أنهىthe utmost of صفاتيmy descriptions فيكabout you أدنىthe slightest وصفكthe description of you
أنهى صفاتي فيك أدنى وصفك
عجراًflaws; difficulties ووصفand the description of الحورthe houris ماwhat لمnot يدركhas been grasped
عجراً ووصف الحور ما لم يدرك
My fullest descriptions of you are but the least account of you,
Your beauty completes my qualities, though you are beyond description,
with their flaws; describing houris remains beyond grasp.
To describe the houris is fruitless, for one who has not attained them,
ياO كاعبround-breasted maiden الفردوسParadise تيهيbe proud حسبكenough for you
يا كاعب الفردوس تيهي حسبك
لوif أنthat للدنياto the world تجلىwas revealed وجهكyour face
لو أن للدنيا تجلى وجهك
O round-breasted maiden of Paradise, be proud; enough for you—
O keeper of Paradise, your wandering in the desert is enough,
if your face were revealed to the world,
If the splendor of your face were revealed to the world,
لاستغرقwould engulf الشمسthe sun ازدهارradiance أمثلthe finest ماwhat
لاستغرق الشمس ازدهار أمثل ما
يحكيresembles الغرابيبjet-black shades اسوداداًin blackness جعدكyour curling hair
يحكي الغرابيب اسوداداً جعدك
its radiance would engulf the sun; the finest thing
The shining sun would be dimmed by the blossoming of your ideal self,
to match jet-black shades in darkness is your curling hair.
That the prognosticators would portray as your jet-black curly hair,
لوif أشرقتshone شمسthe sun of الضحاforenoon فيin ليلةa night
لو أشرقت شمس الضحا في ليلة
ظلماًin darkness لواراهاwould veil it تلاليthe glitter of خدكyour cheek
ظلماً لواراها تلالي خدك
If the forenoon sun shone in a night
If the sun rose in the darkness of night,
of darkness, your cheek's shimmer would veil it.
Its light would be obscured by the hills of your cheeks,
لكنكbut you الحوراthe houri التيwho لوif لاحظتglanced
لكنك الحورا التي لو لاحظت
عيناكyour two eyes كفاراًunbelievers ثناهمturned them طرفكyour gaze
عيناك كفاراً ثناهم طرفك
Yet you are the houri: were
But you are the houri, whose glance,
your eyes to glance at unbelievers, your gaze would sway them.
Were unbelievers to observe, your eyelash would incline them,
ماnot اللؤلؤthe pearl المكنونhidden لولاbut for عدمهits lack
ما اللؤلؤ المكنون لولا عدمه
للروحof a soul ياO حسناءbeautiful woman إِلاexcept شبهكyour likeness
للروح يا حسناء إِلا شبهك
The hidden pearl, but for its lack
What is concealed pearl, if not for its absence,
of a soul, O beauty, is nothing but your likeness.
To the soul, O beauty, other than your likeness,
غصنa branch وريانand lush وطيبand fragrant واضحbright
غصن وريان وطيب واضح
صافclear فماso how أرواهwell watered it is هذاthis خدكyour cheek
صاف فما أرواه هذا خدك
A branch, lush and fragrant, bright
A twig, flowers, fragrance and clarity,
and clear—how well watered it is! This is your cheek.
This is none but your cheek, pure and fresh,
والرملand the sand لولاbut for رقرقتهits rippling shimmer زهرةradiance; a blossom
والرمل لولا رقرقته زهرة
أوor كانit were رجراجاًquivering يحاكيresembles ردفكyour rump
أو كان رجراجاً يحاكي ردفك
And sand, but for its rippling radiance,
Were it not for the sparkle of sand, it would be a flower,
or were it quivering, would resemble your rump.
Or glistening, emulating the smoothness of your skin,
للّهby God ماhow أبهاكbeautiful you are فيin لبسclothing وماand how
للّه ما أبهاك في لبس وما
أبهاكbeautiful you are إِنif ألقيتyou cast off أعلىthe uppermost part of لبسكyour clothing
أبهاك إِن ألقيت أعلى لبسك
By God, how lovely you are in clothing, and how
By God, your beauty in dress, and your beauty,
lovely if you cast off your outer clothing!
When you don the finest dress,
ماnot منany جمالbeauty كمالperfection أوor بهجةsplendor
ما من جمال كمال أو بهجة
إلاexcept عليهاover it حاكمone that rules منfrom حسنكyour beauty
إلا عليها حاكم من حسنك
There is no beauty, perfection, or splendor
No perfection of beauty or joy exists,
over which something of your beauty does not reign.
Except over which your beauty presides as judge,
لوif only أنthat تيجانthe crowns of الحياrain منfrom فوقهاabove them
لو أن تيجان الحيا من فوقها
أنوارthe lights of أكليلthe diadem of البهاsplendor منfrom فوقكabove you
أنوار أكليل البها من فوقك
If only the crowns of rain had above them
If the crowns of life, above them,
the lights of the diadem of splendor above you!
Were lights from the crown of glory above you,
فيin كلevery شيءthing منكof you غنجcoquetry مطربenchanting
في كل شيء منك غنج مطرب
لكنماbut سلطانهits dominion فيin نطقكyour speech
لكنما سلطانه في نطقك
In everything about you there is enchanting coquetry,
In everything of yours there is an alluring charm,
but its dominion lies in your speech.
But its dominion is in your speech,
مهتزةswaying إِنif تنهضيyou rise ميادةgently swaying
مهتزة إِن تنهضي ميادة
أنwhen تقعديyou sit رجراجةquivering أنwhen تتكيyou recline
أن تقعدي رجراجة أن تتكي
Swaying when you rise, gently swaying
Swaying when you rise proudly,
when you sit, quivering when you recline.
Or shimmering when you sit, or lean,
أنتyou التيthe one who ياO منyou who إليهاto her المنتهىthe utmost limit
أنت التي يا من إليها المنتهى
فيin الحسنbeauty أدهىmore wondrous منكthan you حسناًin beauty عقلكyour mind
في الحسن أدهى منك حسناً عقلك
You are she—O you who are the ultimate limit
You are the one, O she whose ultimate limit
in beauty—yet your mind is more wondrous in beauty than you.
In beauty is beyond you in beauty, your reason,
أنتyou الشفاhealing شماwhen smelled وماand what is فوقbeyond الشفاhealing
أنت الشفا شما وما فوق الشفا
ضماwhen embraced ومنand than هذينthese two أحلىsweeter طعمكyour taste
ضما ومن هذين أحلى طعمك
You are healing when breathed in, and more than healing
You are the healing, healing fragrance and more,
when embraced; sweeter than either is your taste.
Embracing, and sweeter than these two, your taste,
طوبىblessedness لعبدfor a servant أنتyou منamong زوجانهhis wives
طوبى لعبد أنت من زوجانه
فيat الخدthe cheek يضحىbecomes خالداًimmortal معwith خلدكyour immortality
في الخد يضحى خالداً مع خلدك
Blessed is a servant who has you among his wives;
Happy is the servant to whom you are,
at the cheek he becomes immortal, sharing your eternity.
Spending his soul to be immortal with your eternity,
هذاthis ولكنbut إِنماonly قذفthe plunging of الفتىthe young man
هذا ولكن إِنما قذف الفتى
بالسيفwith the sword فيinto حوضthe pool of المناياdeaths مهركyour bridal due
بالسيف في حوض المنايا مهرك
All this—but only a young man's plunging
And this one has cast the sword in the basin of death, your dowry,
with sword into death's pool is your bridal due.
One who bared his right hand as a sword against the enemy,
منwhoever جردتhas drawn يمناهhis right hand سيفاًa sword للعداagainst the foes
من جردت يمناه سيفاً للعدا
لمnot تجتردbe deprived يمناهhis right hand منof تجريدكundressing you
لم تجترد يمناه من تجريدك
Whoever's right hand has drawn a sword against the foes,
Did not bare his right hand except for you,
his right hand will not be denied the undressing of you.
One who extended his body for the spears,
منwhoever مدstretched للتطعانfor spear-fighting يوماًone day صلبهhis back
من مد للتطعان يوماً صلبه
قصدaiming at الأعاديthe enemies مدهstretched it فيin حضنكyour embrace
قصد الأعادي مده في حضنك
Whoever once stretched his back out for spear-fighting,
Intending the enemies, extended it in your embrace,
aiming at the enemies, will stretch it in your embrace.
One who touched the brave in battle, did not disappoint,
منwhoever لامسencountered الأبطالthe champions حرباًin battle لمnot يخبwas disappointed
من لامس الأبطال حرباً لم يخب
منfrom مسtouching كعبيكyour two rounded breasts ولاnor منfrom خصركyour waist
من مس كعبيك ولا من خصرك
Whoever encountered champions in battle will not be disappointed
One who touched your ankles, or your waist,
in touching your rounded breasts, nor your waist.
One who was content resting his horse, was content to sacrifice himself,
منwhoever رضcrushed وطيthe trampling of الخيلhorses رضاutterly نحرهhis chest
من رض وطي الخيل رضا نحره
فيin الروعterror ألقىlaid نحرهhis chest فيagainst نحركyour chest
في الروع ألقى نحره في نحرك
Whoever's chest was crushed by the trampling of horses
He sacrificed his soul in the heat of battle for your soul,
in battle's terror will lay his chest against yours.
One who the dust of battle flew about,
منwhoever طارflew تربthe dust of النقعbattle-dust فيinto عرنينهhis nose
من طار ترب النقع في عرنينه
أضحىwill become غداًtomorrow مستنشقاًinhaling منfrom نشركyour fragrance
أضحى غداً مستنشقاً من نشرك
Whoever had battle-dust fly into his nose
Became inhaling it from your scattering the next day,
will tomorrow be breathing in your fragrance.
One who kissed the dust of the fray,
منwhoever لاثمkissed الغبراthe dusty earth ثناياthe front teeth of ثغرهhis mouth
من لاثم الغبرا ثنايا ثغره
لاقتmet ثناياهhis front teeth ثناياthe front teeth of ثغركyour mouth
لاقت ثناياه ثنايا ثغرك
Whoever's front teeth kissed the dusty earth,
His mouth met the crevices of your mouth,
his front teeth will meet the front teeth of your mouth.
One whose face blood flowed,
منwhoever سالflowed منfrom فيهhis mouth دمblood فيonto وجههhis face
من سال من فيه دم في وجهه
سالflowed ارتشافاًby sipping منهfrom it فيهhis mouth ريقكyour saliva
سال ارتشافاً منه فيه ريقك
Whoever had blood flow from his mouth onto his face,
It flowed profusely combining with your saliva,
your saliva will flow into his mouth as he sips it.
I have melted in longing and yearning for the struggle,
قدalready ذبتI have melted شوقاًwith longing واشتياقاًand yearning للوغىfor battle
قد ذبت شوقاً واشتياقاً للوغى
أرجوI hope بأنthat ألقاكI meet you وسطamid المعركcombat
أرجو بأن ألقاك وسط المعرك
I have melted with longing and yearning for battle,
Hoping to meet you amidst the battlefield,
hoping to meet you in the midst of combat.
But when will my prolonged night finish,
لكنbut متىwhen معwith طولthe length of ليليmy night أرتجيmay I hope
لكن متى مع طول ليلي أرتجي
فوزاًwinning بدارin the abode of الخلدeternity أوor فوزاًwinning بكwith you
فوزاً بدار الخلد أو فوزاً بك
But when, with my night so long, may I hope
And I attain success in the Abode of Eternity, or success with you,
to win the abode of eternity, or to win you?
I fear the black death before attaining my wish,
أخشىI fear المناياdeaths السودblack منfrom دونbefore المنىthe wishes
أخشى المنايا السود من دون المنى
ينشرنthey unfurl راياتthe banners of الفنىextinction فيin مسلكيmy path
ينشرن رايات الفنى في مسلكي
I fear black deaths that stand between me and my wishes,
Unfurling its banners of annihilation in my path,
unfurling the banners of extinction along my path.
And people saying alas, if they do not see,
ويحيwoe to me وويحand woe to الناسpeople إِنif لمnot ينظرواthey look
ويحي وويح الناس إِن لم ينظروا
فيinto حالهمtheir condition قبلbefore الوعيدthe threat المدركthat overtakes
في حالهم قبل الوعيد المدرك
Woe to me, and woe to people if they do not look
Their state before the known threat,
to their plight before the threat overtakes them.
Would that the people knew, or some of the people,
ليتif only الورىmankind يدرونknew أوor بعضsome of الورىmankind
ليت الورى يدرون أو بعض الورى
ماwhat فيin التوانيslackness والثوىand lingering منof مهلكdestruction
ما في التواني والثوى من مهلك
If only mankind knew, or some of mankind,
The perdition in procrastination and delay,
what destruction lies in slackness and staying put!
What is life, by God, other than it,
ماnot العيشlife واللّهby God الذيwho لاno غيرهother than Him
ما العيش واللّه الذي لا غيره
ربيmy Lord سوىexcept هجرabandoning القعودinaction المهلكfatal
ربي سوى هجر القعود المهلك
Life—by God, beside whom no other
My Lord, but estrangement from harmful lingering,
is my Lord—is nothing but forsaking deadly inaction.
How many lives have passed, and how many,
كمhow many هالكa dead man أنفاسهhis breaths تجريflow وكمand how many
كم هالك أنفاسه تجري وكم
منa ذائقone who tastes طعمthe taste of القضاdeath لمnot يهلكhas perished
من ذائق طعم القضا لم يهلك
How many a dead man still draws breath, and how many
Have tasted the taste of destiny and not perished,
have tasted death without perishing!
If the world were left to those who revel in it,
لوif كانتwere الدنياthe world لمنfor whoever يزهوglories بهاin it
لو كانت الدنيا لمن يزهو بها
متروكةleft فيin طوعهhis control لمnot يتركwould leave it
متروكة في طوعه لم يترك
If the world were left to one who glories in it,
Abandoned to their own devices, it would not be deserted,
subject to his will, he would not leave it.
As for me, while each day I pine away,
إنيindeed I وفيماand in what كلevery يومday داغرa headlong raider
إني وفيما كل يوم داغر
قبلbefore الفناannihilation يلقاهhe encounters it منهfrom it يسلكhe makes his way
قبل الفنا يلقاه منه يسلك
Indeed I—and amid what each day a headlong raider
Before demise, each takes his path,
encounters before annihilation, he makes his way out of it [syntax unclear].
By God, none attains the heights but one,
واللّهby God ماnot حازattained العلاthe heights إلاexcept الذيthe one who
واللّه ما حاز العلا إلا الذي
لمnot يغتررwas deceived منهاby it بحسنby the beauty of المضحكthe smile
لم يغترر منها بحسن المضحك
By God, none attains the heights except the one
Who is not deceived by its appealing beauty,
who is not beguiled by the beauty of the world's smile.
I do hope for good if I reach the abode,
إنيindeed I لأرجوsurely hope for الخيرgood إنif أصبحتI come to dwell فيin
إني لأرجو الخير إن أصبحت في
دارthe abode of الذيthe One who فيin نصرهHis aid لمnot أشككI have doubted
دار الذي في نصره لم أشكك
I indeed hope for good if I come to dwell in
Of Him, in whose victory I have not doubted,
the abode of the One whose aid I have never doubted.
In a little while, O tyrants, it will not escape,
عماafter قليلa little time ياO أوليmen of الطغيانtyranny لاnot
عما قليل يا أولي الطغيان لا
يخفىwill be hidden أولوthe men of الهيجاbattle منfrom المسترككthe one deemed weak
يخفى أولو الهيجا من المستركك
Soon, O men of tyranny, no longer
The stirrers of strife, the thundering,
will the men of battle remain hidden from the one deemed weak.
Wealth has come to you, beyond your ability,
قدalready جاءكمhas come to you مالاًwhat ... no (apparent reading) لكمyou have منany طاقةstrength
قد جاءكم مالاً لكم من طاقة
فيin دفعهrepelling it جيشan army عظيمmighty الدكدكcrushing force
في دفعه جيش عظيم الدكدك
There has come upon you what you have no strength
To deflect it, a great army, heavily armored,
to repel: an army of tremendous crushing force.
Ibn Ma'n has risen, and with him his army,
قامrose ابنthe son of معنMaʿn وابنand a son معهwith him جيشهhis army
قام ابن معن وابن معه جيشه
ذوpossessing كلكلa breast ضخمmassive ثقيلheavy المبركthe kneeling place
ذو كلكل ضخم ثقيل المبرك
Ibn Maʿn has risen, and a son; his army is with him,
With massive collars, heavy flails,
massive of breast, heavy where it kneels.
O Sultan, you have intended a noble matter,
ياO أيهاyou السلطانSultan قدalready أزمعتyou have resolved فيupon
يا أيها السلطان قد أزمعت في
أمرan undertaking شريفnoble فامضso proceed فيهwith it وافتكand strike ruthlessly
أمر شريف فامض فيه وافتك
O Sultan, you have resolved upon
Proceed in it, and separate yourself,
a noble undertaking; proceed with it and strike ruthlessly.
Indeed, supremecy - and may God grant you supremecy -
إنindeed العلاthe heights واللّهand God يعليكraises you العلاto the heights
إن العلا واللّه يعليك العلا
فيin رومهاseeking them ردعa deterrent لمنfor whoever لاnot يفتكstrikes ruthlessly
في رومها ردع لمن لا يفتك
Indeed, the heights—may God raise you to the heights!—
In Rome, is deterrence to those who do not refrain,
in their pursuit are a deterrent to whoever will not strike.
Do not heed the weakness in people's talk,
لاdo not تلتفتturn للوهنto weakness فيin قولthe words of الورىmankind
لا تلتفت للوهن في قول الورى
دعleave عنكfrom you ماwhat يحكىis told وماand what أنindeed قدalready حكيhas been told
دع عنك ما يحكى وما أن قد حكي
Do not heed the faintheartedness in people's words;
Disregard what is said and what is narrated,
put aside what is told and what has already been told.
Be determined, you who are hoped for it,
صممbe resolute لهاfor it أنتyou الذيthe one who يرجىis hoped for لهاfor it
صمم لها أنت الذي يرجى لها
أنتyou الرجاthe hope أوضحmake clear طريقthe path of المنسكworship
أنت الرجا أوضح طريق المنسك
Resolve upon it; you are the one in whom hope is placed for it.
You are the hope, elucidate the path of integrity,
You are the hope; make the path of worship clear.
Raise the minaret of religion, ennoble its affair,
شيدraise منارthe beacon of الدينreligion شرفhonor أمرهits cause
شيد منار الدين شرف أمره
تشرفyou will gain honor غداًtomorrow واشددand strengthen بهthrough it واستمسكand hold fast
تشرف غداً واشدد به واستمسك
Raise the beacon of religion; honor its cause;
You will be ennobled tomorrow, and adhere to it and hold fast,
you will be honored tomorrow; strengthen yourself by it and hold fast.
Save the oppressed from the injustice of enemies,
أدركrescue ذواتthe women possessing الدلcharm منfrom ظلمthe oppression of العداthe enemies
أدرك ذوات الدل من ظلم العدا
أدركrescue هداكmay guide you اللّهGod أدركrescue أدركrescue
أدرك هداك اللّه أدرك أدرك
Rescue the women of charm from the enemies' oppression;
May God guide you, save them, save them,
rescue them—God guide you!—rescue, rescue!
Sever with resolute determination the means of perdition,
أقطعcut off بحدwith the edge of العزمdetermination أسبابthe bonds of الثوىlingering
أقطع بحد العزم أسباب الثوى
واجدعand lop off بحدwith the edge of السيفthe sword أنفthe nose of المشركthe polytheist
واجدع بحد السيف أنف المشرك
Cut off, with determination's edge, the bonds of lingering;
And cut off with the sword the noses of the polytheists,
and lop off, with the sword's edge, the polytheist's nose.
Rush to the sword, and turn its blade away,
أبدرhasten إِلىto سيفa sword وزايلand separate جفنهits sheath
أبدر إِلى سيف وزايل جفنه
عنهfrom it وذمand blame السيفthe sword إنif لمnot يفتكit slays
عنه وذم السيف إن لم يفتك
Hasten to a sword, and separate its sheath
From it, and blame the sword if it does not accomplish,
from it; blame the sword if it does not slay.
Rain it upon the skulls of the enemies, or upon the stumps,
أحدرهbring it down فيupon هامthe heads of العداthe enemies أوor فيupon الطلىthe throats
أحدره في هام العدا أو في الطلى
أهدمdemolish بهwith it الهاماتthe heads هدماًutterly واهتكand rend
أهدم به الهامات هدماً واهتك
Bring it down upon the enemies' heads or throats;
Destroy with it the eminences, demolishing and violating,
demolish their heads with it utterly, and rend!
Spill the blood of enemies, spilling without ceasing,
أسفكshed دمthe blood of الأعداءthe enemies سفكاًa shedding لاno ولاand no
أسفك دم الأعداء سفكاً لا ولا
دينreligion ولاnor دنياworldly life إذاif لمnot يسفكit is shed
دين ولا دنيا إذا لم يسفك
Shed the enemies' blood, shed it—no, neither
No religion or world remains if it does not spill blood,
religion nor worldly life remains if it is not shed.
The limit of the sword is the sword, the sword,
السيفthe sword حدsharpen السيفthe sword إنindeed السيفthe sword إنif
السيف حد السيف إن السيف إن
حكمتهyou make it judge فيin موقفa confrontation لمnot يوفكprove false; mislead
حكمته في موقف لم يوفك
The sword! Sharpen the sword! Indeed the sword, if
Its rule in position is not improper,
you make it judge in a confrontation, will not prove false.
And none removes the sorrow but the sword, the sorrow,
والسيفand the sword لاnot يجلوdispels سوىexcept السيفthe sword الغماgrief
والسيف لا يجلو سوى السيف الغما
والسيفand the sword كشافa dispeller of الدجىdarkness المحلولكpitch-black
والسيف كشاف الدجى المحلولك
And the sword—only the sword dispels grief;
And the sword reveals the thick darkness,
and the sword clears away the pitch-black darkness.
No good but the sword, and the sword, contentment,
لاno خيرgood إلاexcept السيفthe sword والسيفand the sword الرضىsatisfaction
لا خير إلا السيف والسيف الرضى
ماso long as لمnot يغشcovers السيفthe sword كفthe palm of الممسكone who holds back
ما لم يغش السيف كف الممسك
There is no good but the sword, and the sword is satisfaction,
Unless the sword covers the hand of the holder,
so long as the hand of one who holds back does not shroud it.
People were not safe, nor did they submit,
لمnot يسلمembraced Islam الناسpeople ولمand not يستسلمواsubmitted
لم يسلم الناس ولم يستسلموا
عماthrough سوىanything but السيفthe sword فسلso draw it سلdraw it تسلكyou will tread
عما سوى السيف فسل سل تسلك
People neither embraced Islam nor submitted
To aught but the sword, so ask, you shall find the path,
through anything but the sword; draw it, draw it, and you will tread
The path of the rightful successor, may our Lord bless,
نهجthe path of الرضيthe well-pleasing one المختارthe chosen one صلىmay send blessings ربناour Lord
نهج الرضي المختار صلى ربنا
مناon our behalf علىupon المختارthe chosen one والبرand the righteous one الزكيpure
منا على المختار والبر الزكي
the path of the well-pleasing, chosen one. May our Lord send blessings
Us through the successor and the righteous saint.
on our behalf upon the chosen one and the righteous, pure one.
Partial English translation: 105 of 106 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1