زارَvisited الخيالُthe phantom بِأَيْمَنِat the right side of الزَّوْرَاءِal-Zawra
زارَ الخيالُ بِأَيْمَنِ الزَّوْرَاءِ
فَجَلاَso dispelled سَناهُits radiance غَياهبَdark depths الظلماءِthe darkness
فَجَلاَ سَناهُ غَياهبَ الظلماءِ
The phantom came visiting on the right side of al-Zawra,
The imagination visited the right side of Zawra
and its radiance dispelled the depths of darkness.
Its brilliance illuminated the darkness of gloom
وسَرىand traveled by night معwith النَسَماتِthe breezes يَسحبُtrailing ذيلَهُits hem
وسَرى مع النَسَماتِ يَسحبُ ذيلَهُ
فأَتَتُso they came تَنمُّbetraying the scent بعنبرwith ambergris وكباءِand incense
فأَتَتُ تَنمُّ بعنبر وكباءِ
It traveled by night with the breezes, trailing its hem,
And it flowed with the breeze, dragging its tail
and they came betraying scents of ambergris and incense.
So dew came dripping with ambergris and musk
هذاthis وماand not شَيءٌa thing أَلَذُsweeter منthan المنَىwishes
هذا وما شَيءٌ أَلَذُ من المنَى
إِلاَّexcept زيارتُهُits visit مَعَwith الإِغفاءِslumber
إِلاَّ زيارتُهُ مَعَ الإِغفاءِ
Such was it; nothing is sweeter than wishes,
Nothing is sweeter than wishes
save its visit in slumber.
Except its visitation accompanied by drowsiness
بتْنَاwe spent the night خَيالَيْنِtwo phantoms الْتَحَفْناwe wrapped ourselves بالضنىin wasting sickness
بتْنَا خَيالَيْنِ الْتَحَفْنا بالضنى
والسقمand illness ماnot نخشىwe fear منof الرقباءِthe watchers
والسقم ما نخشى من الرقباءِ
We spent the night as two phantoms, wrapped in wasting sickness
We spent the night with two imaginations, gratified with affection
and illness, fearing no watchers,
And we do not fear sickness from the watchmen
حتىuntil أفاقَawoke الصبحُthe dawn منfrom غمراتِهِits deep slumber
حتى أفاقَ الصبحُ من غمراتِهِ
وتجاذبَتُand tugged at أَيْديthe hands of النسيمthe breeze ردائيmy cloak
وتجاذبَتُ أَيْدي النسيم ردائي
until dawn awoke from its deep slumber,
Until the dawn awoke from its deep slumber
and the breeze's hands tugged at my cloak.
And the hands of the breeze pulled my cloak
ياO سائليyou who ask me عنabout سرِّthe secret of منthe one whom أَحْبَبْتُهُI loved
يا سائلي عن سرِّ من أَحْبَبْتُهُ
السرُّthe secret عنديwith me مَيِّتُdead الإِحياءِrevival
السرُّ عندي مَيِّتُ الإِحياءِ
O you who ask me about the secret of the one I love,
O you who ask about the secret of the one I love
the secret I hold is dead, beyond revival.
The secret is dead to revival with me
تاللهِby God لاnot أشكُوI complain of الصبابةardent longing والهوىand love
تاللهِ لا أشكُو الصبابة والهوى
لسوىto anyone but الأَحِبَّةِthe loved ones إِذْas أموتُI die بدائيof my affliction
لسوى الأَحِبَّةِ إِذْ أموتُ بدائي
By God, I do not complain of longing and love
By God, I do not complain of youth and passion
to any but my loved ones, as I die of my affliction.
Except to fellow lovers when I die of my chronic disease
ياO زَيْنَadornment of قلبيmy heart لستI do not أبرحcease to be عانياًa captive
يا زَيْنَ قلبي لست أبرح عانياً
أرضىI am content بسقميwith my illness فيin الهوىlove وعنانيand my rein
أرضى بسقمي في الهوى وعناني
O adornment of my heart, I remain a captive,
O light of my heart, I do not cease to be a lover
content with my illness in love and the rein that binds me.
I am content with my sickness of love and my obstinacy
أبكيI weep وماand no غيرُother than النجيعِblood مدامعٌtears
أبكي وما غيرُ النجيعِ مدامعٌ
أُذكيI kindle ولاand no ضرمٌkindling سوىexcept أحشائيmy entrails
أُذكي ولا ضرمٌ سوى أحشائي
I weep, with no tears but blood;
I cry but not out of anguish are my tears
I kindle a fire, with no kindling but my entrails.
I ignite but no coal except my entrails
أَهفُوI flutter إِذَاwhen تهفُواflickers البروقُthe lightning وأَنثنيand I turn
أَهفُو إِذَا تهفُوا البروقُ وأَنثني
لِسُرىtoward the night journey of النواسمِthe breezes منfrom رُبىthe hills of تيماءِTayma
لِسُرى النواسمِ من رُبى تيماءِ
I flutter when the lightning flickers, and turn
I sigh when lightning sighs and I bend
toward the night-roaming breezes from Tayma's hills.
To the path of the soft blowing breeze from Teyma
باللهِby God ياO نفسَbreath of الحمىthe sanctuary رفقاًgently بِمَنْwith the one whom
باللهِ يا نفسَ الحمى رفقاً بِمَنْ
أَغْرَيْتِهِyou incited him بتنفسِto breathing الصعداءِdeep sighs
أَغْرَيْتِهِ بتنفسِ الصعداءِ
By God, O breath of the sanctuary, be gentle with the one
For God's sake, O soul, be gentle with the one
you have driven to breathe deep sighs.
Whose breathing of the elevated places enticed him
عجباًhow strange لهُfor it يندَىit moistens علىupon كبديmy liver وقَدْand already
عجباً لهُ يندَى على كبدي وقَدْ
أَذْكىkindled بقلبيin my heart جمرةَan ember of البُرَحَاءِtorment
أَذْكى بقلبي جمرةَ البُرَحَاءِ
How strange that it moistens my liver, when it has
Strange is he who sympathizes because of my liver while he
kindled in my heart an ember of torment!
Has ignited in my heart the embers of separation
ياO ساكنيdwellers of البطحاءِal-Batha أيُّwhat إِبانةٍclarification
يا ساكني البطحاءِ أيُّ إِبانةٍ
ليfor me عندكمْwith you ياO ساكنيdwellers of البطحاءِal-Batha
لي عندكمْ يا ساكني البطحاءِ
O dwellers of al-Batha, what clear answer
O dwellers of the plain, what news
have you for me, O dwellers of al-Batha?
Do you have for me, O dwellers of the plain?
أَتُرىdo you think النوىseparation يوماًone day تخيبُwill lose قِداحُهاits gaming arrows
أَتُرى النوى يوماً تخيبُ قِداحُها
ويفوزُand will win قِدحيmy gaming arrow منكمُfrom you بلقاءِwith a meeting
ويفوزُ قِدحي منكمُ بلقاءِ
Will separation's gaming arrows one day lose,
Will the wish one day disappoint its arousal
and my arrow win a meeting with you?
And my arousal gain a meeting with you?
فيin حَيكُمُyour quarter قمرٌa moon فؤاديmy heart أُفْقُهُhis horizon
في حَيكُمُ قمرٌ فؤادي أُفْقُهُ
تفديهِwould ransom him نفسيmy soul منas a قريبٍnear one نائيfar away
تفديهِ نفسي من قريبٍ نائي
In your quarter is a moon whose horizon is my heart;
Among you is a moon, my heart its horizon
my soul would ransom him, so near and yet so far.
My soul ransoms it from a near or distant companion
لمnot تُنْسِنيhave made me forget الأَيامُthe days يومَthe day of وداعِهِhis farewell
لم تُنْسِني الأَيامُ يومَ وداعِهِ
والركبُand the caravan قدalready أوفَىhad reached علىupon الزوراءِal-Zawra
والركبُ قد أوفَى على الزوراءِ
The days have not made me forget the day of his farewell,
The days have not made me forget the day of his farewell
when the caravan had reached al-Zawra.
When the caravan had already departed from Zawra
أَبكيI weep وَبْسِمُand smile والمحاسنُand beauties تُجْتَلَىare revealed
أَبكي وَبْسِمُ والمحاسنُ تُجْتَلَى
فَعَلِقْتُso I was caught بينَbetween تَبَسُّمِsmiling وبُكاءِand weeping
فَعَلِقْتُ بينَ تَبَسُّمِ وبُكاءِ
I weep and smile, while beauties are unveiled,
I cry but smiles adorn my face
and I was caught between smiling and weeping.
So I was suspended between smiling and crying
ياO نظرةًa glance جاذبتهاtugged at it أيديthe hands of النوىseparation
يا نظرةً جاذبتها أيدي النوى
حتىuntil استهلَّتْpoured forth أدمعيmy tears بدماءِwith blood
حتى استهلَّتْ أدمعي بدماءِ
O glance tugged away by separation's hands,
O a glance pulled by the hands of wishes
until my tears poured forth as blood!
Until my tears were shed in blood
منwho ليfor me بثانيةٍwith another glance تناديcalling out بالأسىin sorrow
من لي بثانيةٍ تنادي بالأسى
قَدْكَenough for you اتئدْslow down أسرفتyou have gone too far فيin الغلواءreckless ardor
قَدْكَ اتئدْ أسرفت في الغلواء
Who will grant me a second glance that cries in sorrow,
Who can I call out longingly to again
'Enough! Slow down; you have gone too far in reckless ardor.'
You have had your fill, exceedingly passionate
ولرُبَّand many a ليلٍnight بالوصالِin union قطعْتُهُI passed it
ولرُبَّ ليلٍ بالوصالِ قطعْتُهُ
أجلوI dispel دجاهُits darkness بأوجهِwith the faces of الندمَاءِboon companions
أجلو دجاهُ بأوجهِ الندمَاءِ
And many a night I passed in union,
And for many a night of union I spent
dispelling its darkness with the faces of boon companions.
Lighting its darkness with remorseful faces
أَنُسَيْتُI made forget فيهin it القلبَthe heart عادةَthe habit of حِلمهِits restraint
أَنُسَيْتُ فيه القلبَ عادةَ حِلمهِ
وحَثَثْتُand I urged along فيهِin it أكؤسَthe cups of السرَّاءِjoy
وحَثَثْتُ فيهِ أكؤسَ السرَّاءِ
There I made my heart forget its habitual restraint,
I forgot in it the heart's habit of dreaming
and urged along the cups of joy.
And in it I stirred the cups of joy
وجَرَيْتُand I raced فيin طَلَقِthe course of التصابيyouthful dalliance جامحاًunbridled
وجَرَيْتُ في طَلَقِ التصابي جامحاً
لاnot أنثنيI yield لمقادةto the guidance of النصحاءِcounselors
لا أنثني لمقادة النصحاءِ
I galloped headlong along the course of youthful dalliance,
And I flowed in the openness of abandon, galloping
never yielding to the guidance of counselors.
Not pausing to heed the advice of advisors
أَطويI traverse شبابيmy youth للمشيبtoward gray hair مراحلاًin stages
أَطوي شبابي للمشيب مراحلاً
برواحلِon the mounts of الإصباحmorning والإِمساءِand evening
برواحلِ الإصباح والإِمساءِ
I traverse my youth in stages toward gray hair,
on the mounts of morning and evening.
I shorten the distances of my youth to old age
ياO ليتwould that شعريmy knowledge هَلْwhether أُرَىI shall be seen أطويI fold up إلىtoward
يا ليت شعري هَلْ أُرَى أطوي إلى
قبرthe tomb of الرسولِthe Messenger صحائفَthe pages of البيداءِthe desert
قبر الرسولِ صحائفَ البيداءِ
Would that I knew: shall I be seen folding up, on my way to
With the steeds of dawn and dusk
the Messenger's tomb, the desert's pages,
I wish I knew, will I reach
فتطيبَso may become sweet فيin تلكthose الربوعِabodes مدائحيmy praises
فتطيبَ في تلك الربوعِ مدائحي
ويطولَand may be long فيin ذاكthat المَقَامstation ثوائيmy stay
ويطولَ في ذاك المَقَام ثوائي
so that my praises may grow sweet in those abodes,
The Prophet's tomb, the pages of the wilderness?
and my stay in that station may be long?
So my praises will be pleasant in those meadows
حيثُwhere النبوةُprophethood نورهاits light متألقٌshining
حيثُ النبوةُ نورها متألقٌ
كالشمسlike the sun تُزْهَىresplendent فيin سَناًradiance وسَناءِand glory
كالشمس تُزْهَى في سَناً وسَناءِ
Where the light of prophethood shines,
And my stance prolonged in that abode
like the sun, resplendent in radiance and glory;
Where prophethood, its light radiant
حيثُwhere الرسالةُthe divine message فيon ثنيةthe ridge of قدسهاits holiness
حيثُ الرسالةُ في ثنية قدسها
رَفَعَتْhas raised لهديfor the guidance of الخَلْقِcreation خيرَthe best لواءِbanner
رَفَعَتْ لهدي الخَلْقِ خيرَ لواءِ
where the divine message, on its sacred ridge,
Like the sun adorned with brilliance and splendor
has raised the finest banner to guide creation;
Where the message in the sanctuary of its holiness
حيثُwhere الضريحُthe tomb ضريحُthe tomb of أكرمِthe noblest مرسلٍmessenger
حيثُ الضريحُ ضريحُ أكرمِ مرسلٍ
فخرpride of الوجودِexistence وشافعِand intercessor of الشفعاءِthe intercessors
فخر الوجودِ وشافعِ الشفعاءِ
where the tomb is that of the noblest messenger,
Raised the best banner for the guidance of creation
the pride of existence and intercessor of intercessors:
Where the tomb, the tomb of the noblest messenger
المصطفىthe Chosen والمرتضىand the Approved والمجتبىand the Elect
المصطفى والمرتضى والمجتبى
والمنتقىand the Selected منfrom عنصرِthe essence of العلياءِnobility
والمنتقى من عنصرِ العلياءِ
the Chosen, the Approved, the Elect,
Pride of existence and intercessor of intercessors
selected from the very essence of nobility;
Al-Mustafa, Al-Murtada, Al-Mujtaba
خيرِbest of البريَّةِcreation مجتباهاits chosen one ذخرهاits treasure
خيرِ البريَّةِ مجتباها ذخرها
ظلَّthe shade of الإِلهِGod الوارفample الأفياءthe shadows
ظلَّ الإِلهِ الوارف الأفياء
the best of creation, its elect, its treasure,
And Al-Muntaqá from the elite of the lofty
God's shade, with its spreading shadows;
The best of creation, its essence purified
تاجcrown of الرسالةthe divine message خَتمِهاits seal وقِوامِهاand its mainstay
تاج الرسالة خَتمِها وقِوامِها
وعِمادِهاand its pillar الساميexalted علىabove النظراءِpeers
وعِمادِها السامي على النظراءِ
the crown of the divine message, its seal and mainstay,
The shade of God, encompassing and bountiful
its pillar, exalted above all peers.
Crown of the message, its seal and pillar
لواهُhis banner للأفلاكِfor the celestial spheres ماas long as لاحتshine بهاwithin them
لواهُ للأفلاكِ ما لاحت بها
شهبٌshooting stars تنيرُilluminating دياجيَthe dark depths of الظلماءِdarkness
شهبٌ تنيرُ دياجيَ الظلماءِ
His banner belongs to the spheres, so long as there shine within them
And its towering column over all peers
shooting stars that light the depths of darkness.
The horizon took its light that appeared in it
ذوpossessor of المعجزاتِmiracles الغُرِّdazzling والآيand signs الألىthat
ذو المعجزاتِ الغُرِّ والآي الألى
أُكْبِرْنَdeemed too great عنfor عَدٌcounting وعنand for إحصاءِreckoning
أُكْبِرْنَ عن عَدٌ وعن إحصاءِ
Possessor of dazzling miracles and signs that
Meteors giving light to the darkness of gloom
are too great for counting or reckoning.
Possessor of tangible miracles and signs
وكفاكَand enough for you ردُّthe return of الشمسِthe sun بعدafter مغيبهاits setting
وكفاكَ ردُّ الشمسِ بعد مغيبها
وكفاكَand enough for you ماwhat قدْindeed جاءَoccurred فيin الإِسراءِthe Night Journey
وكفاكَ ما قدْ جاءَ في الإِسراءِ
The sun's return after its setting is enough for you,
Glorious beyond counting or enumeration
and what occurred in the Night Journey is enough for you.
And suffice you the return of the sun after its setting
والبدرُand the full moon شُقَّwas split لَهُfor him وكمand how many منof آيةٍa sign
والبدرُ شُقَّ لَهُ وكم من آيةٍ
كأَناملِlike fingers جاءتْcame بنبعwith the springing of الماءِwater
كأَناملِ جاءتْ بنبع الماءِ
The full moon was split for him; how many signs there were,
And suffice you what occurred in Al-Isra during the night journey
such as fingers that brought forth springing water!
And for him the moon split, and how many a sign
وبليلةِand on the night of الميلادthe birth كمhow much منof رحمةٍmercy
وبليلةِ الميلاد كم من رحمةٍ
نشرَspread الإِلَهُGod بهاin it ومنand of نعماءِblessing
نشرَ الإِلَهُ بها ومن نعماءِ
And on the night of his birth, how much mercy
As if fingers streaming water
God spread there, and how many blessings!
And on the night of his birth, how much mercy
قدindeed بشَّرَgave glad tidings الرسُلُthe messengers الكرامُnoble ببعثِهِof his mission
قد بشَّرَ الرسُلُ الكرامُ ببعثِهِ
وتقدَّمَand came beforehand الكُهَّانُthe soothsayers بالأَنباءِwith tidings
وتقدَّمَ الكُهَّانُ بالأَنباءِ
The noble messengers foretold his mission,
Did God disseminate, and what blessings!
and soothsayers announced the news beforehand.
The noble messengers heralded his advent
أَكرمْhow noble بهاit is بشرىa glad tiding علىfrom قدمantiquity سَرَتْspread
أَكرمْ بها بشرى على قدم سَرَتْ
فيthrough الكونthe universe كالأَرْواحِlike souls فيin الأَعضاءِthe limbs
في الكون كالأَرْواحِ في الأَعضاءِ
How noble that glad tiding, which long ago spread
And the soothsayers preceded with the news
through the universe, like souls through limbs!
He brought the best tidings to mankind which traveled
أمسىcame to be بهاthrough it الإِسلامُIslam يشرقُshining نورُهُits light
أمسى بها الإِسلامُ يشرقُ نورُهُ
والكفرُand unbelief أصبحَbecame فاحمَpitch-black الأرجاءِin its quarters
والكفرُ أصبحَ فاحمَ الأرجاءِ
Through it, Islam's light came to shine,
Through the universe like spirits in bodies
while unbelief became pitch-black in every quarter.
Through him Islam's light shines
هوhe آيةُthe sign of اللهِGod التيwhich أنوارُهاits lights
هو آيةُ اللهِ التي أنوارُها
تجلوdispel ظلامَthe darkness of الشكِّdoubt أيَّwhat a جلاءِclearing
تجلو ظلامَ الشكِّ أيَّ جلاءِ
He is God's sign, whose lights
And disbelief became gloomy horizons
dispel the darkness of doubt most completely.
It is the sign of God whose lights
والشمسُand the sun لاnot تخفىis hidden مَزِيَّةُthe distinction of فضلِهاits excellence
والشمسُ لا تخفى مَزِيَّةُ فضلِها
إلاَّexcept علىfrom ذيone possessing المقلةِthe eye العمياءِblind
إلاَّ على ذي المقلةِ العمياءِ
The sun's surpassing excellence is not hidden
Clarify the darkness of doubt, however intense
except from one whose eye is blind.
And the sun, the merit of its superiority is not hidden
ياO مُصطفىchosen one والكونُwhile the universe لمnot تعلَقُhad touched بِهِit
يا مُصطفى والكونُ لم تعلَقُ بِهِ
منfrom بعدُthereafter أيديthe hands of الخَلْقِcreation والإنشاءِand formation
من بعدُ أيدي الخَلْقِ والإنشاءِ
O chosen one, while the universe had not been touched
Except from the blind of perception
as yet by the hands of creation and formation!
O Mustafa, and the universe after
ياO مُظْهِرrevealer of الحقِّtruth الجليِّmanifest ومُطْلِعَand bringer forth of الthe
يا مُظْهِر الحقِّ الجليِّ ومُطْلِعَ ال
نّورِlight السَّنِيِّradiant الساطعِblazing الأَضواءِthe beams
نّورِ السَّنِيِّ الساطعِ الأَضواءِ
O revealer of manifest truth, and bringer forth of the
The creation of mankind did not hang upon it
radiant light with its dazzling beams!
O manifestation of the evident Truth, and discloser of the
ياO ملجأَrefuge of الخلقcreation المشفَّعِwhose intercession is accepted فيهمُfor them
يا ملجأَ الخلق المشفَّعِ فيهمُ
ياO رحمةَmercy to الأمواتِthe dead والأحياءِand the living
يا رحمةَ الأمواتِ والأحياءِ
O refuge of creation, whose intercession for them is accepted,
Radiant light of the resplendent lights
O mercy to the dead and the living,
O refuge of creation, their intercessor
ياO آسيَhealer of المرضىthe sick ومنتجَعَand haven of الرضىfavor
يا آسيَ المرضى ومنتجَعَ الرضى
ومُاسيَand comforter of الأيتامِorphans والضُعَفاءِand the weak
ومُاسيَ الأيتامِ والضُعَفاءِ
O healer of the sick and haven where favor is sought,
O mercy to the dead and the living
and comforter of orphans and the weak!
O consoler of the sick and sanctuary of the content
أشكوI complain إليكَto you وأنتand you are خيرُthe best مُؤمَّلِone hoped for
أشكو إليكَ وأنت خيرُ مُؤمَّلِ
داءَthe disease of الذنوبِsins وفيand in يديكَyour hands دوائيmy cure
داءَ الذنوبِ وفي يديكَ دوائي
To you I complain—and you are the best hope—
O comforter of orphans and the weak
of the disease of sins; in your hands is my cure.
I complain to you, for you are the best hoped
إنيindeed I مددتُhave stretched out يَدِيmy hand إليكَtoward you تَضَرُّعاًin supplication
إني مددتُ يَدِي إليكَ تَضَرُّعاً
حاشاfar be it وكلاَّand certainly not أنthat يخيبَshould fail رجائيmy hope
حاشا وكلاَّ أن يخيبَ رجائي
I have stretched my hand toward you in supplication;
For the disease of sins, and in your hand is my cure
far be it, no indeed, that my hope should fail!
I extended my hand to you beseeching
إنif كنتI was لمnot أخلصreached إليكyou فإِنَّماthen only
إن كنت لم أخلص إليك فإِنَّما
خلصتhas reached إليكyou محبتيmy love وندائيand my call
خلصت إليك محبتي وندائي
If I have not reached you, nevertheless
Far be it! Far be it! That my hopes are dashed
my love and my call have reached you.
If I have not been sincere to you, then only
وبسعدِand through the good fortune of مولايَmy lord الإمامImam محمدٍMuhammad
وبسعدِ مولايَ الإمام محمدٍ
تَعِدُpromise الأمانيthe wishes أَنْthat يتاحَbe granted لقائيmy meeting
تَعِدُ الأماني أَنْ يتاحَ لقائي
And through the good fortune of my lord, Imam Muhammad,
My love and my calling have been sincere to you
my wishes promise that my meeting will be granted.
And by the felicity of my master Imam Muḥammad
ظلُّthe shade of الإِلهِGod علىover البلادَthe lands وأهلِهاand their people
ظلُّ الإِلهِ على البلادَ وأهلِها
فخرُpride of الملوكِkings السادةlords الخلفاءcaliphs
فخرُ الملوكِ السادة الخلفاء
God's shade over the lands and their people,
Hopes promise that I will be allowed to meet you
the pride of kings, lords, and caliphs,
The shadow of God over the country and its people
غوثُsuccor of العبادِhumankind ولَيْثُand lion of مشتجرِthe tangle of القَنَاspears
غوثُ العبادِ ولَيْثُ مشتجرِ القَنَا
يومَon the day of الطعانِspear-fighting وفارجُand dispeller of الغماءِsorrow
يومَ الطعانِ وفارجُ الغماءِ
succor of humankind, a lion amid tangled spears
Pride of kings, the noble caliphs
on the day of battle, and dispeller of sorrow.
Succor of servants, and fierce lion of the battlefield
كالدهرlike Time فيin سطواتهhis assaults وسماحهand his generosity
كالدهر في سطواته وسماحه
تجريblows صَباهhis east wind بزَعزعِwith tempest وَرُخاءِand gentleness
تجري صَباه بزَعزعِ وَرُخاءِ
Like Time in his assaults and his generosity:
On the day of calamity, and remover of sorrows
his east wind blows with tempest and gentleness.
Like fate in its sway and its leniency
رقتgrew tender سجاياهhis qualities وراقتand pleased مجتلىto behold
رقت سجاياه وراقت مجتلى
كالنهرlike a river وسطamid الروضةَthe garden الغنّاءِluxuriant
كالنهر وسط الروضةَ الغنّاءِ
His qualities are tender and lovely to behold,
Its youth flows with shakeup and prosperity
like a river amid a luxuriant garden;
His nature softened and his beauty shone
كالزَّهرlike blossoms فيin إيراقهِits leafing والبدرand the full moon فيin
كالزَّهر في إيراقهِ والبدر في
إشراقهits radiance والزُّهرand the bright stars فيin لألاءِglitter
إشراقه والزُّهر في لألاءِ
like blossoms in their leafing, the full moon in
Like a river amidst the singing meadow
its radiance, and bright stars in their glitter.
Like a flower in its blossoming, the full moon in
ياO ابنson of الألىthose who إجمالهمtheir beneficence وجمالهمand their beauty
يا ابن الألى إجمالهم وجمالهم
فَلَقُthe breaking of الصباحdawn وواكفand the pouring of الأنواءِrain-bearing stars
فَلَقُ الصباح وواكف الأنواءِ
O son of those whose beneficence and beauty are
Its rising, and flowers in their violet buds
the breaking dawn and the downpour of rain-bearing stars;
O son of the exalted, their perfection and their beauty
أنصارُchampions of دينthe faith of اللهGod حزبُthe party of رسولهHis Messenger
أنصارُ دين الله حزبُ رسوله
والسابقونand front-runners بحلبةon the course of العلياءِnobility
والسابقون بحلبة العلياءِ
champions of God's faith, the party of His Messenger,
Dawn’s rending, stopper of gusts
and front-runners on the course of nobility.
The supporters of God’s religion, the party of His Messenger
ياO ابنson of الخلائفthe caliphs منfrom بنيthe sons of نصرNasr ومَنْand those who
يا ابن الخلائف من بني نصر ومَنْ
حاطواguarded ذمَارthe honor of الملةthe faith السمحاءِgracious
حاطوا ذمَار الملة السمحاءِ
O son of the caliphs of Banu Nasr, and of those who
And the foremost in the arena of the sublime
guarded the honor of the gracious faith,
O son of the caliphs from the clan of Nasr and those
منfrom كلevery منone who تقفstand الملوكkings ببابهat his door
من كل من تقف الملوك ببابه
يستمطرونseeking rain from سحائبthe clouds of النعماءِbounty
يستمطرون سحائب النعماءِ
from each of those at whose door kings stand,
Who grasped the reins of the tolerant faith
seeking rain from the clouds of bounty.
A people, when they led armies into the fray
قومٌa people إذاwhen قادواthey lead الجيوشarmies إلىinto الوغىbattle
قومٌ إذا قادوا الجيوش إلى الوغى
فالرعبthen terror رائدهمtheir scout إلىagainst الأعداءِthe enemies
فالرعب رائدهم إلى الأعداءِ
A people who, when they lead armies into battle,
Terror was their vanguard to the enemies
have terror as their scout against the enemy;
And honor brought with each battalion
والعزand glory مجلوبborne along بكلِّwith every كتيبةٍbattalion
والعز مجلوب بكلِّ كتيبةٍ
والنصرand victory معقودbound بكلِّto every لواءِbanner
والنصر معقود بكلِّ لواءِ
glory is borne along with every battalion,
And victory tied to every banner
and victory is tied to every banner.
O heir to their merits which
ياO وارثاًone inheriting عنهاfrom it مناقبهاits virtues التيwhich
يا وارثاً عنها مناقبها التي
تسموsoar مراقيهاtheir stairways علىabove الجوزاءِal-Jawza
تسمو مراقيها على الجوزاءِ
O you who inherit from that people its virtues, whose
Tower above the high stars
stairways soar above al-Jawza,
O pride of al-Andalus and protector of its people
ياO فخرpride of أندلسٍal-Andalus وعصمةَand protector of أهلهاits people
يا فخر أندلسٍ وعصمةَ أهلها
يجزيكmay reward you عنهاon its behalf اللهُGod خيرَthe best جزاءِreward
يجزيك عنها اللهُ خيرَ جزاءِ
O pride of al-Andalus and protector of its people,
May God reward you best for it
may God reward you richly on its behalf!
How many tasks for its reform you undertook
كمhow many خضتyou have crossed طوعin service of صلاحهاits welfare منof مهمةٍa trackless waste
كم خضت طوع صلاحها من مهمةٍ
لاnot تهتديfind their way فيهin it القطاsandgrouse للماءِto water
لا تهتدي فيه القطا للماءِ
How many a trackless waste you have crossed in service of its welfare,
In which even the guide gets lost on the way to water
where sandgrouse cannot find their way to water!
With resolves you guide the confused travelers
تهديyou guide بهاthere حاديthe driver of السُّريnight-travelers بعزائمwith resolves
تهدي بها حادي السُّري بعزائم
تهديbestow on نجومَthe stars of الأفقthe horizon فضلَextra ضياءِradiance
تهدي نجومَ الأفق فضلَ ضياءِ
There you guide the night-travelers' driver with resolves
And guide the stars in the sky in precedence of light
that bestow added radiance on the stars of the horizon.
So raise the banner of pride without defense
فارفعso raise لواءthe banner of الفخْرpride غيرnot مُدافعopposed
فارفع لواء الفخْر غير مُدافع
واسحَبْand trail ذيولَthe hems of العّزةِmight القعساءِunyielding
واسحَبْ ذيولَ العّزةِ القعساءِ
Raise, then, the banner of pride, unopposed,
And drag the train of noble glory
and trail the hems of unyielding might.
And congratulate yourself on your blessed building, for it is
واهْنَأand rejoice بمبناكin your edifice السعيدblessed فإنهfor indeed it
واهْنَأ بمبناك السعيد فإنه
كهفٌa refuge ليومfor a day of مشورةِcounsel وعَطاءِand generosity
كهفٌ ليوم مشورةِ وعَطاءِ
Rejoice in your blessed edifice, for it is
A cave for the day of consultation and bestowal
a refuge for a day of counsel and generosity.
From it is a halo for God that has become
للهِto God منهof it هالةٌa halo قدalready أصبحتhas become
للهِ منه هالةٌ قد أصبحت
حَرَمَa sanctuary for العفاةِpetitioners ومصرعand a place of death for الأعداءِenemies
حَرَمَ العفاةِ ومصرع الأعداءِ
By God, what a halo it has, now become
Sanctuary of the destitute and death place of enemies
a sanctuary for petitioners and a place where enemies fall!
Which birds of hope frequent, harvesting
تنتابُهاvisit it طيرُthe birds of الرجاءhope فتجتنيso gather
تنتابُها طيرُ الرجاء فتجتني
ثمرَthe fruit of المنىwishes منfrom دوحةthe great tree of الآلاءِblessings
ثمرَ المنى من دوحة الآلاءِ
The birds of hope visit it and gather
The fruit of wishes from the date palm of favors
the fruit of wishes from the great tree of blessings.
From it is a dome raised
للهِto God منهof it قبةٌa dome مرفوعةraised high
للهِ منه قبةٌ مرفوعة
دونbelow السماءthe sky تفوتsurpasses لحظthe glance of الرائيthe beholder
دون السماء تفوت لحظ الرائي
By God, what a lofty dome it has,
Below the sky, escaping the glance of onlookers
beneath the sky, beyond the beholder's gaze!
The wonders of its decoration have delighted, as if it were
راقتdelighted بدائعُthe wonders of وشيهاits embroidery فكأنهاso as though it were
راقت بدائعُ وشيها فكأنها
وشيُthe embroidery of الربيعspring بمسقطat the falling-place of الأنداءِthe dew
وشيُ الربيع بمسقط الأنداءِ
Its wondrous embroidery delights, as though it were
The decoration of spring at the place of dew
spring's embroidery where the dew falls.
You magnified the birth of the Prophet Muhammad
عظّمتَyou honored ميلادَthe birth of النبيِّthe Prophet محمدٍMuhammad
عظّمتَ ميلادَ النبيِّ محمدٍ
وشَفعتَهُand you paired it بالليلةِwith the night الغرَّاءِresplendent
وشَفعتَهُ بالليلةِ الغرَّاءِ
You honored the birth of the Prophet Muhammad,
And coupled it with the blessed night
and paired it with the resplendent night.
You spent your night awake, benefiting us
أحييتَyou kept alive ليلكyour night ساهراًwakeful فأفدتناand so gave us
أحييتَ ليلك ساهراً فأفدتنا
قوتَnourishment for القلوبhearts بذلكthrough that الإِحيَاءِvigil
قوتَ القلوب بذلك الإِحيَاءِ
You kept your night alive in wakefulness, and gave us
Strengthening hearts with that revival
nourishment for our hearts through that vigil.
O noble imam, transcending the perceptions of intellectuals
ياO أَيُّهاyou الملكُking الهُمامvaliant المجتبىchosen
يا أَيُّها الملكُ الهُمام المجتبى
فاتتsurpassed علاكyour loftiness مداركَthe understanding of العُقَلاءِthe wise
فاتت علاك مداركَ العُقَلاءِ
O valiant, chosen king,
Who can enumerate your merits that
your loftiness surpasses the grasp of the wise.
Even the horizons of the eloquent fell short?
منwho ليfor me بأنso that أُحصيI count مناقبكyour virtues التيwhich
من لي بأن أُحصي مناقبك التي
ضاقتbecame too narrow بهنْfor them مذاهبُthe paths of الفصحاءِeloquent speakers
ضاقت بهنْ مذاهبُ الفصحاءِ
Who will enable me to count your virtues, for which
And to you from me is an outspread garden
the paths of eloquent speakers have grown too narrow?
Whose flowers reddened with the scent of eulogy
وإليكand to you منيfrom me روضةٌa garden مطلولةٌdew-drenched
وإليك مني روضةٌ مطلولةٌ
أَرِجَتْgave off fragrance أزاهرهاits flowers بطيبwith the fragrance of ثَناءِpraise
أَرِجَتْ أزاهرها بطيب ثَناءِ
And to you, from me, comes a dew-drenched garden,
So make room for it in the bosom of your forgiveness, it is
whose flowers give off the fragrance of fine praise.
An innocent that came walking with shyness
فافْسَحْso make room لهاfor it أكْنافَwithin the bounds of صفحكyour indulgence إنهاindeed it
فافْسَحْ لها أكْنافَ صفحك إنها
بكرٌa virgin maiden أتتcame تمشيwalking علىwith استحياءِshyness
بكرٌ أتت تمشي على استحياءِ
Make room for it within the bounds of your indulgence; it is
a maiden who has come walking shyly.
Partial English translation: 149 of 152 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1