تَعَزَّtake comfort ياO خَيْرَbest of الْوَرَىhumankind عَنْover the loss of أخٍa brother
تَعَزَّ يا خَيْرَ الْوَرَى عَنْ أخٍ
لَمْdid not يَشُبِtaint الإِخْلاَصَsincerity بالَّلبْسِwith equivocation
لَمْ يَشُبِ الإِخْلاَصَ بالَّلبْسِ
Take comfort, O best of humankind, for the loss of a brother
who never tainted sincerity with equivocation.
كَانَhe was صَدِيقاًa friend وافِراًabundant وُدُّهُhis affection
كَانَ صَدِيقاً وافِراً وُدُّهُ
صَدَاقَةَa friendship of الأَنْفُسِsouls والجِنْسِand kinship
صَدَاقَةَ الأَنْفُسِ والجِنْسِ
He was a friend whose affection was abundant,
a friendship of souls and kinship.
تَعَزَّtake comfort عَنْهُfor his loss بِنَبِيِّin the Prophet of الهُدَىguidance
تَعَزَّ عَنْهُ بِنَبِيِّ الهُدَى
مَحَمَّدٍMuhammad أُدْخِلَwas laid فِيin الرَّمْسِthe grave
مَحَمَّدٍ أُدْخِلَ فِي الرَّمْسِ
Take comfort for his loss in the Prophet of guidance,
Muhammad, who was laid in the grave,
وَهُوَand he حَبِيبُthe beloved of اللهِGod فيon أرْضِهِHis earth
وَهُوَ حَبِيبُ اللهِ في أرْضِهِ
مؤيَّداًsupported بالْوَحيby revelation والْقُدْسِand holiness
مؤيَّداً بالْوَحي والْقُدْسِ
though he was God's beloved on His earth,
supported by revelation and holiness.
سَمَّاكَhe named you بِالرَّاضيas al-Radi ('the Contented') لِتَرْضَىso you may be content بِمَاwith what
سَمَّاكَ بِالرَّاضي لِتَرْضَى بِمَا
تُسْلِفُyou advance مِنْof أَمْرٍa matter ومَاand what تُنْسيyou defer
تُسْلِفُ مِنْ أَمْرٍ ومَا تُنْسي
He named you al-Radi, 'the Contented,' that you might be content with what
you advance in any matter and what you defer.
قَدْindeed أَنْذَرَhas warned of الدَّهْرُtime تَصَارِيفَهُits vicissitudes
قَدْ أَنْذَرَ الدَّهْرُ تَصَارِيفَهُ
بِأَلْسُنٍwith tongues ناطِقَةٍspeaking خُرْسِmute
بِأَلْسُنٍ ناطِقَةٍ خُرْسِ
Time has given warning of its vicissitudes
through tongues that speak though mute.
يُخْبِرُنَاtells us عَنْof مَوْتِهِhis death كَوْنُهُhis existence
يُخْبِرُنَا عَنْ مَوْتِهِ كَوْنُهُ
بِغَيْرِwithout إِذْكَارٍa reminder وَلاnor حَدْسِconjecture
بِغَيْرِ إِذْكَارٍ وَلا حَدْسِ
His very existence tells us of his death,
without reminder or conjecture.
كَانَhe was نَسِيباًkin لإِمامِto the imam of الْهُدَىguidance
كَانَ نَسِيباً لإِمامِ الْهُدَى
بَالْوُدِّthrough love والألْفَةِand intimacy والأُنْسِand companionship
بَالْوُدِّ والألْفَةِ والأُنْسِ
He was kin to the imam of guidance
through love, intimacy, and companionship.
ونِسْبَةُand kinship of الجِسْمِthe body شَتَاتٌestrangement إذَاwhen
ونِسْبَةُ الجِسْمِ شَتَاتٌ إذَا
لَمْdoes not تتآلفْaccord نِسْبُةُkinship of النَّفْسِthe soul
لَمْ تتآلفْ نِسْبُةُ النَّفْسِ
And bodily kinship is estrangement when
the kinship of souls does not accord.
وَكَانَand he was فَرْعاًan offshoot ذَاكِياًflourishing غُصْنُهُhis bough
وَكَانَ فَرْعاً ذَاكِياً غُصْنُهُ
مُهَذَّباًwell tended مِنْfrom خَيْرِthe best of ماwhat غَرْسِwas planted
مُهَذَّباً مِنْ خَيْرِ ما غَرْسِ
And he was an offshoot whose bough flourished,
well tended, of the finest ever planted.
وَكَانَand he was فيin السُّؤدَدِnobility ذَاpossessed of هِمَّةِaspiration
وَكَانَ في السُّؤدَدِ ذَا هِمَّةِ
وَكَانَand he was فيin النِّعْمَةprosperity ذَاpossessed of غَمْسimmersion
وَكَانَ في النِّعْمَة ذَا غَمْس
In nobility he was a man of high aspiration,
and in prosperity he was deeply immersed.
أَرْسَىlaid عَلَيْهِupon him دَهْرُهُhis time مِثْلَthe like of مَاwhat
أَرْسَى عَلَيْهِ دَهْرُهُ مِثْلَ مَا
أَرْسَىlaid عَلَىupon سَاكِنَةِthe dwellers of الرَّسِّal-Rass
أَرْسَى عَلَى سَاكِنَةِ الرَّسِّ
His time laid upon him the like of what
it laid upon the dwellers of al-Rass.
إِنْif صُرِفَwere turned الدهرtime إلَىtoward ماwhat مَضَىhas passed
إِنْ صُرِفَ الدهر إلَى ما مَضَى
عَادَwould become سُرُورُthe joy of النَّاسِpeople ذَاpossessed of عَكْسِreversal
عَادَ سُرُورُ النَّاسِ ذَا عَكْسِ
If time were turned back toward what has passed,
people's joy would turn into its opposite.
حَوادِثُthe calamities of الأَيَّامِthe days شَقَّاقَةٌrending
حَوادِثُ الأَيَّامِ شَقَّاقَةٌ
تُقَرِّبُbrings close الْمَأَتَمَmourning بالْعُرْسِto the wedding
تُقَرِّبُ الْمَأَتَمَ بالْعُرْسِ
The days' calamities rend asunder,
bringing mourning close to the wedding.
يَعْتَقبُchanges الْمَرْءُa man بِهاthrough them حَالَهُhis condition
يَعْتَقبُ الْمَرْءُ بِها حَالَهُ
بِوَطْئِهِby his treading الْحَزْنَrugged ground إلَىinto الْوَعْسِsoft sand
بِوَطْئِهِ الْحَزْنَ إلَى الْوَعْسِ
Through them a man changes his condition,
treading from rugged ground into soft sand.
مَنْwhoever عَزَّtakes pride بالدُّنْيَاin this world هَفَاgoes astray قَلْبُهُhis heart
مَنْ عَزَّ بالدُّنْيَا هَفَا قَلْبُهُ
وَعَادand becomes مِنْهُfrom him النُّورُthe light ذاpossessed of طَمْسِeffacement
وَعَاد مِنْهُ النُّورُ ذا طَمْسِ
Whoever takes pride in this world, his heart goes astray,
and the light within him becomes effaced.
وَزالَand departs فيamid تَلْوينِهاits changing hues عَقْلُهُhis reason
وَزالَ في تَلْوينِها عَقْلُهُ
وَغَالَهُand destroys him طَيْفٌa phantom مِنَof اللَّقْسِgreed
وَغَالَهُ طَيْفٌ مِنَ اللَّقْسِ
His reason departs amid its changing hues,
and a phantom of greed destroys him.
مَنِيَّةٌdeath إِنْif لَمْdoes not تُفَاجِtake by surprise الْفَتَىa young man
مَنِيَّةٌ إِنْ لَمْ تُفَاجِ الْفَتَى
كَانَتْis لَهُfor him بِالسُّقْمِthrough illness ذَاpossessed of مَسِّa touch
كَانَتْ لَهُ بِالسُّقْمِ ذَا مَسِّ
Death, if it does not surprise a young man,
touches him through illness.
لَهفِيmy grief عَلَيْهِfor him وَقَلِيلٌand scant لَهُfor him
لَهفِي عَلَيْهِ وَقَلِيلٌ لَهُ
لَهْفِيmy grief وهَلْand will يَرْجِعُreturn لِيto me أَمْسيmy yesterday
لَهْفِي وهَلْ يَرْجِعُ لِي أَمْسي
My grief for him—and scant for him
is my grief! Can my yesterday return to me?
لَهْفِيmy grief عَلَىfor مُنْتَخَبٍa choice man حِلْمُهُhis forbearance
لَهْفِي عَلَى مُنْتَخَبٍ حِلْمُهُ
أَرْجَحُweightier مِنْthan رَضْوَىRadwa وَمِنْand than قُدْسِQuds
أَرْجَحُ مِنْ رَضْوَى وَمِنْ قُدْسِ
My grief for a choice man whose forbearance
outweighs Radwa and Quds.
وابنand the son of الأُلَىthose who كَانُواwere شَمُوسَthe suns of الْوَرَىhumankind
وابن الأُلَى كَانُوا شَمُوسَ الْوَرَى
لُيُوثَlions of حَرْبٍwar غَيْرَnot مَاat all شُمْسِunruly
لُيُوثَ حَرْبٍ غَيْرَ مَا شُمْسِ
And for the son of those who were humankind's suns,
lions of war, not at all unruly.
جَرَىproceeded عَلَىupon السُّؤدَدِnobility مِنْهُمْfrom them كَمَاjust as
جَرَى عَلَى السُّؤدَدِ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا
شُيِّدُwas built بُنْيَانٌa structure عَلَىupon أسِّa foundation
شُيِّدُ بُنْيَانٌ عَلَى أسِّ
He carried on their nobility, just as
a structure is built on a foundation.
فافْرِسْso offer as prey لَهُto it صَبراًpatience يُزِيلُdispels الأَذَىhurt
فافْرِسْ لَهُ صَبراً يُزِيلُ الأَذَى
فَالدَّهْرُfor time للإِنْسَانِtoward humankind ذُوpossessed of فَرْسِpredation
فَالدَّهْرُ للإِنْسَانِ ذُو فَرْسِ
So offer it patience as prey, to dispel hurt,
for time preys upon humankind.
يَنْعَمُgrows soft مِنْهُthrough it جِسْمُهُhis body تَارَةًat times
يَنْعَمُ مِنْهُ جِسْمُهُ تَارَةً
ثُمَّthen تَرَاهُyou see it جَاسِيَhard الْجَسِّto the touch
ثُمَّ تَرَاهُ جَاسِيَ الْجَسِّ
At times his body grows soft through it,
then you find it stiff to the touch.
فَلَمْand have not تَزَلْceased فَوْقَabove المُلُوكِthe kings الأُلَىwho
فَلَمْ تَزَلْ فَوْقَ المُلُوكِ الأُلَى
مِنْamong عَرَبٍArabs سَادُواruled ومِنْand among فُرْسِPersians
مِنْ عَرَبٍ سَادُوا ومِنْ فُرْسِ
For you have always stood above the kings who
ruled among Arabs and Persians.
مَنْwhoever لاَdoes not يَرَىdeem حُبَّكَlove of you فَرْضاًan obligation فَماthen has not
مَنْ لاَ يَرَى حُبَّكَ فَرْضاً فَما
أَدَّىfulfilled فُروضَthe duties of اللهِGod فيin الْخَمْسِthe five prayers
أَدَّى فُروضَ اللهِ في الْخَمْسِ
Whoever does not deem love of you an obligation has not
fulfilled God's duties in the five prayers.
فداؤُكَyour ransom النَّاسُthe people جَمِيعاًall together عَلَىin
فداؤُكَ النَّاسُ جَمِيعاً عَلَى
رَغْمِdefiance of عَدُوٍّan enemy لَحِزٍgrasping شَكْسِill-tempered
رَغْمِ عَدُوٍّ لَحِزٍ شَكْسِ
May all people be your ransom, in
defiance of a grasping, ill-tempered foe.
فالْخَلْقُfor creation منfrom واردone proceeding رِفْهٍease إلَىtoward الْthe
فالْخَلْقُ من وارد رِفْهٍ إلَى الْ
مَوْتِdeath وَذِيand one aged عَشْرٍten وذِيand one aged خَمْسِfive
مَوْتِ وَذِي عَشْرٍ وذِي خَمْسِ
For all creatures—those passing from ease into
death, those aged ten and those aged five—
أَوَّلُهُمْthe first of them مَنْتَظِرٌawaiting آخرّاًthe last
أَوَّلُهُمْ مَنْتَظِرٌ آخرّاً
فَهوَso he عَلَيْهِfor him الدَّهْرَthrough all time ذُوpossessed of حَبْسِdetention
فَهوَ عَلَيْهِ الدَّهْرَ ذُو حَبْسِ
the first among them awaits the last,
so he is held for him through all time,
حَتَّىuntil يَجِئُواthey arrive وَكِفَاتٌand a gathering-place لَهُمْfor them
حَتَّى يَجِئُوا وَكِفَاتٌ لَهُمْ
وَلاand no يُرَىis perceived لِلْقَوْمِamong the people مِنْany حِسِّstir
وَلا يُرَى لِلْقَوْمِ مِنْ حِسِّ
until they arrive, with a gathering-place for them,
and no stir is perceived among the people.
وَبَعْثُهُمْand their resurrection مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter ذَاthis كُلِّهِall of it
وَبَعْثُهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَا كُلِّهِ
لِخَابِلِsurely confounding الجِنَّةِthe jinn والإِنْسِand humankind
لِخَابِلِ الجِنَّةِ والإِنْسِ
And their resurrection after all this
will surely confound jinn and humankind.
تَخْشَعُbecome hushed أَصْوَاتُهُمُtheir voices خِيفَةًout of fear
تَخْشَعُ أَصْوَاتُهُمُ خِيفَةً
فَلاَso not تُنَاجِيconverse privately بِسَوَىwith anything but الْهَمْسِwhispering
فَلاَ تُنَاجِي بِسَوَى الْهَمْسِ
Their voices become hushed with fear,
so they converse in nothing but whispers.
دَاعِيthe summoner of المَنَايَاdeaths خَاطِبٌa suitor to كُفْوَهُhis match
دَاعِي المَنَايَا خَاطِبٌ كُفْوَهُ
كَخِطْبَةِlike the courtship of المْعُتَامِa discerning chooser لِلْعِرْسِof a bride
كَخِطْبَةِ المْعُتَامِ لِلْعِرْسِ
The summoner of deaths woos his match,
like a discerning suitor's courtship of a bride.
يَسْمُوrises إِلَىtoward الأَنْفُسِsouls فِيin قُدْرَةٍpower
يَسْمُو إِلَى الأَنْفُسِ فِي قُدْرَةٍ
مُنَكِّباًturning aside عَنْfrom سَاقِطٍa lowly man جِلْسِan idler
مُنَكِّباً عَنْ سَاقِطٍ جِلْسِ
In his power he reaches up toward souls,
turning aside from a lowly idler.
تَلْعَبُplay بِالْمَرْءِwith a man اللَّيَالِيthe nights كَمَاjust as
تَلْعَبُ بِالْمَرْءِ اللَّيَالِي كَمَا
قَدْmay تَلْعَبُplay الأَقْلاَمُpens بِالنَّقْسِwith ink
قَدْ تَلْعَبُ الأَقْلاَمُ بِالنَّقْسِ
The nights play with a man just as
pens may play with ink.
تُرْضِعُnurse بالإِنْعَامِwith bounty ذَاone possessed of عزَّةٍhonor
تُرْضِعُ بالإِنْعَامِ ذَا عزَّةٍ
يُفْطَمُis weaned بِالْبُؤْسِwith misery وَبِالتَّعْسِand with ruin
يُفْطَمُ بِالْبُؤْسِ وَبِالتَّعْسِ
They nurse a man of honor with bounty,
who is weaned with misery and ruin.
تُتْبِعُfollow نُعمَاهَاtheir blessings بِبَأْسَائِهاwith their hardships
تُتْبِعُ نُعمَاهَا بِبَأْسَائِها
وَتُعْقِبُand follow الصِّحَّةَhealth بالنُّكْسِwith relapse
وَتُعْقِبُ الصِّحَّةَ بالنُّكْسِ
They follow their blessings with their hardships,
and follow health with relapse.
فَالحُرُّso the free man فِيهاin it أَبداًforever حَائِرٌbewildered
فَالحُرُّ فِيها أَبداً حَائِرٌ
مِنْfrom سَوْمِهَاits asking price الْغَالِيexorbitant عَلَىwith مَكْسِa levy
مِنْ سَوْمِهَا الْغَالِي عَلَى مَكْسِ
So the free man is forever bewildered in it,
by its steep asking price, with a levy.
يُتْعِبُwearies فِيهَاin it أَبداًalways جِسْمَهُhis body
يُتْعِبُ فِيهَا أَبداً جِسْمَهُ
وإنَّمَاand only الرَّاحَةُrest كاَلخَلْسِlike furtive snatching
وإنَّمَا الرَّاحَةُ كاَلخَلْسِ
In it he always wearies his body,
and rest is only like a furtive snatch.
يَخْدَعُdeceives فِيهاin it بِالْمُنَىwith hopes نَفْسَهُhimself
يَخْدَعُ فِيها بِالْمُنَى نَفْسَهُ
وَوافِدُand the emissary of الْمَوْتِdeath بِهِbeside him مُرْسِيanchoring
وَوافِدُ الْمَوْتِ بِهِ مُرْسِي
In it he deceives himself with hopes,
while death's emissary anchors beside him.
يَنْسَىforgets الَّذِيwhat يأتِيcomes بِهِwith it صَرْفُهاits vicissitudes
يَنْسَى الَّذِي يأتِي بِهِ صَرْفُها
والآمِلُand the hoper الغَرَّارُdelusive قَدْmay يُنْسِيmake one forget
والآمِلُ الغَرَّارُ قَدْ يُنْسِي
He forgets what its vicissitudes bring,
and the delusive hoper may make one forget.
تَلْبِسُهُcloaks him مِنْthrough طَمَعٍcraving غَفْلَةٌheedlessness
تَلْبِسُهُ مِنْ طَمَعٍ غَفْلَةٌ
بِالْمَطْعَمِfor food المَلْذُوذِdelicious وَاللُبْسِand clothing
بِالْمَطْعَمِ المَلْذُوذِ وَاللُبْسِ
Heedlessness cloaks him through craving
for delicious food and clothing.
فَأَسْلَمَso may preserve اللهُGod إِمَامَthe imam of الْهُدَىguidance
فَأَسْلَمَ اللهُ إِمَامَ الْهُدَى
فَمَاfor not عَطَاءُthe gift of الدَّهْرِtime بِالبَخسِof paltry worth
فَمَا عَطَاءُ الدَّهْرِ بِالبَخسِ
So may God preserve the imam of guidance,
for time's gift is no paltry thing.
كُلُّall الْوَرَىhumankind أَنْتَyou وَكُلٌّand everyone يُرَىis seen
كُلُّ الْوَرَى أَنْتَ وَكُلٌّ يُرَى
عَبْدَكَyour servant مِنْamong عالٍthe lofty ومِنْand among نِكْسِthe lowly
عَبْدَكَ مِنْ عالٍ ومِنْ نِكْسِ
You are all humankind, and everyone is seen
as your servant, the lofty and the lowly alike.
بَقَاؤُكَyour survival الْفَوْزُtriumph لَنَاfor us وَالْغِنَىand wealth
بَقَاؤُكَ الْفَوْزُ لَنَا وَالْغِنَى
نُصْبِحُwe greet the morning فِيهِin it مِثْلَlike ماhow نُمَسْيwe greet the evening
نُصْبِحُ فِيهِ مِثْلَ ما نُمَسْي
Your survival is triumph and wealth for us;
in it, we greet the morning as we greet the evening.
شَوىًtrifles صُرُوفُthe vicissitudes of الدَّهْرَtime مَاso long as لَمْdo not تُصِبْstrike
شَوىً صُرُوفُ الدَّهْرَ مَا لَمْ تُصِبْ
فِيamong الرَّطْبِthe moist إِنْif عَاثَتْthey wreak havoc وفِيand among اليَبْسِthe dry
فِي الرَّطْبِ إِنْ عَاثَتْ وفِي اليَبْسِ
Time's reversals are trifles so long as they do not strike you,
even if they ravage the moist and the dry.
مَنْwhoever تاجَرَtrades with الدَّهْرَtime بِلاَwithout صَرْفِهِits reversals
مَنْ تاجَرَ الدَّهْرَ بِلاَ صَرْفِهِ
فَصَارَthen passes مِنْfrom رِبْحٍprofit إلَىinto وَكْسِloss
فَصَارَ مِنْ رِبْحٍ إلَى وَكْسِ
Whoever trades with time without its reversals,
then passes from profit into loss,
فَأَسْلَمَyet keeps safe الكُلَّthe whole فَلاَthen no بَأْسَharm أَنْthat
فَأَسْلَمَ الكُلَّ فَلاَ بَأْسَ أَنْ
يُرْزَأَhe suffers loss فيin السُّدْسa sixth وفيand in الخُمْسِa fifth
يُرْزَأَ في السُّدْس وفي الخُمْسِ
yet keeps the whole safe—there is no harm if
he suffers loss in a sixth and a fifth.
إِنif غَيَّبَhas hidden الْبَدْرَthe full moon كُسُوفٌan eclipse فَقَدْthen indeed
إِن غَيَّبَ الْبَدْرَ كُسُوفٌ فَقَدْ
لاحَتْhas shone بِسَعْدٍwith good fortune غُرَّةُthe radiant face of الشَّمْسِthe sun
لاحَتْ بِسَعْدٍ غُرَّةُ الشَّمْسِ
If an eclipse has hidden the full moon, then indeed
the sun's radiant face has shone with good fortune.
مَاnot طَالعُthe ascendant of الأُمَّةِthe nation يَاO سَيِّدِيmy lord
مَا طَالعُ الأُمَّةِ يَا سَيِّدِي
إِذَاwhen خَطَاكَpasses you by الْخَطْبُcalamity بِالْنَّحْسِill-starred
إِذَا خَطَاكَ الْخَطْبُ بِالْنَّحْسِ
The nation's ascendant, my lord, is not
ill-starred when calamity passes you by.
Sol 6.1