أمِنis it from بارِقٍa lightning flash أعْلامَthe peaks of نجْدٍNajd يصافحُshakes hands with
أمِن بارِقٍ أعْلامَ نجْدٍ يصافحُ
تذكَّرْتَyou recalled عهْداًpast days بالحِمىat the sanctuary وهْوَthough it is نازحُdistant
تذكَّرْتَ عهْداً بالحِمى وهْوَ نازحُ
Was it from a lightning flash clasping the peaks of Najd
Stars of Najd's banners glimmer at dawn
that you recalled past days at the sanctuary, though it lies far away?
Reminding of a pact, now broken and gone
يلوحُgleams بآفاقِalong the horizons of الثّناياthe mountain passes كأنّهُas though it were
يلوحُ بآفاقِ الثّنايا كأنّهُ
مُصافِيa devoted friend وِدادٍaffection بالسّلامِwith a greeting مُصافِحُoffering a handshake
مُصافِي وِدادٍ بالسّلامِ مُصافِحُ
It gleams along the horizons of the mountain passes, as though it were
Beckoning on the horizons, it seems to be
a devoted friend, offering a handshake in greeting.
A greeting of affection and peace for me
كَلِفْتُI became enamored علىdespite بُعْدِthe remoteness of المزارthe visiting-place بجِيرَةٍof neighbors
كَلِفْتُ على بُعْدِ المزار بجِيرَةٍ
جوانِحُناour hearts وجداًin longing إليهمْtoward them جوانِحُinclining
جوانِحُنا وجداً إليهمْ جوانِحُ
I fell in love with neighbors, despite the distance to their dwelling;
At the shrine from afar I felt burdened
toward them our hearts incline in longing.
Our innermost passions to them have yearned
لقدْindeed قيّدَheld captive الأبْصارَthe eyes حُسْنُthe beauty of أوانِسٍcharming maidens
لقدْ قيّدَ الأبْصارَ حُسْنُ أوانِسٍ
لهُنّfor them قلوبُthe hearts of الهائِمينlove-stricken men مسارِحُpastures
لهُنّ قلوبُ الهائِمين مسارِحُ
The beauty of charming maidens has indeed held eyes captive;
The charm of fair ladies has seized all sights
the hearts of love-stricken men are their pastures.
To them belong the hearts of all smitten knights
وماand not هِمْتُI was love-maddened حالduring البُعْدِseparation إلاexcept لأنهاbecause they are
وما هِمْتُ حال البُعْدِ إلا لأنها
قلوبٌhearts تلاقَتْmet one another والجسومُwhile the bodies نوازِحُwere far apart
قلوبٌ تلاقَتْ والجسومُ نوازِحُ
I was love-maddened in separation only because
Though apart, our hearts have met and entwined
hearts had met, though bodies lay far apart.
While bodies are separated, passions aligned
وماand not ارْتاحَتِrejoiced الرُّكْبانthe riders إلاexcept لأنّهbecause it is so
وما ارْتاحَتِ الرُّكْبان إلا لأنّه
تُطارِحُناexchange with us بَثّthe anguish of الهَوىlove ونُطارِحُand we exchange
تُطارِحُنا بَثّ الهَوى ونُطارِحُ
The riders rejoiced only because
The caravan found rest, for it unloads
they share love's anguish with us, and we with them.
The passion within us, and passion it goads
وماand not انعَطفَتْswayed إلاexcept غُصونٌbranches نواعِمٌsupple
وما انعَطفَتْ إلا غُصونٌ نواعِمٌ
وماand not الْتفَتَتْturned إلاexcept ظِباءٌgazelles سوانِحُpassing auspiciously
وما الْتفَتَتْ إلا ظِباءٌ سوانِحُ
None swayed but supple branches,
Only graceful branches incline in its wake
and none turned but gazelles passing auspiciously.
Only shy gazelles follow and overtake
وماand not حَلّتِdwelt in القلبَthe heart المَشوقlonging سِوىexcept حُلىًadornments
وما حَلّتِ القلبَ المَشوق سِوى حُلىً
بهاthrough them الجفْنُthe eyelid فيin روْضِthe garden of المحاسِنbeauties سارِحُroaming
بها الجفْنُ في روْضِ المحاسِن سارِحُ
Nothing dwelt in the longing heart but adornments
Only adornments of beauty have clutched my heart
through which the eye roams in beauty's garden.
As the eyelids roam gardens of beauty and art
وماand not سالflowed دمعُthe tears of العَيْنِthe eye إلاexcept مُصرِّحاًopenly revealing
وما سال دمعُ العَيْنِ إلا مُصرِّحاً
بماof what أضمَرَتconcealed منْof حُبهِنَّlove for them الجوانِحُthe heart
بما أضمَرَت منْ حُبهِنَّ الجوانِحُ
The eye's tears flowed only to disclose
Only to reveal the passions within me
the love for them that the heart had concealed.
Have my tears flowed involuntarily
وماand not ضُمِّنَتْwas filled with إلاexcept أحاديثَtales of خلّةٍintimate friendship
وما ضُمِّنَتْ إلا أحاديثَ خلّةٍ
أُتيحَwas provided لهاfor them منْfrom صاحِبِthe owner of العَيْنِthe eye شارِحُan interpreter
أُتيحَ لها منْ صاحِبِ العَيْنِ شارِحُ
It was filled only with tales of intimate friendship,
Only intimate conversations were confined
for which an interpreter was found in the eye's owner.
To what the eyes of my friend have divined
وماand not طابَgrew sweet عَرْفُthe fragrance of الزّهْرِthe flowers إلاexcept لأنّهُbecause it
وما طابَ عَرْفُ الزّهْرِ إلا لأنّهُ
تُمازِجُهُmingles with it منْfrom ذِكْرِهنّtheir remembrance نوافِحُfragrant wafts
تُمازِجُهُ منْ ذِكْرِهنّ نوافِحُ
The flowers' fragrance grew sweet only because
Only for being mingled with their memory
wafts of their remembrance mingle with it.
Has the fragrance of flowers brought joy to me
وماand not راقَpleased نَظْمُthe composition of الشّعْرِpoetry إلاexcept لأنbecause غَدَتْbecame
وما راقَ نَظْمُ الشّعْرِ إلا لأن غَدَتْ
لناصِرfor the champion of دينِthe faith of اللهِGod فيهِin it المدائِحُpraises
لناصِر دينِ اللهِ فيهِ المدائِحُ
The composition of verse was pleasing only because
Only for praising the defender of God
its praises were for the champion of God's faith.
Has this poetry found rhythm and mode
وماand not أشرَقَshone الإصباحُdaybreak إلاexcept لأنbecause بَدَتْappeared
وما أشرَقَ الإصباحُ إلا لأن بَدَتْ
علىupon الشمْسِthe sun منfrom وجْهِthe face of ابنِson of نَصْرٍNasr مَلامِحُfeatures
على الشمْسِ من وجْهِ ابنِ نَصْرٍ مَلامِحُ
Daybreak shone only because there appeared
Only for the smile that from his face beams
upon the sun features from the face of Ibn Nasr.
Has the dawn on the sun cast radiant gleams
وماand not راعَawed نَسْرَthe Eagle of الشهْبِthe stars إلاexcept جَمالُهُhis beauty
وما راعَ نَسْرَ الشهْبِ إلا جَمالُهُ
فحُثَّso was spurred جَناحٌa wing منهُof it للغَربِtoward the west جانِحُinclining
فحُثَّ جَناحٌ منهُ للغَربِ جانِحُ
Nothing awed the Eagle of the stars but his beauty,
Only for his beauty has the shooting star raced
so its westward-inclining wing was spurred onward.
Spreading its wings to the west unveiled and graced
وماand not ارْتاعَتِwere startled الشهبانِthe stars إلاexcept لأنهُbecause he
وما ارْتاعَتِ الشهبانِ إلا لأنهُ
تعالَىrose high لهُfor him قَدْرٌa rank علىabove الشهْبِthe stars طامِحُaspiring
تعالَى لهُ قَدْرٌ على الشهْبِ طامِحُ
The stars were startled only because
Only for his towering status they shook in their beds
his rank rose high, aspiring above the stars.
As the morning smile on his visage sheds
وماand not رَعِشَتْtrembled إلاexcept لتأخُذَto take حِذرَهاtheir precautions
وما رَعِشَتْ إلا لتأخُذَ حِذرَها
وقدْand indeed راقَgrew lovely صُبْحٌa dawn منfrom مُحيّاهُhis countenance لائِحُgleaming
وقدْ راقَ صُبْحٌ من مُحيّاهُ لائِحُ
They trembled only to take their precautions,
Only to take heed, forebodings abound
while a lovely dawn gleamed from his countenance.
As the dawn from his pleasing face redounds
وماand not اعْتزّgrew mighty دينُthe faith of اللهِGod إلاexcept لأنهbecause he
وما اعْتزّ دينُ اللهِ إلا لأنه
يُدافِعُrepels أحْزابَthe hosts of العِدَىthe enemies ويُكافِحُand fights face to face
يُدافِعُ أحْزابَ العِدَى ويُكافِحُ
God's faith grew mighty only because he
Only for how he fends enemies, God's faith persists
repels the enemy hosts and fights them face to face.
And with might he against the wicked insists
وماand not سيفُهُhis sword إلاexcept دَمَthe blood of الكُفْرِunbelief سافِحٌshedding
وما سيفُهُ إلا دَمَ الكُفْرِ سافِحٌ
وماand not حِلمُهُhis forbearance إلاexcept عنfor الذنْبِsin صافِحُpardoning
وما حِلمُهُ إلا عن الذنْبِ صافِحُ
His sword does nothing but shed unbelief's blood,
His sword makes the blood of all evil gush free
and his forbearance does nothing but pardon sin.
His mercy from sins makes the sinner go free
هُوhe المَلِكُthe king الأعْلىsupreme الهُمامُvaliant الذيwho بهِthrough him
هُو المَلِكُ الأعْلى الهُمامُ الذي بهِ
تجلّتْwere dispelled منfrom الدهْرtime الخُطوبُcalamities الفوادِحُgrievous
تجلّتْ من الدهْر الخُطوبُ الفوادِحُ
He is the supreme king, the valiant one, through whom
He's the sovereign supreme, the intrepid leader
time's grievous calamities have been dispelled.
Before whom all of life's calamities fleet and secede
وهلand is يوسُفٌYusuf إلاanything but إمامa leader مؤيَّدٌstrengthened
وهل يوسُفٌ إلا إمام مؤيَّدٌ
لهُto him تخضَعُbow الصّيدthe proud المُلوكkings الجحاجِحُmighty
لهُ تخضَعُ الصّيد المُلوك الجحاجِحُ
Is Yusuf anything but a leader given strength,
Is he not the Imam, divinely empowered?
to whom proud, mighty kings bow?
Before him lions and kings have cowered
وهلand is يوسفٌYusuf إلاanything but إمامٌa leader لعزمِهto his resolve
وهل يوسفٌ إلا إمامٌ لعزمِه
تَلينُyield صُروفُthe vicissitudes of الخطبِcalamity وهْيَthough they are جوامِحُunruly
تَلينُ صُروفُ الخطبِ وهْيَ جوامِحُ
Is Yusuf anything but a leader before whose resolve
Is he not the Imam with an ironclad will?
calamity's vicissitudes yield, though they are unbridled?
Before whom tribulations and hardships tranquil and still
يُعوَّذُis protected by invocation بالسّبْعِwith the seven المَثانيoft-repeated verses كمالُهُhis perfection
يُعوَّذُ بالسّبْعِ المَثاني كمالُهُ
وتُتْلَىand are recited عليهover him المُحْكَماتُthe unambiguous verses الفواتِحُthe opening ones
وتُتْلَى عليه المُحْكَماتُ الفواتِحُ
His perfection is guarded by invoking the Seven Oft-Repeated Verses,
He's protected by seven oft-recited verses
and the clear opening verses are recited over him.
And granted openings through decisive curses
تواضعَhumbled himself للهِbefore God العظيمِthe Almighty وقَدْرُهwhile his rank
تواضعَ للهِ العظيمِ وقَدْرُه
لهُfor it فوقَabove آفاقِthe horizons of النّجومِthe stars مَطامِحُaspirations
لهُ فوقَ آفاقِ النّجومِ مَطامِحُ
He humbled himself before God the Almighty, though his rank
To God Most High he brought humility and grace
has aspirations above the stars' horizons.
While still aspiring to most eminent place
يَنِمُّwafts forth منfrom الأمْداحِpanegyrics طيبُthe fragrance of ثنائِهhis praise
يَنِمُّ من الأمْداحِ طيبُ ثنائِه
فَتسْريso travel بريّاهُwith its fragrance الرّياحُthe winds اللواقِحُfertilizing
فَتسْري بريّاهُ الرّياحُ اللواقِحُ
The sweet scent of his praise wafts from panegyrics,
From his praises spreads the scent of his glory
so the fertilizing winds carry its fragrance abroad.
As the gentle winds spread his fable and story
يَفيضُpours forth علَىupon العافينَthose seeking gifts جودُthe generosity of يَمينهhis right hand
يَفيضُ علَى العافينَ جودُ يَمينه
فتَرويso recount الندىbounty عنهُfrom him السّحابُthe clouds الرّوائحُpassing at evening
فتَروي الندى عنهُ السّحابُ الرّوائحُ
His right hand's generosity pours upon those seeking gifts,
His generous hand rains kindness profuse
so the evening clouds recount his bounty.
Quenching with gifts as plentiful dews
لقدْindeed أمّلَhoped for القصّادُpetitioners منهُfrom him مَثابَةًa refuge
لقدْ أمّلَ القصّادُ منهُ مَثابَةً
لهاto it القَصْدُthe approach مَبْرورٌrewarded بهاin it السَّعْيُthe striving ناجِحُsuccessful
لها القَصْدُ مَبْرورٌ بها السَّعْيُ ناجِحُ
Petitioners have indeed hoped for a refuge in him,
In him have people's aims found great release
where seeking is rewarded and endeavor succeeds.
Fulfilling hopes, awarding efforts peace
كأنّas though عَطاياthe gifts of يوسفٍYusuf واهِبِthe giver of النّدىbounty
كأنّ عَطايا يوسفٍ واهِبِ النّدى
غَوادٍmorning rainclouds غَوادٍgoing at dawn بالنّوالِwith gifts روائِحُgoing at evening
غَوادٍ غَوادٍ بالنّوالِ روائِحُ
The gifts of Yusuf, bestower of bounty, are like
His gifts pour as copious, subtracted by none
morning rainclouds, bringing gifts at dawn and dusk.
Quenching thirsts like clouds in the sky that abundantly run
كأنّas though سجاياthe qualities of يوسفٍYusuf ملِكِthe king of الهُدَىguidance
كأنّ سجايا يوسفٍ ملِكِ الهُدَى
كَواكِبُstars فيin أفْقِthe horizon of السّماءِthe sky لوائِحُshining
كَواكِبُ في أفْقِ السّماءِ لوائِحُ
The qualities of Yusuf, king of guidance, are like
His traits shine as stars lighting up the celestial dome
stars gleaming on the sky's horizon.
Illuminating the auspicious night's gloam
كأنّas though مَذاكِيthe full-grown steeds of يوسفٍYusuf يوْمَon the day of حرْبِهِhis battle
كأنّ مَذاكِي يوسفٍ يوْمَ حرْبِهِ
سَفائِنُships فيin بَحْرِa sea of النّجيعِgore سوابِحُswimming
سَفائِنُ في بَحْرِ النّجيعِ سوابِحُ
Yusuf's full-grown steeds on the day of his battle are like
His armies on day of war shine like ships
ships swimming in a sea of gore.
Sailing seas of clamor in well-charted trips
كأنّas though غَواليthe lofty spears of يوسفٍYusuf قُضْبُbranches of دَوْحةٍa spreading tree
كأنّ غَوالي يوسفٍ قُضْبُ دَوْحةٍ
تُظِلُّcast shade ومشبوبُwhile the kindled blaze of الهواجِرِthe midday heats لافِحُscorching
تُظِلُّ ومشبوبُ الهواجِرِ لافِحُ
Yusuf's lofty spears are like branches of a spreading tree,
His warriors are branches of shielding trees
casting shade while the blaze of noonday heat scorches.
Shading his trooped and fearsome armies
ستَغزوyou will invade الأعاديthe enemies والبُروقُwhile lightning flashes صَوارِمٌkeen swords
ستَغزو الأعادي والبُروقُ صَوارِمٌ
يَحُفُّcrowds بهاaround them للشهْبِat the stars رامٍan archer ورامِحُand a spearman
يَحُفُّ بها للشهْبِ رامٍ ورامِحُ
You will invade the enemies, while lightning flashes are keen swords,
They'll conquer enemies, while lances in hands
around which crowd archers and spearmen, aiming at the stars.
Surround them, like arrows shot by demands
وتَمْلكand you will rule أرْضَthe earth of اللهِGod غَرْباًwestward ومشرِقاًand eastward
وتَمْلك أرْضَ اللهِ غَرْباً ومشرِقاً
وهلand is there مانِعٌa preventer منof ذاكthat واللهُwhile God مانِحُa giver
وهل مانِعٌ من ذاك واللهُ مانِحُ
And you will rule God's earth, west and east;
God's land they will rule, both east and west
who could prevent that, when God grants it?
With God as their granter, no one can protest
حسامُكَyour sword مسْلولٌdrawn وسهْمُكَand your arrow صائِبٌon target
حسامُكَ مسْلولٌ وسهْمُكَ صائِبٌ
وجُندُكَand your army منصورٌvictorious وسعْدُكَand your good fortune فاتِحُconquering
وجُندُكَ منصورٌ وسعْدُكَ فاتِحُ
Your sword is drawn, and your arrow strikes true;
Your sword is unleashed, your arrows fly true
your army is victorious, and your good fortune conquers.
Your troops are victorious, your fortunes breakthrough
ورِفْدُكand your aid ممْنوحٌgranted وعفْوُكَand your pardon شامِلٌall-embracing
ورِفْدُك ممْنوحٌ وعفْوُكَ شامِلٌ
وبِشْرُكَand your cheerful welcome مَبْذولfreely offered وفضْلُكand your excellence واضِحُplain
وبِشْرُكَ مَبْذول وفضْلُك واضِحُ
Your aid is granted, and your pardon embraces all;
Your help is bestowed, your pardon coveted prize
your cheerful welcome is freely offered, and your excellence is plain.
Your tidings most cherished, your virtue belies
وهاand behold أناI ياO مولايَmy lord قصْديmy aim مُبلَّغٌfulfilled
وها أنا يا مولايَ قصْدي مُبلَّغٌ
بماwith what كُنْتُI had been أرْجوهُhoping for it وتجْريَand my trade رابِحُprofitable
بما كُنْتُ أرْجوهُ وتجْريَ رابِحُ
Here I am, my lord: my aim is fulfilled
My wish, O Master, has been granted through verse
with what I had hoped for, and my trade is profitable.
I gained what I sought, my efforts immersed
وربْعيَand my dwelling معْمورٌinhabited وأفْقيَand my horizon نيّرٌbright
وربْعيَ معْمورٌ وأفْقيَ نيّرٌ
وروْضيَand my garden مَمْطورٌrain-watered وزهْريَand my blossoms نافِحُwafting fragrance
وروْضيَ مَمْطورٌ وزهْريَ نافِحُ
My abode is flourishing, and my horizon is bright;
My meadow's now fertile, my horizon bright
my garden is rain-watered, and my blossoms waft fragrance.
My garden's well-watered, my flowers alight
فخذْهاso take her كماas شاءَwilled البَيانُeloquence عَقيلَةًa noble lady
فخذْها كما شاءَ البَيانُ عَقيلَةً
إليكtoward you بهاwith her طِرْفُthe noble steed of البَلاغَةِeloquence جامِحُbolting
إليك بها طِرْفُ البَلاغَةِ جامِحُ
So take her, as eloquence wished, a noble lady;
Take them as you wish, your compliant poet's heart
eloquence's noble steed bolts with her toward you.
To you through words most ornate did impart
وماand not أناI فيin نَظْميmy versification مُجيدٌaccomplished وإنّماbut rather only
وما أنا في نَظْمي مُجيدٌ وإنّما
قَبولُكَyour acceptance زَندَthe firestick of الفكْرِthought منّيfrom me قادِحُstriking sparks
قَبولُكَ زَندَ الفكْرِ منّي قادِحُ
I am not accomplished in composing my verse; rather,
Though my poems lack glory, your acceptance by far
your acceptance strikes sparks from thought's firestick within me.
Has lit my thoughts spreading near and afar
وهلand can طائرthe bird of الفكْرِthought الذيwhich أمّلhoped for النّدىbounty
وهل طائر الفكْرِ الذي أمّل النّدى
إلىfor الورْدِthe watering-place صادٍthirsty وهْوَwhile it is بالمدحِwith praise صادِحُsinging aloud
إلى الورْدِ صادٍ وهْوَ بالمدحِ صادِحُ
Can the bird of thought, which hoped for bounty,
Could thoughts of a bird that sought nectar as boon
be thirsty for water while singing praise?
From roses fly far save by praise as its tune?
وكيفand how تُضاهَىcan be equaled فيin النّظامverse مَكانتيmy standing
وكيف تُضاهَى في النّظام مَكانتي
لَدَيْكwith you ولمْand did not يمْدَحْكَpraised you قبْليbefore me مادِحُa panegyrist
لَدَيْك ولمْ يمْدَحْكَ قبْلي مادِحُ
And how could my standing in verse be equaled
How could I ever reach in this poem's zone
in your eyes, when no panegyrist praised you before me?
The same status with you, when none before have known?
Sol 6.1