أَحَقُّtruest ماwhat كانَwas مِنfrom قَلبيmy heart تَباريحُagonies
أَحَقُّ ما كانَ مِن قَلبي تَباريحُ
فَليُهنئso let it gladden العَينَthe eye إَنَّindeed الدَمعَthe tears مَسفوحُshed
فَليُهنئ العَينَ إَنَّ الدَمعَ مَسفوحُ
The truest stirrings of my heart are agonies;
The truest feeling from my heart dispersed -
So let the eye rejoice: the tears are flowing.
Let the eyes rejoice, for tears are shed.
تَأَلَّقَflashed البَرقُthe lightning غَورِياًfrom the lowlands فَسَحَّand poured down لَهُfor it
تَأَلَّقَ البَرقُ غَورِياً فَسَحَّ لَهُ
سُحبٌclouds مِنَof الدَمعِtears لَمّاwhen هَبَّتِarose الريحُthe wind
سُحبٌ مِنَ الدَمعِ لَمّا هَبَّتِ الريحُ
Lightning flashed from the lowlands, and in answer poured
Lightning flashed awesomely, so clouds
Clouds of tears when the wind arose.
Of tears blew when the wind gusts.
ياO أَيهاyou البَرقُlightning إِنّيindeed I عَنكَaway from you فيin شُغُلٍpreoccupation
يا أَيها البَرقُ إِنّي عَنكَ في شُغُلٍ
دونَbefore reaching المَزارِthe shrine فَيافٍdesert expanses بَينَناbetween us فيحُvast
دونَ المَزارِ فَيافٍ بَينَنا فيحُ
O lightning, I am too occupied to heed you;
O lightning! I’m busy away from you
Before the shrine, vast deserts lie between us.
Among the tombs, so keep your distance!
تَخديtrot swiftly النَجائِبُthe choice riding camels حَولاًfor a year فيthrough نَفائِفِهاtheir desert wastes
تَخدي النَجائِبُ حَولاً في نَفائِفِها
لاnot يَأتيهِنَّcomes upon them إِعياءٌweariness وَتَطليحُand exhaustion
لا يَأتيهِنَّ إِعياءٌ وَتَطليحُ
Choice riding camels trot for a year through their wastes,
The mournful camels circle in their howdahs -
Untouched by weariness or exhaustion.
No weariness visits them, continuously circling.
وَكَيفَand how بِالسَيرِwith traveling فيthrough جَرداءَa bare land بَلقَعَةٍa barren waste
وَكَيفَ بِالسَيرِ في جَرداءَ بَلقَعَةٍ
أَقرىmost hospitable مَراتِعَهاits grazing grounds القَيصومُyarrow وَالشيحُand wormwood
أَقرى مَراتِعَها القَيصومُ وَالشيحُ
And how can one travel through a bare, barren waste,
How to walk in the barren, arid desert -
Whose richest pastures are yarrow and wormwood?
Its herbage is wormwood and artemisia.
وَسَوفَand shall أَجشَمُI burden نَفسيmyself سَيرَwith traversing تِلكَthose إِلىtoward
وَسَوفَ أَجشَمُ نَفسي سَيرَ تِلكَ إِلى
بَيتٍa house أَطافَcircled بِهِaround it فيin فُلكِهِhis ark نوحُNoah
بَيتٍ أَطافَ بِهِ في فُلكِهِ نوحُ
And I shall burden myself with crossing those wastes toward
I will force my soul to walk that road
A house that Noah circled in his ark.
To a house around which Noah’s ark revolved.
قَبرٌa grave بِيَثرِبَin Yathrib هَمّيmy longing لَوif only ظَفَرتُI gained access بِهِto it
قَبرٌ بِيَثرِبَ هَمّي لَو ظَفَرتُ بِهِ
وَمَقصِدٌand one sought بِجِبالِin the hills of الطَفِّal-Taff مَطروحُcast down
وَمَقصِدٌ بِجِبالِ الطَفِّ مَطروحُ
A grave in Yathrib is my longing, if only I could reach it,
A grave in Yathrib is my worry - if I could reach it
And one I seek lies cast down in the hills of al-Taff.
And a goal in Al-Taff’s mountains is my intent.
مَنwhoever كانَhas فيin جَفنِهِhis eyelid دَمعٌtears يَضِنُّhe grudges بِهِthem
مَن كانَ في جَفنِهِ دَمعٌ يَضِنُّ بِهِ
فَإِنَّfor indeed دَمعيmy tears لِأَهلِfor the people of البَيتِthe House مَمنوحُfreely granted
فَإِنَّ دَمعي لِأَهلِ البَيتِ مَمنوحُ
Whoever has tears in his eyelid and grudges them—
Whoever has tears he cherishes
My tears are freely granted to the People of the House.
My tears for the Prophet’s family are granted.
آلَO family of النَبِيِّthe Prophet لَقَدindeed سُقيتُمyou were made to drink عَلَلاdraught after draught
آلَ النَبِيِّ لَقَد سُقيتُم عَلَلا
كَأسَthe cup of المَناياdeaths فَمَغبوقٌso one given an evening draught وَمَصبوحُand one given a morning draught
كَأسَ المَنايا فَمَغبوقٌ وَمَصبوحُ
O family of the Prophet, you were made to drink again and again
Family of the Prophet - you were given
The cup of death—some at evening, others at dawn.
A cup of death to drink, unlucky and poisoned.
صَلّىmay He bless الإِلَهُGod عَلىupon أَشلاءِthe limbs of مُنجَدِلٍone laid low
صَلّى الإِلَهُ عَلى أَشلاءِ مُنجَدِلٍ
بِكَربَلاءَat Karbala يُحَيّيgreets رَوحَهُhis soul الروحُthe Spirit
بِكَربَلاءَ يُحَيّي رَوحَهُ الروحُ
May God bless the limbs of one laid low
May God bless the martyr of Karbala’s limbs -
At Karbala, whose soul the Spirit greets.
The Spirit revives his soul with breath.
أَوفىstood above عَلىupon مَعرَكِthe battlefield of الأَبطالِthe heroes مُحتَسِباًseeking God's reward
أَوفى عَلى مَعرَكِ الأَبطالِ مُحتَسِباً
لَيثُa lion شِعاراهُhis two watchwords تَهليلٌproclaiming God's oneness وَتَسبيحُand glorifying God
لَيثُ شِعاراهُ تَهليلٌ وَتَسبيحُ
He stood upon the heroes' battlefield, seeking God's reward—
He died in the arena of heroes, seeking reward -
A lion whose twin watchwords were declaring God's oneness and glorifying Him.
A Hashimite lion, glorifying and praising God.
ياO فارِساًhorseman هاشِمِيّاًHashimite ماnot أَضَرَّharmed بِهِhim
يا فارِساً هاشِمِيّاً ما أَضَرَّ بِهِ
تَثاقُلُreluctance of القَومِthe people إِذwhen ناداهُمُhe called to them روحواdepart
تَثاقُلُ القَومِ إِذ ناداهُمُ روحوا
O Hashimite horseman! He was not harmed by
O Hashimite horseman - it did not harm him
The people's reluctance when he called to them, 'Depart!'
When the people were heavy to carry as he called them:
طارواthey flew away وَأَثبَتَand he planted firmly فيin الهَيجاءِthe battle أَخمَصَهُhis sole
طاروا وَأَثبَتَ في الهَيجاءِ أَخمَصَهُ
صَبراًsteadfastly وَكانَand there were لَهُfor him عَنهاaway from it مَناديحُways of escape
صَبراً وَكانَ لَهُ عَنها مَناديحُ
They flew away, and he planted his sole firmly in the fray,
“March on!” But he kept his footing in the fray
Steadfastly, though he had ways of escape.
With patience - and protection from it he gained.
حَتّىuntil تَوىperished الفارِسُthe horseman الحَجّاجُthe relentless charger يَتبَعُهُfollowing him
حَتّى تَوى الفارِسُ الحَجّاجُ يَتبَعُهُ
مِنfrom هاشِمِHashim الخَيرِthe Good فُرسانٌhorsemen جَحاجيحُnoble champions
مِن هاشِمِ الخَيرِ فُرسانٌ جَحاجيحُ
Until the charging horseman perished, followed by
Until the valiant, intrepid horseman followed them -
Noble, mighty horsemen of Hashim the Good.
A group of the best Hashimites pursued.
لَمdid not يَتَّقواthey ward off الضَربَthe blows بِالأَكتافِwith their shoulders إِذwhen صُرِعواthey were felled
لَم يَتَّقوا الضَربَ بِالأَكتافِ إِذ صُرِعوا
بَلrather النَجيعُfresh blood عَلىupon اللَبابِthe upper chests مَنضوحُsplashed
بَل النَجيعُ عَلى اللَبابِ مَنضوحُ
They did not ward off blows with their shoulders when felled;
They did not fear the blows upon their shoulders when they fell,
Rather, fresh blood was splashed upon their upper chests.
But their pooled blood poured upon the sand.
تَندىgrow wet الوُجوهُthe faces نَجيعاًwith fresh blood وَهيَyet they are مُشرِقَةٌradiant
تَندى الوُجوهُ نَجيعاً وَهيَ مُشرِقَةٌ
كَأَنَّهاas though they were فيin دُجىthe darkness of الهَيجاbattle مَصابيحُlamps
كَأَنَّها في دُجى الهَيجا مَصابيحُ
Their faces are wet with fresh blood, yet radiant,
All their faces beamed radiantly
As though they were lamps in the darkness of battle.
As if, in the gloom of the battle, they were lamps.
لَوif كُنتُI were شاهِدَa witness to يَومِthe day of الرَوعِterror قُلتُI would have said لَهُto him
لَو كُنتُ شاهِدَ يَومِ الرَوعِ قُلتُ لَهُ
لَشائِحُsurely the champion of القَومِthe people جَلدٌhardy دونَهُمin their defense شيحُvigilant
لَشائِحُ القَومِ جَلدٌ دونَهُم شيحُ
Had I witnessed the day of terror, I would have said to him,
If I had witnessed the day of horror, I would have said:
'Surely the people's champion is hardy, vigilant in their defense.'
Their foes are but skin, beneath it only bone!
وَلاand surely اِختَضَبتُI would have dyed myself أَمامَbefore الصَفِّthe ranks مِنwith جَسَدِblood
وَلا اِختَضَبتُ أَمامَ الصَفِّ مِن جَسَدِ
جوداًin generosity بِنَفسيwith my life وَبَعضُand some الجودِgenerosity مَربوحُprofitable
جوداً بِنَفسي وَبَعضُ الجودِ مَربوحُ
And I would surely have dyed myself in blood before the ranks,
I would not have hesitated, in front of the ranks,
Freely giving my life—and some giving brings reward.
To sacrifice myself - and some sacrifice brings joy.
ضَلَّتwent astray حُلومُthe judgment of أُناسٍsome people كَيفَhow لَمdid not يَردواthey approach
ضَلَّت حُلومُ أُناسٍ كَيفَ لَم يَردوا
نارَthe fire of الكِفاحِhand-to-hand combat وَزَندُand the fire-stick of الحَربِwar مَقدوحُstruck to kindle
نارَ الكِفاحِ وَزَندُ الحَربِ مَقدوحُ
Some men's judgment went astray: how did they not approach
The minds of some people went astray - why did they not resist
The fire of combat, when war's fire-stick was struck?
The fires of struggle, when war's fuel is lit?
أُمَّled toward الحُسَينِHusayn بِهِمwith them عَدناًEden فَلَمyet did not يَلجواthey enter
أُمَّ الحُسَينِ بِهِم عَدناً فَلَم يَلجوا
بابَthe gate of الحَنانِmercy عَياناًplainly visible وَهوَand it is مَفتوحُopen
بابَ الحَنانِ عَياناً وَهوَ مَفتوحُ
Husayn led them toward Eden, yet they did not enter
Mother of Al-Husayn - they found refuge with her, but entered not
The gate of mercy, in full view and standing open.
The door of affection though it stood open.
أَمّاas for اِبنُthe son of حَربٍHarb فَدَعthen leave aside حَرباًHarb وَأُسرَتُهُand his family
أَمّا اِبنُ حَربٍ فَدَع حَرباً وَأُسرَتُهُ
تِلكَthose الجُسومُbodies لَوَif only اَنَّthat العِرضَhonor مَمدوحُpraiseworthy
تِلكَ الجُسومُ لَوَ اَنَّ العِرضَ مَمدوحُ
As for the son of Harb, leave Harb and his family aside—
But abandon war, O son of Harb, and his family -
Those bodies—if only their honor were praiseworthy!
Those bodies: if only chastity were praised!
طافواthey paraded بِرَأسِwith the head of اِبنِthe son of خَيرَthe best of الناسِmankind كُلِّهِمُall of them
طافوا بِرَأسِ اِبنِ خَيرَ الناسِ كُلِّهِمُ
بِئسَhow vile الطَوافِthe procession وَنِعمَand how excellent الرَأسِthe head وَالروحُand the soul
بِئسَ الطَوافِ وَنِعمَ الرَأسِ وَالروحُ
They paraded the head of the son of the best of all mankind:
They circled the head of the best man of all people -
How vile the procession, how noble the head and soul!
Evil circling! Excellent head and soul!
وَلَستُand I am not أَبسُطُexpanding قَولاًspeech فيabout دَعِيِّهِمُtheir spurious son
وَلَستُ أَبسُطُ قَولاً في دَعِيِّهِمُ
كُلُّevery one of الدَعيّينَthe spurious sons مَلعونٌcursed وَمَقبحُand reviled
كُلُّ الدَعيّينَ مَلعونٌ وَمَقبحُ
Nor do I speak at length about their spurious son:
I do not prolong my words vilifying them -
Every spurious son is cursed and reviled.
Every reviler is accursed and despicable.
ياO عَينُeye جوديpour freely عَلىover قَتلِthe slaying of الحُسَينِHusayn دَماًblood
يا عَينُ جودي عَلى قَتلِ الحُسَينِ دَماً
وَأَبكيand weep جَهاراًopenly فَإِنَّfor indeed الوَجدَanguish تَصريحُopen declaration
وَأَبكي جَهاراً فَإِنَّ الوَجدَ تَصريحُ
O eye, pour blood freely over the slaying of Husayn,
O my eyes, weep copious tears for Al-Husayn's murder,
And weep openly, for anguish declares itself.
And weep openly, for crying alleviates.
وَياand O لِسانيmy tongue عاوِدreturn to مَدحَهُhis praise أَبَداًforever
وَيا لِساني عاوِد مَدحَهُ أَبَداً
وَإِنَّand indeed أَيسَرَthe least ماwhat فيهِin him الأَماديحُpraises
وَإِنَّ أَيسَرَ ما فيهِ الأَماديحُ
And O my tongue, return forever to his praise,
O my tongue, keep praising him forever,
For praise is the least of what he deserves.
For the easiest thing about him is eulogies.
Sol 6.1