خُذْtake مِنْfrom حَديثِthe account of شُؤونِهِhis affairs وَشُجونِهِand his sorrows
خُذْ مِنْ حَديثِ شُؤونِهِ وَشُجونِهِ
خَبَراًa report تُسَلْسِلُهُtransmit it in a chain رُواةُnarrators جُفُونِهِhis eyelids
خَبَراً تُسَلْسِلُهُ رُواةُ جُفُونِهِ
Take from the account of his affairs and sorrows
Take the tale of his affairs and sorrows
a tale passed down in a chain by his eyelids' narrators.
That the sleepless eyes narrate
لَولاwere it not for فَضيحَةُthe exposure of قَلْبِهِhis heart بِدُمُوعِهِthrough his tears
لَولا فَضيحَةُ قَلْبِهِ بِدُمُوعِهِ
ماnot زالَvanished شَكُّthe doubt of رَقيبِهِhis watcher بِيَقِينِهِthrough his certainty
ما زالَ شَكُّ رَقيبِهِ بِيَقِينِهِ
Had his tears not betrayed his heart,
Had his heart not given him away with tears
his watcher's doubt would not have given way to certainty.
Doubt would still grip his watcher’s certainty
وَأَغَرَّand a radiant one تُؤْيِسًنيmakes me despair قَساوَةُthe hardness of قَلْبِهِhis heart
وَأَغَرَّ تُؤْيِسًني قَساوَةُ قَلْبِهِ
مِنْهُof him وَيُطْمِعُنيand gives me hope تَعَطُّفُthe tenderness of لِينِهِhis gentleness
مِنْهُ وَيُطْمِعُني تَعَطُّفُ لِينِهِ
And a radiant one—his heart's hardness makes me despair
And his heart’s harshness makes me despair of him
of him, while his tender gentleness gives me hope.
While its kindness gives me hope
ماnot زالَceased يَسْقيwaters خَدَّهُhis cheek ماءَthe water of الحَياmodesty
ما زالَ يَسْقي خَدَّهُ ماءَ الحَيا
حَتَّىuntil جَنَيْتُI plucked الْوَرْدَroses مِنْfrom نِسْرينِهِhis white wild rose
حَتَّى جَنَيْتُ الْوَرْدَ مِنْ نِسْرينِهِ
He kept watering his cheek with the dew of modesty,
The water of life still wets his cheek
until I plucked roses from his white wild rose.
Until I plucked roses from his Nesreen
وَإِذْاand when وَصَلْتُI lengthened بِشَعْرِهِwith his hair قِصَرَthe shortness of الدُّجىthe night
وَإِذْا وَصَلْتُ بِشَعْرِهِ قِصَرَ الدُّجى
هَجَمَburst forth الصَّباحُdawn بِثَغْرِهِwith his mouth وَجَبينِهِand his brow
هَجَمَ الصَّباحُ بِثَغْرِهِ وَجَبينِهِ
And when I lengthened the brief night with his hair,
When I reached his hair's end, night's slumber came
dawn burst forth in his mouth and brow.
And dawn assailed with its mouth and brow
خَفِرُbashful الدَّلالِin coquetry أُضُّمُهI embrace him وَأهابُهُand I stand in awe of him
خَفِرُ الدَّلالِ أُضُّمُه وَأهابُهُ
لِوَقارِهِfor his dignity وَحَيائِهِand his modesty وَسُكونِهِand his stillness
لِوَقارِهِ وَحَيائِهِ وَسُكونِهِ
Bashful in his coquetry, I embrace him yet stand in awe of him
Keeper of allure, I hug him and fear him
for his dignity, his modesty, and his stillness.
For his dignity, shyness and tranquility
قالَتْsaid رَوادِفُهُhis hips وَلينُand the suppleness of قَوامِهِhis figure
قالَتْ رَوادِفُهُ وَلينُ قَوامِهِ
إيَّاكَbeware عَنْaway from كُثُبِthe dunes of الحِمىthe sanctuary وَغُصُونِهِand its boughs
إيَّاكَ عَنْ كُثُبِ الحِمى وَغُصُونِهِ
His hips and the suppleness of his figure said:
His accompanier said - and his figure is delicate:
'Beware—stay clear of the sanctuary's dunes and boughs.'
Beware the zeal of the sanctuary and its branches
أجْفانُهُhis eyelids شَرَكُa snare for الْقُلوبِhearts كأنّماas though
أجْفانُهُ شَرَكُ الْقُلوبِ كأنّما
هاروتُHarut أوْدَعَهاdeposited in them فُنونَthe arts of فُتونِهِhis enchantment
هاروتُ أوْدَعَها فُنونَ فُتونِهِ
His eyelids are a snare for hearts, as though
His eyelids trap hearts as if
Harut had stored in them the arts of his enchantment.
Harut placed in them the arts of temptation
ياقُوتُهُhis ruby مُتَبَسِّمٌsmiling عَنْto reveal لُؤْلؤpearls
ياقُوتُهُ مُتَبَسِّمٌ عَنْ لُؤْلؤ
حَجِلَتْwere abashed عُقودُnecklaces of الدُّرِّpearls مِنbecause of مَكْنونِهِhis hidden treasure
حَجِلَتْ عُقودُ الدُّرِّ مِن مَكْنونِهِ
His ruby smiles, revealing pearls;
His ruby smile hints from a pearl
pearl necklaces blush before his hidden treasure.
At whose hidden treasure pearl necklaces paled
ساقٍa cupbearer صَحيفَةُthe page of خَدِّهِhis cheek ماnot سُوِّدَتْwas blackened
ساقٍ صَحيفَةُ خَدِّهِ ما سُوِّدَتْ
عَبَثاًin vain بِلامِwith the letter lam of عِذارهِhis cheek-down أوor نُونِهِits letter nun
عَبَثاً بِلامِ عِذارهِ أو نُونِهِ
A cupbearer, whose cheek's page was not blackened
Alif of his cheek’s parchment was never blackened
in vain by the lam or nun of his cheek-down.
In vain without the lam of his excuse or the nun of its text
جَمَدَcongealed الَّذيthat which بِيَمِينِهِin his right hand فِيin خَدِّهِhis cheek
جَمَدَ الَّذي بِيَمِينِهِ فِي خَدِّهِ
وَجَرىand flowed الّذيthat which فِيin خَدِّهِhis cheek بِيَمِينِهِin his right hand
وَجَرى الّذي فِي خَدِّهِ بِيَمِينِهِ
What was in his right hand congealed in his cheek,
Still on his right cheek while the left flows on his right
and what was in his cheek flowed in his right hand.
Spring was so pure as if the morning breeze
طَابَgrew pleasant الرَّبيعُspring كأنّماas though عَجَنَkneaded الصَّباthe east wind
طَابَ الرَّبيعُ كأنّما عَجَنَ الصَّبا
كافورَthe camphor of مُزْنَتِهِits raincloud بِعَنْبَرِwith the ambergris of طينهِits clay
كافورَ مُزْنَتِهِ بِعَنْبَرِ طينهِ
Spring grew sweet, as though the east wind had kneaded
Kneaded its dough with camphor and clay’s amber
its raincloud's camphor with the ambergris of its clay.
Its flowers burst and scattered
وَتَفضَّضَتْand were silvered أزْهارُهُits blossoms وَتَذَهَّبَتْand were gilded
وَتَفضَّضَتْ أزْهارُهُ وَتَذَهَّبَتْ
فَكَأَنَّهاso they seem الطّاووسُthe peacock فِيin تَلْويِنهِits coloring
فَكَأَنَّها الطّاووسُ فِي تَلْويِنهِ
And its blossoms were silvered and gilded,
As if they were the peacock in its colors
so they seemed a peacock in its coloring.
And the river’s brow creased under the shade’s wrinkles
وَجَلَتْand unveiled جَبينَthe brow of النَّهْرِthe river طُرَّةُthe forelock of ظِلِّهِits shadow
وَجَلَتْ جَبينَ النَّهْرِ طُرَّةُ ظِلِّهِ
مُذْsince جَعَّدَتْهاcurled it الرِّيحُthe wind فَوْقَabove غُصونِهِits boughs
مُذْ جَعَّدَتْها الرِّيحُ فَوْقَ غُصونِهِ
And the forelock of its shadow unveiled the river's brow,
Since the wind crumpled them over its branches
since the wind had curled it above its boughs.
The birds sing in different languages
وَالطّيْرُand the birds تُنْشِدُsing بِاخْتِلافِin the variety of لُغاتهاtheir tongues
وَالطّيْرُ تُنْشِدُ بِاخْتِلافِ لُغاتها
موسىMusa أدامَmay perpetuate اللَّهُGod فِيin تَمْكِينِهِsecuring his power
موسى أدامَ اللَّهُ فِي تَمْكِينِهِ
And the birds sing in their differing tongues:
Moses - may God keep him empowered
Musa—may God perpetuate his power!
Moses whose pride disdained
موسىMusa الّذيwho أنِفَتْdisdained شَهامَةُthe gallantry of عَزْمِهِhis resolve
موسى الّذي أنِفَتْ شَهامَةُ عَزْمِهِ
أنْto يِسْتَمِدَّseek النَّصْرَvictory مِنfrom هارونِهِhis Harun
أنْ يِسْتَمِدَّ النَّصْرَ مِن هارونِهِ
Musa, whose gallant resolve disdained
To seek victory through Haroun
to seek victory from his Harun.
A king privy to the mysteries, a confidant
مَلِكٌa king بِأَسْرارِwith the secrets of الْغُيوبِthe unseen مُكاشَفٌgranted revelation
مَلِكٌ بِأَسْرارِ الْغُيوبِ مُكاشَفٌ
فَظُنونُهُso his intuitions تُغْنيهِsuffice him عَنْin place of جِبْرِينِهِhis Jibrin
فَظُنونُهُ تُغْنيهِ عَنْ جِبْرِينِهِ
A king to whom the secrets of the unseen are revealed;
Whose conjectures spare him Gabriel
so his intuitions spare him the need for his Jibrin.
A king whose keen sword is the best armor
مَلِكٌa king غِرارُthe edge of السَّيْفِthe sword خَيْرُthe best of دُروعهِhis coats of mail
مَلِكٌ غِرارُ السَّيْفِ خَيْرُ دُروعهِ
وَالصَّافِناتُand poised steeds الجُرْدُsleek خَيْرُthe best of حُصُونِهِhis fortresses
وَالصَّافِناتُ الجُرْدُ خَيْرُ حُصُونِهِ
A king whose best armor is the sword's edge,
And deadly arrows the best fortification
and whose best fortresses are sleek, poised steeds.
A king seen amidst swords and spears
مَلِكٌa king يُرَىis seen بَيْنَamid الصَّوارِمِkeen swords وَالقَناand spears
مَلِكٌ يُرَى بَيْنَ الصَّوارِمِ وَالقَنا
كالَّليثِlike a lion فِيamong أَشبالِهِhis cubs وَعَرينِهِand his lair
كالَّليثِ فِي أَشبالِهِ وَعَرينِهِ
A king seen amid keen swords and spears,
Like a lion among its cubs and lair
like a lion among his cubs and in his lair.
A king whose surging troops
مَلِكٌa king إِذْاwhen ماemphatic particle جاشَsurges بَحْرُthe sea of جُيوشِهِhis armies
مَلِكٌ إِذْا ما جاشَ بَحْرُ جُيوشِهِ
مَلأfilled المَلاthe expanse بِسُهولِهِincluding its plains وَحُزونِهِand its rugged ground
مَلأ المَلا بِسُهولِهِ وَحُزونِهِ
A king—when the sea of his armies surges,
Filled the highlands and valleys
it fills the expanse, both its plains and its rugged ground.
Had an army stood before Ali
لَوif كانَhad been بَيْنَbetween يَدَيthe two hands of عَلِيٍّAli مِنهُمُfrom among them
لَو كانَ بَيْنَ يَدَي عَلِيٍّ مِنهُمُ
صَفٌّa rank لحَازَhe would have won النَّصْرَvictory فِيin صِفِّينِهِhis Siffin
صَفٌّ لحَازَ النَّصْرَ فِي صِفِّينِهِ
Had there been before Ali, from among them,
It would have achieved victory in Siffin
a rank, he would have won victory in his battle at Siffin.
O you whose envoys bring glad tidings
ياO مَنْyou who لَهُhe has بِشْرُcheerfulness يُبَشّرُgives glad tidings to وَفْدَهُhis visitors
يا مَنْ لَهُ بِشْرُ يُبَشّرُ وَفْدَهُ
فَالعُرفُfor kindness يُعْرَفُis known مِنْthrough وَفاءthe faithfulness of ضَمِينِهِits guarantor
فَالعُرفُ يُعْرَفُ مِنْ وَفاء ضَمِينِهِ
O you whose cheerfulness brings glad tidings to your visitors:
Custom is known by the loyalty of its interior
for kindness is known by its guarantor's faithfulness.
You have the pilgrimage road whose drink
وَلَهُand he has سَبيلُa charitable water supply for الحَجِّthe pilgrimage يُمْزَجُis mixed شَهْدُهُits honey
وَلَهُ سَبيلُ الحَجِّ يُمْزَجُ شَهْدُهُ
فِيin الحَرِّthe heat للصَّاديfor the thirsty بِبَرْدِwith the coolness of مَعِينِهِits flowing water
فِي الحَرِّ للصَّادي بِبَرْدِ مَعِينِهِ
And his is the pilgrims' water supply, whose honey is mixed
Is mixed with the hot for the thirsty from its cold spring
in the heat, for the thirsty, with the coolness of its flowing water.
Camels so numerous, space seems
إبِلٌcamels يَغُصُّis choked بِهاwith them الفَضاءُthe open expanse كَأنَّهاas though they were
إبِلٌ يَغُصُّ بِها الفَضاءُ كَأنَّها
شَجَراًtrees أتَتbrought forth مِنfrom أُكُلِهاtheir fruit بِفُنُونِهِwith its varieties
شَجَراً أتَت مِن أُكُلِها بِفُنُونِهِ
Camels that choke the open expanse, as though they were
A forest that came with its fruits and produce
trees bringing forth varieties of their fruit.
Bearing the pedestrian as if he were
يَحْمِلْنَthey carry مُنْقَطِعَthe stranded one among المُشاةِthe walkers كَأَنَّهُas though he were
يَحْمِلْنَ مُنْقَطِعَ المُشاةِ كَأَنَّهُ
فِيin بَطْنِthe womb of أُمٍّa mother مَهَّدَتْprepared a bed لِجَنينِهِfor its unborn child
فِي بَطْنِ أُمٍّ مَهَّدَتْ لِجَنينِهِ
They carry the stranded walker as though he were
In the belly of a mother who nested her fetus
in a mother's womb, made ready for its unborn child.
When its caller summoned with his name
لَمَّاwhen دَعاprayed داعِيهِthe one praying for him أَعْلَنَproclaimed بِاسمِهِby his name
لَمَّا دَعا داعِيهِ أَعْلَنَ بِاسمِهِ
فَتَشارَكَthen joined together الثّقلانِhumans and jinn فِيin تَأمِينِهِsaying Amen to his prayer
فَتَشارَكَ الثّقلانِ فِي تَأمِينِهِ
When one prayed for him, proclaiming his name,
Both burdens participated in securing him
humans and jinn joined in saying 'Amen' to his prayer.
Arafat trembled for him and Safa shook
طَرِبَتْrejoiced لَهُfor him عَرَفاتُArafat وَاهتَزَّand trembled الصَّفاal-Safa
طَرِبَتْ لَهُ عَرَفاتُ وَاهتَزَّ الصَّفا
وَالبَيْتُand the House مَعwith أَركانِهِits corners وَحَجونِهِand its Hajun
وَالبَيْتُ مَع أَركانِهِ وَحَجونِهِ
Arafat rejoiced for him, and al-Safa trembled,
With the House, its pillars and chambers
and the House, with its corners and its Hajun.
If the noble stone had a mouth, it would have complained
لَوْif كانَthere were لِلحَجَرِfor the Stone الشَّريفِthe noble فَمٌa mouth شَكاit would lament
لَوْ كانَ لِلحَجَرِ الشَّريفِ فَمٌ شَكا
ماwhat عِندَهُit holds مِنof شَوقِهِits longing وَحَنِينهِand its yearning
ما عِندَهُ مِن شَوقِهِ وَحَنِينهِ
Had the noble Stone a mouth, it would lament
Of its longing and yearning for him
the longing and yearning it harbors.
The pilgrims gleamed at Mina, swords
ضَحَّىoffered sacrifice الحَجيجُthe pilgrims عَلىat مِنىًMina وَسُيوفُهُand his swords
ضَحَّى الحَجيجُ عَلى مِنىً وَسُيوفُهُ
فِيamid الشّركِidolatry تَسقِيmake drink العِلْجَthe foreign infidel ماءَthe water of وَتِينِهِhis aorta
فِي الشّركِ تَسقِي العِلْجَ ماءَ وَتِينِهِ
The pilgrims offered sacrifice at Mina, while his swords
Feeding the idols the bitter colocynth
amid idolatry made the foreign infidel drink his aorta's water.
Not everyone who acts virtuously succeeds
ماnot كُلُّevery مَنْone who صَنَعَdid الجَميلَgood deeds مُوَفَّقٌgranted success
ما كُلُّ مَنْ صَنَعَ الجَميلَ مُوَفَّقٌ
كَلاّno indeed وَلاand not رَبُّthe Lord of السَّماheaven بِمُعِينهِas his helper
كَلاّ وَلا رَبُّ السَّما بِمُعِينهِ
Not everyone who does good is granted success—
No, by the Lord of the Heavens and his support
no, nor is the Lord of heaven his helper.
O you whose noble nature blames him
ياO مَنْyou who عَلىfor كَرَمِthe generosity of الطِّباعِtemperament يَلومُهُblames him
يا مَنْ عَلى كَرَمِ الطِّباعِ يَلومُهُ
ماnot لُمْتَyou blamed إِلاَّexcept اللَّهَGod فِيin تَكوينِهِfashioning him
ما لُمْتَ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ فِي تَكوينِهِ
O you who blame him for his generous nature,
You have no fault but God in his making
you have blamed none but God for fashioning him.
God made him worthy of His creatures’ mercy
اللَّهُGod أَهَّلَهُmade him fit لِرَحْمَةِfor mercy toward خَلْقِهِHis creatures
اللَّهُ أَهَّلَهُ لِرَحْمَةِ خَلْقِهِ
وَصَلاحِand the welfare of دُنياهُhis world وَرَحْمَةِand mercy toward دِينِهِhis religion
وَصَلاحِ دُنياهُ وَرَحْمَةِ دِينِهِ
God has fitted him for mercy toward His creatures,
And the welfare of this world and his faith
for the welfare of his world and mercy toward his faith.
Partial English translation: 63 of 64 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1