اِنظُرlook خَليليmy friend بِأَعلىat the heights of ثَرمَداءِTharmada ضُحىًin the forenoon
اِنظُر خَليلي بِأَعلى ثَرمَداءِ ضُحىً
وَالعيسُand the pale camels جائِلَةٌmoving أَغراضُهاtheir girths خُنُفُaskew
وَالعيسُ جائِلَةٌ أَغراضُها خُنُفُ
Look, my friend, at upper Tharmada in the forenoon,
Look, my friend, at the summit of Tharmada in the morning glow,
While the pale camels move, their girths askew.
While the pack-camels wander to and fro with their burdens.
اِستَقبَلَheaded toward الحَيُّthe tribe بَطنَthe valley of السِرِّal-Sirr أَمor عَسَفواthey went off-road
اِستَقبَلَ الحَيُّ بَطنَ السِرِّ أَم عَسَفوا
فَالقَلبُfor the heart فيهُمamong them رَهينٌheld captive أَينَwhere ماever اِنصَرَفواthey go
فَالقَلبُ فيهُم رَهينٌ أَينَ ما اِنصَرَفوا
Did the tribe head into the valley of al-Sirr, or strike off-road?
The living faced the womb of mystery, or did they shy away?
For my heart is captive among them, wherever they go.
Their hearts enthralled, whichever way their course was bent,
مِنfrom نَحوِthe direction of كابَةَKaba تَحتَثُّhasten الحُداةُthe camel-drivers بِهِمwith them
مِن نَحوِ كابَةَ تَحتَثُّ الحُداةُ بِهِم
كَيso that يَشعُفواthey inflame with love آلِفاًa devoted lover صَبّاًardently lovesick فَقَدand indeed شَعَفواthey have inflamed
كَي يَشعُفوا آلِفاً صَبّاً فَقَد شَعَفوا
From the direction of Kaba, the camel-drivers urge them on,
Towards Mount Kabata, where warriors thrill at the clash,
To inflame a devoted, lovesick man—and inflame him they have.
Eager in their thousands for the youthful fray. Already they have thrilled.
إِنَّindeed الزِيارَةَa visit لاnot تُرجىis hoped for وَدونَهُمُand barring access to them
إِنَّ الزِيارَةَ لا تُرجى وَدونَهُمُ
جَهمُgrim المُحيّاof countenance وَفيand in أَشبالِهِhis cubs غَضَفُdrooping ears
جَهمُ المُحيّا وَفي أَشبالِهِ غَضَفُ
No visit can be hoped for; barring access to them is
Visiting, alas, is hopeless, and all around them
A grim-faced one whose cubs have drooping ears.
Is the smouldering Hell-fire, and their cubs still suckle.
آلَواthey swore عَليهاconcerning her يَميناًan oath لاnot تُكَلِّمُناshe speaks to us
آلَوا عَليها يَميناً لا تُكَلِّمُنا
مِنwithout غَيرِany سوءٍwrongdoing وَلاnor مِنfrom ريبَةٍsuspicion حَلَفواthey swore
مِن غَيرِ سوءٍ وَلا مِن ريبَةٍ حَلَفوا
They swore an oath that she must not speak to us;
They have sworn a binding oath to us - no evil will they say
Without wrongdoing or grounds for suspicion, they swore.
Nor disloyalty. So have they sworn.
ياah حَبَّذاhow lovely الخَرجُal-Kharj بَينَbetween الداميal-Dami فَالأُدَمىthen al-Udama
يا حَبَّذا الخَرجُ بَينَ الدامي فَالأُدَمى
فَالرِمثُthen al-Rimth مِنat بُرقَةِBurqat الرَوحانِal-Rawhan فَالغَرَفُthen al-Gharaf
فَالرِمثُ مِن بُرقَةِ الرَوحانِ فَالغَرَفُ
Ah, how lovely is al-Kharj, between al-Dami and al-Udama,
How excellent to venture out between bloodshed and slaughter,
And al-Rimth, at Burqat al-Rawhan, and al-Gharaf!
Between Ruwaytha’s pasture, between El-Gharef and Ed-Dumah!
أَلمِمvisit عَلىat الرَبعِthe dwelling-site بِالتِرباعِat al-Tirbaʿ غَيَّرَهُaltered it
أَلمِم عَلى الرَبعِ بِالتِرباعِ غَيَّرَهُ
ضَربُthe beating of الأَهاضيبِdownpours وَالنَأآجَةُand the roaring winds العُصُفُthe tempestuous
ضَربُ الأَهاضيبِ وَالنَأآجَةُ العُصُفُ
Visit the dwelling-site at al-Tirbaʿ; it has been altered by
Urge on through the stony ground the mules with double saddlecloth,
Beating downpours and roaring, tempestuous winds.
Where the wild goats butt each other, and sheep bleat loud.
كَأَنَّهُas though it بَعدَafter تَحنانِthe moaning of الرِياحِthe winds بِهِthrough it
كَأَنَّهُ بَعدَ تَحنانِ الرِياحِ بِهِ
رَقٌّparchment تَبَيَّنُyou discern فيهِon it اللامُthe letter lam وَالأَلِفُand the letter alif
رَقٌّ تَبَيَّنُ فيهِ اللامُ وَالأَلِفُ
As though, after the winds had moaned through it,
As if, when the winds had died down, it was
It were parchment where lam and alif stand clear.
A parchment where the lam and alif stand out plain.
خَبِّرtell عَنِabout الحَيِّthe tribe سِرّاًsecretly أَوor عَلانِيةًopenly
خَبِّر عَنِ الحَيِّ سِرّاً أَو عَلانِيةً
جادَتكَmay it drench you مُدجِنَةٌa dark raincloud فيin عَينِهاits eye وَطَفُthick, long lashes
جادَتكَ مُدجِنَةٌ في عَينِها وَطَفُ
Tell me of the tribe, secretly or openly;
Secretly or openly, tell news of the living ones.
May a dark cloud drench you, its eye heavy with lashes.
With longing in her eye to you comes the she-camel, trained and tame.
ماnever اِستَوصَفَsought a description الناسُpeople عَنof شَيءٍsomething يَروقُهُمُthat delights them
ما اِستَوصَفَ الناسُ عَن شَيءٍ يَروقُهُمُ
إِلّاbut أَرىI see أُمَّUmm, mother of عَمروٍʿAmr فَوقَabove ماwhat وَصَفواthey described
إِلّا أَرى أُمَّ عَمروٍ فَوقَ ما وَصَفوا
People never seek a description of anything that delights them
Men have never asked for the gifts they wish
But I find Umm ʿAmr above all that they describe.
But I see that Umm ‘Amr surpasses all they crave.
كَأَنَّهاas though she مُزنَةٌa raincloud غَرّاءُradiant واضِحَةٌgleaming
كَأَنَّها مُزنَةٌ غَرّاءُ واضِحَةٌ
أَوor دُرَّةٌa pearl لاnot يُواريconceals ضَوءَهاher light الصَدَفُthe shell
أَو دُرَّةٌ لا يُواري ضَوءَها الصَدَفُ
She is like a radiant, gleaming raincloud,
She is like a wild cow, brightly marked,
Or a pearl whose light no shell can conceal.
Or a pearl whose sheen no oyster-shell can hide.
مَكسُوَّةُwell fleshed البَدنِin body فيwith لُبٍّintelligence يُزَيِّنُهاthat adorns her
مَكسُوَّةُ البَدنِ في لُبٍّ يُزَيِّنُها
وَفيand at المَناصِبِthe roots مِنof أَنيابِهاher canine teeth عَجَفُslenderness
وَفي المَناصِبِ مِن أَنيابِها عَجَفُ
Her body is well fleshed, and her intelligence adorns her;
Her body wrapped in the smoothest silk
And the roots of her canine teeth are slender.
And on her shoulders from her teeth a rosary.
تَسقيshe gives to drink اِمتِياحاًas a drawn draught نَدىthe dew المِسواكِof the tooth-stick ريقَتَهاher saliva
تَسقي اِمتِياحاً نَدى المِسواكِ ريقَتَها
كَماjust as تَضَمَّنَheld ماءَthe water المُزنَةِof the raincloud الرَصَفُclose-set stones
كَما تَضَمَّنَ ماءَ المُزنَةِ الرَصَفُ
She offers a drawn draught of her saliva, the tooth-stick's dew,
She gives to greetings the fresh draught of miswak from her mouth
As close-set stones hold the water of a raincloud.
As if she holds the water of the brimming bowl.
قالَsaid العَواذِلُthe reproaching women هَلwill تَنهاكَrestrain you تَجرِبَةٌexperience
قالَ العَواذِلُ هَل تَنهاكَ تَجرِبَةٌ
أَماdo you not تَرىsee الشيبَgrey hair وَالأَخدانَand companions قَدalready دَلَفواthey move slowly
أَما تَرى الشيبَ وَالأَخدانَ قَد دَلَفوا
The reproaching women said, 'Will experience restrain you?
‘Will not experience inhibit you?’ ask the censurers.
Do you not see the grey hair, and your companions moving slowly?
‘Do you not see how white hairs and wrinkles have crept in?’
أَماdo you not تُلِمُّvisit عَلىat رَبعٍa dwelling-site بِأَسنُمَةٍat Asnuma
أَما تُلِمُّ عَلى رَبعٍ بِأَسنُمَةٍ
إِلّاexcept لِعَينَيكَfor your two eyes جارٍa flowing stream غَربُهُits outflow يَكِفُdrips
إِلّا لِعَينَيكَ جارٍ غَربُهُ يَكِفُ
Do you ever visit a dwelling-site at Asnuma
Do you not condemn the encampment at Usnamah
Without a flowing stream dripping from your eyes?'
Though for your eyes a neighbor's home would suffice?’
ياO أَيُّهاyou الرَبعُdwelling-site قَدindeed طالَتhas lasted long صَبابَتُناour yearning
يا أَيُّها الرَبعُ قَد طالَت صَبابَتُنا
حَتَىuntil مَلِلناwe grew weary وَأَمسىand became الناسُpeople قَدalready عَزَفواthey turned away
حَتَى مَلِلنا وَأَمسى الناسُ قَد عَزَفوا
O dwelling-site, our yearning has lasted so long,
O, our encampment, long indeed has been our sojourn here
That we have grown weary, while others have turned away.
Till we are sated and men have turned away.
قَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَهوىlove ثَرىthe soil of نَجدٍNajd وَساكِنَهُand its dweller
قَد كُنتُ أَهوى ثَرى نَجدٍ وَساكِنَهُ
فَالغَورَthen the lowland غَوراًa lowland بِهِin which عُسفانُʿUsfan فَالجُحَفُthen al-Juhaf
فَالغَورَ غَوراً بِهِ عُسفانُ فَالجُحَفُ
I once loved the soil of Najd and those who lived there,
Once I loved the earth of Najd and those who dwell there,
And the lowland—the lowland of ʿUsfan and al-Juhaf.
While in its valley are wild figs, and the Juhaf.
لَماwhen اِرتَحَلناwe departed وَنَحوَand toward الشامِSyria نِيَّتُناour intended course
لَما اِرتَحَلنا وَنَحوَ الشامِ نِيَّتُنا
قالَتsaid جُعادَةُJuʿada هاذيthis نِيَّةٌa destination قَذَفُfar-off
قالَت جُعادَةُ هاذي نِيَّةٌ قَذَفُ
When we departed, our course set toward Syria,
When we departed intending for Syria,
Juʿada said, 'This is a far-off destination.'
Ju'adah cried: ‘That purpose is most vile!’
كَلَّفتُI charged صَحبِيَmy companions أَهوالاًwith terrors عَلىwith ثِقَةٍconfidence
كَلَّفتُ صَحبِيَ أَهوالاً عَلى ثِقَةٍ
لِلَّهِto God belongs دَرُّهُمُtheir excellence رَكباًas riders وَماand what كَلِفواthey bore
لِلَّهِ دَرُّهُمُ رَكباً وَما كَلِفوا
I charged my companions with terrors, in full confidence;
I made my friends endure hardships trusting them,
God bless them as riders, and the burdens they bore!
God reward them! They rode and were not tried.
سارواthey traveled إِلَيكَto you مِنَfrom السَهبىal-Sahba وَدَونَهُمُand before them
ساروا إِلَيكَ مِنَ السَهبى وَدَونَهُمُ
فَيحانُFayhan فَالحَزنُthen al-Hazn فَالصَمّانُthen al-Samman فَلوَكَفُthen Lawakaf
فَيحانُ فَالحَزنُ فَالصَمّانُ فَلوَكَفُ
They traveled to you from al-Sahba; before them lay
They came to you from El-Sihbah, and behind them
Fayhan, then al-Hazn, then al-Samman, then Lawakaf.
Were Faihan, El-Hazn, Es-Samman and El-Laukaf.
يُزجونَthey drive onward نَحوَكَtoward you أَطلاحاًworn-out camels مُخَدَّمَةًwith wrapped feet
يُزجونَ نَحوَكَ أَطلاحاً مُخَدَّمَةً
قَدalready مَسَّهاhas afflicted them النَكبُbruising وَالأَنقابُand worn-through hoofpads وَالعَجَفُand emaciation
قَد مَسَّها النَكبُ وَالأَنقابُ وَالعَجَفُ
Driving toward you worn-out camels with wrapped feet,
They drive to you worn-out she-camels
Afflicted by bruising, worn-through hoofpads, and wasting.
Touched by misfortune, distress, and want.
فيin سَيرِtravel of شَهرَينِtwo months ماthat which يَطويshrinks ثَمائِلَهاtheir remaining reserves
في سَيرِ شَهرَينِ ما يَطوي ثَمائِلَها
حَتّىuntil تُشَدُّare fastened إِلىto أَغراضِهاtheir girths السُنُفُthe breast-straps
حَتّى تُشَدُّ إِلى أَغراضِها السُنُفُ
Two months of travel shrink their last reserves,
In a two months' journey no short cuts can compass
Till breast-straps are fastened to their girths.
The miles their yearning bridles will outspan.
ماnot كانَthere was مُذsince رَحَلواthey departed مِنfrom أَهلِthe people of أُسنُمَةٍUsnuma
ما كانَ مُذ رَحَلوا مِن أَهلِ أُسنُمَةٍ
إِلّاexcept الذُمَيلَthe steady trot لَهاfor them وِردٌwatering وَلاnor عَلَفُfodder
إِلّا الذُمَيلَ لَها وِردٌ وَلا عَلَفُ
Since they left the people of Usnuma, there has been
Not one tent cord of Usnamah people will lack
No watering or fodder for them save a steady trot.
A bucket coming and going, and fodder.
لاno وِردَwatering لِلقَومِfor the travelers إِنif لَمnot يَعزِفواthey halt at بَرَدىBarada
لا وِردَ لِلقَومِ إِن لَم يَعزِفوا بَرَدى
إِذاwhen تَجَوَّبَlifts away عَنfrom أَعناقِهاtheir necks السَدَفُdarkness
إِذا تَجَوَّبَ عَن أَعناقِها السَدَفُ
No water for the travelers unless they halt at Barada,
No going to and fro for people who refrain not
When darkness lifts from the camels' necks.
When the saddle is removed from their long necks.
صَبَّحنَthey reached at dawn توماءَTuma وَالناقوسُand the bell يَقرَعُهُstrikes it
صَبَّحنَ توماءَ وَالناقوسُ يَقرَعُهُ
قَسُّthe priest of النَصارىthe Christians حَراجيجاًgaunt camels بِناwith us تَجِفُspeed along
قَسُّ النَصارى حَراجيجاً بِنا تَجِفُ
They reached Tuma at dawn, while the bell was rung by
We hailed Teima, where the Christian monk still
The Christians' priest, our gaunt camels speeding along.
Clangs his bells over us - would that they might crack!
ياO اِبنَson of الأَرومِnoble roots وَفيand amid الأَعياصِdense groves مَنبِتُهاtheir place of growth
يا اِبنَ الأَرومِ وَفي الأَعياصِ مَنبِتُها
لاno قادِحٌboring worm يَرتَقيclimbs فيهاwithin them وَلاand no قَصَفُbreakage
لا قادِحٌ يَرتَقي فيها وَلا قَصَفُ
O son of noble roots, whose growth is amid dense groves,
O Ibn el-'Aram! Though lofty their tree-clumps soaring,
No borer climbs within them, nor does any branch break.
None will climb them, no kindling blaze up their trunks.
إِنّيindeed I لَزائِرُكُمwill surely visit you وُدّاًout of affection وَتَكرِمَةًand honor
إِنّي لَزائِرُكُم وُدّاً وَتَكرِمَةً
حَتّىuntil يُقارِبُapproaches قَيدَthe fettered pace المَكبِرِof the aged man الرَسَفُshuffling
حَتّى يُقارِبُ قَيدَ المَكبِرِ الرَسَفُ
I shall indeed visit you, out of affection and honor,
I come a visitor in friendship and respect
Until my shuffling nears an old man's fettered pace.
Till the bestriding saddle-girth is made fast.
أَرجوI hope for الفَواضِلَbounties إِنَّindeed اللَهَGod فَضَّلَكُمhas favored you
أَرجو الفَواضِلَ إِنَّ اللَهَ فَضَّلَكُم
ياah قَبلَbefore نَفسِكَyour soul لاقىmay meet نَفسِيَmy soul التَلَفُdeath
يا قَبلَ نَفسِكَ لاقى نَفسِيَ التَلَفُ
I hope for bounty; God has favored you.
I hope for bounty. God has given you precedence.
Ah, may death reach my soul before yours!
My life for yours! Let me not live to mourn you.
ماnot مَنone who جَفاناshunned us إِذاwhen حاجاتُناour needs نَزَلَتpressed upon us
ما مَن جَفانا إِذا حاجاتُنا نَزَلَت
كَمَنlike one who لَناfor us عِندَهُwith him التَكريمُhonor وَاللَطَفُand kindness
كَمَن لَنا عِندَهُ التَكريمُ وَاللَطَفُ
One who shuns us when our needs press upon us is not
When our needs descended, none treated us
Like one with whom we find honor and kindness.
With your bounty and gentleness and charm.
كَمhow often قَدindeed نَزَلتُI lodged بِكُمwith you ضَيفاًas a guest فَتَلحَفُنيand you wrap me
كَم قَد نَزَلتُ بِكُم ضَيفاً فَتَلحَفُني
فَضلَthe ample folds اللِحافِof the blanket وَنِعمَand excellent is الفَضلُthe bounty يُلتَحَفُto be wrapped in
فَضلَ اللِحافِ وَنِعمَ الفَضلُ يُلتَحَفُ
How often I have lodged with you as a guest, and you have wrapped me in
How often have I descended on you as a guest and been wrapped
Your blanket's ample folds—a fine bounty to be wrapped in!
In the folds of your ample cloak - great the difference!
أَعطَواthey gave هُنَيدَةَa hundred camels يَحدوهاfollowing them ثَمانِيَةٌeight
أَعطَوا هُنَيدَةَ يَحدوها ثَمانِيَةٌ
ماno فيin عَطائِهِمُtheir giving مَنٌّreminders of favors وَلاnor سَرَفُwastefulness
ما في عَطائِهِمُ مَنٌّ وَلا سَرَفُ
They gave a hundred camels, with eight more following;
To Hunaida they gave as wedding gift eight hundred
Their gifts contain neither reminders of favors nor wastefulness.
Camels in number, no base paucity, no lavish excess,
كوماًhigh-humped مَهاريسَmassive مِثلَlike الهَضبِrocky hills لَوif وَرَدَتthey came to drink
كوماً مَهاريسَ مِثلَ الهَضبِ لَو وَرَدَت
ماءَthe water of الفُراتِthe Euphrates لَكادَwould indeed nearly البَحرُthe sea يُنتَزِفُbe drained dry
ماءَ الفُراتِ لَكادَ البَحرُ يُنتَزِفُ
High-humped, massive as hills—if they came to drink
Like a lofty crag, as though when the Euphrates came roaring
The water of the Euphrates, the sea would almost be drained dry.
Seas would drain dry, and its channel rocks still depress.
جوفَwide الحَناجِرِin the throats وَالأَجوافِand bellies ماnever صَدَرَتthey departed after drinking
جوفَ الحَناجِرِ وَالأَجوافِ ما صَدَرَت
عَنfrom مَعطِنِthe watering-place of الماءِthe water إِلّاexcept حَوضُهاtheir trough رَشَفُscant dregs
عَن مَعطِنِ الماءِ إِلّا حَوضُها رَشَفُ
Wide in throat and belly, they never departed
Not but her capacious throat and bosom could match them
A watering-place without leaving their trough with only dregs.
When the full waters of the pool freely flowed forth.
بِالصَيفِin summer يُقمَعُis filled through a funnel مَثلوثُthe three-hide type المَزادِof waterskin لَهاfor them
بِالصَيفِ يُقمَعُ مَثلوثُ المَزادِ لَها
كَأَنَّهُمas though they مِنfrom خَليجَيthe two channels of دِجلَةَthe Tigris اِغتَرَفواhad scooped water
كَأَنَّهُم مِن خَليجَي دِجلَةَ اِغتَرَفوا
In summer, three-hide waterskins are filled through funnels for them,
In summer her stable holds a three-fold drove
As though they had scooped from both channels of the Tigris.
As though they had plied the twin gulfs of the Tigris to give her enough.
إِنّيindeed I شَكَرتُgave thanks وَقَدand indeed جَرَّبتُlearned by experience أَنَّكُمُthat you
إِنّي شَكَرتُ وَقَد جَرَّبتُ أَنَّكُمُ
عَلىtoward رِجالٍmen وَإِنand even if لَمnot يَشكُرواthey give thanks عُطُفُcompassionate
عَلى رِجالٍ وَإِن لَم يَشكُروا عُطُفُ
I have given thanks, having learned by experience that you
I thank you, and I know the mettle of your men,
Are compassionate toward men, even when they give no thanks.
Men, though they render no thanks, of kindly grace.
ياah رُبَّmany a قَومٍpeople وَقَومٍand another people حاسِدينَenvious لَكُمof you
يا رُبَّ قَومٍ وَقَومٍ حاسِدينَ لَكُم
ماno فيهُمُamong them بَدَلٌreplacement مِنكُمfor you وَلاnor خَلَفُsuccessor
ما فيهُمُ بَدَلٌ مِنكُم وَلا خَلَفُ
Ah, many a people, and many another, envy you,
O people's chief, yet other people envy you,
Yet none among them can replace you or succeed you.
Not one like you, none to replace you have they.
إِنَّindeed القَديمَthe ancient heritage وَأَسلافاًand ancestors تُعَدُّare reckoned لَكُمas yours
إِنَّ القَديمَ وَأَسلافاً تُعَدُّ لَكُم
نِعمَexcellent is القَديمُthe ancient heritage إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle عُدَّis counted وَالسَلَفُand the forebears
نِعمَ القَديمُ إِذا ما عُدَّ وَالسَلَفُ
Indeed, your ancient heritage and the ancestors reckoned yours—
Noble forebears of old are counted as yours,
Fine are that heritage and those forebears when they are counted.
Goodly forebears named, if names recur and lineages branch.
حَربٌHarb وَآلُand the family of أَبيAbu العاصيal-ʿAsi بَنَواbuilt لَكُمُfor you
حَربٌ وَآلُ أَبي العاصي بَنَوا لَكُمُ
مَجداًglory تَلاداًinherited وَبَعضُand some المَجدِglory مُطَّرَفُnewly acquired
مَجداً تَلاداً وَبَعضُ المَجدِ مُطَّرَفُ
Harb and the house of Abu al-ʿAsi built for you
War and the clan of Abul-'Asi gave you glory handed down,
Inherited glory, while some glory is newly acquired.
Some of glory but a part handed down and diminished.
ياO اِبنَson of العَواتِكِthe ʿAtikas خَيرَbest of العالِمينَall people أَباًin paternal descent
يا اِبنَ العَواتِكِ خَيرَ العالِمينَ أَباً
قَدindeed كانَhas been يُدفِئُنيkeeping me warm مِنfrom ريشِكُمyour plumage كَنَفُa sheltering wing
قَد كانَ يُدفِئُني مِن ريشِكُم كَنَفُ
O son of the ʿAtikas, with the finest father in the world,
O son of lofty sand-dunes, best of all men was your father,
A sheltering wing of your plumage has kept me warm.
His plumage would shield me, a wing of your wings arched over.
إِنَّindeed الحَجيجَthe pilgrims دَعَواprayed يَستَمتِعونَseeking enjoyment بِهِthrough him
إِنَّ الحَجيجَ دَعَوا يَستَمتِعونَ بِهِ
تَكادُnearly تَرجُفُshakes جَمعٌJamʿ كُلَّماwhenever رَجَفواthey surge
تَكادُ تَرجُفُ جَمعٌ كُلَّما رَجَفوا
Indeed, the pilgrims prayed to enjoy his presence;
Behold, El-Hajjaj mustered them to enjoy his power,
Jamʿ nearly shakes whenever they surge.
Throngs, whenever he stirred, seemed to quake.
وَماand not اِبتَنىbuilt الناسُpeople مِنany بُنيانِedifice of مَكرُمَةٍhonor
وَما اِبتَنى الناسُ مِن بُنيانِ مَكرُمَةٍ
إِلّاbut لَكُمfor you فَوقَabove مَنthose who يَبنيbuild العُلاlofty glory غُرَفُupper chambers
إِلّا لَكُم فَوقَ مَن يَبني العُلا غُرَفُ
No edifice of honor have people built
Never have people built for glory's sake
But your chambers rise above the builders of lofty glory.
A mansion loftier than yours, storied heights tiered above.
ضَخمُgreat in الدَسيعَةِbounty وَالأَبياتِand noble houses غُرَّتُهُhis radiant brow
ضَخمُ الدَسيعَةِ وَالأَبياتِ غُرَّتُهُ
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon لَيلَةَon the night كادَnearly الشَهرُthe month يَنتَصِفُreaches its midpoint
كَالبَدرِ لَيلَةَ كادَ الشَهرُ يَنتَصِفُ
Great in bounty and noble houses, his bright brow shines
Vast the facade, towering the verses inscribed there,
Like the full moon on the night the month nears its middle.
Like the full moon when barely halfway through its course.
اللَهُGod أَعطاكَgave to you فَاِشكُرso give thanks فَضلَfor the bounty of نِعمَتِهِHis favor
اللَهُ أَعطاكَ فَاِشكُر فَضلَ نِعمَتِهِ
أَعطاكَHe gave you مُلكَsovereignty الَّتيthat which ماno فَوقَهاabove it شَرَفُhonor
أَعطاكَ مُلكَ الَّتي ما فَوقَها شَرَفُ
God has given to you, so thank Him for His gracious favor;
God gave you, so thank Him for His favor,
He gave you sovereignty, above which no higher honor stands.
Gave you a kingdom, and nothing loftier can be conceived.
هَذيthese البَريَّةُpeople تَرضىaccept ماwhat رَضيتَyou accepted لَهاfor them
هَذي البَريَّةُ تَرضى ما رَضيتَ لَها
إِنif سِرتَyou march سارَواthey march وَإِنand if قُلتَyou say اِربِعواhalt وَقَفواthey stop
إِن سِرتَ سارَوا وَإِن قُلتَ اِربِعوا وَقَفوا
These people accept whatever you accept for them.
This horde is content with whatever you decide.
If you march, they march; if you say, 'Halt,' they stop.
Move on, and they march: speak, and they halt in their tracks.
هُوَhe الخَليفَةُthe caliph فَاِرضَواso accept ماwhat قَضىhe decreed لَكُمُfor you
هُوَ الخَليفَةُ فَاِرضَوا ما قَضى لَكُمُ
بِالحَقِّwith the truth يَصدَعُhe proclaims ماno فيin قَولِهِhis words جَنَفُcrookedness
بِالحَقِّ يَصدَعُ ما في قَولِهِ جَنَفُ
He is the caliph, so accept what he decrees for you;
Caliph he, so accept what lawful he declares,
He proclaims the truth, with no crookedness in his words.
His words all sweeping away crookedness, nothing warped.
يَقضيhe delivers القَضاءَthe judgment الَّذيby which يُشفىis cured النِفاقُhypocrisy بِهِthrough it
يَقضي القَضاءَ الَّذي يُشفى النِفاقُ بِهِ
فَاِستَبشَرَso rejoiced الناسُthe people بِالحَقِّin the truth الَّذيwhich عَرَفواthey recognized
فَاِستَبشَرَ الناسُ بِالحَقِّ الَّذي عَرَفوا
He delivers the judgment by which hypocrisy is cured,
Justly he decrees, healing hypocrisy,
So the people rejoiced in the truth they recognized.
So folks rejoiced at the truth they now perceive.
أَنتَyou المُبارِكُthe bringer of blessing وَالمَيمونُand auspicious سيرَتُهُhis conduct
أَنتَ المُبارِكُ وَالمَيمونُ سيرَتُهُ
لَولاwere it not that تُقَوِّمُyou straighten دَرءَthe crookedness of الناسِpeople لَاِختَلَفواthey would surely disagree
لَولا تُقَوِّمُ دَرءَ الناسِ لَاِختَلَفوا
You bring blessing, and your conduct is auspicious;
You are the blessed one; upright and smooth your course,
Had you not straightened people's crookedness, they would have fallen into discord.
Else people's discord never could you reconcile.
سُربِلتَyou were clothed سِربالَin a robe of مُلكٍsovereignty غَيرِnot مُبتَدَعٍnewly invented
سُربِلتَ سِربالَ مُلكٍ غَيرِ مُبتَدَعٍ
قَبلَbefore الثَلاثينَthirty إِنَّindeed الخَيرَgoodness مُؤتَنَفُbegun anew
قَبلَ الثَلاثينَ إِنَّ الخَيرَ مُؤتَنَفُ
You were clothed in a robe of sovereignty, no new invention,
You donned the mantle of sovereign power, no novelty,
Before thirty; goodness begins anew.
Ere thirty years - good begun early thrives best.
تَدعواyou call فَيَنصُرُthen lend aid أَهلُthe people of الشامِSyria إِنَّهُمُindeed they
تَدعوا فَيَنصُرُ أَهلُ الشامِ إِنَّهُمُ
قَومٌa people أَطاعواwho obeyed وُلاةَthe rulers of الحَقِّtruth وَأتَلَفواand stood united
قَومٌ أَطاعوا وُلاةَ الحَقِّ وَأتَلَفوا
You call, and the people of Syria lend their aid; indeed, they are
Summon you, and the people of Syria will rally to aid,
A people who obey the rulers of truth and stand united.
A folk obedient to just governors, bound fast to each other.
ماno فيin قُلوبِهِمُtheir hearts نَكثٌoath-breaking وَلاnor مَرَضٌsickness
ما في قُلوبِهِمُ نَكثٌ وَلا مَرَضٌ
إِذاwhen قَذَفتَyou attack مُحِلّاًa violator of sanctity خالِعاًcasting off allegiance قَذَفواthey attack
إِذا قَذَفتَ مُحِلّاً خالِعاً قَذَفوا
There is neither broken faith nor sickness in their hearts;
No disloyalty lurks in their hearts, no sickness,
When you attack a lawless man who casts off allegiance, they attack.
Whene'er you hurl some apostate, they too hurl.
قَدindeed جَرَّبَlearned by experience الناسُpeople قَبلَbefore اليَومِtoday أَنَّهُمُthat they
قَد جَرَّبَ الناسُ قَبلَ اليَومِ أَنَّهُمُ
لاnot يَفزَعونَthey panic إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle قُعقِعَare rattled الحَجَفُthe leather shields
لا يَفزَعونَ إِذا ما قُعقِعَ الحَجَفُ
People have learned, before today, that they
Long ago the people tasted that they
Do not panic when the leather shields are rattled.
Feel no panic when the war-drum rumbles deep.
آلُthe family of المُهَلَّبِal-Muhallab جَذَّmay He cut off اللَهُGod دابِرَهُمtheir last remnant
آلُ المُهَلَّبِ جَذَّ اللَهُ دابِرَهُم
أَمسَواthey became رَماداًashes فَلاso no أَصلٌroot وَلاnor طَرَفُbranch
أَمسَوا رَماداً فَلا أَصلٌ وَلا طَرَفُ
The house of al-Muhallab—may God cut off their last remnant—
God destroyed the clan of El-Muhallab, razed their traces,
They became ashes, with neither root nor branch.
Left them ashes, neither root nor branch remaining.
قَدindeed لَهِفواthey lamented حينَwhen أَخزىdisgraced اللَهُGod شيعَتَهُمtheir faction
قَد لَهِفوا حينَ أَخزى اللَهُ شيعَتَهُم
آلُthe family of المُهَلَّبِal-Muhallab مِنfrom ذُلٍّhumiliation وَقَدand indeed لَهِفواthey lamented
آلُ المُهَلَّبِ مِن ذُلٍّ وَقَد لَهِفوا
They lamented when God disgraced their faction,
They were distraught when God put their faction to shame,
The house of al-Muhallab, in humiliation—indeed, they lamented.
The clan of El-Muhallab, amidst disgrace distraught.
ماnot نالَتِgained الأَزدُthe Azd مِنfrom دَعوىthe summons of مُضِلِّهِمُtheir misleader
ما نالَتِ الأَزدُ مِن دَعوى مُضِلِّهِمُ
إِلّىexcept المَعاصِمَthe wrists وَالأَعناقَand necks تُختَطَفُbeing snatched away
إِلّى المَعاصِمَ وَالأَعناقَ تُختَطَفُ
The Azd gained nothing from their misleader's summons
Naught did the Azd gain from the claims of their misguided one
But wrists and necks being snatched away.
Save by the napes of their necks to be dragged off.
وَالأَزدُand the Azd قَدindeed جَعَلواmade المَنتوفَal-Mantuf, the Plucked One قائِدَهُمtheir commander
وَالأَزدُ قَد جَعَلوا المَنتوفَ قائِدَهُم
فَقَتَّلَتهُمso massacred them جُنودُthe armies of اللَهِGod وَاِنتُتِفواand they were plucked bare
فَقَتَّلَتهُم جُنودُ اللَهِ وَاِنتُتِفوا
And the Azd made al-Mantuf, the Plucked One, their commander,
The Azd had appointed El-Montuf their warlord,
So God's armies massacred them, and they were plucked bare.
So God's troops killed them, and they were blotted out.
تَهويtumble بِذيat Dhu العَقرِal-ʿAqr أَقحافاًas skullcaps جَماجِمُهاtheir skulls
تَهوي بِذي العَقرِ أَقحافاً جَماجِمُها
كَأَنَّهاas though they الحَنظَلُcolocynth gourds الخُطبانُthe striped يُنتَقَفُare cracked open
كَأَنَّها الحَنظَلُ الخُطبانُ يُنتَقَفُ
At Dhu al-ʿAqr their skulls tumble, mere skullcaps,
Their skulls crash down under Dhi'l-'Akra's blows
As though they were striped colocynth gourds being cracked open.
As if they were cuttlefish, each skull severed off.
Sol 6.1