أَلَيلَةُis it the night الحَشرِof Resurrection لاno بَلrather يَومُthe day of عاشورAshura
أَلَيلَةُ الحَشرِ لا بَل يَومُ عاشور
وَنَفخَةُand the blast الصُّورِof the trumpet لاno بلrather نفثُan exhalation مصدورِof one with an afflicted chest
وَنَفخَةُ الصُّورِ لا بل نفثُ مصدورِ
Is this the night of Resurrection? No, the day of Ashura.
It is not the night of gathering, but the day of Ashura
And the trumpet's blast? No, the sigh of a stricken breast.
And not the blowing of the horn, but the exhalation of hearts
يَومٌa day بِهon which اِهتَزَّtrembled عَرشُthe Throne اللَهof God منfrom حَزَنٍsorrow
يَومٌ بِه اِهتَزَّ عَرشُ اللَه من حَزَنٍ
علىover دَمٍblood لرَسولof the Messenger اللَهof God مَهدورِshed with impunity
على دَمٍ لرَسول اللَه مَهدورِ
A day on which God's Throne trembled in sorrow
A day in which the Throne of Allah shook with sorrow
over blood of God's Messenger, shed with impunity.
Over the blood of the Messenger of Allah spilled
يَومٌa day بِهِon which كُسفتwas eclipsed شَمسُthe sun العُلىof glory أَسَفاًin grief
يَومٌ بِهِ كُسفت شَمسُ العُلى أَسَفاً
وأَصبحand became الدينthe faith فيهon it كاسِفَdim النورِof light
وأَصبح الدين فيه كاسِفَ النورِ
A day on which the sun of glory was eclipsed in grief,
A day in which the sun of the Most High was eclipsed in grief
and the faith became dim of light.
And religion therein became obscured and its light covered
يَومٌa day بهon which ذهبتdeparted أَبناءُthe sons فاطِمَةٍof Fatimah
يَومٌ به ذهبت أَبناءُ فاطِمَةٍ
للبَينinto separation ماranging بينbetween مَقتولٍone slain ومأسورِand one taken captive
للبَين ما بين مَقتولٍ ومأسورِ
A day on which Fatimah's sons departed
A day in which the sons of Fatima went
into separation, some slain and others captive.
Some killed and some imprisoned
فأَيُّso what دَمعٍtear عليهover it غيرُnot مُنهمِلٍstreaming
فأَيُّ دَمعٍ عليه غيرُ مُنهمِلٍ
وأَيُّand what قَلبٍheart عليهover it غَيرُnot مَفطورِbroken
وأَيُّ قَلبٍ عليه غَيرُ مَفطورِ
What tear over it does not stream,
So what tear is not pouring down plentifully?
and what heart over it is not broken?
And what heart is not torn open on this day?
وَلَوعَةٍand anguish لاdoes not تَزالcease الدَهرَthrough all time مُسعرَةًkindled
وَلَوعَةٍ لا تَزال الدَهرَ مُسعرَةً
بينbetween الجوانحthe ribs ناراًa fire ذاتpossessing تَسعيرِa blazing heat
بين الجوانح ناراً ذات تَسعيرِ
And anguish, kept alight for all time,
What anguish does not remain forever burning
a blazing fire between the ribs,
Between the chests, a fire whose coals are stoked
لرزءِfor the loss of أَبلجَa radiant man فيin صَمّاءa pitiless ordeal ساحتهhis field
لرزءِ أَبلجَ في صَمّاء ساحته
منfrom نبعةthe root-stock of المجدglory والغرِّand the radiant المَشاهيرِrenowned ones
من نبعة المجد والغرِّ المَشاهيرِ
for the loss of a radiant man, whose field was a pitiless ordeal,
For a calamity that turned the plain white
sprung from glory's stock and the renowned, radiant ones.
With the flowing of glory and noble fame
مَولىًa lord قَضَىdecreed اللَهGod تنويهاًexaltation بإمرتهof his command
مَولىً قَضَى اللَه تنويهاً بإمرته
فَراحَthen set about يَقضيdecreeing doom عليهupon him كُلُّevery مأمورِone under command
فَراحَ يَقضي عليه كُلُّ مأمورِ
A lord whose command God decreed should be exalted,
A master whom Allah had appointed as leader
yet every subject set about decreeing his doom.
Yet every despot sought to destroy him
لِلَّهfor God! (an exclamation) مُلقىًone cast down عَلىupon البَوغاءthe dust مُطَّرحاًthrown aside
لِلَّه مُلقىً عَلى البَوغاء مُطَّرحاً
كاسٍclothed منin الحَمدpraise عارٍnaked غيرُnot مَستورِcovered
كاسٍ من الحَمد عارٍ غيرُ مَستورِ
Ah, cast upon the dust, thrown aside,
Throwing himself to the ground, spilling his life
clothed in praise, yet naked and uncovered.
A filled cup of praise, nothing held back or concealed
قَضىhe died علىin ظَمأthirst ماnothing بلَّquenched غلَّتَهhis burning thirst
قَضى على ظَمأ ما بلَّ غلَّتَه
إلّاexcept بكلِّby every أَبَلِّkeen الحَدِّof edge مأثورِpatterned sword
إلّا بكلِّ أَبَلِّ الحَدِّ مأثورِ
He died thirsty; nothing quenched his burning thirst
He quenched his thirst with the purest nectar of martyrdom
except every keen-edged, patterned sword.
Only reached by the peak of sublime sacrifice
ياO وَقعَةَbattle of الطَفِّal-Taff خلَّدتِyou perpetuated القلوبthe hearts أَسىًsorrow
يا وَقعَةَ الطَفِّ خلَّدتِ القلوب أَسىً
كأَنَّماas though كُلّevery يَومٍday يومthe day of عاشورِAshura
كأَنَّما كُلّ يَومٍ يوم عاشورِ
O battle of al-Taff, you left hearts in everlasting sorrow,
O day of Karbala, you have eternized sorrow in hearts
as though every day were the day of Ashura.
As if everyday were the day of Ashura
ياO وَقعةَbattle of الطفِّal-Taff أَبكيتِyou made weep الجفونَthe eyelids دماًblood
يا وَقعةَ الطفِّ أَبكيتِ الجفونَ دماً
ورُعتِand you terrified كلَّevery فؤادٍheart غيرِnot مذعورِfrightened
ورُعتِ كلَّ فؤادٍ غيرِ مذعورِ
O battle of al-Taff, you made eyelids weep blood,
O day of Karbala, you made eyes pour blood as tears
and terrified every heart that had known no fear.
And shook every heart that was not hardened
ياO وقعةَbattle of الطفِّal-Taff كَمhow often أَضرَمتِyou kindled نارَthe fire of جوىًanguish
يا وقعةَ الطفِّ كَم أَضرَمتِ نارَ جوىً
فيin كُلِّevery قَلبٍheart منwith الأَحزانgriefs مَسجورِablaze
في كُلِّ قَلبٍ من الأَحزان مَسجورِ
O battle of al-Taff, how often you kindled anguish's fire
O day of Karbala, how many fires of anguish you ignited
in every heart ablaze with grief.
In every heart enflamed with sorrows
ياO وَقعةَbattle of الطفِّal-Taff كَمhow many أَخفَيتِyou concealed منof قَمرٍa moon
يا وَقعةَ الطفِّ كَم أَخفَيتِ من قَمرٍ
وكمand how many غمرتِyou engulfed أَبيّاًa proud, unyielding man غيرَnot مَغمورِobscure
وكم غمرتِ أَبيّاً غيرَ مَغمورِ
O battle of al-Taff, how many a moon you concealed,
O day of Karbala, how many moons you eclipsed
and how many a proud, renowned man you engulfed.
And plunged virtuous men into darkness
ياO وَقعةَbattle of الطفِّal-Taff هَلdo تَدرينyou know أَيُّwhich فَتىًyouth
يا وَقعةَ الطفِّ هَل تَدرين أَيُّ فَتىً
أَوقعتِهyou subjected him رهنَat the mercy of تَعقيرٍcutting down وَتَعفيرِand casting into dust
أَوقعتِه رهنَ تَعقيرٍ وَتَعفيرِ
O battle of al-Taff, do you know which youth
O day of Karbala, do you know which noble youth
you delivered to cutting down and casting in the dust?
You threw into the disgrace of captivity?
ياO وَقعةَbattle of الطفِّal-Taff هَلdo تَدرينyou know أَيّwhich دمٍblood
يا وَقعةَ الطفِّ هَل تَدرين أَيّ دمٍ
أَرقتهyou shed it بينamid خُلفthe broken promises of القَومthe people والزورِand falsehood
أَرقته بين خُلف القَوم والزورِ
O battle of al-Taff, do you know whose blood
O day of Karbala, do you know which blood
you shed amid the people's broken promises and falsehood?
You kept awake all night amidst the dishonest hordes?
لاmay not كانَhave existed يومكِyour day فيamong الأَيامthe days إِنَّindeed لهit has
لا كانَ يومكِ في الأَيام إِنَّ له
فيin كُلِّevery قلبheart لجرحاًsurely a wound غيرnot مَسبورِprobed to its depth
في كُلِّ قلب لجرحاً غير مَسبورِ
Would that your day had never been among the days! For it has
There is no day like yours with a wound in every heart
left in every heart a wound whose depth cannot be probed.
That remains unhealed across time
كَمhow many مِنof فَتىًa youth فيكin you صبحُthe dawn of المجدglory غرَّتهُhis brow
كَم مِن فَتىً فيك صبحُ المجد غرَّتهُ
أَضحىcame to be يُحكمُpasses judgment فيهupon him كُلُّevery مَغرورِdeluded man
أَضحى يُحكمُ فيه كُلُّ مَغرورِ
How many a youth in you, whose brow was glory's dawn,
How many glories were stripped on that day
came under the judgment of every deluded man!
As the arrogant ruled, divine wisdom disregarded
وَكَمand how many رؤوسٍheads وأَجسامٍand bodies هنالِكthere قَدalready
وَكَم رؤوسٍ وأَجسامٍ هنالِك قَد
أَصبَحنَthey became ماranging بينbetween مَرفوعٍraised aloft وَمَجرورِand dragged along
أَصبَحنَ ما بين مَرفوعٍ وَمَجرورِ
And how many heads and bodies there
How many heads and bodies lay there
came to be raised aloft or dragged along!
Lifted and dragged disrespectfully
لَهفيmy grief! عليهمfor them وقدwhen already شالَتrose; departed نعامتُهمtheir band (literally, their ostrich)
لَهفي عليهم وقد شالَت نعامتُهم
وأَوطنواand they settled ربعَan abode قَفرٍof wilderness غيرnot مَعمورِinhabited
وأَوطنوا ربعَ قَفرٍ غير مَعمورِ
Alas for them, now that their company has dispersed,
My heart yearns for them as their convoy traveled on
and they have settled in a desolate, uninhabited abode.
To settle in an uninhabited barren land
فقلso say لمنto whoever رامَsought صَبراًpatience عنover رزيَّتهمtheir calamity
فقل لمن رامَ صَبراً عن رزيَّتهم
إِليكِaway with you عنّيfrom me فَماfor not صَبريmy patience بمَقدورِwithin my power
إِليكِ عنّي فَما صَبري بمَقدورِ
Say to whoever seeks patience over their calamity:
Say to those claiming patience over their loss
Away from me! Patience is beyond my power.
I cannot be patient - my patience is unachievable
أَيذخُرis it withheld? الحزنُgrief عنfrom أَبناءِthe sons of فاطمةٍFatimah
أَيذخُر الحزنُ عن أَبناءِ فاطمةٍ
يَوماًfor a day وَهَلand is anyone مِنهُمthan they أولىmore deserving بمَذخورِof stored-up grief
يَوماً وَهَل مِنهُم أولى بمَذخورِ
Can grief be withheld from Fatimah's sons
Shall grief be hoarded from Fatima's sons
for even a day? Who deserves its store more than they?
When they are most deserving of sorrow?
مَهماwhatever نسيتُI forget فَلاthen never أَنسىwill I forget الحسينَHusayn لَقىًlying abandoned
مَهما نسيتُ فَلا أَنسى الحسينَ لَقىً
تَحنوbend tenderly عليهover him رُبىthe heights الآكامof hills والقورِand rocky knolls
تَحنو عليه رُبى الآكام والقورِ
Whatever I forget, I shall not forget Husayn, lying abandoned,
No matter how much I forget, I will not forget Hussein
the heights of hills and rocky knolls bending tenderly over him.
Left alone as wild beasts and birds of prey visit him
معفَّراًcovered in dust فيin مَواميtrackless expanses البيدِof deserts مُنجدِلاًfallen prone
معفَّراً في مَوامي البيدِ مُنجدِلاً
يَزورُهvisit him الوَحشُthe wild beasts منincluding سيدٍa wolf وَيَعفورِand a gazelle
يَزورُه الوَحشُ من سيدٍ وَيَعفورِ
Covered in dust, fallen prone in the trackless desert expanses,
Lying muddied while noble ones lament over him
wild beasts visit him—wolf and gazelle.
As foxes and deer circle around him
تَبكيweep عليهover him السَماواتُthe heavens العُلىon high حَزَناًin sorrow
تَبكي عليه السَماواتُ العُلى حَزَناً
وَالأَرضُand the earth تكسوهُclothes him ثوباًin a robe غيرَnot مَزرورِbuttoned
وَالأَرضُ تكسوهُ ثوباً غيرَ مَزرورِ
The heavens on high weep over him in sorrow,
The heavens weep bloody tears over him
and the earth clothes him in an unbuttoned robe.
As the earth covers him with an unwoven shroud
ياO حسرةًgrief لِغَريبfor a stranger الدارِto his homeland مُضطَهدٍpersecuted
يا حسرةً لِغَريب الدارِ مُضطَهدٍ
يَلقىhe confronts العِدىthe foes بعَديدwith a force منهof his own مَكثورِoutnumbered
يَلقى العِدى بعَديد منه مَكثورِ
O sorrow for a persecuted stranger far from home,
Oh what sorrow for the stranger so oppressed!
meeting his foes with his own force outnumbered.
Countless injustices piled upon him
يَحميhe heats الوَطيسَbattle's furnace مَتىwhenever وافاهhe enters it مُنتَصِراًprevailing
يَحمي الوَطيسَ مَتى وافاه مُنتَصِراً
عليهمover them بخَميسٍwith an army غيرِnot مَنصورِaided
عليهم بخَميسٍ غيرِ مَنصورِ
He stokes battle's furnace whenever he enters it, prevailing
Until when he had no allies left
over them with an army granted no aid.
Every debased soul found him easy to assail
حتىّuntil إِذاwhen لمnot يكنthere was منin دونِهfront of him وَزَرٌa refuge
حتىّ إِذا لم يكن من دونِه وَزَرٌ
شَفىsated الضغائنَthe grudges منهupon him كُلُّevery مَوزورِsin-laden man
شَفى الضغائنَ منه كُلُّ مَوزورِ
Until, when no refuge remained to protect him,
Where is the eye of the Messenger gazing upon
every sin-laden man sated his grudges upon him.
His beloved grandson abandoned severed and alone?
فأَينso where عينُthe eye رَسولِof the Messenger اللَهof God ترمقُهgazes upon him
فأَين عينُ رَسولِ اللَه ترمقُه
لقىًlying cast aside علىon جانبٍa spot للبينgiven to separation مَهجورِforsaken
لقىً على جانبٍ للبين مَهجورِ
Where was God's Messenger's eye, to gaze upon him,
And where is Ali's eye looking at him
cast aside on a lonely stretch, forsaken in separation?
Defeated by the most wretched of villains
وأَينand where عَينُthe eye عليٍّof Ali منهwith regard to him تَلحَظُهlooks upon him
وأَين عَينُ عليٍّ منه تَلحَظُه
مَقهورoverpowered by كلِّevery شقيِّwretched الجدِّin fortune مَقهورِdowntrodden
مَقهور كلِّ شقيِّ الجدِّ مَقهورِ
And where was Ali's eye, to look upon him,
And where is Fatima Zahra watching him
subdued by every ill-starred, downtrodden wretch?
As his family lies slain and decapitated?
وأَينand where فاطمةُFatimah الزَهراءal-Zahra تنظرُهُbeholds him
وأَين فاطمةُ الزَهراء تنظرُهُ
وأَهلهُand his family بينamong مَذبوحٍone with throat cut وَمَنحورِand one pierced at the throat
وأَهلهُ بين مَذبوحٍ وَمَنحورِ
And where was Fatimah al-Zahra, to behold him,
O jealousy of God and all the angels!
with his family, some throat-cut and others pierced at the neck?
For a monumental calamity, reprehensible and denounced
ياO غَيرَةَprotective zeal اللَهof God والأَملاكِand the angels قاطبةًall together
يا غَيرَةَ اللَه والأَملاكِ قاطبةً
لفادحٍfor an appalling blow منamong خُطوبthe calamities الدَهرof time مَنكورِabhorrent
لفادحٍ من خُطوب الدَهر مَنكورِ
O protective zeal of God and all the angels,
The daughters of the Messenger taken captive humiliated
at an appalling, abhorrent blow among time's calamities!
As if they were prisoners of Sapor's army
تُسبىare taken captive بَناتُthe daughters رَسولِof the Messenger اللَهof God حاسِرةًbareheaded
تُسبى بَناتُ رَسولِ اللَه حاسِرةً
كأَنَّهُنَّas though they سباياwere captives قومof the people سابورِof Shapur
كأَنَّهُنَّ سبايا قوم سابورِ
God's Messenger's daughters are taken captive, bareheaded,
Every pure and chaste woman displayed unveiled
as though they were captives of Shapur's people.
As the enemies' eyes assault them with impudence
منamong كُلِّevery طاهرةpure الأَذيالof hems ظاهرةٍexposed to view
من كُلِّ طاهرة الأَذيال ظاهرةٍ
تَرميshoot glances العِدىthe foes بعيونٍwith eyes نَحوهاtoward her صورِturned
تَرمي العِدى بعيونٍ نَحوها صورِ
Each woman of unsullied hems, exposed to view,
The noble Fatima women bound in chains
the foes assailing her with eyes turned toward her.
Paraded before the armies and clans
منfrom الفواطمthe women of Fatimah's line فيin الأَغلالfetters خاشعةًbowed
من الفواطم في الأَغلال خاشعةً
يُحدىdriving chants are sung بهنَّwith them علىon الأَقتابpack-saddles والكورِand camel saddles
يُحدى بهنَّ على الأَقتاب والكورِ
Women of Fatimah's line, bowed in fetters,
Crying "Oh grandfather, the people have achieved their vile ends
driven to camel-drivers' chants on pack-saddles and saddles.
Wounding us while every fear materialized
يَنعَينَthey lament ياO جدُّGrandfather نالobtained القَومthe people وِترَهُمtheir vengeance
يَنعَينَ يا جدُّ نال القَوم وِترَهُم
منّاfrom us وأوقعand was inflicted فيناupon us كُلُّevery محذورِdreaded thing
منّا وأوقع فينا كُلُّ محذورِ
They lament: 'O Grandfather, the people have taken their vengeance
Oh grandfather, the enemies have assaulted your progeny
upon us, and every dreaded thing has been visited on us.
While Hussein lies unburied for three days
ياO جدُّGrandfather صالassailed الأَعاديthe enemies فيamong بنيكyour sons وقدwhile already
يا جدُّ صال الأَعادي في بنيك وقد
ثَوىlay الحسينُHusayn ثَلاثاًfor three days غيرnot مقبورِburied
ثَوى الحسينُ ثَلاثاً غير مقبورِ
O Grandfather, the enemies assailed your sons, while
His noble head separated from his body
Husayn lay for three days unburied.
While his corpse is ridden down and discarded"
وأودعand was placed الرأسُthe head منهof him رأَسَon the tip of عاليةa spear
وأودع الرأسُ منه رأَسَ عالية
وأوطئand was made to be trampled الجسمthe body منهof him كلَّby every مِحضيرِswift-running horse
وأوطئ الجسم منه كلَّ مِحضيرِ
His head was placed upon a spear's tip,
Alas for your calamity chronicled in history
and his body trampled by every swift-running horse.
Forever recorded on the pages of time
هَذاthis is الحسينHusayn قتيلاًslain رهنَheld fast at مصرعهthe place where he fell
هَذا الحسين قتيلاً رهنَ مصرعه
يَبكيweeps لهfor him كُلُّevery تَهليلcry of 'There is no god but God' وَتَكبيرِand cry of 'God is greatest'
يَبكي له كُلُّ تَهليل وَتَكبيرِ
This is Husayn, slain, held fast where he fell;
Cursed be the hand of Ibn Ziyad in his delusions
every cry of "There is no god but God" and "God is greatest" weeps for him.
Lost in oceans of blasphemy and darkness
هَذاthis is الحسينُHusayn ثَوىlies بالطفِّat al-Taff منفرداًalone
هَذا الحسينُ ثَوى بالطفِّ منفرداً
تَسفيscatter عليهover him سَوافيdust-bearing winds التُربearth والمورِand drifting dust
تَسفي عليه سَوافي التُرب والمورِ
This is Husayn, lying alone at al-Taff,
He pleased Yazid through earning God's wrath
dust-bearing winds strewing earth and drifting dust upon him.
And gained from him cursed and unblessed rewards
هذيthese are بناتُكَyour daughters للأَشهادbefore witnesses بارِزَةexposed
هذي بناتُكَ للأَشهاد بارِزَة
يُشهرنَthey are paraded بينamong الأَعاديthe enemies أَيَّwhat a تَشهيرِpublic exposure
يُشهرنَ بين الأَعادي أَيَّ تَشهيرِ
These are your daughters, exposed before all witnesses,
So does Ziyad's filthy mother see
paraded among their enemies—what a public shaming!'
The blood of Hussein spilled with no remorse?
آهٍalas لرزئكُمُfor your calamity فيin الدَهرِtime منwhat a خَبَرٍtale
آهٍ لرزئكُمُ في الدَهرِ من خَبَرٍ
باقٍremaining علىupon صَفحاتthe pages الدهرof time مَسطورِinscribed
باقٍ على صَفحات الدهر مَسطورِ
Alas for your calamity—what a tale through time,
You have attained every abomination, Ibn Ziyad
remaining inscribed upon the pages of the ages!
Through efforts that earn you no credit or gratitude
تَبَّتmay perish يَدُthe hand ابنِof Ibn زيادٍZiyad منwhat a غويِّone led astray هوىًby desire
تَبَّت يَدُ ابنِ زيادٍ من غويِّ هوىً
وَمارقٍand a renegade فيin غِمارthe depths الكُفرِof unbelief مَغمورِsubmerged
وَمارقٍ في غِمار الكُفرِ مَغمورِ
May Ibn Ziyad's hand perish—what a man misled by desire,
O Banu Umayya, you have no more excuses
a renegade submerged in the depths of unbelief!
Hussein, the defender of the Holy Family's honor, lies slain
أَرضىhe pleased يَزيدَYazid بسُخطat the cost of the displeasure اللّهof God مجتَرئاًdaringly
أَرضى يَزيدَ بسُخط اللّه مجتَرئاً
وبرَّand he favored منهin him زنيماًa baseborn man غيرnot مَبرورِworthy of favor
وبرَّ منه زنيماً غير مَبرورِ
He dared please Yazid at the cost of God's displeasure,
Have you forgotten your crime or purposely ignored it?
and favored in him a baseborn man unworthy of favor.
By God, that is an unforgivable sin
فَهَلso do تَرىyou think حيمwhen (apparent typo for حين) أَمَّhe sought الغيَّerror كانhad رأىregarded
فَهَل تَرى حيم أَمَّ الغيَّ كان رأى
دمَthe blood الحسينof Husayn عليهfor him غَيرَnot مَحظورِforbidden
دمَ الحسين عليه غَيرَ مَحظورِ
Do you think that, when he sought error, he had deemed
You opposed God in His most beloved ones
Husayn's blood not forbidden to him?
And who opposes God but the utterly condemned?
أَتيتَyou committed ياO ابنIbn زيادٍZiyad كلَّevery فادحةٍappalling deed
أَتيتَ يا ابن زيادٍ كلَّ فادحةٍ
بُوِّئتَyou were allotted an abode منهاbecause of them بسعيٍthrough striving غيرِnot مَشكورِworthy of thanks
بُوِّئتَ منها بسعيٍ غيرِ مَشكورِ
You committed, O Ibn Ziyad, every appalling deed;
You have hurt Fatima's darling son
for them you were allotted your place, through striving unworthy of thanks.
Not fearing the tightening of the firm knot
بَنيsons of أُميّةَUmayyah هبُّواrise up لاmay there be no أباfather لكمُfor you
بَني أُميّةَ هبُّوا لا أبا لكمُ
فَطالبُfor the claimant الوترof blood-vengeance منكمagainst you غيرُnot موتورِbereaved and unavenged
فَطالبُ الوتر منكم غيرُ موتورِ
Sons of Umayyah, rise—may you have no father!
You made the Prophet's eyes rain tears of blood
For the claimant of blood-vengeance against you will not go unavenged.
While you dance happily with elation
نسيتُمُhave you forgotten أَمor تَناسيتمfeigned forgetting جنايتَكمyour crime
نسيتُمُ أَم تَناسيتم جنايتَكم
فَتلكfor that واللَهby God ذَنبٌis a sin غيرُnot مَغفورِforgiven
فَتلك واللَه ذَنبٌ غيرُ مَغفورِ
Have you forgotten, or feigned forgetting, your crime?
To you, O Family of Fatima, I recite this elegy
For that, by God, is an unforgiven sin.
Let every honorable soul incline his hearing
خاصمتمُyou contended with اللَهGod فيover أَبناءِthe sons خيرِتهof His chosen one
خاصمتمُ اللَه في أَبناءِ خيرِته
هَلdoes يخصمُdispute with اللَهGod إلّاexcept كُلُّevery مَدحورِone driven to ruin
هَل يخصمُ اللَه إلّا كُلُّ مَدحورِ
You contended with God over the sons of His chosen one.
Grief is renewed for the revered Household by your loss
Who disputes with God but one driven to ruin?
And anguish breaks apart the essence of being
وَرُعتمُand you terrified بالرَدىwith death قَلبَthe heart ابنِof the son فاطمةof Fatimah
وَرُعتمُ بالرَدى قَلبَ ابنِ فاطمة
وَماand not رَعيتمdid you honor ذِماماًa pledge of protection جدَّutterly مَخفورِviolated
وَما رَعيتم ذِماماً جدَّ مَخفورِ
You terrified the heart of Fatimah's son with death,
Upon you are the eternal blessings of God
and honored no pledge of protection, so utterly violated.
As long as clouds pour down, lightening flashes, and trees grow tall
أَبكَيتمyou made weep جَفنَthe eyelid خيرof the best المُرسَلينَof the messengers دماًblood
أَبكَيتم جَفنَ خير المُرسَلينَ دماً
وَرحتمand you departed بينamong مَغبوطٍone envied وَمَسرورِand one delighted
وَرحتم بين مَغبوطٍ وَمَسرورِ
You made the eyelid of the best of messengers weep blood,
and departed, some envied, some rejoicing.
إليكمُto you ياO بَنيsons of الزَهراءِal-Zahra مرثيةًan elegy
إليكمُ يا بَني الزَهراءِ مرثيةً
أَصاخَlent سَمعاًan ear إليهاto it كُلُّevery مَوقورِdeaf person
أَصاخَ سَمعاً إليها كُلُّ مَوقورِ
To you, O sons of al-Zahra, an elegy
to which every deaf person has lent an ear.
تجدَّدwas renewed الحزنُgrief بالبيتat the House العَتيقthe Ancient بكمfor you
تجدَّد الحزنُ بالبيت العَتيق بكم
وَيحطمُand shatters الوَجدُanguish منهاfrom it جانبَthe flank الطورِof Mount Tur
وَيحطمُ الوَجدُ منها جانبَ الطورِ
Grief is renewed for you at the Ancient House,
and its anguish shatters the flank of Mount Tur.
عليكمُupon you صلواتُthe blessings اللَهof God ماas long as هطلَتpour rain
عليكمُ صلواتُ اللَه ما هطلَت
سحبٌclouds وشقَّand cleaves وميضٌa flash قَلبَthe heart دَيجورِof deep darkness
سحبٌ وشقَّ وميضٌ قَلبَ دَيجورِ
God's blessings be upon you, as long as rain falls
from clouds, and lightning cleaves the heart of deep darkness.
Partial English translation: 100 of 108 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1