هَلْdoes يَجْهَلُnot know السَّمْتَthe direction مَنwhoever يَسْتَوْضِحُseeks clarity about الطُّرُقاthe roads
هَلْ يَجْهَلُ السَّمْتَ مَن يَسْتَوْضِحُ الطُّرُقا
أَوْor يُبْعِدُdeems distant الشَّمْسَthe sun منwhoever يَسْتَيْقِنُknows for certain الغَلَقاclosure
أَوْ يُبْعِدُ الشَّمْسَ من يَسْتَيْقِنُ الغَلَقا
Does one who seeks clarity about the roads not know the direction?
Does the one seeking the path not know the signposts?
Or does one certain of closure deem the sun distant?
Or one doubting the dark, not banish the sun?
قَدْindeed خَبَّرَتْhas told دوحَةُthe spreading tree المجدِglory الَّتِيwhich كَرُمَتْwas noble
قَدْ خَبَّرَتْ دوحَةُ المجدِ الَّتِي كَرُمَتْ
عَنْabout مُعْتَلَىthe lofty height ذَلِكَthat الغُصْنِbranch الَّذِيwhich بَسَقاgrew tall
عَنْ مُعْتَلَى ذَلِكَ الغُصْنِ الَّذِي بَسَقا
The noble, spreading tree of glory has told
The scrolls of glory which adorned
of the lofty height of that branch which grew tall.
The lofty branch as it grew
للهِto God عَيْنٌan eye رأَتْهُsaw him وَهْوَand he بدرُa full moon دُجىًdarkness
للهِ عَيْنٌ رأَتْهُ وَهْوَ بدرُ دُجىً
يوماًone day أَهَلَّrose فجلَّىand illuminated نورُهُhis light الأُفُقاthe horizon
يوماً أَهَلَّ فجلَّى نورُهُ الأُفُقا
Blessed the eye that saw him, a full moon in darkness,
Has an eye of God that saw it a full moon in the gloom
one day rising, his light illuminating the horizon.
One day it emerged and its light illuminated the horizons
وكمand how often رأَيناwe saw وجوهَthe faces الروضِthe garden ضاحِكَةًsmiling
وكم رأَينا وجوهَ الروضِ ضاحِكَةً
فِيin رائِحٍan evening cloud راحَpassed at evening أَوْor فِيin بارِقٍlightning بَرَقاflashed
فِي رائِحٍ راحَ أَوْ فِي بارِقٍ بَرَقا
How often we have seen the garden's faces smiling
And we saw the laughing faces of the meadow
at an evening cloud that passed, or lightning that flashed.
In the wafting breeze or in the flashing lightning
أَنجبتَهُyou begot him يَاO وزيرَminister المُلْكِthe realm مُدَّخَراًheld in reserve
أَنجبتَهُ يَا وزيرَ المُلْكِ مُدَّخَراً
لفَجْأَةِagainst the sudden onset الخطبِcalamity إِنif غادىit came by morning وإِنand if طَرَقاit came by night
لفَجْأَةِ الخطبِ إِن غادى وإِن طَرَقا
You begot him, O minister of the realm, held in reserve
You nurtured him, O minister of the kingdom, reserved
against sudden calamity, whether it comes by morning or by night;
For the sudden events, be it advancing or defending
وفارساًand a horseman لِغِمارِfor the depths الرَّوْعِterror مقتحِماًplunging
وفارساً لِغِمارِ الرَّوْعِ مقتحِماً
وصارِماًand a cutting sword فِيin يمينِthe right hand الملكthe king مُؤْتَلِقاgleaming
وصارِماً فِي يمينِ الملك مُؤْتَلِقا
a horseman plunging into the depths of terror,
A horseman charging into the fray
and a gleaming sword in the king's right hand.
A wielder of the sword in the king’s right hand poised to strike
وَقَدْand already يُرىhe is seen فِيin نواحيthe bounds المهدِthe cradle مُبتَدِراًhastening
وَقَدْ يُرى فِي نواحي المهدِ مُبتَدِراً
إِلَىtoward الطِّعَانِspear-combat وكَرَّاتِand the charges الوغىbattle قَلِقاrestless
إِلَى الطِّعَانِ وكَرَّاتِ الوغى قَلِقا
Already within the cradle's bounds he could be seen hastening
He may be seen in the domains of the cradle, eager
toward spear-combat and battle's charges, restless.
To the spears and to the turmoil of war aroused
تُدْنَىare brought near ملاعِبُهُhis playthings منهto him فَلَيْسَyet he is not يُرىseen
تُدْنَى ملاعِبُهُ منه فَلَيْسَ يُرى
غَيْرَother than السِّنانِthe spearhead وغيرَand other than الرُّمْحِthe lance مُعْتَلِقاclinging
غَيْرَ السِّنانِ وغيرَ الرُّمْحِ مُعْتَلِقا
His playthings are brought near him, yet he is never seen
His toys are brought near him but only the lance and spear are seen
clinging to anything but the spearhead and the lance.
Clung to by his hands
للبِرِّfor goodness أَوَّلُthe first مَاthat قامَتْrose بِهِwith it قَدَمٌa foot
للبِرِّ أَوَّلُ مَا قامَتْ بِهِ قَدَمٌ
سعياًin striving وللحَقِّand for truth أُولىthe first نَطْقَةٍutterance نَطَقَاhe uttered
سعياً وللحَقِّ أُولى نَطْقَةٍ نَطَقَا
His very first step was toward goodness,
The first steps he took were for righteousness
in striving; his first utterance was for truth.
Endeavouring, and the first words he spoke for truth, uttering
حَتَّىuntil غَداhe became بكتابِto the Book اللهGod معتصِماًholding fast
حَتَّى غَدا بكتابِ الله معتصِماً
يُحْبىhe is endowed بخُطَّةِwith a station عِزٍّhonor كُلَّماwhenever حَذِقَاhe grew proficient
يُحْبى بخُطَّةِ عِزٍّ كُلَّما حَذِقَا
Until he came to hold fast to the Book of God,
Until he held fast to God’s book, fortified
granted a station of honor whenever he grew proficient.
Gifted in every stratagem whenever apt
ثُمَّthen اسْتَمَرَّhe pressed on إِلَىtoward العلياءِeminence مُفَتَتِحاًconquering
ثُمَّ اسْتَمَرَّ إِلَى العلياءِ مُفَتَتِحاً
مَعاقِلَthe strongholds الفخرِrenown لاnot نِكْساًa weakling ولاand not فَرِقاafraid
مَعاقِلَ الفخرِ لا نِكْساً ولا فَرِقا
Then he pressed on toward eminence, conquering
Then he progressed to the heights, initiating,
the strongholds of renown, neither a weakling nor afraid.
The citadels of pride – no setback or separation
تلقاهُmeet him مِنْfrom دُونِهاshort of it الأَيَّامُthe days مُتَّئِداًunhurried
تلقاهُ مِنْ دُونِها الأَيَّامُ مُتَّئِداً
بالجِدِّin earnestness مُشْتَمِلاًwrapped بالحَزمِwith resolve مُنْتَطِقاgirded
بالجِدِّ مُشْتَمِلاً بالحَزمِ مُنْتَطِقا
On the way to it, the days find him unhurried,
The days met him, feasting,
wrapped in earnestness, girded with resolve.
Intent on resolve, articulate in wisdom
وَقَدْand indeed أَحاطَتْhave surrounded أَزاهِيرُthe blossoms النعيمِluxury بِهِaround him
وَقَدْ أَحاطَتْ أَزاهِيرُ النعيمِ بِهِ
فَصَيَّرَand he made العِلْمَlearning فِيهَاamong them رَوْضَهُhis garden الأَنِقاlovely
فَصَيَّرَ العِلْمَ فِيهَا رَوْضَهُ الأَنِقا
The blossoms of luxury had surrounded him,
The flowers of bliss surrounded him
and among them he made learning his lovely garden.
And he made knowledge a meadow of elegance within them
وَمَاand not غَدَاhe went at morning غيرَother than كأْسِthe cup المَدْحِpraise مُصطَبِحاًdrinking at morning
وَمَا غَدَا غيرَ كأْسِ المَدْحِ مُصطَبِحاً
وَلَمْand did not يَرُحْgo at evening غيرَother than كأْسِthe cup المَجْدِglory مُغْتَبِقاdrinking at evening
وَلَمْ يَرُحْ غيرَ كأْسِ المَجْدِ مُغْتَبِقا
At morning he drank no cup but the cup of praise,
He awoke only aspiring the cup of praise
and at evening no cup but the cup of glory.
And raced none but the cup of glory
مُفَجَّرَgushing الكَفِّthe palm جُوداًgenerosity والجبينِand the brow سَناًradiance
مُفَجَّرَ الكَفِّ جُوداً والجبينِ سَناً
ومُفْعَمَand filled الجَيْبِthe bosom نُصْحاًsincere counsel والضَّمِيرِand the conscience تُقىpiety
ومُفْعَمَ الجَيْبِ نُصْحاً والضَّمِيرِ تُقى
His palm gushing generosity, his brow radiance,
With open palm in munificence and glowing forehead in glory
his bosom filled with sincere counsel, his conscience with piety.
With pocket filled with sincerity and conscience pious
قَدْindeed شَرَّدَhe drove away الظُلْمَinjustice عنfrom أَوْطانِthe dwelling places شيمَتِهِhis nature
قَدْ شَرَّدَ الظُلْمَ عن أَوْطانِ شيمَتِهِ
فلَمْso he did not يَدَعْleave out مِنْكَof you لاneither خَلْقاًphysical form ولاnor خُلُقاcharacter
فلَمْ يَدَعْ مِنْكَ لا خَلْقاً ولا خُلُقا
He has driven injustice from the dwelling places of his nature,
He dispelled injustice from the homelands of his traits
leaving out nothing of you—neither form nor character.
Leaving in you no character or manners
حَتَّىeven فرايتكand your banner(s) (unclear) اللاتيwhich سَمَوْتَyou rose لَهَاto them
حَتَّى فرايتك اللاتي سَمَوْتَ لَهَا
قَدْindeed حازَهاhe won them مِثْلَماjust as قَدْindeed حُزْتَهاyou won them نَسَقاin succession
قَدْ حازَها مِثْلَما قَدْ حُزْتَها نَسَقا
Even your banners [unclear reading], to which you rose,
Until you attained the aspirations you sought
he has won, just as you won them, in succession.
Just as he attained them, equitably
وَمَاand not انْثَنىturned aside الأَملُhope المُعْطِيthe giver رغائِبَهُhis desires
وَمَا انْثَنى الأَملُ المُعْطِي رغائِبَهُ
فِيهِconcerning him ولاnor وَقفَhalted الظَّنُّthe expectation الَّذِيthat صَدَقاproved true
فِيهِ ولا وَقفَ الظَّنُّ الَّذِي صَدَقا
And hope, which grants his desires, has not turned aside
The hopeful expectation did not weary regarding him
from him, nor has the expectation that proved true halted,
Nor the confident assumption ever wavered
حَتَّىuntil يُوَفَّىhe is granted in full الَّذِيwhat وُفِّيتَyou were granted in full فِيin عَجَلٍhaste
حَتَّى يُوَفَّى الَّذِي وُفِّيتَ فِي عَجَلٍ
ومِثْلُهُand one like him إِنْif سعىhe strove فِيfor مِثْلِهاtheir like لَحِقاhe caught up
ومِثْلُهُ إِنْ سعى فِي مِثْلِها لَحِقا
until he is swiftly granted what you were granted;
Until fulfilled what you were expeditious in
and one like him, if he strives for such honors, catches up.
And if the like aspires the like will attain
فقدfor indeed رَأَتْshe saw أَنَّهُthat it is so حقّاًtruly لَهُfor him خُلِقَتْshe was created
فقد رَأَتْ أَنَّهُ حقّاً لَهُ خُلِقَتْ
كَمَاjust as رأَىhe saw أَنَّهُthat it is so حَقّاًtruly لَهَاfor her خُلِقاhe was created
كَمَا رأَى أَنَّهُ حَقّاً لَهَا خُلِقا
For she has seen that she was truly created for him,
For it saw that it was truly made for him
just as he has seen that he was truly created for her.
Just as he saw that he was truly made for it
مُشَيَّعُdauntless السَّعْيِin striving لَمْnot يُبْهَرْgrew labored لَهُof his نَفَسٌa breath
مُشَيَّعُ السَّعْيِ لَمْ يُبْهَرْ لَهُ نَفَسٌ
حَتَّىuntil أَتىhe reached الغايةَthe goal القُصْوىfarthest وَقَدْand already سَبقاhe had outstripped
حَتَّى أَتى الغايةَ القُصْوى وَقَدْ سَبقا
Dauntless in striving, no breath of his grew labored
The guide of endeavour was not dazzled
until he reached the farthest goal, already in the lead.
Until he reached the utmost goal, outpacing
ماno احتازَattained ذُوa possessor هِمَّةٍaspiration فِيin المَكْرُماتِnoble deeds مَدىًa distance
ما احتازَ ذُو هِمَّةٍ فِي المَكْرُماتِ مَدىً
بِمُجْهِدِwith strenuous الشَّأْوِrunning إِلّاexcept احْتازَهُhe attained it عَنَقَاat an easy trot
بِمُجْهِدِ الشَّأْوِ إِلّا احْتازَهُ عَنَقَا
No ambitious man ever covered a distance in noble deeds
None has traversed the horizons of virtues
with strenuous running that he did not cover at an easy trot.
With utmost effort except he traversed, transcending
لمnot يَأْنِwas it time أَنْto يَعْلَقَlove البِيضَfair women الحِسانَbeautiful وَقَدْand already
لم يَأْنِ أَنْ يَعْلَقَ البِيضَ الحِسانَ وَقَدْ
أَضْحىhad become فؤادُthe heart العُلاeminence صَبّاًlovesick بِهِwith him عَلِقاenamored
أَضْحى فؤادُ العُلا صَبّاً بِهِ عَلِقا
It was not yet time for him to love fair beauties, yet
He did not refrain from aspiring the sublime nest
the heart of eminence had become lovesick, enamored of him.
For the heart of the lofty to be smitten and fettered by it
ولاand not انْثَنىhe turned لِعِناقِto embrace الخُودِthe tender maiden بَعْدُyet وَقَدْand already
ولا انْثَنى لِعِناقِ الخُودِ بَعْدُ وَقَدْ
يَبِيتُhe spends the night للشُّرْطَةِto the constabulary العُلْياءِexalted مُعْتَنِقاembracing
يَبِيتُ للشُّرْطَةِ العُلْياءِ مُعْتَنِقا
Nor had he yet turned to embrace a tender maiden, while
Nor recoil from embracing glory, for he would
he spends his nights embracing the exalted constabulary.
Spend the night clasping the noble cause
غَرَّاءُradiant راحَتْshe came at evening عَلَيْهِto him وَهْوَand he بُغْيَتُهاher desire
غَرَّاءُ راحَتْ عَلَيْهِ وَهْوَ بُغْيَتُها
فأَصْبَحَso became الدهرُtime منfrom أَنفاسِهاher breaths عَبِقاfragrant
فأَصْبَحَ الدهرُ من أَنفاسِها عَبِقا
Radiant, she came to him at evening, and he was her desire,
The Pleiades set out to him while he was their goal
so time grew fragrant from her breath.
So the world was perfumed by their breath
وأَصْبَحَand became العَرْضُthe muster فِيin آثارِهِhis wake أَسِفاًsorrowful
وأَصْبَحَ العَرْضُ فِي آثارِهِ أَسِفاً
يُعَلِّلُconsoling النَّفْسَthe soul أَنْso that تَسْتَبقِيَit might preserve الرَّمَقاthe last breath
يُعَلِّلُ النَّفْسَ أَنْ تَسْتَبقِيَ الرَّمَقا
And the muster grew sorrowful in his wake,
And the horizon was regretful in its wake
consoling its soul to preserve its last breath.
Lamenting the soul to hasten its last gasp
إِنْif يُشْجَhe is saddened أَلّاnot to يُسَمَّىbe called عارِضاًa muster-master أَبَداًever
إِنْ يُشْجَ أَلّا يُسَمَّى عارِضاً أَبَداً
يُسَلِّهِconsoles him أَنْto يُسَمَّىbe called عارِضاًa raincloud غَدِقاcopiously raining
يُسَلِّهِ أَنْ يُسَمَّى عارِضاً غَدِقا
If he is saddened never again to be called a muster-master,
If stirred, may he never be named transient
he is consoled to be called a raincloud pouring abundantly.
Entreated, may he never be named fleeting
فالحَمْدُso praise للهِto God راحَhas become الغُصْنُthe branch مُعْتَلِياًlofty
فالحَمْدُ للهِ راحَ الغُصْنُ مُعْتَلِياً
والسيفُand the sword مُنْصَلِتاًunsheathed والبَدْرُand the full moon مُتَّسِقاfully rounded
والسيفُ مُنْصَلِتاً والبَدْرُ مُتَّسِقا
So praise be to God: the branch has grown lofty,
So praise be to God – the branch set forth ascendant
the sword is drawn, and the full moon perfectly rounded.
The sword parrying and the moon waxing crescent
مَنَّاًa favor منَfrom اللهِGod والمولىand the master الَّذِيwhose مَطَرَتْrained
مَنَّاً منَ اللهِ والمولى الَّذِي مَطَرَتْ
سماؤُهُhis sky الدُّرَّpearls بَلْهَlet alone التِّبْرَuncoined gold والوَرِقاand silver
سماؤُهُ الدُّرَّ بَلْهَ التِّبْرَ والوَرِقا
A favor from God and from the master whose
A blessing from God and the Master who showered
sky rained pearls, let alone uncoined gold and silver,
Its sky with the rain of generosity and leaves
مُسْتَيقِناًcertain أَنَّthat شَمْلَthe unity المُلْكِthe realm مُجْتَمِعٌis gathered
مُسْتَيقِناً أَنَّ شَمْلَ المُلْكِ مُجْتَمِعٌ
يوماًone day إِذَاwhen كَانَis شملُthe gathered total المالِwealth مُفْتَرِقاscattered
يوماً إِذَا كَانَ شملُ المالِ مُفْتَرِقا
certain that the realm is united
Certain that the body of the kingdom united
on a day when gathered wealth is dispersed.
One day when bodies of wealth disunited
Sol 6.1