourself فَافْتَحْthen open كُلَّall مَاthat أَبْهَمَsealed الْعِدَىthe foes
وَدْونَكَ فَافْتَحْ كُلَّ مَا أَبْهَمَ الْعِدَى
وَرُدَّand reclaim حُقُوقَthe rights of الدِّينِthe faith مِنْfrom كُلِّevery غَاصِبِusurper
وَرُدَّ حُقُوقَ الدِّينِ مِنْ كُلِّ غَاصِبِ
And now, to it! Open all that the foes have sealed,
Without you, unveil all the injustice of the enemy,
and reclaim the faith's rights from every usurper.
And return the rights of religion usurped by every usurper.
وَبَادِرْand hasten against عَدُوَّthe enemy of اللهِGod عِنْدَduring اضْطِرَابِهِhis turmoil
وَبَادِرْ عَدُوَّ اللهِ عِنْدَ اضْطِرَابِهِ
وَعَاجِلْهُand assail him swiftly بِالْبيِضِwith white swords الرِّقَاقِslender الْقَوَاضِبِcleaving
وَعَاجِلْهُ بِالْبيِضِ الرِّقَاقِ الْقَوَاضِبِ
And hasten against God's enemy in his disarray,
And confront God's enemy during his turmoil,
and swiftly assail him with white, slender, cleaving swords.
And hasten to finish him with keen, cutting swords.
إِذَاif قِيلَit is said أَرْضُthe earth of اللهَGod إِرْثُthe inheritance of عِبَادِهِHis servants
إِذَا قِيلَ أَرْضُ اللهَ إِرْثُ عِبَادِهِ
بمُوجبِby virtue of تَقْوَىpiety أَنْتَyou أَقْرَبُthe nearest عَاصِبِagnatic heir
بمُوجبِ تَقْوَى أَنْتَ أَقْرَبُ عَاصِبِ
If it is said, 'God's earth is His servants' inheritance,'
When it is said the land belongs to God, the inheritance of His servants,
by virtue of piety, you are the nearest agnatic heir.
By virtue of piety, you are closest to claiming it.
أَلَسْتَare you not مِنَof الْقَوْمِthe people الَّذَيِنَwho إِذَاwhen انْتَمَوْاthey trace their descent
أَلَسْتَ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الَّذَيِنَ إِذَا انْتَمَوْا
نَمَتْهُمْlinked them by descent إلىto الأَنْصَارِthe Ansar غُرُّillustrious الْمَنَاسِبِlineages
نَمَتْهُمْ إلى الأَنْصَارِ غُرُّ الْمَنَاسِبِ
Are you not of the people who, when they trace their descent,
Are you not of the people who, when associated with the Helpers,
are linked to the Ansar by their illustrious lineages?
Kinship swelled in them out of merit?
سَمَاحَةُgenerosity of أَيْمَانٍright hands وَإِشْرَاقُand radiance of أَوْجُهٍfaces
سَمَاحَةُ أَيْمَانٍ وَإِشْرَاقُ أَوْجُهٍ
وَصِحَّةُand soundness of أَحْلاَمِjudgment وَغُرُّand shining مَنَاقِبِvirtues
وَصِحَّةُ أَحْلاَمِ وَغُرُّ مَنَاقِبِ
Generosity of right hands and radiance of faces,
The generosity of oaths, the glow of faces,
soundness of judgment and shining virtues.
The integrity of dreams, and the glory of merits!
إِذَاwhen أَشْرَقَتْshine يَوْمَon the day of النَّوَالِgiving وُجُوهُهُمْtheir faces
إِذَا أَشْرَقَتْ يَوْمَ النَّوَالِ وُجُوهُهُمْ
رَأيْتَyou see بُدُوراًfull moons فيin خِلاَلِthe midst of السَّحَائِبِthe clouds
رَأيْتَ بُدُوراً في خِلاَلِ السَّحَائِبِ
When their faces shine on the day of giving,
When, on the day of attainment, their faces shine,
you see full moons amid the clouds.
You see full moons amid the clouds.
وَيَاand O جَبَلMount الْفَتْحِof Victory اعْتَمِدْهَاcount it صَنِيعَةًa favor
وَيَا جَبَل الْفَتْحِ اعْتَمِدْهَا صَنِيعَةً
رَأيْنَاwe saw بِهَاthrough it كَيْفَhow انْجَلاَءُthe clearing of الْغَيَاهِبِdeep darkness
رَأيْنَا بِهَا كَيْفَ انْجَلاَءُ الْغَيَاهِبِ
And O Mount of Victory, count it as a favor,
And O mountain of victory, make it your precedent,
through which we saw how deep darkness is dispelled.
We saw through it how tribulations disappeared.
إِذَاif مَاindeed (emphatic) هِبَاتُthe gifts of اللهِGod كَانَتْwere صَحِيفَةًa page
إِذَا مَا هِبَاتُ اللهِ كَانَتْ صَحِيفَةً
فَمَاthen not هِيَit إلاَّexcept سَجْدَةٌa prostration فِيamong الْمَوَاهِبِthe gifts
فَمَا هِيَ إلاَّ سَجْدَةٌ فِي الْمَوَاهِبِ
If indeed God's gifts were a page,
When the gifts of God are a parchment,
then this is but a prostration among those gifts.
They are but a prostration in blessings.
Sol 6.1