قارنَهاaccompanied it الدّمعُthe tears فبِئْسَso wretched is القَرِينْthe companion
قارنَها الدّمعُ فبِئْسَ القَرِينْ
وربماand sometimes قُلتُI said فنِعْمthen excellent is المعينthe helper
وربما قُلتُ فنِعْم المعين
Tears kept it company—what a wretched companion!
Tears likened her, what an evil companion!
Yet sometimes I said: what a fine helper!
Though I may say, ah, what a good aide!
وحَسْبُand enough منone who يعشَقُloves هَوْناhumiliation بأَنْin that
وحَسْبُ من يعشَقُ هَوْنا بأَنْ
ينتظرَawait العَوْنَhelp بماءٍthrough water مَهِينlowly
ينتظرَ العَوْنَ بماءٍ مَهِين
And it is humiliation enough for one who loves
It suffices one who loves degradation
to await help from lowly water.
To await help through ignoble water.
أَكْمِنُI conceal فيin كُمِّيmy sleeve دموعيmy tears حَياًout of shame
أَكْمِنُ في كُمِّي دموعي حَياً
فهلso did عَلِمْتمْyou know أَنَّthat كٌمِّيmy sleeve كَمِينan ambush
فهل عَلِمْتمْ أَنَّ كٌمِّي كَمِين
I hide my tears in my sleeve out of shame;
My tears conceal within my shirt alive,
did you know, then, that my sleeve is an ambush?
Have you learned my shirt contains an ambush?
ماhow أَبعدَdistant is الدَّارَthe dwelling وأَدْنَىand near is الْجَوىthe heartache
ما أَبعدَ الدَّارَ وأَدْنَى الْجَوى
لمّاwhen نأَىwent far away الإِلْفُthe beloved وخَفَّand departed القَطِينْthe dwellers
لمّا نأَى الإِلْفُ وخَفَّ القَطِينْ
How distant the dwelling, how near the heartache,
How remote my abode and how near my passion
when the beloved went far away and the dwellers departed!
When intimacy grew distant and the heart hardened!
بانappeared عليهاupon it الذُّلُّhumiliation منfrom بَعْدِهمafter them
بان عليها الذُّلُّ من بَعْدِهم
وزادand increased حَتَّىuntil كَادَalmost did أَنto لاnot يَبِينappear
وزاد حَتَّى كَادَ أَن لا يَبِين
Humiliation showed upon it after they left,
Disgrace appeared on her after them
and grew until it almost vanished from sight.
Increasing until it almost failed to show.
فإِنso if تَقُلْyou say أَينwhere الذينَthose who اغْتَدَواdeparted at dawn
فإِن تَقُلْ أَين الذينَ اغْتَدَوا
يَقُلsays صَدَاهاits echo لكto you أَينwhere الذِينْthose who
يَقُل صَدَاها لك أَين الذِينْ
If you ask, “Where are those who departed at dawn?”
If you say, where are those who transgressed?
its echo tells you, “Where are they?”
Its echo says to you: where are those?
فَذَلِكso that الذُّلُّhumiliation وهذَاand this الصَّدىecho
فَذَلِك الذُّلُّ وهذَا الصَّدى
ذاكَthat ضنىًwasting sickness منهاfrom it وهذاand this أَنينa groan
ذاكَ ضنىً منها وهذا أَنين
That humiliation and this echo—
That is the disgrace and this the echo -
that is its wasting sickness, this its groan.
One is her disdain and the other a sigh.
وكمand how many خدودٍcheeks وعيونٍand eyes بهاwithin it
وكم خدودٍ وعيونٍ بها
كُسينَwere clothed بالأَدمُعin tears حتَىuntil عَرِينbecame bare
كُسينَ بالأَدمُع حتَى عَرِين
And how many cheeks and eyes within it
And how many cheeks and eyes through her
were clothed in tears until they were bare!
Were clad with tears until they flowed!
ورُبَّماand sometimes صِدْتُI hunted بهاin it ربرباًa herd of gazelles
ورُبَّما صِدْتُ بها ربرباً
وربَّماand sometimes أَغْنىmade unnecessary عنin place of الصَّائدينthe hunters
وربَّما أَغْنى عن الصَّائدين
And sometimes I hunted there a herd of gazelles,
And I may ward off the spy because of her
and sometimes there was no need of hunters.
Or render the hunters without need to sing.
تحميهguard it آسادُlions of شَرًىShara حولهaround it
تحميه آسادُ شَرًى حوله
فقُلْso say كِناسٌa gazelle’s covert دارُهits dwelling أَوor عرينa lion’s den
فقُلْ كِناسٌ دارُه أَو عرين
Lions of Shara guard it all around;
The lions guard their den around him,
so call its dwelling a gazelle’s covert or a lion’s den.
Say then: is it a church or a lions' den?
عيْشٌa life تَقضَّىcame to an end ليfor me وكمand how often كانthere was ليfor me
عيْشٌ تَقضَّى لي وكم كان لي
قَبْلَbefore تقَضِّيهits ending إِليهtoward it حنينlonging
قَبْلَ تقَضِّيه إِليه حنين
A life of mine has passed; how often I felt,
A life ordained for me - how much before
before it passed, a longing for it!
Its ordination did I yearn for it!
فكلُّso every يومٍday مرَّpassed بلrather ساعةٍhour
فكلُّ يومٍ مرَّ بل ساعةٍ
يحقُّis right ليfor me أَبكيI weep عليهاover it سنينfor years
يحقُّ لي أَبكي عليها سنين
For every day that passed—indeed, every hour—
So each day that passed - nay each hour -
I have the right to weep over it for years.
My right to weep for her for years is due.
وجُمْلَةُand the sum of الأَمْرthe matter فياso O أَهيفاslender-waisted one
وجُمْلَةُ الأَمْر فيا أَهيفا
قدindeed أَشبهresembled الصَّعْدَةthe straight spear-shaft لَوْناًin color ولينand softness
قد أَشبه الصَّعْدَة لَوْناً ولين
In short, O slender one,
The sum, O most passionate one, is that
who resembled a spear-shaft in color and suppleness,
She resembled the climbing plant in hue and softness.
ومسَّنيand touched me مسٌّa touch of madness بمَنْthrough one who ثَغْرُهُhis smiling mouth
ومسَّني مسٌّ بمَنْ ثَغْرُهُ
فيin فَمِهhis mouth الأَلْعَسِdusky-lipped مِيمٌthe letter mīm وسينand the letter sīn
في فَمِه الأَلْعَسِ مِيمٌ وسين
and madness touched me through one whose smile
And one who, in his mouth, a mim and a sin,
in his dusky-lipped mouth is mīm and sīn.
Afflicted me by one whose lips enchant.
أَفْنَيْتُI exhausted بالرَّشْفِby sipping جَنَىthe harvest of ريقِهhis saliva
أَفْنَيْتُ بالرَّشْفِ جَنَى ريقِه
وهاand behold حَوَاشيthe edges of شَقَتَيْهِhis two lips ضَمِينa guarantor
وها حَوَاشي شَقَتَيْهِ ضَمِين
I sipped away the harvest of his saliva,
I wasted on the red wine of his mouth the fruit of his saliva
and behold, the edges of his lips stand surety.
And here are the notes in the margins of his two dimples.
أَبانَremoved رُشْدِيَmy sound judgment سِحْرُthe magic of أَلحاظهhis glances
أَبانَ رُشْدِيَ سِحْرُ أَلحاظه
ياO صِدْقَthe truthfulness of منwhoever سمَّاهcalled it سِحْراًmagic مُبينmanifest
يا صِدْقَ من سمَّاه سِحْراً مُبين
The magic of his glances took away my reason;
His glancing revealed the sorcery of my sanity -
how truthful was whoever called it manifest magic!
How true is he who termed it evident sorcery!
وأَعدَمَand deprived الناسَthe people أَماناتِهمtheir trustworthiness
وأَعدَمَ الناسَ أَماناتِهم
فماso not ترىyou see فيهمamong them عليهregarding him أَمينa trustworthy one
فما ترى فيهم عليه أَمين
It robbed people of their trustworthiness,
And he disappointed people of their trusts,
so you see none among them trustworthy with him.
So you see no trustee among them toward him.
إِنِّيindeed I وإِنand even if أَسْرَفَhe went too far فيin صدِّهhis rejection
إِنِّي وإِن أَسْرَفَ في صدِّه
بهof him ضنينٌpossessive وعليهand over him ظَنِينsuspicious
به ضنينٌ وعليه ظَنِين
I, though he goes too far in turning away,
And if he is excessive in his firmness toward me,
am possessive of him and suspicious where he is concerned.
In him are sorrow and about him suspicion.
أَشُكُّI doubt لوeven if صُوِّرhe were fashioned منfrom مِسْكةٍa piece of musk
أَشُكُّ لو صُوِّر من مِسْكةٍ
فلاso do not تَقُولُواyou say ليto me ماءٌwater وطينand clay
فلا تَقُولُوا لي ماءٌ وطين
I would doubt it even were he fashioned from musk;
I doubt that, were he depicted in musk,
so do not tell me: water and clay!
Say not to me: it is water and clay!
للهfor God ياO للهfor God فيin خلْقِهhis creation
لله يا لله في خلْقِه
ماhow أَوْضَحَclear is الشَّكَّthe doubt وأَبْدَىand manifest is اليقينcertainty
ما أَوْضَحَ الشَّكَّ وأَبْدَى اليقين
God, O God! In his creation,
By God! By God! In His creation -
how plain the doubt, how manifest the certainty!
How evident is the doubt and how clear the certainty!
سُبْحَانglory to باريهhis Maker وسُبْحَانَand glory to مَنْthe One who
سُبْحَان باريه وسُبْحَانَ مَنْ
خصَّsingled out أَبَاAbu الفضلِal-Fadl بفَضْلٍwith excellence مُبينْmanifest
خصَّ أَبَا الفضلِ بفَضْلٍ مُبينْ
Glory to his Maker, and glory to Him who
Glory to Him and glory to the one whom
singled out Abu al-Fadl with manifest excellence!
He singled out with evident favor!
أَبيmy father وحَسْبيand sufficient for me نِسبةٌa lineage عِقْدُهاits necklace
أَبي وحَسْبي نِسبةٌ عِقْدُها
دُرٌّpearl وذاكand that الدٌّرpearl درٌّpearl ثمينprecious
دُرٌّ وذاك الدٌّر درٌّ ثمين
My father—and sufficient for me is a lineage whose necklace
My father and my lineage - its string
is pearl, and that pearl is a precious pearl.
Is pearls and those pearls precious.
فبِرُّهso his kindness ليto me معalong with رُشْدِيmy right guidance بهthrough him
فبِرُّه لي مع رُشْدِي به
أَلْبَسَنيclothed me in الخَيْرَينِthe two blessings دُنياworldly life ودِينand faith
أَلْبَسَني الخَيْرَينِ دُنيا ودِين
His kindness to me, and the guidance I owe him,
His righteousness toward me along with my maturity through him
clothed me in both blessings: worldly life and faith.
Has clad me in the two best garments, worldly and religious.
كأَنهas though he إِذwhen زادincreased فيin برِّهhis kindness
كأَنه إِذ زاد في برِّه
يُعلِّمteaches الآباءَthe fathers بِرَّkindness to البَنِينْthe sons
يُعلِّم الآباءَ بِرَّ البَنِينْ
It is as though, when he increased his kindness,
It is as if, when he increased in his benevolence,
he were teaching fathers kindness toward their sons.
He taught fathers the righteousness of sons.
لاdo not تَمْدَحُونيpraise me وامْدَحوهand praise him فمِنْfor from
لا تَمْدَحُوني وامْدَحوه فمِنْ
إِنعامِهhis bounty جُودِيmy generosity علىtoward المجْتَدينthose seeking gifts
إِنعامِه جُودِي على المجْتَدين
Do not praise me; praise him, for from
Do not praise me but praise him, for from
his bounty comes my generosity to those who seek gifts.
His benefaction comes my generosity to the deserving.
بَلْrather جُودهhis generosity أَعْلَىgreater لأَنيbecause I امروٌa man
بَلْ جُوده أَعْلَى لأَني امروٌ
آخُذُI take آلاَفاًthousands وأُعْطِيand I give مِئِينْhundreds
آخُذُ آلاَفاً وأُعْطِي مِئِينْ
Indeed, his generosity is greater, for I am a man who
Nay, his bounty is higher because I am but
takes thousands and gives hundreds.
A taker of thousands and giver of hundreds.
إِنَّindeed أَعادِيهhis enemies وحُسَّادَهand his enviers
إِنَّ أَعادِيه وحُسَّادَه
أَبْصَرْنَsaw ذاكthat الفَضْلَexcellence حتىuntil عَمينwent blind
أَبْصَرْنَ ذاك الفَضْلَ حتى عَمين
Indeed, his enemies and those who envy him
Indeed, his enemies and enviers
saw that excellence until they went blind.
Saw that favor until they were blinded.
وغاظَهمْand enraged them لمَّاwhen غَداbecame جالِساًseated
وغاظَهمْ لمَّا غَدا جالِساً
منamong المعالِيthe heights of honor فيin مكانِa position مَكِينْsecure
من المعالِي في مكانِ مَكِينْ
And it enraged them when he came to sit
And it vexed them when he came to sit
among the heights of honor, in a secure position.
High in place, in a firm position.
إِنif يَلْتَقِgathers الوفدُthe delegation علىat بَابهhis door
إِن يَلْتَقِ الوفدُ على بَابه
فلاthen do not تَسَلْask أَموالَهhis riches ماwhat لَقينthey suffered
فلا تَسَلْ أَموالَه ما لَقين
If a delegation gathers at his gate,
When delegations come to his door,
do not ask his riches what they have suffered!
Ask not about his wealth - what he attained.
أَهانَheld in contempt أَمْوالاًriches علىgiven أَنَّهthat it is so
أَهانَ أَمْوالاً على أَنَّه
لاnot يَكْرَمُbecomes noble الإِنسانُa person حتىuntil يُهينdisdains
لا يَكْرَمُ الإِنسانُ حتى يُهين
He held riches cheap, for
He disdained wealth so that he
no man becomes noble until he holds them cheap.
Would not honor a man until he disgraced him.
كأَنَّماas though البحرُthe sea شِمالٌa left hand لهfor him
كأَنَّما البحرُ شِمالٌ له
وجلَّand is exalted قدراًin rank أَنfor ... to يكونَbe اليمينthe right hand
وجلَّ قدراً أَن يكونَ اليمين
It is as though the sea were his left hand,
It is as if the sea on his left
and he is too great in rank for it to be his right.
And exalted in rank that it be his right hand.
واصِفُهhis describer يُؤْجَرُis rewarded فيfor وَصْفِهhis description
واصِفُه يُؤْجَرُ في وَصْفِه
لأَنهbecause he فيin قَوْلِهhis speech لاdoes not يَمِينlie
لأَنه في قَوْلِه لا يَمِين
Whoever describes him is rewarded for his description,
His describer is hired to describe him
for in what he says he does not lie.
Because he has in his words no deceit.
وجودُand the generosity of كفيهhis two palms لناfor us دائماًalways
وجودُ كفيه لنا دائماً
والغَيثand the rain إِنif جادَgives generously ففيthen at كُلِّevery حينinterval
والغَيث إِن جادَ ففي كُلِّ حين
And the bounty of his two hands is always ours,
The open-handedness of his palms is always ours
while rain, if generous, gives from time to time.
And the rain, if it flows, flows at all times.
قاضٍa judge قَضَىdecreed اللهُGod بأَنthat لاnot يُرىbe seen
قاضٍ قَضَى اللهُ بأَن لا يُرى
قِرْنٌa rival لهto him فيamong خَلْقِهHis creatures أَوor قَرِينa peer
قِرْنٌ له في خَلْقِه أَو قَرِين
A judge—God has decreed that none be found
A judge decreed that God should not be seen
to rival or equal him among His creatures.
To have a peer among his creation or a match.
تَوَدُّwishes عيْنُthe eye of الشَّمْسِthe sun لوif only أَطْرقَتْit lowered its gaze
تَوَدُّ عيْنُ الشَّمْسِ لو أَطْرقَتْ
حَياout of shame إِذاwhen أَشرَقَshone منهfrom him الجبينthe brow
حَيا إِذا أَشرَقَ منه الجبين
The eye of the sun wishes it could lower its gaze
The eye of the sun would love, if it blinked,
in shame when his brow shines forth.
To live when his forehead shone radiant.
ومنand who لبدرfor the full moon التمat its fullness لوif أنهthat it is so
ومن لبدر التم لو أنه
إنif بانappeared منهfrom him بِشْرُهhis smiling radiance أَوor يَبِينappears
إن بان منه بِشْرُه أَو يَبِين
And who could defend the full moon, should
The full moon too, if it emerged
his smiling radiance appear, or be about to appear?
Revealing his cheerfulness or brightness.
للهfor God ماhow أَنْعَمblissful is عَيْشِيmy life بهwith him
لله ما أَنْعَم عَيْشِي به
لانbecame gentle وحَسْبُand sufficient for المرءِa person عيشٌa life يَلينthat is gentle
لان وحَسْبُ المرءِ عيشٌ يَلين
God, how blissful is my life with him!
God, how my life with him blessed me!
It grew gentle; a gentle life suffices a man.
For the life of a man is only tender living.
عُمْرِيmy lifetime شبابٌyouth وحبيبيand my beloved كماas
عُمْرِي شبابٌ وحبيبي كما
تَدْريyou know وكأْسُand the cup of اللَّهوِpleasure عِنْدِيwith me مَعِينa flowing spring
تَدْري وكأْسُ اللَّهوِ عِنْدِي مَعِين
My life is youth, and my beloved is as
My life is youth, and my love as you know,
you know; my cup of pleasure is a flowing spring.
And the cup of joy is my familiar aide.
ورُبَّand many آمالٍhopes تَشَهَّيْتُهاI longed for them
ورُبَّ آمالٍ تَشَهَّيْتُها
نداكyour bounty فيin إِنْجَازهاtheir fulfillment ليfor me ضَمِينa guarantor
نداك في إِنْجَازها لي ضَمِين
And many hopes that I yearned for—
And how many hopes I coveted
your bounty guarantees their fulfillment for me.
Relying on you to fulfill them!
ياO سيداًmaster أَدعوهُI call upon him فيin حَاجَةٍa need
يا سيداً أَدعوهُ في حَاجَةٍ
وهْوand he بأَنْof being يُدْعَىcalled upon جديرٌworthy قمينdeserving
وهْو بأَنْ يُدْعَى جديرٌ قمين
O master whom I call upon in need,
O lord I call when I have a need,
and who is worthy and deserving of being called upon!
And he by being called is worthy to be trustee.
حَلَفْتI swore أَنِّيthat I سأَنالُwill attain الغِنىwealth
حَلَفْت أَنِّي سأَنالُ الغِنى
وأَنْتَand you أَولىmost worthy منof those who يَبَرُّfulfill اليَمِينْthe oath
وأَنْتَ أَولى من يَبَرُّ اليَمِينْ
I swore that I would attain wealth,
I swore I would attain wealth,
and you are the worthiest to fulfill the oath.
And you are worthier to fulfill oaths.
فَصُلْso prevail علىover الدَّهْرِtime وأَبْنَائِهand its sons
فَصُلْ على الدَّهْرِ وأَبْنَائِه
وابْقَand remain علىthroughout أَيَّامِهits days ماas long as بقينthey remain
وابْقَ على أَيَّامِه ما بقين
So prevail over time and its sons,
So bestow upon the ages and their sons,
and endure throughout its days as long as they endure.
And remain, for its days that remain.
هذاthis is دعائيmy prayer وجميعُand all الورىhumankind
هذا دعائي وجميعُ الورى
تقولُsays منfrom بَعْدِafter دُعائِيmy prayer أَمِينAmen
تقولُ من بَعْدِ دُعائِي أَمِين
This is my prayer, and all humankind
This is my prayer, and all creation
says after my prayer: Amen.
Says after my prayer: Amen.
Sol 6.1