تَخَطَّتْshe passed وَفَوْدُand the temple اللَّيْلِof night بَانَappeared بِهِon it الْوَخْطُgray flecks
تَخَطَّتْ وَفَوْدُ اللَّيْلِ بَانَ بِهِ الْوَخْطُ
وَعَسْكَرُهُand his army الزَّنْجِيُّZanj هَمَّintended an attack بِهِupon it الْقِبْطُthe Copts
وَعَسْكَرُهُ الزَّنْجِيُّ هَمَّ بِهِ الْقِبْطُ
She passed by while the temple of night showed flecks of gray,
And the Copts moved to attack his Zanj army.
أَتَاهُcame to him وَلِيدُthe newborn الصَّبْحِof dawn مِنْafter بَعْدِthe passing of كَبْرَةٍold age
أَتَاهُ وَلِيدُ الصَّبْحِ مِنْ بَعْدِ كَبْرَةٍ
أَيُولَدُis one born أَجْنَاhunchbacked نَاحِلُthin الْجِسْمِof body مُشْمَطُّgrizzled
أَيُولَدُ أَجْنَا نَاحِلُ الْجِسْمِ مُشْمَطُّ
Dawn's newborn came to him after old age;
Can one be born hunched, thin-bodied, and grizzled?
كَأَنَّas though النَّجُومَthe stars الزُّهْرَradiant أَعْشَارُten-verse markers سُورَةٍof a sura
كَأَنَّ النَّجُومَ الزُّهْرَ أَعْشَارُ سُورَةٍ
وِمِنْand from خَطَرَاتِthe dartings الرَّجْمِof missiles أَثْنَاءَهَاbetween them مَطُّelongated strokes
وِمِنْ خَطَرَاتِ الرَّجْمِ أَثْنَاءَهَا مَطُّ
The radiant stars seem like the ten-verse markers of a sura,
With long strokes between them from the darting missiles.
وَقَدْand already وَرَدَتْthey reached نَهْرَthe river الْمَجَرَّةِof the Milky Way سَحْرَةًbefore dawn
وَقَدْ وَرَدَتْ نَهْرَ الْمَجَرَّةِ سَحْرَةً
غَوَائِصَdiving فِيهِin it مِثْلَlike مَاwhat تَفْعَلُdo الْبَطُّthe ducks
غَوَائِصَ فِيهِ مِثْلَ مَا تَفْعَلُ الْبَطُّ
They have reached the Milky Way's river before dawn,
Diving there as ducks do.
وَقَدْand already جَعَلَتْshe began تَفْلِيpicking through 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 picking through the wilderness with her fingertips,
And from her a comb is sent through its tresses.
يَحِفُّrecedes عُبَابُthe swell اللَّيْلِof night عَنْهَاfrom her جَوَاهِراًjewels
يَحِفُّ عُبَابُ اللَّيْلِ عَنْهَا جَوَاهِراً
فَيَكْثُرُso abounds فِيهَاin it النَّهْبُplundering لِلْحِينِfor the moment وَاللَّقْطُand gathering
فَيَكْثُرُ فِيهَا النَّهْبُ لِلْحِينِ وَاللَّقْطُ
Night's swelling tide ebbs from her, leaving jewels,
So, for a while, plundering and gathering abound there.
فَعَادَتso she returned خَيَالاًas a phantom مِثْلَهَاlike her غَيْرَexcept أَنَّهُthat it
فَعَادَت خَيَالاً مِثْلَهَا غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ
مِنَfrom الْبَثِّgrief وِالشَّكْوَىand complaint يَبِينُis audible لَهُfor it لَغْطُa murmur
مِنَ الْبَثِّ وِالشَّكْوَى يَبِينُ لَهُ لَغْطُ
She returned as a phantom like herself, except that it
Has an audible murmur of grief and complaint.
سَرَتْshe traveled by night سِلْخَthe end of شَهْرٍa month فِيin تَلَفُّتِthe turning of مُقْلَةٍan eye
سَرَتْ سِلْخَ شَهْرٍ فِي تَلَفُّتِ مُقْلَةٍ
عَلىon قَتبa camel-saddle الأَحْلاَمِof dreams تَسْمُوshe rises وَتَنْحَطُّand sinks
عَلى قَتب الأَحْلاَمِ تَسْمُو وَتَنْحَطُّ
At month's end she traveled by night in an eye's brief turn,
On the saddle of dreams, rising and sinking.
لِيَfor me اللَّهُGod مِنْfrom نَفْسٍa soul شَعَاعٍscattered وَمُهْجَةٍand a heart
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 with a scattered soul and a heart
That, when struck, lets no spark from its fire-stick die.
وَنُقْطَةُand the core قَلْبٍof a heart أَصْبَحَتْhas become مَنْشَأَthe source الْهَوَىof love
وَنُقْطَةُ قَلْبٍ أَصْبَحَتْ مَنْشَأَ الْهَوَى
وَنَفْسٌand a soul لِغَيْرِto any but اللَّهِGod مَاnot خَضَعَتْhas bowed قَطُّever
وَنَفْسٌ لِغَيْرِ اللَّهِ مَا خَضَعَتْ قَطُّ
And a heart's core that has become the source of love,
And a soul that has never bowed to any but God.
لَرِيعَwere surely alarmed لَهَاfor her الأَحْرَاسُthe guards مِنِّيfrom me بِطَارِقٍby a night-visitor
لَرِيعَ لَهَا الأَحْرَاسُ مِنِّي بِطَارِقٍ
مَفَارِقُهُhis hair-partings شُمْطٌgray وَأَسْيُافُهُand his swords شُمْطُgray
مَفَارِقُهُ شُمْطٌ وَأَسْيُافُهُ شُمْطُ
The guards were surely alarmed for her by a night-visitor from me,
His hair-partings gray, and his swords gray too.
تُنَاقِلُهُcarries him onward كَوْمَاءُa high-humped she-camel سَامِيَةُlofty الذُّرَىof crest
تُنَاقِلُهُ كَوْمَاءُ سَامِيَةُ الذُّرَى
وَيَقْذِفُهُand flings him شَهْمُa spirited steed مِنَfrom النِّيقِthe mountain peak مُنْحَطُّdescending
وَيَقْذِفُهُ شَهْمُ مِنَ النِّيقِ مُنْحَطُّ
A high-humped she-camel, lofty of crest, carries him onward,
And a spirited steed plunging from a mountain peak flings him onward.
وَلَوْلاَand but for النُّهَىreason لَمْnot تَسْتَبِنْbecome clear سُبُلُthe paths الْهُدَىof guidance
وَلَوْلاَ النُّهَى لَمْ تَسْتَبِنْ سُبُلُ الْهُدَى
وَكَادَand almost وزَانُthe balance الْحَقِّof truth يُدْرِكُهُovertakes it الْغَمْطُdisdain
وَكَادَ وزَانُ الْحَقِّ يُدْرِكُهُ الْغَمْطُ
But for reason, the paths of guidance would not become clear,
And truth's balance almost suffered contempt.
وَلَوْلاَand but for عَوَادِيthe assaults الشَّيْبِof gray hair لَمْnot يَبْرَحِcease الْهَوَىlove
وَلَوْلاَ عَوَادِي الشَّيْبِ لَمْ يَبْرَحِ الْهَوَى
يُهَيِّجُهُstirs it نُؤْيٌa tent-trench عَلَىon الرَّمْلِthe sand مُخْتَطُّtraced
يُهَيِّجُهُ نُؤْيٌ عَلَى الرَّمْلِ مُخْتَطُّ
But for the assaults of gray hair, love would not cease
To be stirred by a tent-trench traced in the sand.
وَلَوْلاَand but for أَمِيرُthe commander الْمُسلِمينَof the Muslims مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad
وَلَوْلاَ أَمِيرُ الْمُسلِمينَ مُحَمَّدٌ
لَهَالَتْwould surely terrify بِحَارُthe seas الرَّوْعِof terror وَاحْتَجَبَand disappeared الشَّطُّthe shore
لَهَالَتْ بِحَارُ الرَّوْعِ وَاحْتَجَبَ الشَّطُّ
And but for the commander of the Muslims, Muhammad,
The seas of terror would have appalled, and the shore disappeared.
يَنُوبُstands in عَنِfor الإِصْبَاحِdaybreak إِنْif مَطَلَdelays الدُّجَىthe darkness
يَنُوبُ عَنِ الإِصْبَاحِ إِنْ مَطَلَ الدُّجَى
وَيَضْمنُand guarantees سُقْيَاwater for السَّرْحِthe grazing herds إِنْif عَظُمَgrows severe الْقَحْطُthe drought
وَيَضْمنُ سُقْيَا السَّرْحِ إِنْ عَظُمَ الْقَحْطُ
He stands in for daybreak if darkness delays it,
And guarantees water for the grazing herds when drought grows severe.
تُقِرُّacknowledge لَهُfor him الأَمْلاَكُthe kings بِالشِّيَمِthe 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 favors are exchanged or justice established.
أَرَادُوهُthey sought him فَارْتَدُّواthen they recoiled وَجَارَوْهُand raced him فَانْثَنُواthen they turned back
أَرَادُوهُ فَارْتَدُّوا وَجَارَوْهُ فَانْثَنُوا
وَسَامَوْهُand vied with him فِيon مَرْقَىthe ascent الْجَلاَلَةِto majesty فَانْحَطُّواthen they fell
وَسَامَوْهُ فِي مَرْقَى الْجَلاَلَةِ فَانْحَطُّوا
They sought him, then recoiled; they raced him, then turned back,
And vied with him on the ascent to majesty, then fell away.
تُبرُّsurpass عَلَىbeyond الْمُدَّاحِthe panegyrists غُرُّthe radiant خِلاَلِهِhis virtues
تُبرُّ عَلَى الْمُدَّاحِ غُرُّ خِلاَلِهِ
وَمَاand what رَسَمُواthey inscribed فَوْقَupon الطُّرُوسِthe pages وَمَاand what خَطُّواthey wrote
وَمَا رَسَمُوا فَوْقَ الطُّرُوسِ وَمَا خَطُّوا
His radiant virtues surpass the panegyrists
And all they have inscribed upon pages and written.
تَعَلَّمَlearned مِنْهُfrom him الدَّهْرُtime حَالَيْهِits two moods فِيamong الْوَرَىmankind
تَعَلَّمَ مِنْهُ الدَّهْرُ حَالَيْهِ فِي الْوَرَى
فَآوِنَةًso at times يَسْخُوit is generous وَآوِنَةًand at times يَسْطُوit strikes fiercely
فَآوِنَةً يَسْخُو وَآوِنَةً يَسْطُو
Time learned from him its two moods toward mankind:
At times it is generous, and at times it strikes fiercely.
وَتَجْمَعُand combines بَيْنَbetween الْقَبْضِwithholding وَالْبَسْطِand giving كَفُّهُhis hand
وَتَجْمَعُ بَيْنَ الْقَبْضِ وَالْبَسْطِ كَفُّهُ
بِحِكْمَةِwith the wisdom مَنْof the One فِيin كَفِّهHis hand الْقَبْضُwithholding وَالْبَسْطُand giving
بِحِكْمَةِ مَنْ فِي كَفِّه الْقَبْضُ وَالْبَسْطُ
His hand combines withholding and giving,
With the wisdom of the One whose hand holds withholding and giving.
خَلاَئِقُqualities قَدْindeed طَابَتْhave become pleasant مَذَاقاًin taste وَنَفْحَةًand fragrance
خَلاَئِقُ قَدْ طَابَتْ مَذَاقاً وَنَفْحَةً
كَمَاas مُزِجَتْis mixed بِالْبَارِدِwith cool الْعَذْبِsweet water إِسْفَنْطُwine
كَمَا مُزِجَتْ بِالْبَارِدِ الْعَذْبِ إِسْفَنْطُ
Qualities delightful in taste and fragrance,
As wine is mixed with cool, sweet water.
أَسِبْطَO grandson الإِمَامِof the imam الْغَالِبِيِّal-Ghalibi مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
أَسِبْطَ الإِمَامِ الْغَالِبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَيَاand O فَخْرَpride مَلْكٍof a king كُنْتَyou were أَنْتَyou لَهُto him سِبْطُa grandson
وَيَا فَخْرَ مَلْكٍ كُنْتَ أَنْتَ لَهُ سِبْطُ
O grandson of the Ghalibi imam Muhammad,
And pride of a king whose grandson you were,
وَقَتْكَhave protected you أَوَاقِيthe safeguards اللَّهِof God مِنْfrom كُلِّevery غَائِلٍassailant
وَقَتْكَ أَوَاقِي اللَّهِ مِنْ كُلِّ غَائِلٍ
فَأَيُّthen what سِلاَحٍweapon مَاwhat الْمِجَنُّthe shield وَمَاand what اللَّمْطُthe lamt-hide buckler
فَأَيُّ سِلاَحٍ مَا الْمِجَنُّ وَمَا اللَّمْطُ
God's safeguards have protected you from every assailant;
What weapon then—what shield, what lamt-hide buckler?
لَقَدْindeed زَلْزَلَتْhave shaken مِنْكَfrom you الْعَزَائِمُthe resolves دَوْلَةًa state
لَقَدْ زَلْزَلَتْ مِنْكَ الْعَزَائِمُ دَوْلَةً
أَنَاخَتْencamped عَلَىupon الإِسْلاَمِIslam تَجنِيcommitting wrong وَتَشْتَطُّand transgressing
أَنَاخَتْ عَلَى الإِسْلاَمِ تَجنِي وَتَشْتَطُّ
Your resolves have indeed shaken a state
That encamped upon Islam, committing wrong and outrage.
إِيَالَةُa realm غَدْرٍof treachery ضَعْضَعَshattered اللَّهُGod رُكْنَهاits pillar
إِيَالَةُ غَدْرٍ ضَعْضَعَ اللَّهُ رُكْنَها
وَنَادَىand called بأَهْلِيهَاto its people التّبَارُdestruction فَلَمْso they did not يُبْطُواdelay
وَنَادَى بأَهْلِيهَا التّبَارُ فَلَمْ يُبْطُوا
A realm of treachery—God shattered its pillar,
And destruction called its people, who did not delay.
عَلَىby قَدَرٍa decree جَلَّىdispelled 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
By decree, God dispelled its misery through you;
A crisis does not end until the bodily humor ripens.
وَكَانُواand they had نَعِيمَthe bliss الْجَنَّتَيْنِof the two gardens تَفَيَّأُواtaken shade
وَكَانُوا نَعِيمَ الْجَنَّتَيْنِ تَفَيَّأُوا
وَلَمَّاand not yet يَقَعْoccurred مِنْهَاfrom them النُّزُولُdeparture وَلاَnor الْهَبْطُdescent
وَلَمَّا يَقَعْ مِنْهَا النُّزُولُ وَلاَ الْهَبْطُ
They had taken shelter in the bliss of the two gardens,
And no departure from them, no descent, had yet occurred.
فَقَدso indeed عُوِّضُواthey were given instead بِالأُثْلِwith tamarisk والْخَمْطِand bitter shrubs بَعْدَهَاafter them
فَقَد عُوِّضُوا بِالأُثْلِ والْخَمْطِ بَعْدَهَا
وَهَيْهَاتَand how far apart أَيْنَwhere الأَثْلُthe tamarisk مِنْهَاbeside them وَمَاand what الْخَمْطُthe bitter shrubs
وَهَيْهَاتَ أَيْنَ الأَثْلُ مِنْهَا وَمَا الْخَمْطُ
Afterward they were given tamarisk and bitter shrubs instead;
How far apart! What is tamarisk beside them, and what are bitter shrubs?
فَمِنْso among طَائِحٍone fallen فَوْقَupon الْعَرَاءِbare ground مُجَدَّلٍstruck down
فَمِنْ طَائِحٍ فَوْقَ الْعَرَاءِ مُجَدَّلٍ
وَمِنْand among رَاسِفٍone shuffling فِيin الْقَيْدِfetters أَرْهَقَهُhas oppressed him الضَّغْطُconstriction
وَمِنْ رَاسِفٍ فِي الْقَيْدِ أَرْهَقَهُ الضَّغْطُ
Some lie fallen, struck down upon the bare earth,
And some shuffle in fetters, oppressed by their constriction.
وَأَلْحَفَand cloaked مِنْكَthrough you اللهُGod أُمَّةَthe community أَحْمَدٍof Ahmad
وَأَلْحَفَ مِنْكَ اللهُ أُمَّةَ أَحْمَدٍ
أَمَانَاًin safety كَمَاas يَضْفُوdrapes amply عَلَىover الْغَادَةِthe graceful maiden الْمِرْطُthe mantle
أَمَانَاً كَمَا يَضْفُو عَلَى الْغَادَةِ الْمِرْطُ
Through you God cloaked the community of Ahmad
In safety, as a mantle drapes a graceful maiden.
أَنَمْتَyou lulled to sleep عَلَىon مَهْدِthe cradle اْلأَمَانِof safety عُيُونَهَاher eyes
أَنَمْتَ عَلَى مَهْدِ اْلأَمَانِ عُيُونَهَا
فَيُسْمَعُso is heard مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter السُّهَادِsleeplessness لَهَاfrom her غَطٌّsnoring
فَيُسْمَعُ مِنْ بَعْدِ السُّهَادِ لَهَا غَطٌّ
You lulled her eyes to sleep upon security's cradle,
And after sleeplessness her snoring can be heard.
وَصَمَّand deafened صَدَىthe echo الدُّنْيَاof the 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 deafened ears; when you pelted it,
Seekers and settlers crowded upon it.
وَأَحْكَمْتَand you secured عَقْدَthe pact السَّلمِof peace لَمْnot تَأَلُyou spared بَعْدَهُafter it
وَأَحْكَمْتَ عَقْدَ السَّلمِ لَمْ تَأَلُ بَعْدَهُ
وَفَاءًin faithfulness فَصَحَّso held firm الْعَقْدُthe pact وَاسْتَوْثَقَand was secured الرَّبْطُthe bond
وَفَاءً فَصَحَّ الْعَقْدُ وَاسْتَوْثَقَ الرَّبْطُ
You secured the pact of peace and afterward spared nothing
In keeping faith; the pact held firm and its bonds were secure.
وَأَيْقَنَand became certain مُرْتَابٌa doubter وَأَصْحَبَand grew tractable نَافِرٌone recoiling
وَأَيْقَنَ مُرْتَابٌ وَأَصْحَبَ نَافِرٌ
وَأَذْعَنَand submitted مُعْتَاَصٌone defiant وَأَقْصَرَand desisted مُشْتَطُّone excessive
وَأَذْعَنَ مُعْتَاَصٌ وَأَقْصَرَ مُشْتَطُّ
The doubter became certain, and the reluctant grew tractable,
The defiant submitted, and the excessive desisted.
وَلِلَّهِand to God مَبْنَاكَyour building الَّذِيwhich مُعْجِزَاتُهُits wonders
وَلِلَّهِ مَبْنَاكَ الَّذِي مُعْجِزَاتُهُ
أَبَتْrefused أَنْto يُوَفِّيَهَاdo them justice الشِّفَاهُlips أَوِor الْخَطُّwriting
أَبَتْ أَنْ يُوَفِّيَهَا الشِّفَاهُ أَوِ الْخَطُّ
How wondrous your building, whose marvels
Refuse to be done justice by lips or writing.
وَأَنْسَتْand made forget غَرِيبَthe exile الدَّارِfrom home مَسْقَطَthe falling-place رَأْسِهِof his head
وَأَنْسَتْ غَرِيبَ الدَّارِ مَسْقَطَ رَأْسِهِ
وَمِنْand from دُونِbefore فَرْخَيْهِhis two nestlings الْقَتَادَةُthe thorn-tree وَالْخَرْطُand thorn-stripping
وَمِنْ دُونِ فَرْخَيْهِ الْقَتَادَةُ وَالْخَرْطُ
They made the exile forget his birthplace,
Though between him and his two nestlings lay the thorn-tree and its stripping.
تَنَاسَبَتِwere harmonious الأَوْضَاعُthe arrangements فِيهِwithin it وَأَحْكَمَتْand were perfected
تَنَاسَبَتِ الأَوْضَاعُ فِيهِ وَأَحْكَمَتْ
عَلَىto قَدَرٍa measure حَتَّىeven الأَرَائِكِthe couches وَالْبُسْطُand the carpets
عَلَى قَدَرٍ حَتَّى الأَرَائِكِ وَالْبُسْطُ
Its arrangements were harmonious and precisely fitted
To their measure, even the couches and carpets.
فَجَاءَso it emerged عَلَىin وَفْقِaccord الْعُلَىwith loftiness رَائِقَexquisite الْحُلَىin adornment
فَجَاءَ عَلَى وَفْقِ الْعُلَى رَائِقَ الْحُلَى
كَمَاas سُمِطَwas made a necklace الْمَنْظُومُthe strung pearls أَوْor نُظِمَwas strung السِّمْطُthe necklace
كَمَا سُمِطَ الْمَنْظُومُ أَوْ نُظِمَ السِّمْطُ
It emerged befitting loftiness, exquisite in adornment,
Like threaded pearls made a necklace, or a necklace strung.
وَلِلَّهِand to God إِعْذَارٌa circumcision feast دَعَوْتyou invited لَهُto it الْوَرَىmankind
وَلِلَّهِ إِعْذَارٌ دَعَوْت لَهُ الْوَرَى
فَهَبُّواso they hastened لِدَاعِيهِto its summoner الْمُهِيبِawe-inspiring وَإِنْeven if شَطُّواthey were distant
فَهَبُّوا لِدَاعِيهِ الْمُهِيبِ وَإِنْ شَطُّوا
How wondrous the circumcision feast to which you summoned mankind!
They hastened to its awe-inspiring summoner, even from afar.
تَقُودُهُمُleads them الزُّلْفَىcloseness وَيَدْعُوهُمُand calls them الرِّضَىfavor
تَقُودُهُمُ الزُّلْفَى وَيَدْعُوهُمُ الرِّضَى
وَيَحْدُوهُمُand urges them onward الْخَصْبُabundance الْمُضَاعَفُredoubled وَالْغَبْطُand good fortune
وَيَحْدُوهُمُ الْخَصْبُ الْمُضَاعَفُ وَالْغَبْطُ
Closeness leads them, and favor calls them,
And redoubled abundance and good fortune urge them onward.
وَأَغْرَيْتَand you set to work بِالبُهْمِon the lambs الْعِلاَجَthe workmen تَحَفِّياًin lavish care
وَأَغْرَيْتَ بِالبُهْمِ الْعِلاَجَ تَحَفِّياً
فَلَمْso not يُذْخَرِwas spared الشِّيءُthe thing الْغَرِيبُrare وَلاَnor السِّمْطُthe roast lamb
فَلَمْ يُذْخَرِ الشِّيءُ الْغَرِيبُ وَلاَ السِّمْطُ
You set the workmen upon the lambs in lavish hospitality,
And no rare thing was spared, nor any roast lamb.
أَتَتْthey appeared صُوَراًas forms مَعْلُولَةًproduced عَنْby مِزَاجِهَاtheir mixtures
أَتَتْ صُوَراً مَعْلُولَةً عَنْ مِزَاجِهَا
وَأَصْلُand the basis اخْتِلاَفِof variation الصُّورَةِin form الْمَزْجُmixing وَالْخَلْطand blending
وَأَصْلُ اخْتِلاَفِ الصُّورَةِ الْمَزْجُ وَالْخَلْط
They appeared in forms determined by their mixtures,
And mixing and blending are the basis of variation in form.
قَضَيْتَyou discharged بِهَاwith them دَيْنَthe debt الزَّمَانِof time وَلَمْand not يَزَلْhas ceased
قَضَيْتَ بِهَا دَيْنَ الزَّمَانِ وَلَمْ يَزَلْ
أَلَدَّbitterly contentious كَذُوبَfalse الْوَعْدِin promise يَلْويit delays وَيَشْتَطُّand oversteps
أَلَدَّ كَذُوبَ الْوَعْدِ يَلْوي وَيَشْتَطُّ
You paid time's debt with them; it has never ceased
To be contentious, false in promise, evasive and overreaching.
وَأَرْسَلْتَand you released يَوْمَon the day السَّبْقِof racing كُلَّevery طِمِرَّةٍnimble mare
وَأَرْسَلْتَ يَوْمَ السَّبْقِ كُلَّ طِمِرَّةٍ
كَمَاas تُرْسَلُis unleashed الْمَلْمُومَةthe massed host النَّارُfire وَالنَّفْطُand naphtha
كَمَا تُرْسَلُ الْمَلْمُومَة النَّارُ وَالنَّفْطُ
On racing day you released every nimble mare,
As a massed host is unleashed—fire and naphtha.
رَنَتْshe gazed عَنْfrom كَحِيلٍa kohl-dark eye كَالْغَزَالِlike a gazelle إِذَاwhen رَنَاit gazes
رَنَتْ عَنْ كَحِيلٍ كَالْغَزَالِ إِذَا رَنَا
وَأَوْفَتْand raised بِهَادٍa 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's when it stretches upward.
وَقَامَتْand stood عَلَىupon مَنْحُوتَةٍa carved hoof مِنْof زَبَرْجَدٍchrysolite
وَقَامَتْ عَلَى مَنْحُوتَةٍ مِنْ زَبَرْجَدٍ
تَخُطُّscores عَلَىupon الصُّمِّsolid stones الصّلاَبِhard إِذَاwhen تَخْطُوshe steps
تَخُطُّ عَلَى الصُّمِّ الصّلاَبِ إِذَا تَخْطُو
She stood upon hooves carved from chrysolite,
Scoring the solid, hard stones as she steps.
وَكُلِّand every عَتِيقٍnoble steed مِنْamong تَمَاثِيلِthe statues رُومةٍof Rome
وَكُلِّ عَتِيقٍ مِنْ تَمَاثِيلِ رُومةٍ
تَأَنَّقَtook pains فِيin اسْتِخْطَاطِهِdrawing its outline الْقَسُّthe priest وَالْقُمْطُand the count
تَأَنَّقَ فِي اسْتِخْطَاطِهِ الْقَسُّ وَالْقُمْطُ
And every noble steed from among Rome's statues,
Whose outline the priest and the count took pains to design.
وَطَاعِنةٍand one piercing نَحْرَthe throat السُّكَاكِof the sky أَعَانَهَاhelped it
وَطَاعِنةٍ نَحْرَ السُّكَاكِ أَعَانَهَا
عَلَىin الْكَوْنِcoming into being عِرْقٌa root وَاشِجٌintertwined وَلِحىًand bark strips سُبْطُsmooth
عَلَى الْكَوْنِ عِرْقٌ وَاشِجٌ وَلِحىً سُبْطُ
And one piercing the sky's throat, helped
Into being by an intertwined root and smooth strips of bark.
تَلَقَّفُsnatches up حَيَّاتِthe snakes الْعَصِيِّof the staffs إِذَاwhen هَوَتْthey fall
تَلَقَّفُ حَيَّاتِ الْعَصِيِّ إِذَا هَوَتْ
فَثُعْبَانُهَاso its serpent لاَnot يَسْتتِمُّcompletes لَهُfor it سَرْطُa swallowing
فَثُعْبَانُهَا لاَ يَسْتتِمُّ لَهُ سَرْطُ
It snatches up the snakes of staffs as they fall,
Yet its serpent never completes a swallowing.
أَزَرْتَyou made visit بِهَاby it بَحْرَthe sea الْهَوَاءِof air سَفِينَةٌa ship
أَزَرْتَ بِهَا بَحْرَ الْهَوَاءِ سَفِينَةٌ
عَلَىupon الْجَوِّthe air لاَnot الْجُودِيِّal-Judi كَانَwas لَهَاits حَطُّlanding
عَلَى الْجَوِّ لاَ الْجُودِيِّ كَانَ لَهَا حَطُّ
By it you made a ship visit the sea of air;
Its landing was in the air, not on al-Judi.
وَطَارَدْتَand you pursued مِقْدَامَthe leader الصُّوَارِof the wild herd بِجَارِحٍwith a wounding shaft
وَطَارَدْتَ مِقْدَامَ الصُّوَارِ بِجَارِحٍ
يُصَابُis struck بِهِwith it مِنْهُof it الصِّمَاخُthe ear canal أَوor الإِبْطthe armpit
يُصَابُ بِهِ مِنْهُ الصِّمَاخُ أَو الإِبْط
You pursued the leader of the wild herd with a wounding shaft,
With which its ear canal or armpit is struck.
مَتِينُsturdy الشَّوَىof limbs فِيupon رَأْسِهِits head سَمْهَرِيَّةٌa hard lance
مَتِينُ الشَّوَى فِي رَأْسِهِ سَمْهَرِيَّةٌ
مُقَصِّرَةٌfalling short عَنْهُنَّof them مَاwhat يُنْبِتُproduces الْخَطُّal-Khatt
مُقَصِّرَةٌ عَنْهُنَّ مَا يُنْبِتُ الْخَطُّ
Sturdy of limb, with spear-shafts upon its head,
Beside which what al-Khatt produces falls short.
وَقَدْand indeed كَانَit was ذَاpossessed of تَاجٍa crown فَلَمَّاthen when تَعَلَّقَاthe two lodged
وَقَدْ كَانَ ذَا تَاجٍ فَلَمَّا تَعَلَّقَا
بِسَامِعَتَيهِin its two ears زَانَهُadorned it مِنْهُمَاfrom the two قُرْطُan earring
بِسَامِعَتَيهِ زَانَهُ مِنْهُمَا قُرْطُ
It had a crown; then, when the two lodged
In its ears, an earring formed from them adorned it.
وَجِيءَand was brought بِشِبْلِthe lion-cub الْمُلْكِof kingship يُنْجِدُstrengthens عَزْمَهُhis resolve
وَجِيءَ بِشِبْلِ الْمُلْكِ يُنْجِدُ عَزْمَهُ
عَلَيْهِfor it الْحِفَاظُsteadfast honor الْجَعْدُfirm وَالْخُلُقُand character السَّبْطُgentle
عَلَيْهِ الْحِفَاظُ الْجَعْدُ وَالْخُلُقُ السَّبْطُ
The lion-cub of kingship was brought, his resolve sustained
For it by staunch honor and a gentle character.
سَمَحْتَyou freely offered بِهِhim لَمْnot تَرْعَyou heeded فَرْطَexcess ضَنَانَةٍof protectiveness
سَمَحْتَ بِهِ لَمْ تَرْعَ فَرْطَ ضَنَانَةٍ
وَفِيand in مِثْلِهَاa rite like it مِنْof سُنَّةٍthe Sunna يُتْرَكُis abandoned الْفَرْطُexcess
وَفِي مِثْلِهَا مِنْ سُنَّةٍ يُتْرَكُ الْفَرْطُ
You freely offered him, not heeding excessive protectiveness;
In a rite of the Sunna like this, excess is set aside.
فَأقْدمَso he advanced مُخْتَاراًwillingly وَحَكَّمَand empowered عَاذِراًa circumciser
فَأقْدمَ مُخْتَاراً وَحَكَّمَ عَاذِراً
وَلَمْand not يَشْتَمِلْenclosed مَسْكٌa grip عَلَيهِupon him وَلاَnor ضَبْطُrestraint
وَلَمْ يَشْتَمِلْ مَسْكٌ عَلَيهِ وَلاَ ضَبْطُ
He advanced willingly and empowered the circumciser,
And no grip enclosed him, nor any restraint.
وَلَوْand had غَيْرُother than ذَاتِthe sake اللَّهِof God رَامَتْهُsought him نَضْنَضَتْwould have flickered
وَلَوْ غَيْرُ ذَاتِ اللَّهِ رَامَتْهُ نَضْنَضَتْ
قَناًspears كَالأَفَاعِيlike vipers الرَّقْطِspotted أَوْor دُونَهَاbelow them الرَّقْطُthe spotted vipers
قَناً كَالأَفَاعِي الرَّقْطِ أَوْ دُونَهَا الرَّقْطُ
Had anything other than God's own cause sought him, there would have flickered
Spears like spotted vipers—or the vipers fall short of them—
وَأَسْدُand lions نِزَالٍof combat مِنْfrom ذُؤَابَةِthe noblest branch خَزْرَجٍof Khazraj
وَأَسْدُ نِزَالٍ مِنْ ذُؤَابَةِ خَزْرَجٍ
بِهَاليلُnoble champions لاّnot رُومُRomans الْقَدِيمof old وَلاَnor قِبْطُCopts
بِهَاليلُ لاّ رُومُ الْقَدِيم وَلاَ قِبْطُ
And lions of combat from the noblest branch of Khazraj,
Noble champions—not Romans of old, nor Copts.
جِلاّدُهُمُtheir sword-blows مَثْنَىdoubled إِذَاwhen اشْتَجَرَtangles الْوَغَىbattle
جِلاّدُهُمُ مَثْنَى إِذَا اشْتَجَرَ الْوَغَى
كَأَنَّas though رُعَاةًshepherds بِالْعِضَاهِat thorn-trees لَهَاfor them خَبْطُleaf-beating
كَأَنَّ رُعَاةً بِالْعِضَاهِ لَهَا خَبْطُ
Their sword-blows fall double when battle tangles,
As though shepherds were beating thorn trees for fodder.
كَتَائِبُbattalions أَمْثَالِlike الْكِتَابِwriting تَتَالِياًin succession
كَتَائِبُ أَمْثَالِ الْكِتَابِ تَتَالِياً
فَمِنْso from بِيضِهَاtheir bright swords شكْلٌvowel marks وَمِنْand from سُمْرِهَاtheir brown spears نَقْطُdots
فَمِنْ بِيضِهَا شكْلٌ وَمِنْ سُمْرِهَا نَقْطُ
Battalions in succession, like writing:
Their bright swords supply the vowel marks, their brown spears the dots.
دَلِيلُهُمُtheir guide الْقُرْآنُthe Qur'an يَاO حَبَّذَاhow excellent الْهُدَىthe guidance
دَلِيلُهُمُ الْقُرْآنُ يَا حَبَّذَا الْهُدَى
وَرَهْطُهُمُand their clan الأَنْصَارُthe Ansar يَاO حَبَّذَاhow excellent الرَّهْطُthe clan
وَرَهْطُهُمُ الأَنْصَارُ يَا حَبَّذَا الرَّهْطُ
Their guide is the Qur'an—how excellent the guidance!
Their clan is the Ansar—how excellent the clan!
وَبِيضٌand bright swords كَأَمْثَالِlike البُرُوقِlightning flashes غَمَامُهَاtheir cloud
وَبِيضٌ كَأَمْثَالِ البُرُوقِ غَمَامُهَا
إِذَاwhen وَشَعتْthey embroider سُحْبَthe clouds الْقَتَامof battle-dust دَمٌblood عَبْطٌfresh
إِذَا وَشَعتْ سُحْبَ الْقَتَام دَمٌ عَبْطٌ
And bright blades like lightning, whose cloud,
When they embroider clouds of battle-dust, is fresh blood.
وَلَكِنَّهُyet it حُكْمٌa ruling يُطَاعُis obeyed وَسُنَّةٌand a Sunna
وَلَكِنَّهُ حُكْمٌ يُطَاعُ وَسُنَّةٌ
وَأَعْمَالُand deeds بِرٍّof piety لاَnot يَلِيقُbefits بَهَاthem الْحَبْطُnullification
وَأَعْمَالُ بِرٍّ لاَ يَلِيقُ بَهَا الْحَبْطُ
Yet it is a ruling to be obeyed, a Sunna,
And deeds of piety that ought not be nullified.
وَرُبَّتَand many a نَقُصٍdeficiency لِلْكَمَالِtoward perfection مَآلُهُits outcome
وَرُبَّتَ نَقُصٍ لِلْكَمَالِ مَآلُهُ
وَلاَand no غَرْوَwonder فَالأَقْلاَمُfor pens يُصْلِحُهَاimproves them الْقَطُّcutting the nib
وَلاَ غَرْوَ فَالأَقْلاَمُ يُصْلِحُهَا الْقَطُّ
Many a loss has perfection for its outcome;
No wonder, for cutting the nib improves pens.
فَهُنّيتَهُso may you be congratulated on it صُنْعاًas a deed وَدُمْتَand may you remain مُمَلَّكاًenthroned
فَهُنّيتَهُ صُنْعاً وَدُمْتَ مُمَلَّكاً
عَزِيزاًmighty تَشِيدُyou raise الْمَعْلُوَاتِlofty works وَتَخْتَطُّand lay out plans
عَزِيزاً تَشِيدُ الْمَعْلُوَاتِ وَتَخْتَطُّ
May you be congratulated on this deed, and remain enthroned,
Mighty, raising lofty works and laying out their plans.
وَدُونَand below الَّذِيthat which يُهْدِيspreads ثَنَاؤُكَyour praise فِيamong الْوَرَىmankind
وَدُونَ الَّذِي يُهْدِي ثَنَاؤُكَ فِي الْوَرَى
مِنَof الطِّيبِfragrance مَاwhat تُهْدِيgives off الأَلُوَّةُaloeswood وَالقُسْطُand costus
مِنَ الطِّيبِ مَا تُهْدِي الأَلُوَّةُ وَالقُسْطُ
Less than the fragrance your praise spreads among mankind
Is the perfume given off by aloeswood and costus.
رَضِيتَyou were content وَمَنْand whoever لَمْnot يَرْضَis content بِاللَّهِwith God حَاكِماًas judge
رَضِيتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ يَرْضَ بِاللَّهِ حَاكِماً
ضَلاَلاًin error فَلِلَّهِso to God الرِّضَاapproval وَلَهُand to Him السُّخْطُdispleasure
ضَلاَلاً فَلِلَّهِ الرِّضَا وَلَهُ السُّخْطُ
You were content; whoever is not content with God as judge
Is astray; approval belongs to God, and displeasure to Him.
حَيَاتُكَyour life لِلإِسْلاَمِfor Islam شَرْطُa condition حَيَاتِهِof its life
حَيَاتُكَ لِلإِسْلاَمِ شَرْطُ حَيَاتِهِ
وَلاَand not يُوجَدُexists الْمَشْرُوطُthe conditioned thing إِنْif عُدِمَis absent الشَّرْطُthe condition
وَلاَ يُوجَدُ الْمَشْرُوطُ إِنْ عُدِمَ الشَّرْطُ
Your life is a condition of Islam's life,
And the conditioned thing cannot exist if the condition is absent.
Sol 6.1