لِلّهto God أِخوانbrothers أَفادواhave bestowed مَفخَراًcause for pride
لِلّه أِخوان أَفادوا مَفخَراً
فَبِوَصلِهمfor through their companionship وَوَفائِهمand their loyalty أَتكثرI grow richer
فَبِوَصلِهم وَوَفائِهم أَتكثر
God bless the brothers who have given me cause for pride!
God has brothers who were proud and helpful,
For through their companionship and loyalty I grow richer.
Through their loyalty and faithfulness they became abundant,
هُمthey ناطِقونspeaking بِغَيرwithout أَلسِنةtongues تُرىare seen
هُم ناطِقون بِغَير أَلسِنة تُرى
هُمthey فاحِصونprobing عَنinto السَرائرthe secrets تُضمرare concealed
هُم فاحِصون عَن السَرائر تُضمر
They speak without tongues that can be seen.
They speak without tongues that can be seen,
They probe the secrets kept concealed.
They probe into secrets that lie hidden,
أَنif أَبغِI seek مِنamong عربArabs وَمِنand among عَجَمnon-Arabs مَعاًtogether
أَن أَبغِ مِن عرب وَمِن عَجَم مَعاً
علماًa notable figure مَضىhas passed away فيهِabout him الدَفاترthe books تخبرtell
علماً مَضى فيهِ الدَفاتر تخبر
If I seek among Arabs and non-Arabs alike
Whether I seek knowledge from Arabs or non-Arabs together,
a departed luminary, the books tell of him,
Knowledge that has surpassed volumes of books,
حَتّىuntil كَأَنّيas though I شاهدa witness لِزَمانِهاto their age
حَتّى كَأَنّي شاهد لِزَمانِها
وَلَقَدand indeed مَضَتhave passed مِنfrom دونthis side of ذَلِكَthat أَعصرages
وَلَقَد مَضَت مِن دون ذَلِكَ أَعصر
until it is as though I had witnessed their age,
As if I was witness to its time,
though ages have passed since then.
And ages have passed without that,
خَطباءorators أَنif أَبغI seek الخَطابةoratory يَرتَقواthey ascend
خَطباء أَن أَبغ الخَطابة يَرتَقوا
كَفيmy palm فfor كَفيmy palm لِلدَفاترfor the books منبرa pulpit
كَفي ف كَفي لِلدَفاتر منبر
Orators: if I seek oratory, they ascend
Orators, even if I seek the highest eloquence,
my palm—for my palm is a pulpit for books.
Enough! Enough! Let the books take the pulpit,
كَمhow often قَدindeed بَلَوتI have tested بِهِwith it الرِجالَthe men وَإِنَّماand only
كَم قَد بَلَوت بِهِ الرِجالَ وَإِنَّما
عَقلmind الفَتىthe young man بِكِتابthrough a book علمknowledge يُسبَرis gauged
عَقل الفَتى بِكِتاب علم يُسبَر
How often have I tested men with it! For only
How much have I tested men with it, yet
through a book of learning is a young man's mind gauged.
A young man's intellect comes from studying illuminating books,
كَمhow often قَدindeed هَزمتI have routed بِهِwith it جَليساًa companion مُبرَماtiresome
كَم قَد هَزمت بِهِ جَليساً مُبرَما
لاnot يَستَطيعcan لَهُagainst him الهَزيمةdefeat عَسكَرan army
لا يَستَطيع لَهُ الهَزيمة عَسكَر
How often have I routed a tiresome companion with it,
How much have I defeated a stalwart companion with it,
whom no army can put to flight!
Whom no army can defeat.
Sol 6.1