سَفرَتshe unveiled herself أُميمةُUmayma لَيلةَon the night of النَفرِthe pilgrims' departure
سَفرَت أُميمةُ لَيلةَ النَفرِ
كالبَدرِlike the full moon أَوor أَبهىmore radiant مِنthan البَدرِthe full moon
كالبَدرِ أَو أَبهى مِن البَدرِ
Umayma unveiled herself on the night of departure,
like the full moon, or more radiant than the moon.
نزلتshe alighted مِنىًMinā تَرميcasting الجمارَthe ritual pebbles وقدand already
نزلت مِنىً تَرمي الجمارَ وقد
رَمتِshe struck القلوبَthe hearts هناكthere بالجَمرِwith embers
رَمتِ القلوبَ هناك بالجَمرِ
She alighted at Minā to cast the pebbles, having already
struck the hearts there with embers.
وَتنسَّكتand she performed devotions تَبغيseeking الثَوابَdivine reward وَهَلand is there
وَتنسَّكت تَبغي الثَوابَ وَهَل
فيin قَتلkilling ضَيفِthe guest of اللَهGod منany أَجرِreward
في قَتل ضَيفِ اللَه من أَجرِ
She performed devotions, seeking reward—but is there
any reward in killing God's guest?
إِنif حاولتshe sought أَجراًa reward فقدthen indeed كسبَتshe earned
إِن حاولت أَجراً فقد كسبَت
بالحَجِّthrough pilgrimage أَضعافاًmany times more منof الوِزرِsin
بالحَجِّ أَضعافاً من الوِزرِ
If she sought reward, she has earned
many times its weight in sin through pilgrimage.
نحرَتslaughtered لواحظُهاher sidelong glances الحَجيجَthe pilgrims كَماjust as
نحرَت لواحظُها الحَجيجَ كَما
نحرَslaughtered الحَجيجُthe pilgrims بَهيمَةَthe animal of النَحرِsacrifice
نحرَ الحَجيجُ بَهيمَةَ النَحرِ
Her sidelong glances slaughtered the pilgrims, just as
the pilgrims slaughtered the sacrificial beast.
تَرميshe casts وماand does not تَدريknow بماof what سَفكتhave shed
تَرمي وما تَدري بما سَفكت
منهاof hers اللَواحِظُthe sidelong glances منof دَمٍblood هَدرِshed unavenged
منها اللَواحِظُ من دَمٍ هَدرِ
She casts, not knowing what has been shed
by her glances—blood left unavenged.
اللَهGod ليfor me منagainst حبِّlove of غانيَةٍa beautiful woman
اللَه لي من حبِّ غانيَةٍ
تَرميshe strikes الحَشاthe inmost heart مِنfrom حيثwhere لاnot تَدريshe knows
تَرمي الحَشا مِن حيث لا تَدري
God help me against the love of a beauty
who strikes my inmost heart, herself unaware.
بَيضاءَfair-skinned منof كَعبٍKaʿb وكَمand how many مَنعَتhas guarded
بَيضاءَ من كَعبٍ وكَم مَنعَت
كَعبٌKaʿb لهاfor itself منof كاعِبٍa nubile maiden بِكرِvirgin
كَعبٌ لها من كاعِبٍ بِكرِ
A fair-skinned woman of Kaʿb—and how many has
Kaʿb guarded for itself, nubile and virgin!
زعمَتshe claimed سُلوّيmy forgetting her وهيwhile she ساليَةٌwas free of love
زعمَت سُلوّي وهي ساليَةٌ
كلّاno indeed وربِّby the Lord of البَيتِthe House وَالحِجرِand the Hijr enclosure
كلّا وربِّ البَيتِ وَالحِجرِ
She claimed I had forgotten, though she herself was unmoved.
No, by the Lord of the House and the Hijr!
ماnot قَلبُهاher heart قَلبيmy heart فأَسلوهاthat I should forget her
ما قَلبُها قَلبي فأَسلوها
يَوماًone day ولاnor مِنof أَمرِهاher state أَمريmy state
يَوماً ولا مِن أَمرِها أَمري
Her heart is not mine, that I should forget her
one day; nor is my plight like hers.
أَبكيI weep وَتَضحَكُand she laughs إِنif شكوتُI complain لهاto her
أَبكي وَتَضحَكُ إِن شكوتُ لها
حدَّthe sting of الصدودrejection ولوعةَand the anguish of الهِجرِseparation
حدَّ الصدود ولوعةَ الهِجرِ
I weep, and she laughs if I complain to her
of rejection's sting and separation's anguish.
وَعلىand despite وُفورِthe abundance of ثَرايَmy wealth ليmine is وَلَهاand hers is
وَعلى وُفورِ ثَرايَ لي وَلَها
ذلُّthe abasement of الفَقيرthe poor man وعزَّةُand the pride of المُثريthe wealthy man
ذلُّ الفَقير وعزَّةُ المُثري
Despite my abundant wealth, mine and hers are
the poor man's abasement and the rich man's pride.
لَمdid not يُبقِleave منّيof me حُبُّهاlove for her جَلَداًendurance
لَم يُبقِ منّي حُبُّها جَلَداً
إِلّاexcept الحَنينyearning ولاعجَand the searing pain of الذِكرِremembrance
إِلّا الحَنين ولاعجَ الذِكرِ
Love for her has left me no endurance,
only yearning and remembrance's searing pain.
وَيَزيدُand she increases غَليَthe boiling of الماءِwater ماwhenever ذُكرَتshe is mentioned
وَيَزيدُ غَليَ الماءِ ما ذُكرَت
وَالماءُand water يُثلجُcools غلَّةَthe burning thirst of الصَدرِthe breast
وَالماءُ يُثلجُ غلَّةَ الصَدرِ
Whenever she is mentioned, she makes the water boil fiercer,
though water cools the breast's burning thirst.
قدindeed ضَلَّhas gone astray طالِبُthe seeker of غادَةٍa tender maiden حُميَتwho is guarded
قد ضَلَّ طالِبُ غادَةٍ حُميَت
فيamong قومهاher people بالبيضwith bright swords والسُمرِand dusky spears
في قومها بالبيض والسُمرِ
Astray indeed is he who seeks a tender maiden guarded
among her people by bright swords and dusky spears.
وَمؤنّبٍand a reproacher فيover حبِّهاlove for her سَفَهاًfoolishly
وَمؤنّبٍ في حبِّها سَفَهاً
نَهنَهتُهُI restrained him عَنfrom منطقِthe speech of الهُجرِabuse
نَهنَهتُهُ عَن منطقِ الهُجرِ
A man who foolishly reproached my love for her—
I restrained him from speaking abuse.
يَزدادُincreases وَجديmy passion فيunder مَلامَتِهِhis reproach
يَزدادُ وَجدي في مَلامَتِهِ
فكأَنَّهso it is as though he بِمَلامِهby his reproach يُغريspurs me on
فكأَنَّه بِمَلامِه يُغري
My passion increases under his reproach,
as though his blame were spurring me on.
لاlet him not يكذبنَّlie الحُبُّlove أَليقُmore befitting بيme
لا يكذبنَّ الحُبُّ أَليقُ بي
وبشيمَتيand my character منthan سُبَّةٍthe disgrace of الغَدرِtreachery
وبشيمَتي من سُبَّةٍ الغَدرِ
Let him not lie: love better befits me
and my character than the disgrace of treachery.
هَيهاتَfar from it يأبىforbids الغَدرَtreachery ليfor me نَسَبٌa lineage
هَيهاتَ يأبى الغَدرَ لي نَسَبٌ
أُعزىI trace my descent بِهِthrough it لِعليٍّto ʿAlī الطُهرِthe pure
أُعزى بِهِ لِعليٍّ الطُهرِ
Far from it! A lineage bars me from treachery,
through which I trace my descent to pure ʿAlī,
خيرِthe best of الوَرىmankind بعدَafter الرَسولِthe Messenger ومَنand he who
خيرِ الوَرى بعدَ الرَسولِ ومَن
حازَattained العُلىthe heights بِمَجامِعِwith all sources of الفَخرِglory
حازَ العُلى بِمَجامِعِ الفَخرِ
the best of mankind after the Messenger, and he who
attained the heights with every source of glory,
صِنوthe brother of النَبيِّthe Prophet وَزَوجِand husband of بضعَتِهhis daughter, part of him
صِنو النَبيِّ وَزَوجِ بضعَتِه
وأَمينهand his trusted one فيin السِرِّprivate وَالجَهرِand public
وأَمينه في السِرِّ وَالجَهرِ
the Prophet's brother and husband of his daughter, a part of him,
and his trusted keeper in private and in public.
إِنif تُنكرdeny الأَعداءُthe enemies رُتبتَهhis rank
إِن تُنكر الأَعداءُ رُتبتَه
شَهِدتtestified بهاto it الآياتُthe verses فيin الذِكرِthe Qurʾān
شَهِدت بها الآياتُ في الذِكرِ
If enemies deny his rank,
the verses in the Qurʾān bear witness to it.
شكرتgave thanks حُنينُḤunayn لهto him مساعيَهhis efforts
شكرت حُنينُ له مساعيَه
فيهاthere وَفيand at أُحُدٍUḥud وفيand at بَدرِBadr
فيها وَفي أُحُدٍ وفي بَدرِ
Ḥunayn gave him thanks for his deeds
there, and at Uḥud and at Badr.
سَلask عنهabout him خَيبرَKhaybar يَومَon the day نازَلَهاhe fought it
سَل عنه خَيبرَ يَومَ نازَلَها
تُنبيكَit will inform you عنof خَبَرٍa report وعنand of خُبرِfirsthand knowledge
تُنبيكَ عن خَبَرٍ وعن خُبرِ
Ask Khaybar about him on the day he fought it;
it will tell you from report and firsthand knowledge:
مَنwho هَدَّtore down منهاfrom it بابَهاits gate بيَدٍwith one hand
مَن هَدَّ منها بابَها بيَدٍ
وَرَمىand hurled بهاit فيinto مَهمَهٍa wilderness قَفرِbarren
وَرَمى بها في مَهمَهٍ قَفرِ
who tore its gate down with one hand
and hurled it into a barren wilderness?
واِسألand ask براءَةَBarāʾa حينwhen رتَّلهاhe recited it
واِسأل براءَةَ حين رتَّلها
منwho ردَّsent back حاملَهاits bearer أَباAbū بكرِBakr
من ردَّ حاملَها أَبا بكرِ
And ask Barāʾa, when he recited it,
who sent back its bearer, Abū Bakr?
وَالطَيرَand the bird إِذwhen يَدعوwas praying النَبيُّthe Prophet لهconcerning it
وَالطَيرَ إِذ يَدعو النَبيُّ له
منwho جاءَهcame to him يَسعىhurrying بلاwithout نُذرِforewarning
من جاءَه يَسعى بلا نُذرِ
And the bird, when the Prophet prayed concerning it:
who came hurrying to him without forewarning?
وَالشَمسَand the sun إذwhen أَفلَتit had set لمنfor whom رَجَعتdid it return
وَالشَمسَ إذ أَفلَت لمن رَجَعت
كيماso that يُقيمَhe might perform فريضةَthe obligatory prayer of العَصرِʿAṣr
كيما يُقيمَ فريضةَ العَصرِ
And the sun, when it set—for whom did it return,
so that he might perform the obligatory ʿAṣr prayer?
وَفراشَand the bed of أَحمدَAḥmad حينwhen هَمَّplotted بهagainst him
وَفراشَ أَحمدَ حين هَمَّ به
جمعُa throng of الطُغاةtyrants وعصبةُand a band of الكفرِunbelief
جمعُ الطُغاة وعصبةُ الكفرِ
And Aḥmad's bed, when against him conspired
a throng of tyrants and a band of unbelief:
منwho باتَspent the night فيهin it يَقيهِprotecting him مُحتَسِباًseeking God's reward
من باتَ فيه يَقيهِ مُحتَسِباً
منin غيرthe absence of ماany خَوفٍfear ولاnor ذُعرِdread
من غير ما خَوفٍ ولا ذُعرِ
who spent the night in it, protecting him and seeking God's reward,
without any fear or dread?
وَالكَعبةَand the Kaʿba الغَرّاءthe radiant حينwhen رَمىhe cast down
وَالكَعبةَ الغَرّاء حين رَمى
منfrom فوقهاits top الأَصنامَthe idols بالكسرِshattering them
من فوقها الأَصنامَ بالكسرِ
And the radiant Kaʿba, when he cast
the idols down from its summit, shattering them:
منwhom راحَproceeded يَرفعُهto lift him ليَصعَدَهاso he might climb it
من راحَ يَرفعُه ليَصعَدَها
خَيرُthe best of الوَرىmankind منهof him علىupon الظَهرِthe back
خَيرُ الوَرى منه على الظَهرِ
who was lifted up so that he might climb it
by the best of mankind, upon his back?
وَالقَومand the people منwho أَروىquenched غَليلَهُمُtheir burning thirst
وَالقَوم من أَروى غَليلَهُمُ
إذwhen يَجأرونthey cried out بمَهمَهٍin a wilderness قَفرِbarren
إذ يَجأرون بمَهمَهٍ قَفرِ
And the people—who quenched their burning thirst
when they cried out in a barren wilderness?
وَالصَخرةَand the rock الصَمّاءَthe solid حوَّلَهاhe moved it
وَالصَخرةَ الصَمّاءَ حوَّلَها
عنfrom نهرa stream of ماءٍwater تَحتَهاbeneath it يَجريflowing
عن نهر ماءٍ تَحتَها يَجري
And the solid rock he moved aside
from a stream of water flowing beneath it;
وَالناكثينَand the oath-breakers غداةَon the morning أَمَّهُمُhe marched toward them
وَالناكثينَ غداةَ أَمَّهُمُ
منwho ردَّsent back أُمَّهُمُtheir mother بلاwithout نُكرِmistreatment
من ردَّ أُمَّهُمُ بلا نُكرِ
and the oath-breakers, on the morning he marched toward them:
who sent their mother back without mistreatment?
وَالقاسطينَand the unjust وقدand already أَضَلَّهُمُhad led them astray
وَالقاسطينَ وقد أَضَلَّهُمُ
غيُّthe waywardness of اِبنِIbn هندَHind وخِدنِهand his companion عَمرِوʿAmr
غيُّ اِبنِ هندَ وخِدنِه عَمرِو
And the unjust, whom there had led astray
the waywardness of Ibn Hind and his companion ʿAmr:
مَنwho فَلَّshattered جيشَهُمُtheir army علىamid مَضَضٍbitter suffering
مَن فَلَّ جيشَهُمُ على مَضَضٍ
حتّىuntil نَجواthey escaped بخدائعthrough the tricks of المَكرِdeceit
حتّى نَجوا بخدائع المَكرِ
who shattered their army amid bitter struggle,
until they escaped through cunning tricks?
وَالمارقينَand the renegades منwho اِستباحهُمُmade their lives forfeit
وَالمارقينَ من اِستباحهُمُ
قَتلاًto slaughter فَلَمso did not يُفلِتescape سوىexcept عَشرِten
قَتلاً فَلَم يُفلِت سوى عَشرِ
And the renegades—who gave them over
to slaughter, so that only ten escaped?
وَغَديرَand Ghadīr خُمٍّKhumm وهوand it is أَعظَمُهاthe greatest of them
وَغَديرَ خُمٍّ وهو أَعظَمُها
منwho نالَreceived فيهthere ولايةَgovernance of الأَمرِaffairs
من نالَ فيه ولايةَ الأَمرِ
And Ghadīr Khumm—the greatest of them all:
who received authority to rule there?
واِذكرand recall مُباهَلَةَthe mutual imprecation of النَبيِّthe Prophet بهwith him
واِذكر مُباهَلَةَ النَبيِّ به
وَبزوجهand with his wife واِبنَيهand his two sons للنَفرِagainst the company
وَبزوجه واِبنَيه للنَفرِ
Recall the Prophet's mutual imprecation, with him,
and with his wife and his two sons, against that company.
واِقرأand read وأَنفُسَناand ourselves وأَنفُسَكُمand yourselves
واِقرأ وأَنفُسَنا وأَنفُسَكُم
فَكَفىthen sufficient بهاis it فَخراًas glory مَدىthroughout الدَهرِall time
فَكَفى بها فَخراً مَدى الدَهرِ
And read: 'and ourselves and yourselves'—
that alone is glory enough for all time.
هَذيthese are المَكارِمُthe noble deeds وَالمفاخرُand the glories لاnot
هَذي المَكارِمُ وَالمفاخرُ لا
قَعبانtwo bowls منof لَبنٍmilk ولاnor خَمرِwine
قَعبان من لَبنٍ ولا خَمرِ
These are noble deeds and grounds for pride—not
two bowls of milk, nor of wine.
وَمناقبٍand virtues لَوif شئتُI wished أَحصُرهاto enumerate them
وَمناقبٍ لَو شئتُ أَحصُرها
لحصِرتُI would falter قبلbefore الهَمِّthe thought بالحَصرِof counting
لحصِرتُ قبل الهَمِّ بالحَصرِ
And virtues—were I to wish to number them,
I would falter before even thinking of the count.
وإِلىand toward أَميرthe Commander of المؤمنينthe Faithful سَرَتtraveled by night
وإِلى أَمير المؤمنين سَرَت
تَبغيseeking النَجاحَfulfillment نجائبُthe noble camels of الفكرِthought
تَبغي النَجاحَ نجائبُ الفكرِ
And toward the Commander of the Faithful have traveled by night
the noble camels of thought, seeking fulfillment,
منof كُلِّevery قافيَةٍrhyme مهذَّبَةٍfinely polished
من كُلِّ قافيَةٍ مهذَّبَةٍ
خلَصَتbecame pure خلوصَwith the purity of سبيكةan ingot of التَبرِuncoined gold
خلَصَت خلوصَ سبيكة التَبرِ
each one a finely polished rhyme,
refined to the purity of a golden ingot.
تَرجوhoping بساحتِهin his courtyard لمُرسِلِهاfor its sender
تَرجو بساحتِه لمُرسِلِها
محوَthe erasure of الذنوبsins وحطَّةand the removal of الوِزرِthe burden of sin
محوَ الذنوب وحطَّة الوِزرِ
They hope in his courtyard to win for their sender
the erasure of sins and the lifting of guilt's burden,
وَمطالبٍand wishes شَتّىvaried ستجمعُهاwill gather them
وَمطالبٍ شَتّى ستجمعُها
بالنُجحin fulfillment منهfrom him عوائدُthe recurring gifts of البِرِّkindness
بالنُجح منه عوائدُ البِرِّ
and varied wishes, all to be brought together
in fulfillment by his recurring acts of kindness.
ياO خَيرَbest of منthose whom أَمَّsought out العفاةُthe needy لهto him
يا خَيرَ من أَمَّ العفاةُ له
فيthroughout الدَهرِtime منfrom بَرٍّland ومنand from بحرِsea
في الدَهرِ من بَرٍّ ومن بحرِ
O best of those whom the needy have sought
throughout time, from land and sea,
إِنّيindeed I قصَدتُكhave sought you قصدَwith the intent of ذيone with أَمَلٍhope
إِنّي قصَدتُك قصدَ ذي أَمَلٍ
يَرجوكَhe hopes in you فيin عَلَنٍpublic وفيand in سِرِّsecret
يَرجوكَ في عَلَنٍ وفي سِرِّ
I have sought you as one possessed of hope,
who hopes in you openly and in secret,
لتردَّso you may repel عَنّيfrom me كُلَّevery فادِحَةٍcrushing calamity
لتردَّ عَنّي كُلَّ فادِحَةٍ
وَتفكَّand release منfrom قَيدِthe fetters of الأَسىsorrow أَسريmy captivity
وَتفكَّ من قَيدِ الأَسى أَسري
that you may ward off every crushing calamity from me
and free me from sorrow's chains.
فَلَقَدfor indeed تَرىyou see ماwhat طالَhas lasted بيupon me أَمَداًa long time
فَلَقَد تَرى ما طالَ بي أَمَداً
منof فادحcrushing اللأواءِhardship والعُسرِand distress
من فادح اللأواءِ والعُسرِ
For surely you see what has long beset me
of crushing hardship and distress.
فاِسمحso grant بنُجحِthe fulfillment of مآربيmy desires عَجِلاًswiftly
فاِسمح بنُجحِ مآربي عَجِلاً
واِمنُنand bestow بِماwith that which يَعلوrises بهthrough it قَدريmy standing
واِمنُن بِما يَعلو به قَدري
So grant the swift fulfillment of my desires,
and bestow that which will exalt my standing.
وَسعادةُand the happiness of الدارينboth abodes أَنتyou لَهاare equal to it
وَسعادةُ الدارين أَنت لَها
فَلَقَدfor indeed جعلتُكI have made you فيهماin them both ذُخريmy treasure
فَلَقَد جعلتُك فيهما ذُخري
And you can secure happiness in both abodes;
for I have made you my treasure in them both.
وإِليكَهاand here she is for you غَرّاءَradiant غانيَةًa beauty
وإِليكَها غَرّاءَ غانيَةً
رامتshe sought بمدحكthrough praising you أَكرمَthe noblest المَهرِbridal gift
رامت بمدحك أَكرمَ المَهرِ
And here she is for you, radiant and beautiful,
seeking through praising you the noblest bridal gift.
نظمتstrung قَريحتيَmy poetic gift الكلامthe words لهاfor her
نظمت قَريحتيَ الكلام لها
نظمَlike the stringing of الصَناعِa craftswoman قَلائدَnecklaces of الدُرِّpearls
نظمَ الصَناعِ قَلائدَ الدُرِّ
My poetic gift has strung her words
as a craftswoman strings necklaces of pearls.
قدindeed أَعجزَتshe baffled بِبَديعwith the wondrous art of مِدحَتِهاher praise
قد أَعجزَت بِبَديع مِدحَتِها
أَهلَthe masters of البَديعrhetorical art وَصاغَةَand the goldsmiths of الشِعرِpoetry
أَهلَ البَديع وَصاغَةَ الشِعرِ
Her wondrous praise has defied
the masters of rhetoric and the goldsmiths of verse.
جلَّتshe became too exalted بوَصفِكَthrough describing you عنbeyond مُعارضَةٍrivalry
جلَّت بوَصفِكَ عن مُعارضَةٍ
بالعَصرin this age بلnay فيin سالفbygone العَصرِtime
بالعَصر بل في سالف العَصرِ
Through describing you, she rises above all rivalry
in this age—nay, even in ages past.
لَولاwere it not that مَديحُكَpraise of you صانَهاguarded her شَرَفاًin honor
لَولا مَديحُكَ صانَها شَرَفاً
عُدَّتshe would be counted لرقَّتهاfor her delicacy منamong السِحرِmagic
عُدَّت لرقَّتها من السِحرِ
Had praise of you not preserved her nobility,
her delicacy would have had her reckoned magic.
ثمّthen الصَلاةُblessings معwith السَلامpeace عَلىupon
ثمّ الصَلاةُ مع السَلام عَلى
خيرِthe best of الهداةguides وَشافِعِand intercessor at الحَشرِthe Last Gathering
خيرِ الهداة وَشافِعِ الحَشرِ
Then blessings, together with peace, upon
the best of guides and intercessor at the Gathering,
وَعَليكَand upon you ياO منyou who حازَattained كلَّevery عُلاًheight
وَعَليكَ يا من حازَ كلَّ عُلاً
وَعلىand upon بنيكyour sons الأَنجُمthe stars الزُهرِthe radiant
وَعلى بنيك الأَنجُم الزُهرِ
and upon you, O you who attained every height,
and upon your sons, the radiant stars,
ماas long as لاحَshines وسطَamid أَريكةٍa couch قَمَرٌa moon
ما لاحَ وسطَ أَريكةٍ قَمَرٌ
أَوor ناحَlaments فوقَabove أَراكةan arāk tree قُمريa turtledove
أَو ناحَ فوقَ أَراكة قُمري
so long as a moon gleams upon a couch,
or a turtledove laments above an arāk tree.
Sol 6.1