لِلهِto God (in praise) أَحْمَدُAhmad مِنْas a فَقيدِdeparted man مَكَانَةٍdistinction
لِلهِ أَحْمَدُ مِنْ فَقيدِ مَكَانَةٍ
قَدْindeed كانَhe was فِيهَاin it فَاقِدَwithout الأَمْثَالِequals
قَدْ كانَ فِيهَا فَاقِدَ الأَمْثَالِ
How admirable was Ahmad, by God—a departed man of distinction,
Who in that distinction had no equal.
لَمْdid not يُوفِgive its full due to سِرْبَالَthe robe of المحَامَاةِlegal advocacy امْرُؤءٌa man
لَمْ يُوفِ سِرْبَالَ المحَامَاةِ امْرُؤءٌ
إِيفَاءَهُhis full rendering مَاwhat حَقَّwas rightfully due لِلسِّرْبَالِto the robe
إِيفَاءَهُ مَا حَقَّ لِلسِّرْبَالِ
No man gave the robe of advocacy
Its rightful due as fully as he did.
ماضِيfirm العَزِيمَةِresolve ذُوpossessing ذَكَاءٍintelligence باهِرٍdazzling
ماضِي العَزِيمَةِ ذُو ذَكَاءٍ باهِرٍ
مُتَوَافِقُin harmony النِّياتِintentions وَالأَقْوَالِand words
مُتَوَافِقُ النِّياتِ وَالأَقْوَالِ
Firm in resolve, endowed with dazzling intelligence,
His intentions and his words in harmony.
مَنْwhoever قَالَsaid مَوسُوعَاتُencyclopedias of شَرْعٍlaw جُمِّعتْwere gathered
مَنْ قَالَ مَوسُوعَاتُ شَرْعٍ جُمِّعتْ
فِيin ذَاتِthe interior of صَدْرٍa breast لَمْnot يَكُنْwas بِمُغَالِيexaggerating
فِي ذَاتِ صَدْرٍ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِمُغَالِي
Whoever said, 'Encyclopedias of law were gathered
Within a single breast,' was not exaggerating.
يَزْدَادُincreases مَاas طَالَlengthens المَدىthe span of time تَحْصِيلُهُhis learning
يَزْدَادُ مَا طَالَ المَدى تَحْصِيلُهُ
وَيكُدُّand he toils فِيin الأَسْحَارِpredawn hours وَالآصَالِand late afternoons
وَيكُدُّ فِي الأَسْحَارِ وَالآصَالِ
His learning grows as time goes on,
And he toils before dawn and in the late afternoons.
وَيَظَلُّand he keeps مُلْتَمِساًseeking إِنَارَةَillumination of ذِهْنِهِhis mind
وَيَظَلُّ مُلْتَمِساً إِنَارَةَ ذِهْنِهِ
بِهُدَىby the guidance of شُمُوسٍsuns أَوْor بِضَوْءٍby the light of ذُبالِwicks
بِهُدَى شُمُوسٍ أَوْ بِضَوْءٍ ذُبالِ
And keeps seeking illumination for his mind
By the guidance of suns or the light of wicks.
يَأُبَىhe rejects التَّعمُّلaffectation كَاتِباًas a writer أوْor خَاطِباًas an orator
يَأُبَى التَّعمُّل كَاتِباً أوْ خَاطِباً
وَيُحِبُّand he likes فِيin الإنْشَاءِcomposition غَيْرَwhat is not الحَالِيadorned
وَيُحِبُّ فِي الإنْشَاءِ غَيْرَ الحَالِي
He shuns affectation, whether writing or speaking,
And favors the unadorned in composition.
يَتَجَنَّبhe avoids الزينَاتِembellishments فِيin أَلْفَاظِهِhis words
يَتَجَنَّب الزينَاتِ فِي أَلْفَاظِهِ
حَذَرَfor fear of الغُمُوضِobscurity وَخَشْيَةَand dread of الإِمْلاَلِcausing boredom
حَذَرَ الغُمُوضِ وَخَشْيَةَ الإِمْلاَلِ
He avoids embellishments in his wording,
For fear of obscurity and dread of tedium,
أَوْor خَوْفَfor fear أَنْthat تَغْشَىmight overshadow الأَدِلَّةَthe proofs رِيبَةٌdoubt
أَوْ خَوْفَ أَنْ تَغْشَى الأَدِلَّةَ رِيبَةٌ
مِنْfrom زُخْرُفٍornament تَبْدُوthey appear بِهِwith it وَصِقَالِand polish
مِنْ زُخْرُفٍ تَبْدُو بِهِ وَصِقَالِ
Or lest doubt overshadow the proofs
Through the ornament and polish in which they appear.
عَرَكَتْهُbattered him عَارِكَةُthe grinding force of الصُّرُوفِvicissitudes فَعَزْمُهُso his resolve
عَرَكَتْهُ عَارِكَةُ الصُّرُوفِ فَعَزْمُهُ
مُتَمَكِّنfirm كَشَوَامِخِlike the towering heights of الأَجْبَالِmountains
مُتَمَكِّن كَشَوَامِخِ الأَجْبَالِ
Fortune's grinding trials have tempered him; his resolve
Is firm as the loftiest mountains.
رَاضَتْهُtrained him رَائِضَةُthe disciplining force of الخُطُوبِcalamities فَلَمso not يَكُنْthere was
رَاضَتْهُ رَائِضَةُ الخُطُوبِ فَلَم يَكُنْ
قَرْمٌa champion يُسَاجِلهُrivals him غَدَاةَon the morning of سِجَالِa contest
قَرْمٌ يُسَاجِلهُ غَدَاةَ سِجَالِ
Calamity's discipline has schooled him, so there was no
Champion to rival him on a morning of contest.
مَاhow كَانَhe was أَصْيَدَهُan adept hunter he was لأَنْفَرِfor the most elusive مَأْرَبِaim
مَا كَانَ أَصْيَدَهُ لأَنْفَرِ مَأْرَبِ
بِالْبَطْشِby force وَهْوَand it is الرَّأيُjudgment أَوْor بِخِتَالِby guile
بِالْبَطْشِ وَهْوَ الرَّأيُ أَوْ بِخِتَالِ
How adept he was at hunting the most elusive aim,
By force—that force was judgment—or by guile.
مَاhow كَانَwas أَقْوَىstrong ضَعْفَهُhis weakness بِسُكُوتِهِthrough his silence
مَا كَانَ أَقْوَى ضَعْفَهُ بِسُكُوتِهِ
حَتَّىuntil يَصُولَhe charges بِهِwith it عَلَىagainst الصُّوَّالِthe assailants
حَتَّى يَصُولَ بِهِ عَلَى الصُّوَّالِ
How strong was his weakness in his silence,
Until with it he charged against the assailants.
مَاhow كَانَhe was أَلْعَبَهُadept at toying he was بِرَاسِخَةِwith firmly grounded النُّهىminds
مَا كَانَ أَلْعَبَهُ بِرَاسِخَةِ النُّهى
فَكَأَنَّهنَّso they seemed عَلَىon شَفَاthe brink of مُنْهَالِcrumbling ground
فَكَأَنَّهنَّ عَلَى شَفَا مُنْهَالِ
How deftly he toyed with firmly grounded minds,
As though they stood on the brink of crumbling ground.
رُوحٌa spirit كَتِلْكَlike that الروْحِspirit كَيْفَhow تَصوَّرَتْtook form
رُوحٌ كَتِلْكَ الروْحِ كَيْفَ تَصوَّرَتْ
زَمَناًfor a time وَإِنْand even if هُوَit قَلَّwas brief فِيin صَلْصَالِdry, resonant clay
زَمَناً وَإِنْ هُوَ قَلَّ فِي صَلْصَالِ
A spirit like that spirit—how did it take form
For a time, however brief, in dry clay?
ضَاقَتْwas too narrow بِهَاfor it سَعَةُthe vastness of الوُجُودِexistence وَضَمَّهاand enclosed it
ضَاقَتْ بِهَا سَعَةُ الوُجُودِ وَضَمَّها
فِيin شِبْهِthe likeness of طَيْفٍa phantom جَانِباthe two sides of تِمْثَالِa statue
فِي شِبْهِ طَيْفٍ جَانِبا تِمْثَالِ
Existence's vastness was too narrow for it, yet it was held
Like a phantom, within the two sides of a statue—
تِمْثَالِa statue of مَجْدٍglory لاnot تَرَىyou see فِيهِin it سِوَىexcept
تِمْثَالِ مَجْدٍ لا تَرَى فِيهِ سِوَى
رَجُلٍa man بِلاَwithout تِيهٍarrogance وَلاَand without إِدْلاَلِconceit
رَجُلٍ بِلاَ تِيهٍ وَلاَ إِدْلاَلِ
A statue of glory, in which you see nothing but
A man without arrogance or conceit.
مُتَقَاصِرٍshort-statured مَلأَfilled العُيُونَthe eyes تَجِلَّةًwith reverence
مُتَقَاصِرٍ مَلأَ العُيُونَ تَجِلَّةً
وَرَمَىand cast بِظِلٍwith a shadow فِيin الْقُلُوبِhearts طُوَالِvery long
وَرَمَى بِظِلٍ فِي الْقُلُوبِ طُوَالِ
Short of stature, he filled the eyes with reverence,
And cast a long shadow within hearts.
يَخْتَالُhe walks proudly فِيin الْجِسْمِthe body الضَّئِيلِslight وَقَلَّمَاand seldom
يَخْتَالُ فِي الْجِسْمِ الضَّئِيلِ وَقَلَّمَا
كَانَتْwere أُولُوpossessors of الأَلْبَابِunderstanding غَيْرَother than ضِئَالِslight of build
كَانَتْ أُولُو الأَلْبَابِ غَيْرَ ضِئَالِ
He walks proudly in his slight body, and seldom
Have men of understanding been other than slight.
يَعْلُوrises over مُحَيَّاهُhis face ابْتِسَامٌa smile دَائِمٌconstant
يَعْلُو مُحَيَّاهُ ابْتِسَامٌ دَائِمٌ
بَرِئَتْwere free مَعَانِيهِits meanings مِنَfrom الإِدْغَالِhidden malice
بَرِئَتْ مَعَانِيهِ مِنَ الإِدْغَالِ
A constant smile rests upon his face,
Its meanings free of hidden malice.
صَحِبَhe accompanied الحَيَاةَlife وَمَاand there is no بِهَاin it لأَخِيfor a possessor of النُّهَىwisdom
صَحِبَ الحَيَاةَ وَمَا بِهَا لأَخِي النُّهَى
ضَحِكٌlaughter يَتِمُّreaches fullness فَظَلَّso he remained فِيat اسْتِهْلاَلِthe beginning of laughter
ضَحِكٌ يَتِمُّ فَظَلَّ فِي اسْتِهْلاَلِ
He kept company with life, where a man of wisdom finds no
Laughter that reaches fullness; so his remained at its beginning.
عَيْنَاهُhis two eyes لاَnot يَحْكِيmatches وَمِيضَthe flash of سَنَاهُمَاtheir radiance
عَيْنَاهُ لاَ يَحْكِي وَمِيضَ سَنَاهُمَا
إِلاَّexcept التَّألُّقُthe glitter فِيin اشْتِبَاكِthe clash of نِصَالِblades
إِلاَّ التَّألُّقُ فِي اشْتِبَاكِ نِصَالِ
His eyes—nothing matches the flash of their radiance
Except the glitter of clashing blades.
مَاwhat is نُورُthe light of مِصْبَاحَيْنِtwo lamps يَجْرِيflows مِنْهُمَاfrom them both
مَا نُورُ مِصْبَاحَيْنِ يَجْرِي مِنْهُمَا
بِالْكَهْرَبَاءَةِby electricity مَجْرَيَاtwo streams of سَيَّالِfluid
بِالْكَهْرَبَاءَةِ مَجْرَيَا سَيَّالِ
What is the light of two lamps, from which flow
Two streams of electric fluid?
وَتَرَاهُand you see him أَكْثَرَmost often مَاwhen تَرَاهُyou see him مُطْرِقاًwith head bowed
وَتَرَاهُ أَكْثَرَ مَا تَرَاهُ مُطْرِقاً
إِطْرَاقَthe head-bowing of لاnot وَجِلٍone fearful وَلاَand not مُخْتَالِone haughty
إِطْرَاقَ لا وَجِلٍ وَلاَ مُخْتَالِ
And you see him, most often when you see him, with head bowed,
The bowing of neither a fearful nor a haughty man.
فَيَظَلُّso he remains كَالمُغْضِيlike one lowering his gaze وَلَيْسَand is not بِحَاجِبٍconcealing
فَيَظَلُّ كَالمُغْضِي وَلَيْسَ بِحَاجِبٍ
عيْنَيْهِhis two eyes سِتْرٌa veil مُحْكَمُsecurely fixed الإِسْبَالِthe letting down
عيْنَيْهِ سِتْرٌ مُحْكَمُ الإِسْبَالِ
So he stays as if lowering his gaze, yet no veil conceals
His eyes, no curtain drawn securely down.
لِلْغُنَّةfor the nasal resonance الجَارِيflowing عَلَيْهَاupon it صَوْتُهُhis voice
لِلْغُنَّة الجَارِي عَلَيْهَا صَوْتُهُ
تَأْثِيرُthe effect of سِحْرٍmagic فِيon النُّفوسِsouls حَلاَلِlawful
تَأْثِيرُ سِحْرٍ فِي النُّفوسِ حَلاَلِ
The nasal resonance in which his voice flows
Has on souls the effect of lawful magic.
يَرْقَىhe enchants السَّماعَhearing بِهَاwith it وَإِنْand even if يَكُmay be نَبْرُهُhis vocal pitch
يَرْقَى السَّماعَ بِهَا وَإِنْ يَكُ نَبْرُهُ
لاَnot يَرْتَقِيascends مَعْwith فِكْرِهِhis thought الْوَقَّالِever-climbing
لاَ يَرْتَقِي مَعْ فِكْرِهِ الْوَقَّالِ
He enchants the ear with it, though his vocal pitch
Does not ascend with his ever-climbing thought.
مِنْfrom قُوَّةٍstrength بِحِجَاهُin his intellect تَكْسِبُit gains قُوَّةًa power
مِنْ قُوَّةٍ بِحِجَاهُ تَكْسِبُ قُوَّةً
فِيin النَّفسِthe soul تُوغِلُit penetrates deeply أَيَّماto the utmost إِيغَالِpenetration
فِي النَّفسِ تُوغِلُ أَيَّما إِيغَالِ
From strength in his intellect, a power is gained
Within the soul, penetrating to its deepest depths.
وَبِهَاand through it يَبُزُّhe surpasses مُنَافِسِيهِhis rivals ظَافِراًvictorious
وَبِهَا يَبُزُّ مُنَافِسِيهِ ظَافِراً
وَبِهَاand through it يُوَامِقُhe loves رَاشِداًwith sound judgment وَيُقَالِيand he hates
وَبِهَا يُوَامِقُ رَاشِداً وَيُقَالِي
And through it he surpasses his rivals, victorious,
And through it, sound in judgment, he loves and hates.
يَاO خَيْبَةَthe disappointment of الآمَالِhopes فِيin الدُّنْيَاthis world وَيَاand O
يَا خَيْبَةَ الآمَالِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَيَا
غَبْنَthe unfair loss of المَسَاعِيefforts فِيin دَرَاكِattaining مَعَالِيhigh honors
غَبْنَ المَسَاعِي فِي دَرَاكِ مَعَالِي
Oh, the disappointment of hopes in this world! And oh,
The unfair loss of striving to attain high honors!
دَاءٌan illness عَرَاbefell فَانْدَكَّso it crumbled طَوْدٌa mountain شَامِخٌtowering
دَاءٌ عَرَا فَانْدَكَّ طَوْدٌ شَامِخٌ
بِأَخَفَّwith something lighter وَقْعاًin impact مِنْthan دَبِيبِthe creeping of نِمَالِants
بِأَخَفَّ وَقْعاً مِنْ دَبِيبِ نِمَالِ
An illness struck, and a towering mountain crumbled
With an impact lighter than the creeping of ants.
مَجْدٌglory تَوَلاَّهُovertook it الْعَفَاءُobliteration وَقُوَّةٌand a strength
مَجْدٌ تَوَلاَّهُ الْعَفَاءُ وَقُوَّةٌ
قَهَّارَةٌall-conquering سَكَنَتْcame to rest مَهِيلَa loose heap of رِمَالِsand
قَهَّارَةٌ سَكَنَتْ مَهِيلَ رِمَالِ
Glory has been overtaken by oblivion, and a strength
All-conquering, has come to rest in heaped sand.
أَفْضَىhas passed الذَّكَاءُintelligence إِلىto صَفِيحٍa stone slab هَامِدlifeless
أَفْضَى الذَّكَاءُ إِلى صَفِيحٍ هَامِد
وَأَوَىand took shelter المَضَاءُresolve إِلىto ضَرِيحٍa tomb خَالِيempty
وَأَوَى المَضَاءُ إِلى ضَرِيحٍ خَالِي
Brilliance has passed to a lifeless stone slab,
And resolve has taken shelter in an empty tomb.
Sol 6.1