يَجِدُّacts in earnest الرَدىdeath فيناwith us وَنَحنُwhile we نُهازِلُهjest with it
يَجِدُّ الرَدى فينا وَنَحنُ نُهازِلُه
وَنَغفوand we slumber وَماwhile not تَغفوsleep فُواقاًfor an instant نَوازِلُهits calamities
وَنَغفو وَما تَغفو فُواقاً نَوازِلُه
Death is in earnest with us, while we jest with it.
He finds solace in us while we console him,
We slumber, while its calamities sleep not for an instant.
And we slumber though his calamities do not slumber.
بَقاءُsurvival of الفَتىthe young man سُؤلٌa wish يَعِزُّis difficult طِلابُهُits attainment
بَقاءُ الفَتى سُؤلٌ يَعِزُّ طِلابُهُ
وَرَيبُand the menace of الرَدىdeath قِرنٌan adversary يَزِلُّstumbles مُصاوِلُهits challenger
وَرَيبُ الرَدى قِرنٌ يَزِلُّ مُصاوِلُه
A man's survival is a wish whose attainment is hard.
The survival of the young man is a quest hard for its seekers,
And death's menace is a foe whose challenger stumbles.
And the caprice of fate is a companion that stumbles its walker.
وَأَنفَسُand the more precious of حَظَّيكَyour two fortunes الَّذيthat which لاnot تَنالُهُyou attain it
وَأَنفَسُ حَظَّيكَ الَّذي لا تَنالُهُ
وَأَنكىand the more wounding of عَدُوَّيكَyour two enemies الَّذيthe one whom لاnot تُقاتِلُهyou fight him
وَأَنكى عَدُوَّيكَ الَّذي لا تُقاتِلُه
The more precious of your two fortunes is what you cannot attain.
And the share of your fortune which you cannot attain,
And the more wounding of your two enemies is the one you do not fight.
And the misery of your enemy which you do not fight.
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed صَرفَthe vicissitudes of الدَهرِtime بَحرُa sea of نَوائِبٍcalamities
أَلا إِنَّ صَرفَ الدَهرِ بَحرُ نَوائِبٍ
وَكُلُّand all الوَرىmankind غَرقاهُits drowned وَالقَبرُand the grave ساحِلُهits shore
وَكُلُّ الوَرى غَرقاهُ وَالقَبرُ ساحِلُه
Behold, time's vicissitudes are a sea of calamities.
Beware! The turns of fate are a sea of calamities,
All mankind are its drowned, and the grave is its shore.
And all of mankind are its drowned, with the grave as its shore.
تَرِثُّwear thin لِمَنfor whoever رامَsought الوَفاءَfidelity حِبالُهُits cords
تَرِثُّ لِمَن رامَ الوَفاءَ حِبالُهُ
وَتُغرىand are set against بِمَنwhoever رامَsought الخَلاصَescape حَبائِلُهits snares
وَتُغرى بِمَن رامَ الخَلاصَ حَبائِلُه
Its cords fray for whoever seeks fidelity.
It becomes an heirloom to him who desired loyalty,
And its snares are set against whoever seeks escape.
And it is fooled by him who sought deliverance.
وَأَكثَرُand greater مِنthan حُزنِthe grief of الجَزوعِthe distraught خُطوبُهُits calamities
وَأَكثَرُ مِن حُزنِ الجَزوعِ خُطوبُهُ
وَأَكبَرُand greater مِنthan حَزمِthe prudence of اللَبيبِthe wise man غَوائِلُهits deadly perils
وَأَكبَرُ مِن حَزمِ اللَبيبِ غَوائِلُه
Its calamities exceed the grief of the distraught.
The sorrows of the deeply grieved are plenty,
And its deadly perils surpass the prudence of the wise.
And the tribulations of the sensible are weighty.
فَماso not عَصَمَتprotected نَفسَthe life of المُقَدَّسِthe fearless warrior دِرعُهُhis shield
فَما عَصَمَت نَفسَ المُقَدَّسِ دِرعُهُ
وَلاnor قَصَّرَتshortened life بِالمُستَكينِfor the meek man عَلائِلُهhis ailments
وَلا قَصَّرَت بِالمُستَكينِ عَلائِلُه
The fearless man's shield did not preserve his life.
Neither did his armor protect the sanctified being,
Nor did the meek man's ailments cut his life short.
Nor did its misfortunes fall short with the hapless.
وَهَلand is it نافِعٌuseful فيagainst المَوتِdeath أَنَّthat اِختِيارَناour will
وَهَل نافِعٌ في المَوتِ أَنَّ اِختِيارَنا
يُنافِرُهrejects it وَالطَبعُwhile our nature مِمّاis of what يُشاكِلُهresembles it
يُنافِرُه وَالطَبعُ مِمّا يُشاكِلُه
Is it any use against death that our will
Does our nature's conflict with it benefit us,
rejects it, while our nature is akin to it?
When death approaches and we dislike its resemblance?
وَكَيفَand how نَجاةُthe deliverance of المَرءِthe man أَوor فَلَتاتُهُhis escapes
وَكَيفَ نَجاةُ المَرءِ أَو فَلَتاتُهُ
عَلىagainst أَسهُمٍarrows قَدalready ناسَبَتهاsuited them مَقاتِلُهhis vital spots
عَلى أَسهُمٍ قَد ناسَبَتها مَقاتِلُه
How can a man find deliverance or escape
How can one be saved or ruined,
against arrows matched to his vital spots?
When his fate were arrows that suited his opponent?
وَأَمّاand as for وَقَدnow that نالَstruck الزَمانُTime اِبنَIbn; son of غالِبٍGhalib
وَأَمّا وَقَد نالَ الزَمانُ اِبنَ غالِبٍ
فَقَدthen indeed نالَachieved مِنof هَضمِthe abasement of العُلىglory ماwhat يُحاوِلُهit seeks
فَقَد نالَ مِن هَضمِ العُلى ما يُحاوِلُه
And now that Time has struck Ibn Ghalib,
But it has attained the son of Ghalib,
it has achieved the abasement of glory it sought.
So it has attained one who wrestles its heights.
أَلَيسَhave not المَساعيnoble endeavors فارَقَتهُparted from him فَأَظلَمَتand so darkened
أَلَيسَ المَساعي فارَقَتهُ فَأَظلَمَت
كَماjust as فارَقَتparted from ضَوءَthe light of النَهارِday أَصائِلُهits late afternoons
كَما فارَقَت ضَوءَ النَهارِ أَصائِلُه
Have not noble endeavors parted from him and grown dark,
Its efforts have left it, so it darkened,
as late afternoons part from the light of day?
As its evenings left the light of day.
لَقَدindeed لُفَّwas wrapped فيin أَكفانِهِhis shrouds الفَضلُexcellence كُلُّهُall of it
لَقَد لُفَّ في أَكفانِهِ الفَضلُ كُلُّهُ
وَساقَand led العُلاglory جَهراًopenly إِلىto التُرَبِthe graves حامِلُهhis bearer
وَساقَ العُلا جَهراً إِلى التُرَبِ حامِلُه
All excellence was wrapped within his shrouds.
Excellence was enshrouded in his coffin, all of it,
And his bearer led glory, in plain sight, to the graves.
And glory carried openly to the earth its carrier.
فَإِنthough ضَمَّهُenclosed him مِنof مُستَويthe level surface of الأَرضِthe earth ضَيِّقٌa narrow space
فَإِن ضَمَّهُ مِن مُستَوي الأَرضِ ضَيِّقٌ
فَكَمyet how often وَسِعَencompassed الأَرضَthe earth العَريضَةَthe broad نائِلُهhis bounty
فَكَم وَسِعَ الأَرضَ العَريضَةَ نائِلُه
Though a narrow patch of level earth encloses him,
If the narrowness of the level ground constrained him,
how often his bounty encompassed the broad earth!
How vast was the spacious earth that hosted his attainments!
وَكَمand how often ساجَلَتrivaled فيهاupon it البِحارَthe seas يَمينُهُhis right hand
وَكَم ساجَلَت فيها البِحارَ يَمينُهُ
وَكَمand how often جانَسَتresembled فيهاupon it الرِياضَthe gardens شَمائِلُهhis virtues
وَكَم جانَسَت فيها الرِياضَ شَمائِلُه
How often his right hand rivaled the seas upon it!
And how much did his right hand race the seas,
And how often his virtues resembled its gardens!
And how it resembled the meadows in its left side!
لَئِنthough سَوَّدَblackened الآفاقَthe horizons يَومُthe day of حِمامِهِhis death
لَئِن سَوَّدَ الآفاقَ يَومُ حِمامِهِ
لَقَدindeed بَيَّضَتwhitened صُحُفَthe pages of الحِسابِthe reckoning فَضائِلُهhis virtues
لَقَد بَيَّضَت صُحُفَ الحِسابِ فَضائِلُه
Though the day of his death blackened the horizons,
If the day of his passing darkened the horizons,
his virtues whitened the pages of his reckoning.
His merits whitened the pages of judgment.
وَإِنand though سَدَّclosed بابَthe gate of الصَبرِpatience حادِثُthe calamity of فَقدِهِhis loss
وَإِن سَدَّ بابَ الصَبرِ حادِثُ فَقدِهِ
لَقَدindeed فَتَحَتopened بابَthe gate of الجِنانِthe Gardens وَسائِلُهhis meritorious deeds
لَقَد فَتَحَت بابَ الجِنانِ وَسائِلُه
Though the calamity of his loss closed the gate of patience,
If the accident of his loss closed the door of patience,
his meritorious deeds opened the gate of the Gardens.
His attainments opened the gates of heavens.
وَإِنand though صَنيَّعَتshed (unclear reading) ماءَthe water of العُيونِthe eyes وَفاتُهُhis death
وَإِن صَنيَّعَت ماءَ العُيونِ وَفاتُهُ
لَقَدindeed حَفِظَتpreserved ماءَthe water of الوُجوهِfaces نَوائِلُهhis gifts
لَقَد حَفِظَت ماءَ الوُجوهِ نَوائِلُه
Though his death shed the water of our eyes,
If his demise made the water of eyes joyless,
his gifts preserved the water of faces—their honor.
His legacy preserved the water of faces.
وَكَمand how often أَحيَتِkept alive اللَيلَthe night الطَويلَthe long صَلاتُهُhis prayers
وَكَم أَحيَتِ اللَيلَ الطَويلَ صَلاتُهُ
وَكَمand how often قَتَلَتslew مَحَلَّthe drought of السِنينَthe years فَواضِلُهhis bounties
وَكَم قَتَلَت مَحَلَّ السِنينَ فَواضِلُه
How often his prayers kept the long night alive!
And how much did his night prayer revive the long night,
And how often his bounties slew the drought of barren years!
And how it killed the place of years with its separations!
فَخَلَّفَso he left behind فيin مُرِّthe bitterness of المُصابِbereavement قُلوبَناour hearts
فَخَلَّفَ في مُرِّ المُصابِ قُلوبَنا
وَزُفَّتand were escorted إِلىto بَردِthe coolness of النَعيمِbliss رَواحِلُهhis mounts
وَزُفَّت إِلى بَردِ النَعيمِ رَواحِلُه
So he left our hearts in the bitterness of bereavement,
So he left behind in the bitterness of affliction our hearts,
while his mounts were escorted to the coolness of bliss.
While his soul was carried to the coldness of bliss.
عَزاءًtake comfort أَباO Abu بَكرٍBakr فَلَوfor if جامَلَtreated gently الرَدىdeath
عَزاءً أَبا بَكرٍ فَلَو جامَلَ الرَدى
كَريمَa noble man among أُناسٍpeople كُنتَyou would be مِمَّنamong those whom يُجامِلُهit treats kindly
كَريمَ أُناسٍ كُنتَ مِمَّن يُجامِلُه
Take comfort, Abu Bakr: if death dealt gently
Condolences, Abu Bakr, had fate been just
with any noble man, you would be among those it treated kindly.
To a generous people, you would have been one it treats justly.
وَماand not ذَهَبَvanished الأَصلُthe root الَّذيof which أَنتَyou فَرعُهُare its branch
وَما ذَهَبَ الأَصلُ الَّذي أَنتَ فَرعُهُ
وَلاnor اِنقَطَعَwas cut short السَعيُthe endeavor الَّذيwhich أَنتَyou واصِلُهcontinue it
وَلا اِنقَطَعَ السَعيُ الَّذي أَنتَ واصِلُه
The root of which you are a branch has not vanished.
The origin from which you branched has not gone,
Nor has the endeavor you continue been cut short.
Nor has the path ceased whose achiever you were.
أَبوكَyour father بَنيbuilt العَلياlofty glory وَأَنتَand you شَدَدتَهاstrengthened it
أَبوكَ بَني العَليا وَأَنتَ شَدَدتَها
بِمَجدٍwith glory يُقَوّيthat strengthens ماwhat بَنىhe built وَيُشاكِلُهand resembles it
بِمَجدٍ يُقَوّي ما بَنى وَيُشاكِلُه
Your father built lofty glory, and you strengthened it
Your father built glories, and you reinforced them
with glory that reinforces what he built and resembles it.
With a glory that matches what he built.
كَماjust as تَمَّwas perfected حُسنُthe beauty of البَدرِthe full moon وَهوَwhile it مُكَمَّلٌis complete
كَما تَمَّ حُسنُ البَدرِ وَهوَ مُكَمَّلٌ
وأَيَّدَهُand strengthened it دُرّيُّa pearly star of سَعدٍgood fortune يُقابِلُهfacing it
وأَيَّدَهُ دُرّيُّ سَعدٍ يُقابِلُه
As the full moon's beauty is perfected, though already complete,
As the fullness of the moon is perfected
and a pearly star of good fortune facing it lends it strength.
When a bright companion moon faces it.
وَإِنand though أَصبَحَbecame المَجدُglory التَليدُancestral لِفَقدِهِthrough his loss
وَإِن أَصبَحَ المَجدُ التَليدُ لِفَقدِهِ
يَتيماًan orphan فَلاthen let it not يَحزَنgrieve فَإِنَّكَfor indeed you كافِلُهare its guardian
يَتيماً فَلا يَحزَن فَإِنَّكَ كافِلُه
Though ancestral glory, through his loss, has become
And if the ancient glory grieved over him,
an orphan, let it not grieve: you are its guardian.
Do not fret, for you are its sponsor.
إِذاif ثَبَتَتstood firm أُخرىthe latter expression of النَدىgenerosity فيin مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
إِذا ثَبَتَت أُخرى النَدى في مُحَمَّدٍ
فَلَمthen not تَتَزَحزَحwere dislodged بِالحِمامِby death أَوائِلُهits beginnings
فَلَم تَتَزَحزَح بِالحِمامِ أَوائِلُه
If generosity's later expression stands firm in Muhammad,
When the brilliance of Mohammed is proven again,
its beginnings have not been dislodged by death.
Its early radiances will not be shaken.
فَتىًa young man كَثَّرَmultiplied الحُسّادَthe enviers فيthrough مَكرُماتِهِhis noble deeds
فَتىً كَثَّرَ الحُسّادَ في مَكرُماتِهِ
كَماjust as قَلَّgrew few فيهاin them شِبهُهُhis like وَمُماثِلُهand his equal
كَما قَلَّ فيها شِبهُهُ وَمُماثِلُه
A young man whose noble deeds multiplied his enviers,
A man whom the envious amass against his virtues,
just as those resembling or matching him grew few in them.
As those resembling and matching him are few.
حَليفُan ally of جِلادٍcombat لَيسَnot تُكسىare clothed سُيوفُهِhis swords
حَليفُ جِلادٍ لَيسَ تُكسى سُيوفُهِ
وَثَوبُeager to leap (vocalization uncertain) طِرادٍinto the charge لَيسَnot تَعرىgo bare صَواهِلُهhis neighing steeds
وَثَوبُ طِرادٍ لَيسَ تَعرى صَواهِلُه
An ally of combat, whose swords are never clothed,
The ally of an executioner whose swords are not sheathed,
eager to leap into the charge, whose neighing steeds are never bare.
And the robe of a pursuer whose weapons are not stripped.
فَماso not خَمرُهُhis wine إِلّاexcept دِماءُthe blood of عُداتِهِhis enemies
فَما خَمرُهُ إِلّا دِماءُ عُداتِهِ
وَلاand no طَرَبٌdelight حَتّىuntil تُغَنّيsing مَناصِلُهhis sword blades
وَلا طَرَبٌ حَتّى تُغَنّي مَناصِلُه
His only wine is the blood of his enemies.
Nothing intoxicates him but the blood of his enemies,
And no delight comes until his sword blades sing.
And no euphoria until his blades sing.
تُضَمُّare drawn together عَلىaround لَيثِa lion of الكِفاحِcombat حُروبُهhis battles
تُضَمُّ عَلى لَيثِ الكِفاحِ حُروبُه
وَتُسفِرُand lift the veil عَنfrom بَدرِthe full moon of التَمامِperfection مَحافِلُهhis gatherings
وَتُسفِرُ عَن بَدرِ التَمامِ مَحافِلُه
His battles close around a lion of combat.
His wars conceal the lion of combat,
And his gatherings unveil a perfect full moon.
And his councils reveal the full moon.
سَماrose بِعُلىًthrough honors لاnot يَستَريحُfinds rest حَسودُهاtheir envier
سَما بِعُلىً لا يَستَريحُ حَسودُها
وَسادَand ruled بِجودٍthrough bounty لَيسَnot يَتعَبُtires آمِلُهits hopeful seeker
وَسادَ بِجودٍ لَيسَ يَتعَبُ آمِلُه
He rose through honors whose envier finds no rest.
Hailing by a sublimity whose envious are not at rest,
And he ruled through bounty whose hopeful seeker never tires.
And leading by a generosity whose hopeful are not fatigued.
تَوَدُّwish الغَواديthe morning rainclouds أَنَهُنَّthat they were بَنانُهُhis fingers
تَوَدُّ الغَوادي أَنَهُنَّ بَنانُهُ
وَتَهوىand yearn الدَراريthe brilliant stars أَنَهُنَّthat they were شَمائِلُهhis virtues
وَتَهوى الدَراري أَنَهُنَّ شَمائِلُه
The morning rainclouds wish they were his fingers.
The meadows wish they were his stature,
And the brilliant stars yearn to be his virtues.
And the virgins wish they were his features.
تَساوىwere equal مَضاءًin keenness رَأيُهُhis judgment وَحُسامُهُand his sword
تَساوى مَضاءً رَأيُهُ وَحُسامُهُ
وَلانَand were supple مَهَزّاًin swaying مِعطَفاهُhis two flanks وَذابِلُهand his lance
وَلانَ مَهَزّاً مِعطَفاهُ وَذابِلُه
His judgment and his sword are equal in keenness.
Similar is the glimmer of his opinion and his sword,
And his flanks and his lance are supple when they sway.
As are slack his cloak and its straps.
رُبوعُthe dwellings of المَساعيnoble endeavors عامِراتٌflourishing بِسَعيِهِthrough his efforts
رُبوعُ المَساعي عامِراتٌ بِسَعيِهِ
وَيُقفِرُand lies deserted مِنهُby him غِمدُهُhis scabbard وَحَمائِلُهand his baldrics
وَيُقفِرُ مِنهُ غِمدُهُ وَحَمائِلُه
The dwellings of noble endeavor flourish through his efforts.
The seasons thrive by his efforts,
While his scabbard and baldrics are left empty by him.
Yet sheathe and strap empty of them.
وَفَلَّلَand notched حُبُّlove of الهامِskulls شَفرَةَthe edge of عَضبِهِhis keen sword
وَفَلَّلَ حُبُّ الهامِ شَفرَةَ عَضبِهِ
وَإِنand though لَمnot تَزَلcease فيon كُلِّevery يَومٍday تُواصِلُهthey meet it
وَإِن لَم تَزَل في كُلِّ يَومٍ تُواصِلُه
Love of skulls has notched the edge of his keen sword,
Passion's love softened his blade of wrath,
though they never cease meeting it each day.
Though it does not cease to meet him every day.
تَوَقَّدَblazed ذِهناًin intellect حينَwhen سالَflowed سَماحَةًin generosity
تَوَقَّدَ ذِهناً حينَ سالَ سَماحَةً
كَماjust as شَبَّblazed بَرقاًas lightning حينَwhen فاضَتoverflowed هَواطِلُهhis downpours
كَما شَبَّ بَرقاً حينَ فاضَت هَواطِلُه
He blazed in intellect when he flowed in generosity,
It sparked a mind when he flowed with lenience,
as he blazed like lightning when his downpours surged.
As its torrents gushed when the clouds poured.
تَلَوذَعَgrew brilliantly quick-witted حَتّىuntil يُحسَبَwas thought الأُفقُthe horizon مَنشأًa birthplace
تَلَوذَعَ حَتّى يُحسَبَ الأُفقُ مَنشأً
لَهُfor him وَالنُجومُand the stars النَيِّراتُthe shining قَبائِلُهhis clans
لَهُ وَالنُجومُ النَيِّراتُ قَبائِلُه
He was so brilliant that the horizon was thought a birthplace
It blazed until the horizon was thought to be its origin,
for him, and the shining stars his clans.
And the shining stars its tribes.
تَحَيَّرتُI was bewildered فيهِby him وَالمَعانيand the qualities غَرائِبٌare marvels
تَحَيَّرتُ فيهِ وَالمَعاني غَرائِبٌ
أَأَفكارُهُare his thoughts أَمضىkeener شَباًin edge أَمor عَوامِلُهhis spearheads
أَأَفكارُهُ أَمضى شَباً أَم عَوامِلُه
I am bewildered by him, whose qualities are marvels:
I am baffled by him, though the meanings are strange:
are his thoughts keener-edged, or his spearheads?
Are his thoughts, or his compositions, more wondrous?
إِذاwhen كانَthere is خَطبٌa crisis أَوor خِطابٌan address فَأَينَthen where مَنis anyone who
إِذا كانَ خَطبٌ أَو خِطابٌ فَأَينَ مَن
يُجالِدُهُfights him فيin مَشهَدٍa field of battle وَيُجادِلُهand debates him
يُجالِدُهُ في مَشهَدٍ وَيُجادِلُه
When there is a crisis or an address, where is anyone
If there is an address or speech, then where is one who
to fight him in battle and contend with him in debate?
Can debate him in this field and argue him?
تَرىyou see فيهِin him فَيضَthe flood of النيلِthe Nile وَالبَدرَand the moon كامِلاًfull
تَرى فيهِ فَيضَ النيلِ وَالبَدرَ كامِلاً
إِذاwhen لاحَshone forth مَرآهُhis appearance وَجادَتand gave freely أَنامِلُهhis fingertips
إِذا لاحَ مَرآهُ وَجادَت أَنامِلُه
You see in him the flood of the Nile and the full moon,
You see in it the Nile's abundance and the full moon
when his appearance shines forth and his fingertips give freely.
When his marvel appears and his fingers create.
كَريمٌa generous man إِذاif ماever (emphasis) عُمِّرَwas allowed to last الوَعدُthe promise ساعَةًan hour
كَريمٌ إِذا ما عُمِّرَ الوَعدُ ساعَةً
أُتيحَwas granted لَهُto it مِنهُfrom him اِبتِسامٌa smile يُعاجِلُهthat hastens to meet it
أُتيحَ لَهُ مِنهُ اِبتِسامٌ يُعاجِلُه
A generous man: if a promise lasts an hour,
A generous man - if the promise lives an hour,
it receives a smile from him that hastens to meet it.
A smile hastens to him from it.
لَئِنthough سَبَقَتهُpreceded him بِالزَمانِin time مَعاشِرٌpeoples
لَئِن سَبَقَتهُ بِالزَمانِ مَعاشِرٌ
فَكَمyet how often سَبَقَتpreceded فَرضَthe obligatory prayer of المُصَلّيthe worshipper نَوافِلُهhis voluntary prayers
فَكَم سَبَقَت فَرضَ المُصَلّي نَوافِلُه
Though other peoples preceded him in time,
If comrades preceded him in time,
how often a worshipper's voluntary prayers precede his obligatory prayer!
How much did the voluntary prayers precede the prescribed!
وَإِنand though شارَكَتهُshared with him فيin العُلىthe heights هَضبَةٌa hill فَقَدyet indeed
وَإِن شارَكَتهُ في العُلى هَضبَةٌ فَقَد
تَبايَنَdiffered زُجُّthe butt-spike of الرُمحِthe spear قَدراًin worth وَعامِلُهand its head
تَبايَنَ زُجُّ الرُمحِ قَدراً وَعامِلُه
Though a hill shares the heights with him, yet
If a plateau matched him in the heights,
a spear's butt-spike and its head differ in worth.
The thrust of the spear differed from the doer.
حَجَرتَyou made inviolable أَباO Abu بَكرٍBakr عَلىagainst الدَهرِTime جانِبيmy side
حَجَرتَ أَبا بَكرٍ عَلى الدَهرِ جانِبي
وَوَطَّنتَنيand you settled me إِذwhen أَزعَجَتنيdrove me out زَلازِلُهits earthquakes
وَوَطَّنتَني إِذ أَزعَجَتني زَلازِلُه
You barred Time from my side, Abu Bakr.
You supported me, Abu Bakr, when its tremors shook me,
And you settled me when its earthquakes drove me out.
And housed me when its quakes disturbed me.
فَلاso no شارِدٌwanderer إِلّاexcept نَداكَyour bounty عِقالُهُis his tether
فَلا شارِدٌ إِلّا نَداكَ عِقالُهُ
وَلاand no خائِفٌfearful man إِلّاexcept عُلاكَyour glory مَعاقِلُهis his strongholds
وَلا خائِفٌ إِلّا عُلاكَ مَعاقِلُه
No wanderer but finds your bounty his tether.
None goes astray but your eminence is his reason,
And no fearful man but finds your glory his strongholds.
And none is afraid but your heights are his fortresses.
وَكُنتَand you were العِياذَthe refuge الأَمنَsafety كَالمُزنِlike the raincloud إِنَّهُindeed it
وَكُنتَ العِياذَ الأَمنَ كَالمُزنِ إِنَّهُ
يُظِلُّgives shade وَتُرويand quench العاطِشينَthe thirsty هَواطِلُهits downpours
يُظِلُّ وَتُروي العاطِشينَ هَواطِلُه
You were a shelter of safety, like the raincloud, which
You were sanctuary and refuge, like the raincloud -
gives shade, while its downpours quench the thirsty.
It shades and waters the thirsty with its pouring.
وَإِنand if كُنتَyou are سَيفاًa sword لِلمُريبينَagainst those arousing suspicion مُرهَفاًkeen-edged
وَإِن كُنتَ سَيفاً لِلمُريبينَ مُرهَفاً
فَبورِكتَthen may you be blessed مِنas a سَيفٍsword وَبورِكَand may be blessed حامِلُهits bearer
فَبورِكتَ مِن سَيفٍ وَبورِكَ حامِلُه
And if you are a sharpened sword against those who arouse suspicion,
And if you were a sharpened sword against the wicked,
may you be blessed as a sword, and may its bearer be blessed.
Blessed is the sword and its wielder.
أَراكَI see you بِعَينَيwith the two eyes of مَنone whose أَقَلتَyou remedied عِثارَهُhis stumble
أَراكَ بِعَينَي مَن أَقَلتَ عِثارَهُ
بِسَعيِكَthrough your efforts وَالهاديand whoever guides إِلىto الخَيرِgood فاعِلُهis its doer
بِسَعيِكَ وَالهادي إِلى الخَيرِ فاعِلُه
I see you with the eyes of one whose stumble you remedied
I see you through my eyes as one whose stumbling
through your efforts; whoever guides to good is its doer.
Your efforts decrease, and the guide to good its doer.
Sol 6.1