أنُظلِمُdo we enter darkness? أنwhen شِمناwe sighted بوارقَlightning-flashes لُمَّحاflashing
أنُظلِمُ أن شِمنا بوارقَ لُمَّحا
وضحنَthey shone لساريfor the traveler of الليلthe night منfrom جنبthe direction of تُوضحاTudih
وضحنَ لساري الليل من جنب تُوضحا
Are we to enter darkness, when we have sighted flashing bolts
When the lightning flashes lit the dark,
that shone for the night-traveler from the direction of Tudih?
And the moonlight shone clearly through the night,
بعينكbefore your eyes أنthat باتتthey spent the night تُحرِّقُsetting ablaze كُورَهاtheir furnaces
بعينك أن باتت تُحرِّقُ كُورَها
محجَّلةًwhite-footed غُرّاًwhite-blazed منof المُزنِthe rain-clouds دُلَّحاheavy-laden
محجَّلةً غُرّاً من المُزنِ دُلَّحا
Before your eyes they passed the night firing their furnaces,
Your eyes kept burning in their sockets,
white-footed and white-blazed rain-clouds, heavy-laden.
Heavily kohled, a doe-eyed gazelle.
ولمّاand when احتضَنّthey embraced الليلَthe night أرهَفنَthey made slender خصرَهُits waist
ولمّا احتضَنّ الليلَ أرهَفنَ خصرَهُ
فباتَso it spent the night بأثناءin the folds of الصّباحthe dawn مُوشَّحاgirdled
فباتَ بأثناء الصّباح مُوشَّحا
When they embraced the night, they made its waist slender,
When night embraced the dark in its arms,
and it passed the night girdled with the folds of dawn.
It awoke at dawn dressed in jewelry.
تَحمّلَcarried ساريهاtheir night-traveler إليناto us تحِيّةًa greeting
تَحمّلَ ساريها إلينا تحِيّةً
فهيّجَso it stirred تذكاراًremembrance ووَجداًand longing مُبرِّحاagonizing
فهيّجَ تذكاراً ووَجداً مُبرِّحا
Their night-traveler brought us a greeting,
Its banner carried a greeting to us,
stirring remembrance and agonizing longing.
Stirring up memories and overflowing passion.
وعارضَهُand met it تِلقاءَfrom the direction of أسماءَAsma عارضٌa cloud
وعارضَهُ تِلقاءَ أسماءَ عارضٌ
تَكفّىtilted ثَبيرٌThabir فوقَهُabove it فترجّحاthen swayed
تَكفّى ثَبيرٌ فوقَهُ فترجّحا
A cloud met it from the direction of Asma;
To meet the rising constellations
Thabir tilted above it, then swayed.
There rose a full moon hanging in space.
ولمّاand when تَهادَىit moved gently نكّبَit turned aside from البِيدَthe deserts مُعْرِضاًturning away
ولمّا تَهادَى نكّبَ البِيدَ مُعْرِضاً
وأتْأقَand it filled سَجْلاًa bucket للرّياضfor the meadows فَطفّحاthen it overflowed
وأتْأقَ سَجْلاً للرّياض فَطفّحا
As it moved gently, it turned aside from the deserts,
When it declined setting in the west,
and filled a bucket for the meadows till it overflowed.
It spilled its light generously on the gardens.
تَدلّىit hung low فخِلتُso I imagined الدُّكنَthe dusky shapes منfrom عَذَباتهِits fringes
تَدلّى فخِلتُ الدُّكنَ من عَذَباتهِ
كواسِرَraptors فُتْخاًbroad-winged فيon حِفافيْهits two sides جُنَّحاwith wings spread
كواسِرَ فُتْخاً في حِفافيْه جُنَّحا
It hung low; I imagined the dusky shapes at its fringes
It hung down, so I imagined the darkness
as broad-winged raptors spreading their wings along its sides.
To be waves breaking gently on its banks,
لِتَغْدُto arrive at dawn غَواديهِits morning clouds بمُنعَرجat the bend of اللّوىal-Liwa
لِتَغْدُ غَواديهِ بمُنعَرج اللّوى
موائحَwater-drawers رَقراقٍshimmering water منfrom الرِّيّthirst-quenching water مُتَّحاhauling water up
موائحَ رَقراقٍ من الرِّيّ مُتَّحا
So its morning clouds might arrive at the bend of al-Liwa,
That would make its valleys in the morning
drawing shimmering water, hauling up thirst-quenching draughts.
Scented meadows moistened with rainwater,
سقَتهthey watered it فمجّتْthen poured out صائكpungent المسكِmusk حُفَّلاًfull-laden
سقَته فمجّتْ صائك المسكِ حُفَّلاً
تسُحُّpouring down وأذرَتْand scattered لؤلؤpearls of النظمnecklaces نُضَّحاin sprays
تسُحُّ وأذرَتْ لؤلؤ النظم نُضَّحا
They watered it, then, full-laden, poured out pungent musk,
You watered it, so your pure musk dripped
streaming down and scattering strung pearls in sprays.
And the pearls of verse scattered everywhere,
فلمso not تُبقdid they leave منof تلكthose الأجارعsandy tracts أجرعاًa sandy tract
فلم تُبق من تلك الأجارع أجرعاً
ولمand not تُبقِdid they leave منof تلكthose الأباطحgravelly flats أبطَحاa gravelly flat
ولم تُبقِ من تلك الأباطح أبطَحا
They left not one of those sandy tracts untouched,
Until no high elevated place remained
nor a single one of those gravelly flats.
Nor low valley left among them.
وللّهand how wondrous أظْعانٌdeparting caravans ببُرْقَةِat Burqat ثَهْمَدٍThahmad
وللّه أظْعانٌ ببُرْقَةِ ثَهْمَدٍ
وقدand already كرَبتْhad nearly تلكthose الشموسُsuns لتَجنحاto incline toward setting
وقد كرَبتْ تلك الشموسُ لتَجنحا
How wondrous the departing caravans at Burqat Thahmad,
By the bright flash of lightning in Thahmad
when those suns were already nearing their setting!
Those suns were eclipsed and began to set.
أجَدِّكَin your earnestness ماnot أنْفَكُّdo I cease إلاّexcept مُغَبَّقاًgiven an evening drink
أجَدِّكَ ما أنْفَكُّ إلاّ مُغَبَّقاً
بكأسfrom the cup of النوىseparation صِرْفاًunmixed وإلاّor else مصَبَّحاgiven a morning drink
بكأس النوى صِرْفاً وإلاّ مصَبَّحا
Tell me truly: I am never without an evening draught
I solace myself with nothing but a cup
from separation's cup, unmixed, or else a morning draught.
Of passion, or dreams that illuminate the dark.
وأبيضَand a fair man منof سِرّthe finest stock of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate واضِحٍradiant
وأبيضَ من سِرّ الخِلافَةِ واضِحٍ
تجلّىhe appeared فكانand he became الشمسَthe sun فيin رونقِthe splendor of الضّحىthe morning
تجلّى فكان الشمسَ في رونقِ الضّحى
And a fair, radiant man of the caliphate's finest stock
From the essence of the caliphate shone one
appeared, becoming the sun in the splendor of morning.
Whose whiteness outshone the sun at dawn,
عنيفٌvehement ببَذلِin lavishing الوَفرِwealth يَلحيhe chides عُفاتَهhis petitioners
عنيفٌ ببَذلِ الوَفرِ يَلحي عُفاتَه
علىover صَفَدٍa bounty ماnot كانwas نُهزَةَwithin the grasp of منthose whom لَحىhe chided
على صَفَدٍ ما كان نُهزَةَ من لَحى
Vehement in lavishing wealth, he chides his petitioners
A torrent of generosity with impregnable virtue
over a bounty never within the grasp of those he chided.
Never once made fragile throughout his life,
تَوَخّاهُمُhe sought them out قبلَbefore السؤالِasking تبرّعاًfreely
تَوَخّاهُمُ قبلَ السؤالِ تبرّعاً
بمعروفِwith the bounty of ماwhat يُوليhe bestows وسِيلَand he was asked فأنجحاthen fulfilled the request
بمعروفِ ما يُولي وسِيلَ فأنجحا
He sought them out before they asked, giving freely
Seeking them before being asked, voluntarily,
the bounty he bestows; when asked, he fulfilled the request.
With kindness that makes the suppliant successful.
صَحاsobered أهلُthe people of هذاthis البذلgenerosity ممّنْamong those whom عَلمتَهyou knew
صَحا أهلُ هذا البذل ممّنْ عَلمتَه
وأمسكَand held بالأموالto the wealth نشوانُan intoxicated man ماnot صَحاhe sobered
وأمسكَ بالأموال نشوانُ ما صَحا
Those you knew for such generosity have sobered,
Those whom you knew to have this generosity triumphed,
while one still drunk holds the wealth and has not sobered.
While the misers of wealth gained nothing.
ذرواleave حاتماًHatim عنّاaside for us وكَعباًand Ka'b فإنّناfor we
ذروا حاتماً عنّا وكَعباً فإنّنا
رأيناهwe saw him بالدنياwith worldly riches علىfor الدينthe faith أسمحاmore generous
رأيناه بالدنيا على الدين أسمحا
Leave Hatim and Ka'b aside for us, for we
Leave Hatim and Kaʿb alone, for we
have seen him more generous with worldly wealth for the faith.
Saw him prefer religion over worldly things.
أريكَI show you بهthrough him نَهْجَthe way of الخلافةthe caliphate مَهيَعاًbroad and open
أريكَ به نَهْجَ الخلافة مَهيَعاً
يُبينit is clear وأعلامَand the landmarks of الخلافةthe caliphate وُضَّحاbright
يُبين وأعلامَ الخلافة وُضَّحا
In him I show you the broad, open road of the caliphate,
I will show you his caliphal path zigzagging,
plain to see, and the caliphate's radiant landmarks.
Clarifying the standards of the caliphate.
كثيرُrich in وجوهforms of الحزْمresolve أردىhe destroyed بهthrough him العِدىthe enemies
كثيرُ وجوه الحزْم أردى به العِدى
وأنحىand he directed بهhim ليْثَthe lion of العَرينَةِthe lair فانتحىand he attacked
وأنحى به ليْثَ العَرينَةِ فانتحى
The master of many-sided resolve destroyed the foes through him,
His resolve repelled many enemies,
and directed him, the lion of the lair, and he charged.
And turned aside the ferocious lions.
ولمّاand when اجتباهhe chose him والملائكُand the angels جُندهُwere his troops
ولمّا اجتباه والملائكُ جُندهُ
لمَهلكهمfor their destruction دارتturned علىon قُطبهاits pivot الرّحىthe mill
لمَهلكهم دارت على قُطبها الرّحى
When he chose him, with angels for his troops,
When God chose him and made the angels his troops
for their destruction, the mill turned upon its pivot.
The heavens revolved around their axis for his foes.
فقلّدهَاso he entrusted it جَمَّrich in السياسةِstatecraft مِدرهاًan eloquent champion
فقلّدهَا جَمَّ السياسةِ مِدرهاً
إذاwhen شاءhe wished رامhe sought القصْدَthe right course أوor قالhe spoke أفصَحاhe was eloquent
إذا شاء رام القصْدَ أو قال أفصَحا
He entrusted it to one rich in statecraft, an eloquent champion,
He made you the pivot of all policy, well-guided,
who aimed true when he wished, or spoke with eloquence.
Aiming straight or speaking most eloquently.
نحاهمhe targeted them بهwith him أمضىkeener منthan السيفthe sword وَقعُهhis stroke
نحاهم به أمضى من السيف وَقعُه
وأجزَلَand more solid منthan أركانthe pillars of رَضوىRadwa وأرجحاand weightier
وأجزَلَ من أركان رَضوى وأرجحا
He assailed them with him, his stroke keener than the sword,
He guided them by means more effective than the sword,
more solid than Radwa's pillars, and weightier.
And more beneficial than the pillars of peace.
وقدand indeed نَصَحَتْwere loyal قُوّادُهhis commanders غيرَyet أنّنيthat I
وقد نَصَحَتْ قُوّادُه غيرَ أنّني
رأيتُI saw ربيبَthe ward of المُلكِroyal power للملكِto the throne أنصَحاmore loyal
رأيتُ ربيبَ المُلكِ للملكِ أنصَحا
His commanders were indeed loyal, yet I
Though his commanders counseled him, I saw
found the ward of royal power more faithful to the throne.
The caliph's foster son give the soundest advice.
رآهhe saw him أميرُthe Commander of المؤمنينthe Faithful كعهدِهِas he had known him
رآه أميرُ المؤمنين كعهدِهِ
تشبُّblazed لَظىthe flames of الهيجاءbattle ألفَحَmore searing ألفَحاmore searing
تشبُّ لَظى الهيجاء ألفَحَ ألفَحا
The Commander of the Faithful found him as he had known him,
The Commander of the Faithful saw you as before,
more searing, more searing, as battle's flames blazed.
Like the sharp blade of a sword, striking and striking.
رَمىhe hurled بكyou قارونَthe Qarun of المغاربِthe western lands عاتياًin defiance
رَمى بك قارونَ المغاربِ عاتياً
وفرعونَهاand their Pharaoh مستحيياًsparing lives ومذبِّحاand slaughtering
وفرعونَها مستحيياً ومذبِّحا
He hurled you against the Qarun of the western lands, defiant,
He dispatched you to the rebellious Qarun of the Maghrib
and their Pharaoh, sparing some lives and slaughtering others.
And its Pharaoh, recalcitrant and slaughtering,
ورامَand he sought جِماحاًheadlong defiance والكتائبُwhile the battalions حَولَهsurrounded him
ورامَ جِماحاً والكتائبُ حَولَه
فوافاكَthen he met you فيin ظلّthe shade of السُّرادقthe pavilion أجمَحاmore headstrong
فوافاكَ في ظلّ السُّرادق أجمَحا
He sought headlong defiance, with battalions around him,
Who had gathered troops and regiments around him
then met you beneath the pavilion's shade, more headstrong still.
Until you overwhelmed him in the shade of his pavilion,
فلمّاand when اطلَخَمّgrew dark الأمرُthe affair أخفَتَhe hushed زأرَهhis roar
فلمّا اطلَخَمّ الأمرُ أخفَتَ زأرَه
فمجمجso he mumbled تعريضاًin hints وقدalthough كانhe had صرّحاspoken plainly
فمجمج تعريضاً وقد كان صرّحا
When affairs grew dark, he hushed his roar,
But when matters came to a head, you subdued his roar,
and mumbled in hints, though he had spoken plainly.
Murmuring indirect threats you had already declared openly.
مُرَدِّدُtossing about جأشٍa heart فيamong التراقيthe collarbones فضَحتَهyou disgraced him
مُرَدِّدُ جأشٍ في التراقي فضَحتَه
وكانتْand was لهfor him أُمُّthe mother of المنيّةِdeath أفضَحاmore exposing
وكانتْ له أُمُّ المنيّةِ أفضَحا
His heart fluttering among his collarbones, you disgraced him,
You cut down his lofty delusions,
but the mother of death exposed him still more.
And death's mother was the one who cut him down.
ومُطّرِحُand discarding الآراءِcounsels ماnot كَرّdid he turn طَرفَهhis gaze
ومُطّرِحُ الآراءِ ما كَرّ طَرفَه
ولاnor ارتدّdid it return حتىbefore عادَhe became شِلْواًa carcass مُطرَّحاcast aside
ولا ارتدّ حتى عادَ شِلْواً مُطرَّحا
Discarding his counsels, he had not turned his gaze
You did not cast your eyes about waveringly,
nor drawn it back before becoming a cast-off carcass.
Nor retreat until you returned completely defeated.
فلمso not يُدْعَwas he mourned إرناناًwith loud wailing ولاnor اصْطفَقَتْbeat their hands لهfor him
فلم يُدْعَ إرناناً ولا اصْطفَقَتْ له
حلائلُهhis wives فيin مأتَمِthe gathering of النَّوحmourning نُوَّحاwailing women
حلائلُه في مأتَمِ النَّوح نُوَّحا
No wailing was raised for him, nor did they beat their hands for him—
No one called him Arnana, nor did his tricks
his wives, lamenting in the gathering of grief.
Avail him in the place of weeping and lament.
وغُودِرَand he was left فيamong his followers أشياعهِa tale نَبأًwhile already وقدْline_62
وغُودِرَ في أشياعهِ نَبأً وقدْ
مَحوْتَyou erased بهthrough him رسمَthe trace of الدّلالةthe identifying sign فامّحىand it vanished
مَحوْتَ به رسمَ الدّلالة فامّحى
He was left a tale among his followers, while you
He was abandoned among his followers when the news—
erased through him the identifying trace, and it vanished.
Which you had erased like a guiding sign—spread.
وأدركتَand you attained سُولاًa wish فيagainst ابنIbn واسولWasul عَنوةًby force
وأدركتَ سُولاً في ابن واسول عَنوةً
وَزَحزَحتَand you dislodged منهfrom him يذبُلاًa Yadhbul فتزَحزَحاand it gave way
وَزَحزَحتَ منه يذبُلاً فتزَحزَحا
By force you gained your wish against Ibn Wasul,
Forcefully you took the son of Wāsūl captive
and dislodged a Yadhbul from him, and it gave way.
And you wrenched away from him one worn out and frail.
وإلاor else أبنْهmourn him فيamong العُصاةِthe rebels فإنّنيfor I
وإلا أبنْه في العُصاةِ فإنّني
أرىsee شارباًa drinker منهمamong them يميلswaying مُرَنَّحاmade to stagger
أرى شارباً منهم يميل مُرَنَّحا
Otherwise, mourn him among the rebels, for I
By my life! If you reunite him with his beloved ones
see a drinker among them swaying, made to stagger.
He would be their best guide to the path of destruction.
يموتhe dies ويَحْياand lives بينَbetween راجٍone hoping وآيسٍand one despairing
يموت ويَحْيا بينَ راجٍ وآيسٍ
فكانَso was لهfor him الهُلْكُdestruction المُواشكُimminent أرْوَحاmore restful
فكانَ له الهُلْكُ المُواشكُ أرْوَحا
He dies and lives between hope and despair,
How many nights of separation you ruined him,
so imminent death would be more restful for him.
Serving him the cup of death at dawn!
تضَمّنَهenclosed him حَجْلٌan ankle-fetter كلَبّةlike the throat of أرقَمٍa speckled serpent
تضَمّنَه حَجْلٌ كلَبّة أرقَمٍ
إذاwhen خَرِسَfell silent الحاديthe camel-driver ترَنّمَit sang مُفصِحاclearly
إذا خَرِسَ الحادي ترَنّمَ مُفصِحا
An ankle-fetter enclosed him, like a speckled serpent's throat;
You tore down what obstinacy had built up
when the camel-driver fell silent, it sang out clearly.
Though its pillars in that shaking were firmly fixed.
أُريكَI show you بمرآةِin the mirror of الإمَامَةِthe imamate كاسْمهاlike its name
أُريكَ بمرآةِ الإمَامَةِ كاسْمها
علىupon كُورِthe saddle of عَنْسِa sturdy she-camel والإمامَand the imam المرشَّحاdesignated
على كُورِ عَنْسِ والإمامَ المرشَّحا
I show you, in the imamate's mirror, true to its name,
While from its balconies the horizon roared
upon a sturdy she-camel's saddle, the designated imam too.
And its banners, until they tumbled down flattened.
وقدand indeed سَلَبَتْهstripped him الزّاعبيّةُthe Za'biyya spears ماwhat ادّعىhe claimed
وقد سَلَبَتْه الزّاعبيّةُ ما ادّعى
فأصْبحَso he was at morning تِنّيناًa dragon وأمسَىand at evening became ذُرَحْرَحاa blister beetle
فأصْبحَ تِنّيناً وأمسَى ذُرَحْرَحا
The Za'biyya spears stripped him of what he claimed:
It had been an open gate, without any army,
he began the morning a dragon and ended the evening a blister beetle.
But when your right hand approached and opened it,
فماwhat then خطبهُis his affair شاهَتْmay be disfigured وجوهthe faces of دُعاتهِhis advocates
فما خطبهُ شاهَتْ وجوه دُعاتهِ
وجُدّعَand may be mutilated منwhat a مأفونfeeble-minded in رأيٍjudgment وقُبّحاand made hideous
وجُدّعَ من مأفون رأيٍ وقُبّحا
What is his affair? May his advocates' faces be disfigured,
Nights of wars like shooting stars
and may that fool in judgment be mutilated and reviled!
Whose flames were fanned and stoked,
وكانand was الجذاميُّthe Judhami الطويلُlong نجادُهhis sword-belt
وكان الجذاميُّ الطويلُ نجادُه
بهيماًobscure مَدىthroughout أعصارِهِhis eras فتوضّحاthen became clear
بهيماً مَدى أعصارِهِ فتوضّحا
The Judhami, whose sword-belt was long,
The son of Abu Sufyan saw in them his right guidance
had remained obscure through all his days, then stood revealed.
And he renounced corruption and put things right.
عَجِلتَyou hastened لهagainst him بَطشاًa violent seizure وإنّalthough وراءهbehind him
عَجِلتَ له بَطشاً وإنّ وراءه
لَخَرْقاًindeed an expanse منof البيدthe deserts المرَوراتِbarren أفيحاwide
لَخَرْقاً من البيد المرَوراتِ أفيحا
You hastened to seize him, though behind him
He called you to secure him, so you answered him,
lay a wide expanse of barren deserts.
Though had you not saved him with your wisdom he would have perished.
مُعاشِرُa companion of حربٍwar يحلبhe milks الدهرَtime أشطُراًudders
مُعاشِرُ حربٍ يحلب الدهرَ أشطُراً
فلمso not يتّرِكْdid he leave سَعْياًan effort ولمand not يأتِdid he achieve مَنجَحاsuccess
فلم يتّرِكْ سَعْياً ولم يأتِ مَنجَحا
A companion of war, he milked time's udders,
Against the family of Musa you launched campaigns
leaving no effort untried, yet achieving no success.
Stirring up for them those violent storms.
أقولُI say لهto him فيin موثَقِthe bonds of الأسرِcaptivity عاتباًreproaching
أقولُ له في موثَقِ الأسرِ عاتباً
تُجاذبُهtug at him الأغلالُthe shackles والقيدُand the fetter مُقْمَحاwith head forced upward
تُجاذبُه الأغلالُ والقيدُ مُقْمَحا
I say to him, reproaching him in captivity's bonds,
When they saw there was no escape for the fugitive
as shackles and fetter tug him, his head forced upward:
And death's mother bared her teeth at them,
لئنeven if حَمَلَتْbore أشياعُthe followers of بغْيكَyour rebellion فادحاًa crushing burden
لئن حَمَلَتْ أشياعُ بغْيكَ فادحاً
يغولُthat destroys لقدindeed حُمّلتَyou were made to bear ماwhat كانwas أفدحاheavier
يغولُ لقد حُمّلتَ ما كان أفدحا
If the followers of your rebellion bore a crushing burden
While the flooding sea of death was passing
that destroys, you were made to bear a heavier one indeed.
And the expanse of earth grew narrow as their theater,
ولاnor كابنهlike his son أذكىfiercer شهاباًa flame بمعركٍin battle
ولا كابنه أذكى شهاباً بمعركٍ
وأجمحَand more headstrong فيat ثِنْيthe bending of العنانِthe rein وأطمحاand more aspiring
وأجمحَ في ثِنْي العنانِ وأطمحا
Nor was anyone like his son, a fiercer flame in battle,
You pardoned the guilty out of bounty and mercy,
more headstrong at the rein's restraint, and more aspiring.
Though it would have been your right to refuse and punish.
مَرَتmilked لكfor you فيin الهيجاءbattle ماءَthe sap of شبابهِhis youth
مَرَت لك في الهيجاء ماءَ شبابهِ
يدٌa hand فَجّرَتْmade burst forth منهfrom him جداولَstreams سُيَّحاfreely flowing
يدٌ فَجّرَتْ منه جداولَ سُيَّحا
In battle, the sap of his youth was milked for you—
They intended, because of that sword, to depart,
by a hand that burst freely flowing streams from him.
So you gave their leaders the freedom of the open range.
وأثكَلْتَهand you bereaved him منهof him القضيبَthe tender branch تهَصّرَتْwere bent and broken
وأثكَلْتَه منه القضيبَ تهَصّرَتْ
أعاليهits upper boughs والرّوْضُand the garden المُفوَّفُmany-colored صُوّحاwithered
أعاليه والرّوْضُ المُفوَّفُ صُوّحا
You bereaved him of that tender branch; broken were
The fortress builder was a towering mountain,
its upper boughs, and the many-colored garden withered.
Yet you left him a desolate wilderness in Tayma.
لَعَمريby my life لَئنْeven though ألحقتَهُyou joined him to أهلَthe people of ودّهhis love
لَعَمري لَئنْ ألحقتَهُ أهلَ ودّه
لقدindeed كانhe was أوحاهمthe swiftest of them إلىinto مأزِقِthe narrow pass of الرّحىthe mill
لقد كان أوحاهم إلى مأزِقِ الرّحى
By my life, though you sent him to those he loved,
Whatever the Destroyer had decreed came to pass;
he had been their quickest into the mill's constricted pass.
You were never blamed in the evening or the morning.
وكمand how many هاجعٍa sleeper ليلَon the night of البَياتِthe night attack اهتَبَلتَهyou caught unawares
وكم هاجعٍ ليلَ البَياتِ اهتَبَلتَه
فصَبّحتَهthen you served him at dawn كأسَthe cup of المنيّةِdeath مُصْبِحاat morning
فصَبّحتَه كأسَ المنيّةِ مُصْبِحا
How many a sleeper you caught in a night attack,
Signs that no ruin could ever destroy
serving him death's cup as morning came!
Or whose loss the doves might mourn cooing.
وهدّمْتَand you demolished ماwhat شادَbuilt العِنادُdefiance وقدalthough رَسَتْwere firmly planted
وهدّمْتَ ما شادَ العِنادُ وقد رَسَتْ
أواخِيهِits anchor-stakes فيamid تلكthose الهَزاهزِconvulsions رُجَّحاweighty
أواخِيهِ في تلك الهَزاهزِ رُجَّحا
You demolished what defiance had built, though firmly planted were
They were—and it was an Age of Ignorance—
its weighty anchor-stakes amid those convulsions.
Until God made clear the path and elucidated it.
علىat حينَthe time when ضَجّclamored الأفقُthe horizon منfrom شُرفاتهِits battlements
على حينَ ضَجّ الأفقُ من شُرفاتهِ
وأعنانِهِand its heights حتىuntil هَوَتْthey fell فتَفَسّحاthen it opened wide
وأعنانِهِ حتى هَوَتْ فتَفَسّحا
When the horizon clamored with its battlements
Whoever purified himself of them succeeded,
and its heights, till they fell and it opened wide.
Led by the trustee of the angels, purified and successful.
وقدand indeed كانit had been باباًa gate مُرْتَجاًlocked دونَbefore جَنّةٍa garden
وقد كان باباً مُرْتَجاً دونَ جَنّةٍ
فلمّاthen when دَنَتْdrew near تلكthat اليمينُright hand تَفتَّحاit opened
فلمّا دَنَتْ تلك اليمينُ تَفتَّحا
It had been a locked gate before a garden,
I swear by the courtyards of the Kaaba, a sanctuary,
but when that right hand drew near, it opened.
And by the Black Stone and its circumambulator,
لياليnights of حُروبٍwars كُنّthey were شُهْباًmeteors ثَواقباًpiercing
ليالي حُروبٍ كُنّ شُهْباً ثَواقباً
لهاthey had شُعَلٌflames كانتْthat were سَمائمَhot desert winds لُفَّحاscorching
لها شُعَلٌ كانتْ سَمائمَ لُفَّحا
Nights of war that were piercing meteors,
They would go back to witnessing miracles
whose flames were scorching desert winds.
If you but touched the pebbles with your palm, and they would glorify!
رأىsaw ابنُIbn أبيAbi سفيانَSufyan فيهاin them رشادَهhis right course
رأى ابنُ أبي سفيانَ فيها رشادَه
وعَفّىand erased علىupon إثْرِthe trace of الفسادِcorruption وأصْلحاand made amends
وعَفّى على إثْرِ الفسادِ وأصْلحا
In them Ibn Abi Sufyan saw his right course,
erased the trail of corruption, and made amends.
دَعاكَhe called you إلىto تأمينهِgranting him safety فأجَبْتَهand you answered him
دَعاكَ إلى تأمينهِ فأجَبْتَه
ولوand had لمnot تَدارَكْهyou rescued him بعارفةٍwith kindness طَحاhe would have perished
ولو لم تَدارَكْه بعارفةٍ طَحا
He called on you to grant him safety, and you answered,
and had you not rescued him with kindness, he would have perished.
وفيand against آلِthe house of موسىMusa قدindeed شنَنتَyou launched وقائعاًbattles
وفي آلِ موسى قد شنَنتَ وقائعاً
أهَبْتَyou roused لهمagainst them تلكthose الزّعازعstorm-winds لُقَّحاpregnant
أهَبْتَ لهم تلك الزّعازع لُقَّحا
Against the house of Musa you launched battles,
rousing against them those pregnant storm-winds.
فلمّاthen when رأواthey saw أنْthat لاno مفَرّescape لهارِبٍfor a fugitive
فلمّا رأوا أنْ لا مفَرّ لهارِبٍ
وأبدَتْand displayed لهمto them أُمُّthe mother of المنيّةdeath مَكلَحاa grim visage
وأبدَتْ لهم أُمُّ المنيّة مَكلَحا
When they saw that no fugitive had an escape,
and the mother of death showed them a grim visage,
وأكدىand denied عليهمthem زاخرُthe swelling waters of اليمّthe sea مَعبراًa crossing
وأكدى عليهم زاخرُ اليمّ مَعبراً
وضاقَand grew narrow عليهمfor them جانبُthe expanse of الأرضِthe earth مسرَحاas a roaming-ground
وضاقَ عليهم جانبُ الأرضِ مسرَحا
and the swelling sea denied them a crossing,
and the earth's expanse grew too narrow for their roaming,
صَفحتَyou pardoned عنfrom الجانينَthe wrongdoers مَنّاًas a favor ورأفةًand compassionately
صَفحتَ عن الجانينَ مَنّاً ورأفةً
وكنتَand you were حريّاًworthy أنto تَمُنّgrant favor وتَصفحاand pardon
وكنتَ حريّاً أن تَمُنّ وتَصفحا
you pardoned the wrongdoers, out of grace and compassion,
as was fitting for you—to grant favor and forgive.
وقدand indeed أزمعواthey resolved عنfrom ذلكَthat السِّيفِshore رِحْلَةًto depart
وقد أزمعوا عن ذلكَ السِّيفِ رِحْلَةً
فملّكْتَso you granted أَولاهمْthe worthiest of them عِناناًa rein مُسرَّحاfreely loosened
فملّكْتَ أَولاهمْ عِناناً مُسرَّحا
They had resolved to leave that shore,
so you granted their worthiest man a freely loosened rein.
وكانand was مَشيدُthe lofty structure of الحصْنِthe fortress هَضْبَthe crag of مُتالعٍMutali'
وكان مَشيدُ الحصْنِ هَضْبَ مُتالعٍ
فغادَرْتَهso you left it سَهْباًan open plain بتَيْماءَat Tayma صَحصَحاlevel and bare
فغادَرْتَه سَهْباً بتَيْماءَ صَحصَحا
The lofty fortress had been the crag of Mutali',
yet you left it a bare, level plain at Tayma.
قضىwrought ماwhat قضىit wrought منهupon it البَوارُruin فلمso not يُقَلْwas said
قضى ما قضى منه البَوارُ فلم يُقَلْ
نعمتَmay you prosper ولاnor حُيّيتَwere you greeted مُمسىًat evening ومُصْبَحاand at morning
نعمتَ ولا حُيّيتَ مُمسىً ومُصْبَحا
Ruin wrought what it wrought upon it; no one said,
'May you prosper,' nor greeted it at evening or morning.
معالِمُlandmarks لاnot يُنْدَبنَare they mourned آوِنَةًat any time ولاnor
معالِمُ لا يُنْدَبنَ آوِنَةً ولا
تنوحُlament حمامُthe doves of الأيكthe groves فيهنّamong them صُدَّحاsinging aloud
تنوحُ حمامُ الأيك فيهنّ صُدَّحا
Landmarks never mourned at any time, nor
do the grove's doves lament among them in ringing song.
وكانواand they were وكانَتْand there was فترةٌan age جَاهِليّةٌof pagan ignorance
وكانوا وكانَتْ فترةٌ جَاهِليّةٌ
فقدso indeed نَهّجَlaid out اللّهُGod السبيلَthe way وأوضَحاand clarified it
فقد نَهّجَ اللّهُ السبيلَ وأوضَحا
They once were, and there was an age of pagan ignorance;
now God has opened the road and made it clear.
لأفلحَsurely prospered منهمamong them مَنwhoever تزكّىpurified himself وقادَهُand led him
لأفلحَ منهم مَن تزكّى وقادَهُ
حوارِيُّa devoted helper of أملاكٍkings تَزكّىpurified himself وأفلحاand prospered
حوارِيُّ أملاكٍ تَزكّى وأفلحا
Surely the one among them who purified himself prospered, guided by
a devoted helper of kings, himself purified and prospering.
حلفتُI swore بمستَنّby the course through البِطاحِthe gravelly valleys أليّةًan oath
حلفتُ بمستَنّ البِطاحِ أليّةً
وبالركنand by the Corner والغاديand the dawn visitor عليهto it مُمسِّحاstroking it
وبالركن والغادي عليه مُمسِّحا
I swore a solemn oath by the course through the gravelly valleys,
and by the Corner, and the dawn visitor who strokes it:
لَرُدّواsurely they were brought back إلىto الآياتِthe signs مُعجِزةًmiraculous فلوso if
لَرُدّوا إلى الآياتِ مُعجِزةً فلو
لمستَyou touched الحصىthe pebbles فيهمamong them بكفّيكَwith your palms سَبّحاthey would glorify God
لمستَ الحصى فيهم بكفّيكَ سَبّحا
surely they were brought back to miraculous signs; if
you touched the pebbles among them with your palms, they would glorify God.
Partial English translation: 104 of 132 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1