نَعِمَlived in comfort الْوَرَىhumankind بِسَوابِغِwith abundant النَّعْماءِblessings
نَعِمَ الْوَرَى بِسَوابِغِ النَّعْماءِ
وَنَجَوْاand they escaped مِنَfrom الْبأْساءِhardship والضَّرَّاءِand distress
وَنَجَوْا مِنَ الْبأْساءِ والضَّرَّاءِ
Humankind enjoyed abundant blessings,
How excellent is the land with abundant blessings,
and escaped hardship and distress.
And they were saved from calamities and adversities.
عَضَدَstrengthened الإلهُGod أَباAbu (father of) الْوَفاءِal-Wafa (fidelity) بِنَصْرِهِwith His aid
عَضَدَ الإلهُ أَبا الْوَفاءِ بِنَصْرِهِ
عَضُدَthe arm of الخْلافَةِthe caliphate سَيِّدَlord of الأُمَراءِthe emirs
عَضُدَ الخْلافَةِ سَيِّدَ الأُمَراءِ
God strengthened Abu al-Wafa with His aid,
God supported the father of loyalty with His victory,
the arm of the caliphate, lord of the emirs.
The pillar of the Caliphate, the master of princes.
فأُرِيحَso was relieved قَلْبِيmy heart مِنْof جَوَىburning anguish الْبُرَحاءِtorment
فأُرِيحَ قَلْبِي مِنْ جَوَى الْبُرَحاءِ
وَلَهيبِand the blaze of نَارِthe fire of الْوَجْدِanguish وَالأدْواءِand ailments
وَلَهيبِ نَارِ الْوَجْدِ وَالأدْواءِ
So my heart was relieved of burning torment,
So my heart was comforted from the burning thirst,
and the blazing fire of anguish and ailments.
And the flames of passion, malady and pain.
عَادَreturned الزَّمانُtime إلىَto نَضارَةِthe freshness of عَيْشِهِits life
عَادَ الزَّمانُ إلىَ نَضارَةِ عَيْشِهِ
وَأُزِيلَتِand was dispelled الْبَأساءُhardship بالسَّرَّاءِby happiness
وَأُزِيلَتِ الْبَأساءُ بالسَّرَّاءِ
Time returned to the freshness of its life,
The days returned to the freshness of their life,
and hardship was dispelled by happiness.
And calamities were removed with ease.
قَدْindeed واصَلَmaintained النَّصْرَvictory المُتابَعَsuccessive سَيْفُهُhis sword
قَدْ واصَلَ النَّصْرَ المُتابَعَ سَيْفُهُ
كَوِصالِlike the union of حِبٍّa beloved كارِهٍaverse لِجفَاءِto estrangement
كَوِصالِ حِبٍّ كارِهٍ لِجفَاءِ
His sword has maintained victory upon victory,
His sword connected victory after victory,
like union with a beloved who loathes estrangement.
Like the connection of an unwilling love to separation.
فِيin كُلِّevery يَوْمٍday للأَعادِيfor the enemies وَقْعَةٌa battle
فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ للأَعادِي وَقْعَةٌ
مِنْهُfrom him تُبِيدُهُمُannihilates them وَسَيْفُand a sword of فَناءِannihilation
مِنْهُ تُبِيدُهُمُ وَسَيْفُ فَناءِ
Each day his enemies face a battle
Every day he deals the enemies a blow,
from him that destroys them, and a sword of annihilation.
That destroys them, by the sword of annihilation.
فَتَراهُمُso you see them لَمَّاwhen رَأَوْهُthey saw him مُقْبِلاًadvancing
فَتَراهُمُ لَمَّا رَأَوْهُ مُقْبِلاً
كَالشَّاءِlike sheep يَنْفُرِfleeing مِنْfrom أُسُودِlions ضِرَاءِsavage
كَالشَّاءِ يَنْفُرِ مِنْ أُسُودِ ضِرَاءِ
So, when they see him advancing, you see them
So when they saw him advancing,
like sheep fleeing savage lions:
They fled like frightened sheep from ferocious wolves.
صَرْعَىfallen وَقَتْلَىand slain وَالَّذِيand whoever فاتَescaped الرَّدَىdeath
صَرْعَى وَقَتْلَى وَالَّذِي فاتَ الرَّدَى
مِنْهُمamong them حَلِيفُa companion of الذُّلِّhumiliation فيamong الأُسَراءِthe captives
مِنْهُم حَلِيفُ الذُّلِّ في الأُسَراءِ
fallen and slain; and whoever escaped death
Slain and killed were those whom ruin missed,
among them is humiliation's companion among the captives.
Becoming allies of humiliation in captivity.
ضَحِكَتْsmiled بِهthrough him الأَيَّامُthe days بَعْدَafter قُطُوبِهاtheir frowning
ضَحِكَتْ بِه الأَيَّامُ بَعْدَ قُطُوبِها
وَجَلاand dispelled الضِّياءُlight بِهِthrough him دُجَىthe gloom of الظَّلْماءِdarkness
وَجَلا الضِّياءُ بِهِ دُجَى الظَّلْماءِ
Through him the days smiled after their frowning,
The days smiled after their gloom through him,
and through him light dispelled the gloom of darkness.
And the light shone, dispelling the darkness.
فَصِلُواso sustain السُّرُورjoy قَضَاءَas compensation for ماwhat عايَنْتُمُyou witnessed
فَصِلُوا السُّرُور قَضَاءَ ما عايَنْتُمُ
بِالأَمْسِyesterday مِنْof هَمٍّanxiety وَمِنْand of بُرَحاءِtorment
بِالأَمْسِ مِنْ هَمٍّ وَمِنْ بُرَحاءِ
So sustain your joy, in recompense for what you witnessed
So celebrate relief from the worries and burning thirst
yesterday of anxiety and torment.
That you witnessed yesterday.
قَدْindeed عُوفِيwas healed اللَّيْثُthe lion الْمُطِلُّlooming عَلىover العدَاthe enemies
قَدْ عُوفِي اللَّيْثُ الْمُطِلُّ عَلى العدَا
مِنْof كُلِّall مَاthat يَشْكُوhe complains مِنْof اللأْواءِhardship
مِنْ كُلِّ مَا يَشْكُو مِنْ اللأْواءِ
The lion looming over his foes has been healed
The fierce lion who eyes his enemies has recovered
of all the hardship from which he suffers.
From all he complains of pains.
وَأَتاهُand came to him نَصْرٌvictory مِنْfrom إلهٍa God مُنْعِمٍbeneficent
وَأَتاهُ نَصْرٌ مِنْ إلهٍ مُنْعِمٍ
يَقْضِيdecrees لَهُfor him أَبَداًalways بِخَيْرِwith the best of قَضاءِdecrees
يَقْضِي لَهُ أَبَداً بِخَيْرِ قَضاءِ
And victory came to him from a beneficent God,
And victory came to him from a beneficent God,
who always ordains the best of decrees for him.
Who decides for him forever in the best decree.
أَعْيَيْتَyou baffled حيلَتَهُمْtheir stratagems وَفُتَّand you surpassed مَدَاهُمُtheir reach
أَعْيَيْتَ حيلَتَهُمْ وَفُتَّ مَدَاهُمُ
مِنْfrom غَيْرِother than إِتْعابٍexertion وَلاand no إِعْيَاءِexhaustion
مِنْ غَيْرِ إِتْعابٍ وَلا إِعْيَاءِ
You baffled their stratagems and surpassed their reach,
You exhausted their wits and blunted their sharpness,
without exertion or exhaustion.
Without fatigue or wearying.
نَثَرَتْscattered سُيُوفُكَyour swords بِالْفَضاءِacross open space أَكُفَّهُمْtheir hands
نَثَرَتْ سُيُوفُكَ بِالْفَضاءِ أَكُفَّهُمْ
فَكَأَنَّهُمْso as though they were فِيهِin it حَصَىpebbles of الْبَطْحاءِthe gravelly plain
فَكَأَنَّهُمْ فِيهِ حَصَى الْبَطْحاءِ
Your swords scattered their hands across the open plain,
Your swords scattered their palms in the open,
so they seemed there like pebbles of a gravelly valley.
As if they were pebbles in the courtyard.
وَعطَفْتَand you wheeled خَيْلَكَyour cavalry خاطِفاًsnatching أَرْوَاحَهُمْtheir souls
وَعطَفْتَ خَيْلَكَ خاطِفاً أَرْوَاحَهُمْ
مِنْfrom غَيْرِother than إمْهَالٍrespite وَلاand no إِبْطاءِdelay
مِنْ غَيْرِ إمْهَالٍ وَلا إِبْطاءِ
And you wheeled your cavalry, snatching their souls,
And you turned your horse snatching their souls,
without respite or delay.
Without delay or tardiness.
أَنْتَyou الْمُعَظَّمُthe exalted one فِيin الزَّمانِthe age وَمَنْand the one who لَهُto him
أَنْتَ الْمُعَظَّمُ فِي الزَّمانِ وَمَنْ لَهُ
ذَلَّتْbowed رِقابُthe necks of السَّادَةِthe lords الْعُظَماءِmighty
ذَلَّتْ رِقابُ السَّادَةِ الْعُظَماءِ
You are the exalted one of this age, and the one before whom
You are the most honored in the times, and one to whom,
the necks of mighty lords have bowed.
The necks of eminent chieftains have bowed.
أَبَتِrefused الإمارَةُrulership أَنْto تُزَوَّجَbe wedded غَيْرَهُanyone but him
أَبَتِ الإمارَةُ أَنْ تُزَوَّجَ غَيْرَهُ
مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter ماthat خُطِبَتْit was courted أَشَدَّthe strongest إِباءِrefusal
مِنْ بَعْدِ ما خُطِبَتْ أَشَدَّ إِباءِ
Rulership refused to be wedded to anyone but him,
The emirate refused to marry other than him,
after being courted, with the most resolute refusal.
After being sought in marriage most adamantly.
وَعَصَىand rebelled الْمَدِيحُpraise فَلَيْسَso it does not يُعْطيgive طَاعَةًobedience
وَعَصَى الْمَدِيحُ فَلَيْسَ يُعْطي طَاعَةً
إلاexcept لَهُto him فِيin سُؤْدَدٍnobility وثَنَاءِand acclaim
إلا لَهُ فِي سُؤْدَدٍ وثَنَاءِ
And praise rebelled, granting no obedience
And praise disobeyed, so it gives no obedience,
except to him, in nobility and acclaim.
Except to him, humbly and in praise.
يَلْهُوmakes sport بِأَبْطالِof champions among الرجالِmen شَجاعَةًthrough bravery
يَلْهُو بِأَبْطالِ الرجالِ شَجاعَةً
لَهْوَthe sport of الْمُلاعِبِthe player فازَhas won بِالأهَوْاءِaffections
لَهْوَ الْمُلاعِبِ فازَ بِالأهَوْاءِ
In valor he makes sport of champion warriors,
In courage, he toys with brave men,
like a player at sport who has won hearts.
Winning the passions, a victor of love.
مَلِكٌa king أَبَرَّsurpassed عَلَىover الْمُلُوكِthe kings بِبَأْسِهِthrough his might
مَلِكٌ أَبَرَّ عَلَى الْمُلُوكِ بِبَأْسِهِ
وَقَبُولِهِand his acceptance مِنْfrom سَيِّدِthe foremost of النُّصَحاءِadvisers
وَقَبُولِهِ مِنْ سَيِّدِ النُّصَحاءِ
A king who surpasses kings through his might,
A king whose might proved greater than kings,
and through his acceptance of counsel from the foremost adviser.
And his acceptance from the master of advisers.
أَحياrevived مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad بْنُson of يَحْيىYahya دَوْلةًa state
أَحيا مُحَمَّدٌ بْنُ يَحْيى دَوْلةً
بِصَحِيحِwith sound عَزْمٍresolve صائِبِunerring الأراءِjudgments
بِصَحِيحِ عَزْمٍ صائِبِ الأراءِ
Muhammad ibn Yahya revived a state
Muhammad ibn Yahya revived a state,
with sound resolve and unerring judgment.
With sound resolve and correct views.
زَيْنُthe ornament of الكِتابَةِscribal art وَابْنُand son of مَنْone who ذَلَّتْbowed لَهُto him
زَيْنُ الكِتابَةِ وَابْنُ مَنْ ذَلَّتْ لَهُ
وَعَلَيْهِand before him قِدْماًof old كِتْبَةُthe scribes of الْخُلَفاءِthe caliphs
وَعَلَيْهِ قِدْماً كِتْبَةُ الْخُلَفاءِ
The ornament of scribal art, and son of one to whom
The adornment of literature and son of one to whom,
and before whom the caliphs' scribes bowed of old.
Bowed down at his feet the scribes of the caliphs.
مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter ماthat ظَنَّthought الأَعادِيthe enemies أَنَّهُthat it
مِنْ بَعْدِ ما ظَنَّ الأَعادِي أَنَّهُ
سَيَكُونُwill be مَنْwhoever نَاوَاهُopposed him ذاpossessing اسْتِعلاءِascendancy
سَيَكُونُ مَنْ نَاوَاهُ ذا اسْتِعلاءِ
This was after the enemies had thought that
After the enemies thought that he,
whoever opposed him would gain ascendancy,
Would be one they wished to overpower.
إذْwhen ساوَرَassailed الإسْلامَIslam سُقْمٌa sickness قاتِلٌdeadly
إذْ ساوَرَ الإسْلامَ سُقْمٌ قاتِلٌ
لَوْif لَمْnot يُدارِكْhe checked سُقْمَهُits sickness بِشِفاءِwith a cure
لَوْ لَمْ يُدارِكْ سُقْمَهُ بِشِفاءِ
when Islam was assailed by a sickness that would have killed it,
When a deadly disease befell Islam,
had he not checked its sickness with a cure.
That would have killed it, had it not been cured by his remedy.
فَرَماهُمُso he assailed them مِنْfrom رَأْيِهِhis counsel بِنَوافِذٍwith piercing bolts
فَرَماهُمُ مِنْ رَأْيِهِ بِنَوافِذٍ
تُهْدَىare guided بِلاwithout هادٍa guide إلَىto الأَحْشاءِthe entrails
تُهْدَى بِلا هادٍ إلَى الأَحْشاءِ
So he assailed them with piercing bolts of his counsel,
So he shot them with his piercing views,
guided without a guide into the entrails.
Aimed without a guide at the vitals.
وَرَأَىand he saw حَبَالَىpregnant designs رَأْيِهِhis counsel شَرَكاًa snare لَهُمْfor them
وَرَأَى حَبَالَى رَأْيِهِ شَرَكاً لَهُمْ
فَهَوَوْاso they plunged لِحَمْئَتِهِinto its mire هُويَّthe plunge of دِلاءِbuckets
فَهَوَوْا لِحَمْئَتِهِ هُويَّ دِلاءِ
And he saw his counsel's pregnant designs as a snare for them,
And he saw the pregnant clouds of his view as partners for them,
so they plunged into its mire as buckets plunge.
So they plunged for his teeming thoughts, a plunging of light.
فيin كارَKar يُرْجَىis hoped for عَيْنُthe finest of رَأْيِcounsel مُجَرِّبٍan experienced man
في كارَ يُرْجَى عَيْنُ رَأْيِ مُجَرِّبٍ
مَاضِيkeen الْحُسامِof blade لِحَسْمِto excise هَذَاthis الدَّاءِdisease
مَاضِي الْحُسامِ لِحَسْمِ هَذَا الدَّاءِ
In Kar, one hopes for a seasoned man's finest counsel,
In matters of hope, the view of an experienced one is fruitful,
with a keen sword to cut away this disease.
A drawn sword to root out this disease.
سَلْask بِالأمِيرِabout the emir وَسَيْفِهِand his sword مَنْwhoever رَامَهُchallenged him
سَلْ بِالأمِيرِ وَسَيْفِهِ مَنْ رَامَهُ
أَوْor هاجَهُprovoked him فِيin حَوْمَةِthe thick of الْهيجَاءِbattle
أَوْ هاجَهُ فِي حَوْمَةِ الْهيجَاءِ
Ask about the emir and his sword those who challenged him,
Ask him by the prince and his sword, whoever schemes against him,
or provoked him amid the press of battle.
Or enrages him in the heat of fury.
ضِرْغامُهُhis lion دَاميbloodstained الأظَافِرِof claw كُلَّمَاwhenever
ضِرْغامُهُ دَامي الأظَافِرِ كُلَّمَا
عَرَتِstruck النَّوائِبُcalamities مِنfrom دَمِthe blood of الأَعْدَاءِthe enemies
عَرَتِ النَّوائِبُ مِن دَمِ الأَعْدَاءِ
His lion's claws are bloodstained whenever
His claws, bloody from the enemies whenever,
calamities strike—with the blood of enemies.
Misfortunes spurted from the blood of foes.
فَكَأَنَّهُso as though he were فِيin سَرْجِهِhis saddle يَوْمَon the day of الْوغَاbattle
فَكَأَنَّهُ فِي سَرْجِهِ يَوْمَ الْوغَا
بَدْرٌa full moon تَلأْلأَglittered فِيamong سُعُودِthe auspicious stars of سَمَاءِthe sky
بَدْرٌ تَلأْلأَ فِي سُعُودِ سَمَاءِ
So in his saddle on the day of battle he seems
So it is as if in his saddle on the day of battle,
a full moon glittering among the sky's auspicious stars.
He is a full moon gleaming in a propitious sky.
وكَأَنَّماand as though قُوَّادُهُhis commanders مِنْfrom حَوْلِهِaround him
وكَأَنَّما قُوَّادُهُ مِنْ حَوْلِهِ
مُسْتَلْئِمِينَclad in armor كَواكِبَthe stars of الْجَوْزاءِOrion
مُسْتَلْئِمِينَ كَواكِبَ الْجَوْزاءِ
And his commanders around him seem,
And it is as if his warriors around him,
clad in armor, the stars of Orion.
Are clusters of stars Canopus.
مُتَلَبِّسٌclad in جِلْبَابَa cloak of صَبْرٍpatience تَحْتَهُbeneath it
مُتَلَبِّسٌ جِلْبَابَ صَبْرٍ تَحْتَهُ
قَلْبٌa heart كَمِثْلِlike الصَّخْرَةِthe rock الصَّمّاءِsolid
قَلْبٌ كَمِثْلِ الصَّخْرَةِ الصَّمّاءِ
He wears a cloak of patience, beneath which
Wearing the cloak of patience beneath which,
lies a heart like solid rock.
Is a heart like solid rock, impenetrable.
شَرَدَscattered الأَعادِيthe enemies خَوْفُهُfear of him فَكَأَنَّهُمْso as though they were
شَرَدَ الأَعادِي خَوْفُهُ فَكَأَنَّهُمْ
خَرِقُpanic-stricken ones of النَّعامِostriches بِقَفْرَةٍin a wasteland بَيْدَاءِdesolate
خَرِقُ النَّعامِ بِقَفْرَةٍ بَيْدَاءِ
Fear of him scattered his enemies, as though they were
His fear scattered the enemies so they are like,
panicked ostriches in a desolate desert,
Tattered ostriches in a barren desert.
أَوْor كُدْرُdusky ones of سِرْبِa flock of قَطاًsandgrouse أَضَرَّharmed بِهاthem الصَّدىthirst
أَوْ كُدْرُ سِرْبِ قَطاً أَضَرَّ بِها الصَّدى
فَتَساقَطَتْso they tumbled عَطَشاًin thirst إلَىinto الأَحْشاءِthe entrails
فَتَساقَطَتْ عَطَشاً إلَى الأَحْشاءِ
or dusky birds of a sandgrouse flock, afflicted by thirst,
Or a flock of wild cats that were startled by an echo,
so they tumbled, thirsting, into the entrails.
So they fell in thirst into the bowels of valleys.
عَطَفَwheeled الرِّجالُthe men إلَيْهِمُtoward them فَتَعَطَّفُواso they yielded
عَطَفَ الرِّجالُ إلَيْهِمُ فَتَعَطَّفُوا
لِلأَسْرِto captivity وَالإِذْلالِand humiliation فِعْلَin the manner of نِساءِwomen
لِلأَسْرِ وَالإِذْلالِ فِعْلَ نِساءِ
The men wheeled toward them, and they yielded
The men turned to attack them, and they yielded,
to captivity and humiliation, as women do.
To captivity and humiliation, acts of women.
وَأَتَىand came الأَمِيرُthe emir بِعِزَّةٍwith glory وَمَهابَةٍand majesty
وَأَتَى الأَمِيرُ بِعِزَّةٍ وَمَهابَةٍ
يَخْتالُstruts بَيْنَbetween غِنىًwealth وَبَيْنَand between غنَاءِprowess
يَخْتالُ بَيْنَ غِنىً وَبَيْنَ غنَاءِ
And the emir came in glory and majesty,
And the prince came with might and awe,
strutting between wealth and prowess.
Strutting between wealth and singing slave girls.
خَصِبَتْgrew fertile بِهِthrough him بغْدادُBaghdad بَعْدَafter جُدُوبِهاits drought
خَصِبَتْ بِهِ بغْدادُ بَعْدَ جُدُوبِها
وَتَلَبَّسَتْand clothed itself مِنْهُfrom him ثِيابَrobes of رَخاءِprosperity
وَتَلَبَّسَتْ مِنْهُ ثِيابَ رَخاءِ
Baghdad grew fertile through him after its drought,
Baghdad flourished through him after its gloom,
and through him clothed itself in robes of prosperity.
And was clothed by him in garments of ease.
هذاthis وَفِيand in أَيَّامِthe days of بَجْكَمَBajkam كَمْhow many لَهُof his
هذا وَفِي أَيَّامِ بَجْكَمَ كَمْ لَهُ
مِنْof صِدْقِgenuine عارِفَةٍkindness وَحُسْنِand fine بَلاءِservice
مِنْ صِدْقِ عارِفَةٍ وَحُسْنِ بَلاءِ
All this—and in Bajkam's days, how many were his
How many sincere devotions and excellent trials,
acts of genuine kindness and gallant service!
He had in the days of Bujka.
تَسْوَدُّgrow black أَيْديthe hands of غَيْرِهِothers فِيin حَرْبِهِhis war
تَسْوَدُّ أَيْدي غَيْرِهِ فِي حَرْبِهِ
فَيُضِيئُهاso he illumines them بِيَدٍwith a hand لَهُof his بَيْضاءِwhite
فَيُضِيئُها بِيَدٍ لَهُ بَيْضاءِ
Others' hands grow black in his battles,
The hands of others would be darkened in his war,
and he illumines them with his own white hand.
Then he would brighten them with a shining white hand.
أَطْنابُthe tent ropes of بَأْسِكَyour might يَوْمَon the day of حَرْبِكَyour battle عُلِّقَتْwere fastened
أَطْنابُ بَأْسِكَ يَوْمَ حَرْبِكَ عُلِّقَتْ
لِعُلُوِّهاfor their loftiness بِكَواكِبِto the stars of الْعَوَّاءِal-Awwa
لِعُلُوِّها بِكَواكِبِ الْعَوَّاءِ
The tent ropes of your might, on the day of your battle, were fastened,
The lengths of your terrible blows on the day of battle,
so high were they, to the stars of al-Awwa.
Were attached to the stars on high for their height.
فَضَلَتْthey excelled كَفَضْلِlike the superiority of بَنِيthe sons of النَّبِيِّthe Prophet وصهْرِهِand his son-in-law
فَضَلَتْ كَفَضْلِ بَنِي النَّبِيِّ وصهْرِهِ
فِيin نُبْلِthe nobility of قَدْرِهِمُtheir rank بَنِيthe sons of الطُّلَقَاءِthose set free
فِي نُبْلِ قَدْرِهِمُ بَنِي الطُّلَقَاءِ
They excelled, as the Prophet's sons and his son-in-law surpassed
They excelled like the preference of the Prophet’s family and in-laws,
the sons of those set free in nobility of rank.
In their noble worth over the highborn.
فَرَقَيتَso you climbed فِيon دَرَجِthe steps of الْمَعالِيglory صاعِداًascending
فَرَقَيتَ فِي دَرَجِ الْمَعالِي صاعِداً
تَعْلُوyou rise عَلَىabove الْعُظَمَاءِthe mighty وَالْكُبَرَاءِand the great
تَعْلُو عَلَى الْعُظَمَاءِ وَالْكُبَرَاءِ
So you climbed upward on the steps of glory,
You ascended in the steps of greatness, rising
rising above the mighty and the great.
Higher than the eminent and the greatest.
Sol 6.1