إِذَاif شِئْتِyou wish كَانَwill be النَّجْمُthe star عندَكِbefore you شاهِدِيmy witness
إِذَا شِئْتِ كَانَ النَّجْمُ عندَكِ شاهِدِي
بلَوْعَةِto the burning anguish of مُشتاقٍa yearning lover ومُقْلَةِand the eye of ساهِدِa sleepless one
بلَوْعَةِ مُشتاقٍ ومُقْلَةِ ساهِدِ
If you wish, the star will be my witness before you
When you wish, the stars bear witness for me,
to a yearning lover's anguish and a sleepless one's eye.
To the agony of a longing lover and the sleeplessness of one who lies awake.
غريبٌan exile كساهُclothed him البينُseparation أَثوابَthe robes of مُدْنَفٍone wasted by illness
غريبٌ كساهُ البينُ أَثوابَ مُدْنَفٍ
وحَفَّتْand gathered بِهِaround him الأَشجانُsorrows حفَّlike the surrounding of الولائِدِmaidservants
وحَفَّتْ بِهِ الأَشجانُ حفَّ الولائِدِ
An exile whom separation has clothed in a sick man's robes,
A stranger whom separation has clothed in tattered robes,
and sorrows have surrounded him as maidservants do;
And whom the branches surround with the embrace of one giving birth.
بَعيدِfar-off الضُّحىmorning light منfrom بَعْدِafter إِلْفٍa beloved companion مُفارِقٍdeparted
بَعيدِ الضُّحى من بَعْدِ إِلْفٍ مُفارِقٍ
طويلِlong in الدُّجىnight-darkness منfrom طولِthe length of بَثٍّgrief مُعاوِدِrecurring
طويلِ الدُّجى من طولِ بَثٍّ مُعاوِدِ
whose morning light is far off since a beloved departed,
Far, when day breaks, after familiarity now departed,
whose night is long from prolonged, recurring grief.
Prolonged, during the night's gloom, after continuous separation.
كَأَنَّas though ظلامَthe darkness of الليلِnight سَدَّblocked طَرِيقَهُits path
كَأَنَّ ظلامَ الليلِ سَدَّ طَرِيقَهُ
تعلُّقُthe fixation of أَجفانِيmy eyelids بِرَعْيِon watching الفراقِدِthe Farqad stars
تعلُّقُ أَجفانِي بِرَعْيِ الفراقِدِ
As though the darkness of night had its passage blocked
As if the darkness of night has blocked his path, while my eyelids cling to the grazing of the flock.
by my eyelids' fixation on watching the Farqad stars;
And the horizons around him are clad in the mourning garments of early-risers lamenting daybreak.
وَقَدْand already لَبِسَتْhad donned آفاقُهُits horizons منfrom دُجُونِهِits gloom
وَقَدْ لَبِسَتْ آفاقُهُ من دُجُونِهِ
حِدادَthe mourning black of نواعٍwailing women للصباحِof the dawn فَوَاقِدُbereft
حِدادَ نواعٍ للصباحِ فَوَاقِدُ
while its horizons have donned, from its gloom,
Ask me, after the completeness of night I traversed with the sigh of a longing lover and impassioned breaths,
the mourning black of women wailing, bereft of dawn.
About your fragrant dwellings which I enveloped with complaints of night visitors to the insensitive.
سَلِينيask me عنabout الليلِthe night التَّمامِof fullest length قطعْتُهُI passed it
سَلِيني عن الليلِ التَّمامِ قطعْتُهُ
بزفرَةِwith the sigh of مُشتاقٍa yearning lover وأَنفاسِand the breaths of واجِدِone anguished by love
بزفرَةِ مُشتاقٍ وأَنفاسِ واجِدِ
Ask me about the full-length night I passed
My separation is prolonged by the long night, content
with a yearning lover's sigh and a passion-stricken lover's breaths.
To recall a vanished intimacy no longer present.
طَوَاكِit enfolded you علىin طِيبِthe sweetness of الكرىsleep فطَوَيْتُهُwhile I passed it
طَوَاكِ على طِيبِ الكرى فطَوَيْتُهُ
بشكوىwith laments سَليask عنهُنَّabout them صُمَّthe deaf الجَلامِدِhard rocks
بشكوى سَلي عنهُنَّ صُمَّ الجَلامِدِ
It enfolded you in sweet sleep, while I passed it
And the fullness of the sky with stars makes me desolate
with laments—ask the deaf, hard rocks about them.
For a planet in the sunset of separation, singular.
يطاولُvies in length with ليلُthe night of التِّمِّfullest length بَثِّيَmy grief مُسْعِداًconsoling
يطاولُ ليلُ التِّمِّ بَثِّيَ مُسْعِداً
عَلَىin ذِكْرِremembering إِلْفٍa beloved companion بانَwho departed غيرِnot مُساعِدِoffering comfort
عَلَى ذِكْرِ إِلْفٍ بانَ غيرِ مُساعِدِ
The full-length night vies in length with my grief, consoling me
Did I not know the dawn was your likeness before it,
in remembering a beloved who departed, offering no comfort.
So I recognize its successor now from the appointments missed.
ويوحِشُنيand leaves me lonely ملْءُthe fullness of السماءِthe sky كواكِباًwith stars
ويوحِشُني ملْءُ السماءِ كواكِباً
إِلَىfor كوكبٍa star فِيin مَغْرِبِthe setting-place of البَيْنِseparation واحِدِa single one
إِلَى كوكبٍ فِي مَغْرِبِ البَيْنِ واحِدِ
And the sky's fullness of stars leaves me lonely
It will keep the pact of loyalty to me if you break it.
for a single star in the setting-place of separation.
My agony in passion for you will honor my pledges.
أَلَمْdid I not أَدْرِknow أَنَّthat الصُّبحَdawn شِبْهُكَyour likeness قَبْلَهاbefore it
أَلَمْ أَدْرِ أَنَّ الصُّبحَ شِبْهُكَ قَبْلَها
فأَعرِفَso that I learn منهfrom it الآنَnow خُلْفَthe breaking of المَوَاعِدِpromises
فأَعرِفَ منه الآنَ خُلْفَ المَوَاعِدِ
Did I not know beforehand that dawn resembled you,
Soon my requests will be revealed
so that I now learn from it how promises are broken?
By the most blossomed of meadows and the most splendid achievements.
ستَرْعىwill safeguard وفاءَfaithfulness to العهدِthe pledge ليfor me إنif نَقَضْتَهُyou break it
ستَرْعى وفاءَ العهدِ لي إن نَقَضْتَهُ
لواعِجُthe burning pangs of بَثٍّgrief فِيin هواكِlove for you مُعاهِدِيmy sworn companions
لواعِجُ بَثٍّ فِي هواكِ مُعاهِدِي
Faith in the pledge will be kept for me, if you break it,
A king who gathers kingship and glory,
by burning pangs of grief in love for you, my sworn companions.
And wards off harm to reputations and glory with a shield.
ويُوشِكُand it is imminent أَنthat تُجْلىbe unveiled وُجوهُthe faces of مَطَالبِيmy aspirations
ويُوشِكُ أَن تُجْلى وُجوهُ مَطَالبِي
بأَزْهَرَby one radiant وضَّاحٍresplendent وأَرْوَعَand awe-inspiring ماجِدِnoble
بأَزْهَرَ وضَّاحٍ وأَرْوَعَ ماجِدِ
And soon the faces of my aspirations will be unveiled
He aroused the heavens for religion, so orthodoxy adhered to him
by one radiant and resplendent, awe-inspiring and noble:
And guided the known path, the roads of praise.
مليكٍa king لشملِof the unity of الملكِsovereignty والعِزِّand might جامِعٍa gatherer
مليكٍ لشملِ الملكِ والعِزِّ جامِعٍ
وعنand in defense of حُرَمِthe sanctuaries of الأَحسابِnoble lineages والمجدِand glory ذائِدِa defender
وعن حُرَمِ الأَحسابِ والمجدِ ذائِدِ
a king who gathers sovereignty and might into unity,
Alive, he covered the horizons, east and west,
and guards the sanctuaries of noble lineage and glory;
So the tracks of the guide cannot be followed in any direction.
أَغَرَّradiant سَماrose للدِّينِfor the faith فاعْتَصَمَso took refuge الهُدىright guidance
أَغَرَّ سَما للدِّينِ فاعْتَصَمَ الهُدى
بِهِin him وهَدىand led المعروفَbenevolence سُبْلَthe paths of المحامِدِpraiseworthy deeds
بِهِ وهَدى المعروفَ سُبْلَ المحامِدِ
radiant, he rose for the faith, and guidance took refuge
With a sword flanking the destinies of fates, a challenger,
in him; he led benevolence along the paths of praiseworthy deeds;
And a saber subduing the clouds, a fighter.
حَياًlife-giving rain طبَّقَcovered الآفاقَthe horizons شَرْقاًeastward ومَغْرِباًand westward
حَياً طبَّقَ الآفاقَ شَرْقاً ومَغْرِباً
فماso no تُقْتَفىare followed فِيin المَحْلِdrought آثارُthe tracks of رَائِدِa pasture-scout
فما تُقْتَفى فِي المَحْلِ آثارُ رَائِدِ
a life-giving rain that covered the horizons, east and west,
A scion whose nobility thrived on the lineages of Himer,
so in drought no pasture-scout's tracks need be followed;
To every person of pride, a constructor.
بسيفٍwith a sword لأَقدارِwith the decrees of الحُتُوفِdeaths مساوِرٍcontending
بسيفٍ لأَقدارِ الحُتُوفِ مساوِرٍ
وسَيْبٍand bounty لِتَهْتَانِwith the downpour of الغيومِthe clouds مُجاوِدِvying in generosity
وسَيْبٍ لِتَهْتَانِ الغيومِ مُجاوِدِ
with a sword that contends with the decrees of death,
He possesses, from the pride of Arabs, glories
and bounty that vies in generosity with the clouds' pouring rain.
Like each highest, firmly rooted, foundation.
سليلُa scion of عُلاًnobility تَنْمِيهِtrace his descent أَنسابُthe lineages of حِمْيَرٍHimyar
سليلُ عُلاً تَنْمِيهِ أَنسابُ حِمْيَرٍ
إِلَىto كُلِّevery بانٍbuilder للمفاخِرِof glories شائِدِa raiser
إِلَى كُلِّ بانٍ للمفاخِرِ شائِدِ
A scion of nobility, whom Himyar's lineages trace
Fortresses of power and supremacy, as though
to every builder and raiser of glory;
The suns gained power from the rising of those fortresses.
همامٌa valiant lord لَهُfor him منfrom فَخْرِthe glory of يَعْرُبَYa'rub فِيin العُلاthe heights
همامٌ لَهُ من فَخْرِ يَعْرُبَ فِي العُلا
ذُرىthe summits of كلِّevery سَامِيlofty in السَّبْكِcasting راسِيfirm in القواعِدِfoundations
ذُرى كلِّ سَامِي السَّبْكِ راسِي القواعِدِ
a valiant lord who possesses, from Ya'rub's glory in the heights,
A young man whom fate, obstinate, submitted to,
the summits of all that is loftily cast and firmly founded.
So he came to it, handing over the reins.
محاتِدُancestral roots of عِزٍّmight واعتلاءٍand eminence كَأَنَّماas though
محاتِدُ عِزٍّ واعتلاءٍ كَأَنَّما
سناthe brilliance of الشمسِthe sun منfrom إِشراقِthe radiance of تِلْكَthose المحاتِدِancestral roots
سنا الشمسِ من إِشراقِ تِلْكَ المحاتِدِ
Ancestral roots of might and eminence—as though
He is the full moon, in its rising, its light, and his sword
the sun's gleam came from the radiance of those roots.
For all time, chases it in its own domain.
فتىًa young man أَذْعَنَsubmitted الدهرُTime الأَبيُّdefiant لِحُكْمِهِto his rule
فتىً أَذْعَنَ الدهرُ الأَبيُّ لِحُكْمِهِ
فأَضحىso it became إِلَيْهِto him مُلْقِياًhanding over بالمَقالِدِthe keys of command
فأَضحى إِلَيْهِ مُلْقِياً بالمَقالِدِ
A young man to whose rule defiant Time submitted,
From him hopes bowed down,
so it came to lay the keys of power before him.
And he surpassed all in the far-reaching arena.
هُوَhe البَدْرُthe full moon إِشراقاًin radiance ونوراًand light وسيفُهُand his sword
هُوَ البَدْرُ إِشراقاً ونوراً وسيفُهُ
مَدىthroughout الدهرِtime منهin relation to him فِيin مَحَلِّthe position of عُطَارِدِMercury
مَدى الدهرِ منه فِي مَحَلِّ عُطَارِدِ
He is the full moon in radiance and light, and his sword,
The most generous of chamberlains veiled sovereignty from him,
throughout all time, holds Mercury's place beside him.
And the most generous of leaders guided the troops of victory.
تدانَتْdrew near منto الآمالِhopes أَنواءُthe rain-showers of كَفِّهِhis palm
تدانَتْ من الآمالِ أَنواءُ كَفِّهِ
وبَرَّزَand surged ahead سَبْقاًin racing فِيon المدىthe course المُتباعِدِfar-stretching
وبَرَّزَ سَبْقاً فِي المدى المُتباعِدِ
The rain-showers of his palm have drawn close to hopes,
The battalions whose motto is the oneness of God
and he has raced ahead along the far-stretching course.
For them, the day of infidel humiliation has not one.
فَحَجَّبَso served as chamberlain to منهُin his person الملكَthe crown أَكرمُthe noblest حاجِبٍchamberlain
فَحَجَّبَ منهُ الملكَ أَكرمُ حاجِبٍ
وقادَand led جنودَthe armies of النصرِvictory أَكرمُthe noblest قائِدِcommander
وقادَ جنودَ النصرِ أَكرمُ قائِدِ
Thus, in him, the noblest chamberlain served the crown,
When they are intent on protecting him, it is as though
and the noblest commander led the hosts of victory.
The thunderbolts of heaven swooped down upon it.
كتائِبُbattalions توحيدُthe oneness of الإِلَهِGod شِعارُهاtheir watchword
كتائِبُ توحيدُ الإِلَهِ شِعارُها
وَمَاand not يومُthe day of خِزْيِthe disgrace of الكفرunbelief فِيهَاamong them بِواحِدِa single one
وَمَا يومُ خِزْيِ الكفر فِيهَا بِواحِدِ
Battalions whose watchword is the oneness of God,
If after this he returns to the abode of kingship,
and unbelief has suffered disgrace among them on more than one day.
He has secured its borders with the opinion of a warrior.
إِذَاwhenever يَمَّمَتْthey head toward منهfrom him حِمىًa guarded domain فكأَنَّماthen it is as though
إِذَا يَمَّمَتْ منه حِمىً فكأَنَّما
أَرَبَّتْsettled عَلَيْهِover it مُصْعِقاتُthunderbolt-hurling الرَّواعِدِthunderclouds
أَرَبَّتْ عَلَيْهِ مُصْعِقاتُ الرَّواعِدِ
Whenever they head from him toward a guarded domain, it is as though
Victory witnessed him even if it did not behold him,
thunderbolt-hurling clouds had settled over it.
And patience fought for him even if it did not contend.
لئِنْif indeed حَلَّhe entered دارَthe seat of الملكِkingship منfrom بَعْدُafterward قافِلاًreturning
لئِنْ حَلَّ دارَ الملكِ من بَعْدُ قافِلاً
لقدindeed شَدَّhe strengthened أَقصاهاits farthest reaches برأْيِwith the judgment of مُجاهِدِa warrior
لقد شَدَّ أَقصاها برأْيِ مُجاهِدِ
If he has afterward returned to the seat of kingship,
May God grant victory to the Victorious One, supporting his religion,
he has surely strengthened its farthest reaches with a warrior's judgment.
And reward him, the best son succeeding the best father.
فشاهَدَso was present عنهin his stead النصرُvictory إِنْif لَمْnot يُشَاهِدِhe was present
فشاهَدَ عنه النصرُ إِنْ لَمْ يُشَاهِدِ
وجالَدَand fought عنهُin his stead الصَّبْرُpatience إِنif لَمْnot يُجالِدِhe fought
وجالَدَ عنهُ الصَّبْرُ إِن لَمْ يُجالِدِ
So victory was present in his stead, though he was not present,
And may He strengthen this sovereignty and religion,
and patience fought in his stead, though he did not fight.
With the right hand of favor which aided the best supporter.
رعىhonored اللهُGod للمَنْصُورِfor al-Mansur نُصْرَةَthe championing of دِينِهِHis faith
رعى اللهُ للمَنْصُورِ نُصْرَةَ دِينِهِ
فَجَازَاهُso rewarded him خيرَthe best ابْنٍson تلاwho followed خَيْرَthe best والِدِfather
فَجَازَاهُ خيرَ ابْنٍ تلا خَيْرَ والِدِ
God has honored al-Mansur's championing of His faith,
O you who unite Islam, collectively, and leave
and rewarded him with the best son, following the best father,
The enemies’ lands desolate, violating the settlements.
وأيّدand strengthened هَذَاthis المُلْكَkingdom والدِّينَand the faith مِنْهُماthrough them both
وأيّد هَذَا المُلْكَ والدِّينَ مِنْهُما
بأَيمَنِwith the most auspicious يُمْنىright hand ساعَدَتْthat aided خَيْرَthe finest سَاعِدِforearm
بأَيمَنِ يُمْنى ساعَدَتْ خَيْرَ سَاعِدِ
and through them both strengthened this kingdom and the faith
And plunge into the midst of tumult,
with the most auspicious right hand that aided the finest arm.
As the thirsty hasten to fresh water springs.
فياso, O جامِعَuniter of الإِسلامِIslam شَمْلاًin unity وتارِكاًand one who leaves
فيا جامِعَ الإِسلامِ شَمْلاً وتارِكاً
دِيارَthe dwellings of الأَعادِيthe enemies مُوحِشاتِdesolate in المعاهِدِfamiliar haunts
دِيارَ الأَعادِي مُوحِشاتِ المعاهِدِ
So, O you who unite Islam's ranks, and leave
It bodes well that the Feast has come to you,
the enemies' dwellings with their old haunts desolate,
With the cocks heralding joy and return.
ومقتحِمَand one plunging into الأَهْوالِterrors فِيin حَوْمَةِthe thick of الوغىbattle
ومقتحِمَ الأَهْوالِ فِي حَوْمَةِ الوغى
كَمَاjust as بادرَhastened to الظمآنُthe thirsty man عذبَthe sweet water of المَوَارِدِwatering-places
كَمَا بادرَ الظمآنُ عذبَ المَوَارِدِ
and plunge into terrors in the thick of battle
It greeted you with glad tidings and wished you well,
as the thirsty man hastens to sweet watering-places,
And the fairest witness supported the herald of good news.
لِيَهْنِكَmay it gladden you أَنَّthat العيدَthe feast وافاكَcame to you قادِماًarriving
لِيَهْنِكَ أَنَّ العيدَ وافاكَ قادِماً
بأوشَكِwith the swiftest بادٍfirst appearance للسرورِof joy وعائِدِand return
بأوشَكِ بادٍ للسرورِ وعائِدِ
may it gladden you that the feast has come to you,
So the days continue as holidays due to your merit,
bringing the swiftest onset and return of joy.
For every loyal friend, sincere in gratitude.
تلقَّاكَmet you بالبُشْرَىwith glad tidings وحيَّاكَand greeted you بالمنىwith wishes
تلقَّاكَ بالبُشْرَى وحيَّاكَ بالمنى
وساعَدَand lent support للبُشْرىto the glad tidings لأَعْدَلِfor the most just شاهِدِwitness
وساعَدَ للبُشْرى لأَعْدَلِ شاهِدِ
It met you with glad tidings and greeted you with hopes,
And you remain the refuge of a stranger, one hopeful,
and supported the glad tidings with the fairest witness.
And the recourse for one distraught, and the goal of one with purpose.
فلاso may not زَالَتِcease to be الأَيَّامُthe days أَعيادَfestivals of فضلِكُمْyour bounty
فلا زَالَتِ الأَيَّامُ أَعيادَ فضلِكُمْ
لكُلِّfor every مُوالٍloyal supporter خالِصِsincere in الشكرِthanks حامِدِone praising
لكُلِّ مُوالٍ خالِصِ الشكرِ حامِدِ
So may the days always be festivals of your bounty
for every loyal supporter, sincere in thanks and praise;
ولاand may not زِلْتُمُyou cease to be مأْوَىa shelter for غريبٍa stranger وآمِلٍand one hoping
ولا زِلْتُمُ مأْوَى غريبٍ وآمِلٍ
ومَفْزَعَand a refuge for ملهوفٍone in distress وفُرْصَةَand an opportunity for قاصِدِa seeker
ومَفْزَعَ ملهوفٍ وفُرْصَةَ قاصِدِ
and may you always be the shelter of the stranger and the hopeful,
a haven for the distressed and an opportunity for the seeker.
Partial English translation: 66 of 70 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1