إلىto أَيِّwhat امْتِدَادٍlength فيin البَقَاءِcontinued life
إلى أَيِّ امْتِدَادٍ في البَقَاءِ
تُرَوِّعُنيterrify me مُنَايَاdeaths أَصْدِقَائِيmy friends
تُرَوِّعُني مُنَايَا أَصْدِقَائِي
For how much longer in this life
To what extent in existence will
will the deaths of my friends keep terrifying me?
The deaths of my friends frighten me
شَكَتْcomplained عَيْنيّmy eyes وَمَاand did not ضَنَّتْwithhold قَدِيماًformerly
شَكَتْ عَيْنيّ وَمَا ضَنَّتْ قَدِيماً
نُضُوبَthe drying up الدَّمْعِof tears مِنْfrom فَرْطِexcess البُكَاءِweeping
نُضُوبَ الدَّمْعِ مِنْ فَرْطِ البُكَاءِ
My eyes, never sparing before, lamented
My eye complained, though it has not been stingy with tears before
their tears running dry from excessive weeping.
The tears are exhausted from excessive crying
وَأخْلَقَand wore out جِدَّةَthe freshness الإِلْهَامِof inspiration فِكْرِيmy mind
وَأخْلَقَ جِدَّةَ الإِلْهَامِ فِكْرِي
مِنَfrom التِّكْرَارِrepetition فيin نَظْمِcomposing الرِّثَاءِelegiac verse
مِنَ التِّكْرَارِ في نَظْمِ الرِّثَاءِ
And my mind wore out inspiration's freshness
And my mind’s ability for inspiration is exhausted
through repeated composing of elegies.
From the repetition in composing elegies
فَحَتَّامَso how long الجِراحُthe wounds تَظَلُّcontinue تُدْمَيare made to bleed
فَحَتَّامَ الجِراحُ تَظَلُّ تُدْمَي
وَتُنْكِؤُهَاand reopens them رَزِيئَةُthe loss كُلِّof each نَاءِdeparted one
وَتُنْكِؤُهَا رَزِيئَةُ كُلِّ نَاءِ
How long, then, will the wounds keep bleeding,
So my wounds are still bleeding
and the loss of every departed one reopen them?
And every groan reopens them
عَلِيُّAli إذاwhen ثَويْتَyou came to rest رَهينَcaptive to رَمْسٍa grave
عَلِيُّ إذا ثَويْتَ رَهينَ رَمْسٍ
فَقَدْthen indeed عَجِلَتْhastened عَلَيْكَupon you يَدُthe hand الفَنَاءِof death
فَقَدْ عَجِلَتْ عَلَيْكَ يَدُ الفَنَاءِ
Ali, now that you lie captive in a grave,
Ali, when you are laid down in the ground
then death's hand has come upon you too soon.
The hand of death has hastened to you
وَمَاand why قُوْليmy saying الفَنَاءُdeath وَأَنْتَwhile you حَيٌّare alive
وَمَا قُوْلي الفَنَاءُ وَأَنْتَ حَيٌّ
حَيَاةُthe life الخَالِدِينَof the immortals بِلاwithout مِرَاءِdoubt
حَيَاةُ الخَالِدِينَ بِلا مِرَاءِ
Yet why do I say 'death,' when you live
And I do not say “death”, for you are alive
the life of the immortals, beyond all doubt?
The eternal life, undoubtedly
رَقَيْتَyou ascended إلىto جوارِthe presence اللهِof God تُجْزَىyou are rewarded
رَقَيْتَ إلى جوارِ اللهِ تُجْزَى
بِمَاfor what قَدَّمْتَهُyou offered it أَوَفَىthe fullest الْجَزَاءِrecompense
بِمَا قَدَّمْتَهُ أَوَفَى الْجَزَاءِ
You have ascended to God's presence, to be rewarded
You ascended to be near God, to be rewarded
for what you offered, with the fullest recompense.
For the most faithful reward you offered
وَبَانَand became clear لِنَاظِرَيْكَto your eyes السِّرُّthe secret فِيمَاin what
وَبَانَ لِنَاظِرَيْكَ السِّرُّ فِيمَا
جَهِلَنَاwe did not know مِنْof تَصَارِيفِthe vicissitudes القَضَاءِof fate
جَهِلَنَا مِنْ تَصَارِيفِ القَضَاءِ
And to your eyes is revealed the secret of what
And your insight saw the secret in what
we did not know of fate's changing ways.
We were ignorant of from the turns of destiny
تَرَىyou see كَيْفَhow الوَرَىhumankind مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere تُوفِيyou stand on high
تَرَى كَيْفَ الوَرَى مِنْ حَيْثُ تُوفِي
وَكَيْفَand how الأَرْضُthe earth مِنfrom أَوْجِthe summit السَّمَاءِof heaven
وَكَيْفَ الأَرْضُ مِن أَوْجِ السَّمَاءِ
You see what mortals are like from where you stand on high,
You see how the earth seems from where you passed away
and how the earth appears from heaven's summit.
And how the land seems from the zenith of the sky
سَنَذْكرَwe shall remember مَحْمَدَاتِكَyour praiseworthy deeds مَاas long as حَيَيْنَاwe live
سَنَذْكرَ مَحْمَدَاتِكَ مَا حَيَيْنَا
وَيَذْكَرُهَاand remembers them البَنونُthe sons عَلىin الوَلاءِsuccession
وَيَذْكَرُهَا البَنونُ عَلى الوَلاءِ
We shall remember your praiseworthy deeds as long as we live,
We will mention your virtues as long as we live
and sons shall recall them in unbroken succession.
And the descendants will remember them in loyalty
لَقَدْindeed كَانَwas القَضَاءُthe judiciary وَأنْتَwhile you فِيهِin it
لَقَدْ كَانَ القَضَاءُ وَأنْتَ فِيهِ
مِثَالاًa model لِلنَّزَاهَةِof integrity وَالصَّفَاءِand purity
مِثَالاً لِلنَّزَاهَةِ وَالصَّفَاءِ
Indeed, the judiciary, while you were in it, was
Indeed, destiny with you in it
a model of integrity and purity.
Was an example of integrity and purity
تُصَرِّفُهُyou administer it بِفِطْنَةِwith discernment لَوْذَعيٍّa keen-witted man
تُصَرِّفُهُ بِفِطْنَةِ لَوْذَعيٍّ
يُصِيبُfinds الحَلَّthe solution فيin كَبِدِthe heart الخِفَاءِof obscurity
يُصِيبُ الحَلَّ في كَبِدِ الخِفَاءِ
You administered it with the discernment of a keen-witted man
You guide it with clever discernment
who finds the solution in the very heart of obscurity.
Hitting the mark in the core of obscurity
وَلَمْand never تَكُyou were ذَاتَon any يَوْمٍday بِالمُحَابِيone showing favoritism
وَلَمْ تَكُ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ بِالمُحَابِي
وَلَمْand never تَكُyou were ذَاتَon any يُوْمٍday بِالمُرَائِيa dissembler
وَلَمْ تَكُ ذَاتَ يُوْمٍ بِالمُرَائِي
And never on any day were you one to show favoritism,
You have never been flattering
nor on any day were you a dissembler.
And have never been falsely praising
وَمَاand no تِلْقَاءُbefore عَدْلِكَyour justice مِنْany أَعَادٍenemies
وَمَا تِلْقَاءُ عَدْلِكَ مِنْ أَعَادٍ
تُبَالِيهُمْyou heeded them وَمَاnor مِنْany أَوْلِياءِallies
تُبَالِيهُمْ وَمَا مِنْ أَوْلِياءِ
And before your justice, there were no enemies
And your justice does not care about enemies
you heeded, nor any allies.
Nor care about allies
تُرَاقِبُyou looked to وَجَهَthe face رَبِّكَof your Lord لاَnot سِوَاهُanyone besides Him
تُرَاقِبُ وَجَهَ رَبِّكَ لاَ سِوَاهُ
وَتَرْعَىَand you cared for النَّاسَthe people فِيin حَدٍّmeasure سَواءِequal
وَتَرْعَىَ النَّاسَ فِي حَدٍّ سَواءِ
You looked to your Lord's face, and to no other,
You observe only the face of your Lord
and cared for people in equal measure.
And shepherd the people in perfect equality
فَلَمَّاthen when آنَit was time أَنْto تَلْقَىyou meet حِمَاماًdeath
فَلَمَّا آنَ أَنْ تَلْقَى حِمَاماً
مِنَfrom الجَّهْدِtoil المُبَرّحِexcruciating وَالعَنَاءِand hardship
مِنَ الجَّهْدِ المُبَرّحِ وَالعَنَاءِ
Then, when it was time for you to meet death
So when it was time for you to receive
from excruciating toil and hardship,
A deluge of exhausting effort and fatigue
دَعَتْكَcalled you إلىto الصّحَافَةِjournalism نَفْسُsoul حُرٍّof a free man
دَعَتْكَ إلى الصّحَافَةِ نَفْسُ حُرٍّ
شَديدَstrong العَزْمِin resolve مُؤْتَنِفَbeginning anew الفَتَاءِyouth
شَديدَ العَزْمِ مُؤْتَنِفَ الفَتَاءِ
a free man's soul called you to journalism,
The soul of a free man called you
strong in resolve, beginning youth anew.
Of strong determination, renewal of jurisprudence
فَقَامَthen shouldered بِعِبْئِهَاits burden مَرِنٌa seasoned man صَبورٌpatient
فَقَامَ بِعِبْئِهَا مَرِنٌ صَبورٌ
صَدوقُfaithful العَهْدِthe pledge مَرْعِيُّheld in honor الوَلاءِloyalty
صَدوقُ العَهْدِ مَرْعِيُّ الوَلاءِ
Then a seasoned, patient man shouldered its burden,
So the flexible, patient, loyal one rose to its responsibility
true to his pledge, his loyalty held in honor.
Who protects Egypt’s rights in the greatest protection
يَصونُhe safeguards حَقُوقَthe rights مِصْرَof Egypt أَبَرَّmost dutiful صَوْنٍprotection
يَصونُ حَقُوقَ مِصْرَ أَبَرَّ صَوْنٍ
وَيُبْليand shows valor دُونَهاin her defense أَقْوَىthe strongest بَلاءِvalorous effort
وَيُبْلي دُونَها أَقْوَى بَلاءِ
He guards Egypt's rights with the most dutiful care,
And exerts for it the strongest affliction
and shows the greatest valor in her defense.
When he analyzes, his insight flows
إِذاwhen أجْرىhe sets running يَرَاعَتَهُhis reed pen أَسَالَتْpoured forth
إِذا أجْرى يَرَاعَتَهُ أَسَالَتْ
مُهَارِقُهَاits pages مَجَاجاًa gush مِنْof ضياءِlight
مُهَارِقُهَا مَجَاجاً مِنْ ضياءِ
When he sets his reed pen running, out pours
Pouring with illumination and fire
from its pages a gush of light.
Ignited with zeal and refusal to submit
مَهَارِقُpages حَشْوُهَاtheir contents نُورٌlight وَنَارٌand fire
مَهَارِقُ حَشْوُهَا نُورٌ وَنَارٌ
تَأَجَّجَblazed بِالحَمِيَّةِwith ardor وَالإبَاءِand proud defiance
تَأَجَّجَ بِالحَمِيَّةِ وَالإبَاءِ
Pages filled with light and fire,
Indeed, sorrow is in mourning
blazing with ardor and proud defiance.
For the man of chivalry and resolve
أَلاbehold أنَّindeed الكِنَانَةَEgypt, the Quiver فيin حِدَادٍmourning
أَلا أنَّ الكِنَانَةَ في حِدَادٍ
عَلَىfor رَجُلِthe man المُروءَةِof honor وَالمَضاءِand resolve
عَلَى رَجُلِ المُروءَةِ وَالمَضاءِ
Behold, Egypt—the Quiver—is in mourning
When a nation lamented over him
for the man of honor and resolve.
Then what of his comrades and kin?
إِذَاif مَاindeed أُمَّةٌa nation جَزَعَتْgrieved عَلَيْهِfor him
إِذَا مَا أُمَّةٌ جَزَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ
فَكَيْفَthen how بِصَحْبِهِwith his companions وَالأَقْرُبَاءِand kinsfolk
فَكَيْفَ بِصَحْبِهِ وَالأَقْرُبَاءِ
If a whole nation grieves for him,
They experienced from him good neighboring
then what of his companions and kinsfolk?
Without any doubt or crookedness
بَلواthey experienced مِنْهُfrom him جَواراًneighborliness أَرْيِحِيّاًopenhearted
بَلوا مِنْهُ جَواراً أَرْيِحِيّاً
بِلاwithout دَخَلٍdeceit يَريبُarousing suspicion وَلاand no الْتِوَاءِcrookedness
بِلا دَخَلٍ يَريبُ وَلا الْتِوَاءِ
They experienced his openhearted neighborliness,
Whoever you ask among them speaks of him
without deceit to stir mistrust or any crookedness.
Not fearing exaggeration in praise
يُحَدِّثُspeaks عَنْهُof him مَنْwhoever حَدَّثْتَyou spoke to مِنْهُمْamong them
يُحَدِّثُ عَنْهُ مَنْ حَدَّثْتَ مِنْهُمْ
فَماso he does not يَخْشَىfear التَّغَاليexaggeration فيin الثَّنَاءِpraise
فَما يَخْشَى التَّغَالي في الثَّنَاءِ
Whoever among them you speak to tells of him,
The generosity of innate disposition and purity of nature
and fears no excess in praising him:
And gentleness in deliberate patience and generosity
سَمَاحَةُmagnanimity فِطْرَةٍinnate nature وَصَفَاءُand purity طَبْعٍcharacter
سَمَاحَةُ فِطْرَةٍ وَصَفَاءُ طَبْعٍ
وَرِفْقٌand gentleness فيin أَنَاةٍpatience فيin سَخَاءِgenerosity
وَرِفْقٌ في أَنَاةٍ في سَخَاءِ
innate magnanimity and purity of character,
May this bring Egypt consolation for losing him
and gentleness joined to patience and generosity.
When the loyal ones have departed
زَكيZaki بِكَin you العَزَاءُconsolation لِمِصْرَfor Egypt عَنْهُfor his loss
زَكي بِكَ العَزَاءُ لِمِصْرَ عَنْهُ
إِذَاwhen افتُقِدَتْwas found missing مَكَانُthe place الأَوْفِياءِof the loyal
إِذَا افتُقِدَتْ مَكَانُ الأَوْفِياءِ
Zaki, in you Egypt finds solace for his loss,
And who among its sons is hoped for like you
when the place of the loyal stands vacant.
So fulfill what it hopes of you
وَمِثْلُكَand one like you فيamong بَنِيهَاher sons مَنْone who يُرَجَّىis looked to with hope
وَمِثْلُكَ في بَنِيهَا مَنْ يُرَجَّى
فَحَقَّقْso fulfill مَاwhat لَهاshe has بِكَin you مِنْof رَجَاءِhope
فَحَقَّقْ مَا لَها بِكَ مِنْ رَجَاءِ
And one like you among her sons is looked to with hope;
so fulfill the hope she places in you.
Partial English translation: 54 of 56 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1