فِيin أيwhat جِوٍّair بِالأَسَىwith sorrow مُفْعَمِfilled
فِي أي جِوٍّ بِالأَسَى مُفْعَمِ
يَتَّصِلُjoins المَأْتَمُthe funeral بِالمَأْتَمِwith the funeral
يَتَّصِلُ المَأْتَمُ بِالمَأْتَمِ
In what air, filled with sorrow,
In whatever atmosphere filled with sorrow,
does one funeral follow another?
Grief is joined to grief,
يَاO بَالِغَyou who have reached الستِينَsixty كَمْhow many صَاحِبٍa friend
يَا بَالِغَ الستِينَ كَمْ صَاحِبٍ
أَبَرَّmost loyal يَمْضِيpasses away وَأخٍand a brother أَكْرَمِmost noble
أَبَرَّ يَمْضِي وَأخٍ أَكْرَمِ
O you who have reached sixty, how many a friend
O you who reached sixty, how many a companion
most loyal passes on, and a brother most noble!
Bade farewell and went while a dear brother remained,
مَاwhat لِلْمَنَايَاis with the fates of death وَرِجَالاتِنَاand our great men
مَا لِلْمَنَايَا وَرِجَالاتِنَا
يَفْتِكْنَthey strike fatally بِالأَعْظَمِat the greatest فَالأَعْظَمِthen the next greatest
يَفْتِكْنَ بِالأَعْظَمِ فَالأَعْظَمِ
What is it with the fates of death and our great men,
What is it with death and our men
striking down the greatest, then the next greatest?
That it takes away the greatest then the greatest,
مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad فِيin صَدْرِthe prime of أَيَّامِهِhis days
مُحَمَّدٌ فِي صَدْرِ أَيَّامِهِ
وَلَّىdeparted وَلَمْand had not يَدْلِفْshuffled وَلَمْand had not يَهْرِمِgrown old
وَلَّى وَلَمْ يَدْلِفْ وَلَمْ يَهْرِمِ
Muhammad, in the prime of his days,
Muhammad in the prime of his days
departed, neither slow of step nor grown old.
Turned down offers but did not become senile or decayed,
كَبَاstumbled بِهِwith him الْجَدُّfortune وَشِيكاًsoon كَمَاjust as
كَبَا بِهِ الْجَدُّ وَشِيكاً كَمَا
كَباstumbled جَوَادُthe charger الْفَارِسِof the horseman المُعْلَمِdistinguished
كَبا جَوَادُ الْفَارِسِ المُعْلَمِ
Fortune stumbled with him so soon, as
Seriousness overtook him, suddenly like
the distinguished horseman's charger stumbled.
A steed that overthrew its renowned rider,
فِيin مِصْرَEgypt تَعْدِيدٌlamentation وَفِيand in الشَّامِthe Levant تَرْrepetition (first part)
فِي مِصْرَ تَعْدِيدٌ وَفِي الشَّامِ تَرْ
دِيدٌrepetition (final part) لِذَاكَof that النَّبَأِnews المُؤْلِمِpainful
دِيدٌ لِذَاكَ النَّبَأِ المُؤْلِمِ
In Egypt, lamentation, and in the Levant, re-
In Egypt there is mourning and grief in Damascus
echoing of that painful news.
For that painful news,
وَفِيand on رُبَىthe hills لُبْنَانَof Lebanon شَجْوٌgrief عَلَىfor
وَفِي رُبَى لُبْنَانَ شَجْوٌ عَلَى
ذَاكَthat الرَّئِيسِleader الأَحْصَفِmost judicious الأَحْزَمِmost resolute
ذَاكَ الرَّئِيسِ الأَحْصَفِ الأَحْزَمِ
And on Lebanon's hills, grief for
And in the meadows of Lebanon there is a lament
that most judicious, most resolute leader.
For that most wise and determined leader,
تَجْرِيflow مَآقِينَاour eye corners دُمُوعاًwith tears وَمَاand not
تَجْرِي مَآقِينَا دُمُوعاً وَمَا
يُغْنِينَthey avail مِنْagainst غَارِبَةِthe setting الأَنْجُمِof the stars
يُغْنِينَ مِنْ غَارِبَةِ الأَنْجُمِ
Our eyes stream with tears, yet
Our tears are flowing abundantly, but they
they avail nothing against the setting of stars.
Cannot benefit the setting of the stars,
يَاO أَيُّهَاyou الكَوْكَبُstar مِنْfrom كَوْكَبٍa star
يَا أَيُّهَا الكَوْكَبُ مِنْ كَوْكَبٍ
وَأَيُّهَاand you الخِضْرِمُvast sea مِنْfrom خِضْرِمِa vast sea
وَأَيُّهَا الخِضْرِمُ مِنْ خِضْرِمِ
O star from a star,
O you planet among planets
and vast sea from a vast sea!
And o you full moon among full moons,
لاnot طَامِعٌaspiring فِيin غَيْرِother than مَاany (emphatic) مَطْمَعٍa ground for hope
لا طَامِعٌ فِي غَيْرِ مَا مَطْمَعٍ
أَوْor زَاعِمٌone making claims فِيin غَيْرِother than مَاany (emphatic) مَزْعَمِa ground for a claim
أَوْ زَاعِمٌ فِي غَيْرِ مَا مَزْعَمِ
Not aspiring where there was no hope,
Neither greedy for anything but what he coveted
nor making claims without grounds for a claim.
Nor claiming anything but what he proclaimed,
مِنْof كُلevery دِينٍfaith كَانَwere أَصْحَابُهُhis friends
مِنْ كُل دِينٍ كَانَ أَصْحَابُهُ
وَكَانَand he was حَقَّtruly المُؤْمِنِa believer المُسْلِمِMuslim
وَكَانَ حَقَّ المُؤْمِنِ المُسْلِمِ
His friends were of every faith,
The followers of every religion were
and he was truly a Muslim believer.
And he was the true believer and Muslim,
إِنْif تَتَبَيَّنْyou discern كُنْهَهُhis essence لَمْnot تَجِدْyou find
إِنْ تَتَبَيَّنْ كُنْهَهُ لَمْ تَجِدْ
أَمْثَالَthe likes of ذَاكَthat الْكَنْزِtreasure فِيin مَنْجَمِa mine
أَمْثَالَ ذَاكَ الْكَنْزِ فِي مَنْجَمِ
If you discern his inmost nature, you will not find
If you examine his substance you will not find
the like of that treasure in any mine.
The like of that treasure in any ore,
ذَاقَhe tasted أَذَىharm النَّاسِfrom people وَلَكِنَّهُbut he
ذَاقَ أَذَى النَّاسِ وَلَكِنَّهُ
لَمْdid not يَنْتَقِمْtake revenge يَوْماًever وَلَمْand did not يَنْقِمِbear resentment
لَمْ يَنْتَقِمْ يَوْماً وَلَمْ يَنْقِمِ
He tasted harm from people, but he
He tasted harm from people yet he
never once took revenge or bore resentment.
Never sought revenge, not once,
فِيin طَبْعِهِhis nature الحِلْمُforbearance عَلَيْهِمْtoward them وَمَنْand whoever
فِي طَبْعِهِ الحِلْمُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَمَنْ
يَرْفَعْهُraises him عَنْهُمْabove them قَدْرُهُhis standing يَحْلُمِis forbearing
يَرْفَعْهُ عَنْهُمْ قَدْرُهُ يَحْلُمِ
Forbearance toward them was in his nature; whoever
Patience towards them was in his nature, and he who
is raised above them by his worth is forbearing.
Exalts himself above them is patient,
آدَابُهُhis manners مِنْof نَسَقٍa pattern لامِعٍradiant
آدَابُهُ مِنْ نَسَقٍ لامِعٍ
كَنَسَقِlike the pattern of اللُّؤْلُوءِpearls إِنْif يُنْظَمِare strung
كَنَسَقِ اللُّؤْلُوءِ إِنْ يُنْظَمِ
His manners formed a radiant pattern,
His manners were of a brilliant strand
like the pattern of pearls when strung.
Like strands of pearls if threaded,
أَخْلاقُهُhis virtues أَخْلاقُthe virtues of حُرٍّa free man نَبَتْglanced off
أَخْلاقُهُ أَخْلاقُ حُرٍّ نَبَتْ
بِهَاagainst them التَّجَارِيبُtrials وَلَمْand were not تُثْلَمِchipped
بِهَا التَّجَارِيبُ وَلَمْ تُثْلَمِ
His virtues were those of a free man; trials glanced
His morals were the morals of a free man which
off them, never leaving a notch.
Were refined by trials and never blemished,
أَلْفَاظُهُhis words ُقَطْرُdrops نَدًىdew خَالِصٍpure
أَلْفَاظُهُ ُقَطْرُ نَدًى خَالِصٍ
مِنَof الْقَذَىimpurities يَشْفِيsoothes أُوَارَthe burning heat of الظَّمِيthe thirsty one
مِنَ الْقَذَى يَشْفِي أُوَارَ الظَّمِي
His words were drops of dew, free
His words were drops of pure
of impurities, quenching the parched one's burning thirst.
Dew which heals the blindness of darkness,
قَضَىhe spent حَيَاةًa life كُلُّall سَاعَاتِهَاits hours
قَضَى حَيَاةً كُلُّ سَاعَاتِهَا
سِلْسِلَةٌa chain فِيin المَجْدِglory لَمْnot تُفْصَمِbe severed
سِلْسِلَةٌ فِي المَجْدِ لَمْ تُفْصَمِ
He lived a life, all its hours
He lived a life every hour of which
an unbroken chain of glory.
Was a series in glory, never broken,
فِيin ذِمَّةِthe keeping of اللهِGod الصَّدِيقُthe friend الَّذِيwhom
فِي ذِمَّةِ اللهِ الصَّدِيقُ الَّذِي
أَصْفَيْتُهُI devoted to him وُدِّيmy affection وَلَمْand did not أَنْدَمِregret
أَصْفَيْتُهُ وُدِّي وَلَمْ أَنْدَمِ
In God's keeping is the friend to whom
In Allah's protection is the truthful one whom
I gave my undivided affection, and never regretted it.
I chose, loved, and never regretted,
وَالِدُكَyour father الأَمْجَدُmost illustrious فِيin المُنْتَمَىlineage
وَالِدُكَ الأَمْجَدُ فِي المُنْتَمَى
زَادَتْهُgave him more مَجْداًglory رِفْعَةُthe eminence المُنْتَمِيof the descendant
زَادَتْهُ مَجْداً رِفْعَةُ المُنْتَمِي
Your father, most illustrious in lineage,
Your most glorious father in ancestry
gained glory through his descendant's eminence.
Whose nobility increased his glory,
أَعْلَيْتَyou raised مَاwhat شَادَhe built فَأَضْحَىso there came to be لَهُfor it
أَعْلَيْتَ مَا شَادَ فَأَضْحَى لَهُ
ظِلٌّa shadow إِلَىto أَقْصَىthe farthest مَدىًreach يَرْتَمِيit stretches
ظِلٌّ إِلَى أَقْصَى مَدىً يَرْتَمِي
You raised what he had built, and it came to have
You elevated what he built so it became
a shadow stretching to the farthest reach.
A shade stretching to the furthest extent,
لاmay not بعُدَتْgrow distant ذِكْرَاكَyour memory مِنْas رَاحِلٍa departed one
لا بعُدَتْ ذِكْرَاكَ مِنْ رَاحِلٍ
قَدْindeed كَانَwas سَبْطَopen الْيدِof hand عَفَّchaste الْفَمِof mouth
قَدْ كَانَ سَبْطَ الْيدِ عَفَّ الْفَمِ
May your memory never grow distant, departed one,
Never far from the mention of travelers
who was open-handed and pure of speech,
Who had been self-sufficient and tight-lipped,
وَكَانَand he was جِسْراًa bridge لِتَلاقِيfor the meeting of الْعُلَىgreatness
وَكَانَ جِسْراً لِتَلاقِي الْعُلَى
مِنْfrom عُدْوَتَيْهَاits two banks وَبِهَذَاand for this سُمِيhe was named
مِنْ عُدْوَتَيْهَا وَبِهَذَا سُمِي
and was a bridge where greatness met
And he was a bridge for the coming together of the exalted
from its two banks; from this he took his name.
From its two banks, and thereby he was named,
مَنْwhoever يَلْتَمِسْseeks وَصْفاًa description لَهُof him صَادِقاًtruthful
مَنْ يَلْتَمِسْ وَصْفاً لَهُ صَادِقاً
فَالْقَوْلُthen the saying قَوْلُthe saying of الشَّاعِرِthe poet المُلْهَمِinspired
فَالْقَوْلُ قَوْلُ الشَّاعِرِ المُلْهَمِ
Whoever seeks a truthful description of him,
He who seeks a true description of him
let the words be those of the inspired poet:
The words are those of the inspired poet,
مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad زَادِيbestower of النَّدَىgenerosity وَالْقِرَىand hospitality
مُحَمَّدٌ زَادِي النَّدَى وَالْقِرَى
وَجَبَلُand the mountain of اللاَّجِيءِthe refugee وَالمُحْتَمِيand the shelter-seeker
وَجَبَلُ اللاَّجِيءِ وَالمُحْتَمِي
Muhammad, bestower of bounty and hospitality,
Muhammad my provision and lodging,
and a mountain for the refugee and the seeker of shelter;
And the unvanquished mountain of refuge,
أَلناقِضُthe one who undoes المُبْرِمُthe one who binds firmly عَنْfrom فِطْنَةٍdiscernment
أَلناقِضُ المُبْرِمُ عَنْ فِطْنَةٍ
تَصْدُقُproves true إِنْif يَنْقُضْhe undoes وَإِنْand if يُبْرِمِhe binds firmly
تَصْدُقُ إِنْ يَنْقُضْ وَإِنْ يُبْرِمِ
he who undoes and binds, with discernment
The promises he makes are never broken,
that proves true whether he undoes or binds;
Wise if he promises and wise if he decides,
أَلفَيْصَلُthe arbiter الفَارُوقُthe discerner of right and wrong فِيin حَلِّresolving مَاwhat
أَلفَيْصَلُ الفَارُوقُ فِي حَلِّ مَا
أَعْضَلَproved intractable إِنْif يَفْصِلْhe decides وَإِنْand if يَحْكَمِhe judges
أَعْضَلَ إِنْ يَفْصِلْ وَإِنْ يَحْكَمِ
the arbiter, the discerner, resolving what
The determining arbitrator if what is twisted
has proved intractable, whether he decides or judges;
Becomes more twisted, or if he rules,
مَنَارَةُthe beacon of النُّوَّابِthe deputies إِنْif حُيِّرَتْwas thrown into confusion
مَنَارَةُ النُّوَّابِ إِنْ حُيِّرَتْ
سَبِيلُهُمْtheir path فِيthrough المَعْبَرِthe passage المُظْلِمِdark
سَبِيلُهُمْ فِي المَعْبَرِ المُظْلِمِ
the deputies' beacon when confusion besets
The guiding light of parliament if their path
their path through the dark passage;
Is confused in the dark passage,
هُدَىthe guidance of الْوِزَارَاتِthe ministries إِذَاwhen فَاتَهَاeludes them
هُدَى الْوِزَارَاتِ إِذَا فَاتَهَا
وَجْهُthe direction الْهُدَىof guidance فِيin المَطْلَبِthe pursuit المُبْهَمِobscure
وَجْهُ الْهُدَى فِي المَطْلَبِ المُبْهَمِ
the ministries' guide when they lose sight of
The guide of ministries if the aspect of guidance
the course of guidance in an obscure pursuit;
Escapes them in the ambiguous quest,
مُسْعِدُhelper of مَنْwhoever يَمَّمَmakes for سَاحَاتِهِhis courtyards
مُسْعِدُ مَنْ يَمَّمَ سَاحَاتِهِ
إِنْif يَعْدِمِhe lacks المُسْعِدَa helper أَوْor يُعْدَمِis made destitute
إِنْ يَعْدِمِ المُسْعِدَ أَوْ يُعْدَمِ
helper of whoever makes for his courtyards,
He makes happy whoever turns to him
when he lacks a helper or is left destitute.
Whether he finds happiness or is deprived of it,
قُوسِمْتُI was joined in sharing فِيin حُزْنِيmy grief عَلَيْهِfor him فَمَاso what
قُوسِمْتُ فِي حُزْنِي عَلَيْهِ فَمَا
بَالِيis my state كَأَنَّas though الْحُزْنَthe grief لَمْnot يُقْسَمِbe divided
بَالِي كَأَنَّ الْحُزْنَ لَمْ يُقْسَمِ
My grief for him was shared; why, then,
I was allotted a portion of sadness for him yet
do I feel as though the grief had not been divided?
I care not as if this sadness was not allotted,
عَجِبْتُI marveled لِلأَيَّامِat the days أَبْقَيْنَنِيthey kept me
عَجِبْتُ لِلأَيَّامِ أَبْقَيْنَنِي
حَيّاًalive وَقَلْبِيand my heart مُلْتَقَىthe meeting-place of الأَسْهُمِarrows
حَيّاً وَقَلْبِي مُلْتَقَى الأَسْهُمِ
I marveled at the days that kept me
I am astonished that the days have kept me
alive, while my heart was the meeting-place of arrows.
Alive while my heart is the meeting place of arrows,
فَمَاfor no رَمَىshot عَنْfrom قَوْسِهِits bow حَادِثٌcalamity
فَمَا رَمَى عَنْ قَوْسِهِ حَادِثٌ
فِيin بَلَدٍa land إِلاَّexcept وَقَلْبِيand my heart رُمِيwas struck
فِي بَلَدٍ إِلاَّ وَقَلْبِي رُمِي
For no calamity ever shot from its bow
No calamity in any land was shot
in any land without my heart being struck.
From its bow without striking my heart,
مَنْwhoever كَثُرَتْwere many أَصْحَابُهُhis friends حَوَّلَتْturned
مَنْ كَثُرَتْ أَصْحَابُهُ حَوَّلَتْ
حُلْوُهُمُtheir sweetness الدُّنْيَاthe world إِلَىinto عَلْقَمِbitter colocynth
حُلْوُهُمُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَى عَلْقَمِ
For one whose friends are many, the world turns
When many gathered around him, their sweetness
their sweetness into bitter colocynth.
Turned the world bitter to him,
يَاalas لَدَمِيfor my blood أَشْعُرُI feel أَنَّthat الأَسَىsorrow
يَا لَدَمِي أَشْعُرُ أَنَّ الأَسَى
يَصُبُّpours جَمْراًembers سَائِلاًmolten فِيinto دَمِيmy blood
يَصُبُّ جَمْراً سَائِلاً فِي دَمِي
Alas for my blood! I feel that sorrow
Oh my blood, I feel that sorrow
pours molten embers into my blood.
Pours molten embers into my blood,
مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad اذْهَبْgo بِسَلامٍin peace وَطِبْand be at ease
مُحَمَّدٌ اذْهَبْ بِسَلامٍ وَطِبْ
إِنَّكَindeed you لَمْdid not تُمْلِلُcause weariness وَلَمْand not تُذْمَمِbe censured
إِنَّكَ لَمْ تُمْلِلُ وَلَمْ تُذْمَمِ
Muhammad, go in peace and be at ease;
Muhammad go in peace and farewell,
indeed, you never wearied others, nor were you censured.
You did not become insipid or tasteless,
كُنْتَyou were لِمَنْto whoever عَايَشْتَهُyou lived with him رَاحِماًmerciful
كُنْتَ لِمَنْ عَايَشْتَهُ رَاحِماً
فَالْقَso receive الرِّضَىfavor مِنْfrom رَبِّكَyour Lord الأَرْحَمِthe most merciful
فَالْقَ الرِّضَى مِنْ رَبِّكَ الأَرْحَمِ
You were merciful to those you lived among;
You were kind to those you lived with
so receive the favor of your Lord, the most merciful.
So meet the pleasure of your Most Merciful Lord,
Sol 6.1