هُوَit is العَيْشُlife جَهْدٌtoil طَائِلٌgreat وَفُتُونُand trials
هُوَ العَيْشُ جَهْدٌ طَائِلٌ وَفُتُونُ
وَمَاand not المَوْتُdeath إِلاَّexcept رَاحَةٌrest وَسُكَونُand stillness
وَمَا المَوْتُ إِلاَّ رَاحَةٌ وَسُكَونُ
Life is great toil and trials;
Life is toil and trouble galore,
And death is nothing but rest and stillness.
While death is but rest, calm and peace.
نَوَدُّwe desire بَقَاءًcontinued life عَالِمِينَknowing بِمَاof what بِهِin it
نَوَدُّ بَقَاءً عَالِمِينَ بِمَا بِهِ
وَفِيand in كُلِّevery يَوْمٍday حَسْرَةٌanguish وَأَنِينُand groaning
وَفِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ حَسْرَةٌ وَأَنِينُ
We long to live on, knowing what life holds,
We yearn for life knowing full well,
And every day brings anguish and groans.
Each day brings regret and sighs.
فُجِعْنَاwe were bereaved بِمَيْمُونِof one blessed النَّقِيبَةِdisposition أَرْوَعٍnoble
فُجِعْنَا بِمَيْمُونِ النَّقِيبَةِ أَرْوَعٍ
تَقُرُّare gladdened بِهِby him حِينَat the time of اللِّقَاءِmeeting عُيُونُeyes
تَقُرُّ بِهِ حِينَ اللِّقَاءِ عُيُونُ
We have been bereaved of a noble man of blessed nature,
We grieve for Maymouna al-Nakib, so great,
At meeting whom, eyes find delight.
At whose sight eyes light up with joy.
مِثَالٌa model لِمَنْfor whoever يَحْيَاlives الحَيَاةَlife كَرِيمَةًnobly
مِثَالٌ لِمَنْ يَحْيَا الحَيَاةَ كَرِيمَةً
وَيَسْمُوand rises بِهَاthrough it عَنْabove كُلِّall مَاthat which هُوَis دُونُbase
وَيَسْمُو بِهَا عَنْ كُلِّ مَا هُوَ دُونُ
A model for whoever lives a noble life,
A paragon of one who lives life nobly,
And through it rises above all that is base.
Transcending all that is base and low.
صَفَىwas sincere لِمَنْto whoever صَافَىwas sincere وَفَىwas loyal لِمَنْto whoever وَفَىwas loyal
صَفَى لِمَنْ صَافَى وَفَى لِمَنْ وَفَى
غَفُورٌforgiving لِمَنْtoward whoever يَغْتَابُهُbackbites him وَيَخُونُand betrays
غَفُورٌ لِمَنْ يَغْتَابُهُ وَيَخُونُ
Sincere to the sincere, loyal to the loyal,
True to those true, and faithful to the faithful,
Forgiving those who backbite him and betray him.
Forgiving those who slander and betray.
وَمَهْمَاand whatever تَكُنْmay be عِنْدَwith امْرِيءٍa person حَاجَةٌa need لَهُfor him
وَمَهْمَا تَكُنْ عِنْدَ امْرِيءٍ حَاجَةٌ لَهُ
فَلَيْسَthen he does not يُدَاجِيهِfawn on him وَلَيْسَand does not يَمِينُlie
فَلَيْسَ يُدَاجِيهِ وَلَيْسَ يَمِينُ
Whatever need he may have of another,
Whatever need one has of him,
He neither fawns on him nor lies.
He grants without demur or delay.
عَهِدْنَاهُwe knew him لاnot تَلْقَاهُyou meet him إِلاَّexcept عَلَىin الرِّضَاcontentment
عَهِدْنَاهُ لا تَلْقَاهُ إِلاَّ عَلَى الرِّضَا
وَيَخْشَنُand grows stern آناًat times عِرْضٌhonor يَعِفُّis chaste وَدِينُand faith
وَيَخْشَنُ آناً عِرْضٌ يَعِفُّ وَدِينُ
We knew him: you would always find him content,
We knew him to accept only what pleases him,
And at times his chaste honor and faith would grow stern.
Shunning all dishonor and disdain.
وَلَمْand not يَكُwas خيْراًbetter مِنْهُthan him فِيamong الصُّحْبِcompanions صَاfirst part of 'companion'
وَلَمْ يَكُ خيْراً مِنْهُ فِي الصُّحْبِ صَا
حِبٌlast part of 'companion' وَفِيand among الخُدَنَاءِclose friends الأَكْرَمِينَthe noblest خَدِينُa close friend
حِبٌ وَفِي الخُدَنَاءِ الأَكْرَمِينَ خَدِينُ
No companion was better than he among companions,
None better in companionship or kinship,
Nor any friend among the noblest friends.
More generous, more kind and humane.
وَهَيْهَاتِand how unlikely فِيمَنْamong those who عَاشَlived بِرّاًdutiful بِأَهْلِهِtoward his family
وَهَيْهَاتِ فِيمَنْ عَاشَ بِرّاً بِأَهْلِهِ
أَبٌa father عَاشَlived بِرّاًdutiful مثْلُهُlike him وَقَرِينُand a husband
أَبٌ عَاشَ بِرّاً مثْلُهُ وَقَرِينُ
How rare among those who lived devoted to their families,
Would a father live so righteously with family,
A father or husband as devoted as he!
If not for one like him, a kindred soul?
أَكَامِلُO Kamil سَعْدِSaad اللهِAllah أَنِّيthat I am لَجَازِعٌtruly grief-stricken
أَكَامِلُ سَعْدِ اللهِ أَنِّي لَجَازِعٌ
عَلَيْكَover you وَكَمْand how many غَيْرِيbesides me عَلَيْكَover you حَزينُsorrowful
عَلَيْكَ وَكَمْ غَيْرِي عَلَيْكَ حَزينُ
O Kamil Saad Allah, I am truly grief-stricken
O perfection of God's blessings! I lament,
For you; how many besides me grieve for you!
And countless others lament for you, in dole.
أَفِيis it in لَحْظَةٍa moment خِلْنَاwe thought بِهَاin it الدَّهْرُTime مُغْضِيّاًaverting its gaze
أَفِي لَحْظَةٍ خِلْنَا بِهَا الدَّهْرُ مُغْضِيّاً
وَأَنْتَwhile you مِليءٌfull بِالنَّشَاطِof vigor تَحِينُmeet your end
وَأَنْتَ مِليءٌ بِالنَّشَاطِ تَحِينُ
Was it in a moment when we thought Time had averted its gaze,
Is it in one fleeting moment we lost forever,
That you met your end, though so full of vigor?
While you brimmed with vim and verve?
وَكَانَand there was بِكَthrough you التَّوْفِيقُsuccess لِلْعِلْمِfor learning وَالحِجَىand reason
وَكَانَ بِكَ التَّوْفِيقُ لِلْعِلْمِ وَالحِجَى
فَمَاذَاthen what دَهَىbefell التَّوْفِيقَsuccess حِينَwhen تَبِينُyou depart
فَمَاذَا دَهَى التَّوْفِيقَ حِينَ تَبِينُ
Through you came success for learning and reason;
With you was success, knowledge and wisdom rife,
What calamity befell that success when you departed?
Why then did success desert you in the end?
أَقَمْتَyou erected صُرُوحاًedifices لِلثَّقَافَةِfor culture ضَخْمَةًmighty
أَقَمْتَ صُرُوحاً لِلثَّقَافَةِ ضَخْمَةً
تُعَانُyou are helped عَلَىin تَشْيِيدِهَاbuilding them وَتَعِينُand you help
تُعَانُ عَلَى تَشْيِيدِهَا وَتَعِينُ
You raised mighty edifices for culture,
You built great bastions of culture,
Receiving help in building them, and giving help.
Seeking help from all quarters for this end.
لَهَاfor them تَسْتَمِدُّyou seek البِرُّcharity مِنْfrom كُلِّevery قَادِرٍcapable person
لَهَا تَسْتَمِدُّ البِرُّ مِنْ كُلِّ قَادِرٍ
وَمَاand not أَنْتَyou بِالقِسْطِwith a share الوَفِيرِgenerous ضَنِينُstingy
وَمَا أَنْتَ بِالقِسْطِ الوَفِيرِ ضَنِينُ
For them you seek generosity from everyone able to give,
From the generous you drew only good,
And you do not begrudge a generous share.
You were never miserly or mean.
وَأَنْتَand you عَلَىwith المَبْذُولِwhat is given مِنْfrom حُرِّown مَالِهِمْtheir wealth
وَأَنْتَ عَلَى المَبْذُولِ مِنْ حُرِّ مَالِهِمْ
وَآمَالِهِمْand their hopes فِيfor النَّابِنينَthe growing young (uncertain reading) أَمينُtrustworthy
وَآمَالِهِمْ فِي النَّابِنينَ أَمينُ
And with what they give from their own wealth,
Trustees of their wealth and hopes for their youth,
And their hopes for [the growing young], you are entrusted.
You remained ever faithful, ever keen.
وَمَنْand whoever يَكُis ذَاpossessing عَزْمٍresolve مَتِينٍfirm فَكُلِّthen all مَاthat which
وَمَنْ يَكُ ذَا عَزْمٍ مَتِينٍ فَكُلِّ مَا
تَوَلاَّهُhe undertakes it بِالعَزْمِwith resolve المَتِينِfirm مَتِينُfirm
تَوَلاَّهُ بِالعَزْمِ المَتِينِ مَتِينُ
And whoever has firm resolve—all that
One firm of purpose succeeds in all,
He undertakes with firm resolve is firm.
He takes on with that firmness, determined and lean.
مَدَارِسُschools تَبْنِيbuild لِلْكَنَانَةِfor Kinana فِتْيَةًyoung men
مَدَارِسُ تَبْنِي لِلْكَنَانَةِ فِتْيَةً
يُهَذِّبُهُمْrefines them تَأْدِيبِهِمْtheir education وَيَزينُand adorns
يُهَذِّبُهُمْ تَأْدِيبِهِمْ وَيَزينُ
Schools build young men for Kinana,
Schools you built to groom the young,
Their education refines and adorns them.
With learning and manners to preen.
وَتَعْنِيand you attend بِتَعْلِيمِto educating البَنَاتِgirls عِنَايَةًcare
وَتَعْنِي بِتَعْلِيمِ البَنَاتِ عِنَايَةً
تَرْقَىrises بِهَاthrough it أَخْلاقُهَاtheir character وَتَصًونُand safeguards
تَرْقَى بِهَا أَخْلاقُهَا وَتَصًونُ
And you attend to girls' education with care
To educating girls you gave utmost care,
That raises their character and safeguards it.
To refine their ways and their mien.
أَمَضَّكَpained you مَاwhat كَابَدْتَهُyou endured it مِنْof شِئُونِهَاtheir affairs
أَمَضَّكَ مَا كَابَدْتَهُ مِنْ شِئُونِهَا
وَأَكْثَرِand most of هَاتِيكَthose الشُّؤونaffairs شُجُونُsorrows
وَأَكْثَرِ هَاتِيكَ الشُّؤون شُجُونُ
What you endured in their affairs caused you pain,
You endured all their problems and affairs,
And most of those affairs were sorrows.
Most of which cause distress and chagrin.
فَمَاyet not فَاتَكَeluded you الصَّبْرُpatience الجَمِيلُgracious عَلَىin bearing الأَذَىharm
فَمَا فَاتَكَ الصَّبْرُ الجَمِيلُ عَلَى الأَذَى
لأَنِّكَbecause you بِالغِبِّin the outcome الحَمِيدِpraiseworthy تَدِينُbelieve
لأَنِّكَ بِالغِبِّ الحَمِيدِ تَدِينُ
Yet you never lacked gracious patience in suffering,
Yet you faced provocation with graceful patience,
Because you believed in a praiseworthy outcome.
For you were most noble and serene.
كَخِدْمَتِكَlike your service الأَوْطَانِhomelands فَلْيَخْدُمِso let serve الأُلَىthose who
كَخِدْمَتِكَ الأَوْطَانِ فَلْيَخْدُمِ الأُلَى
رَأَوْاhave seen نَهْضَةَthe revival of العُمْرَانِcivilization كَيْفَhow تَكُونُcomes about
رَأَوْا نَهْضَةَ العُمْرَانِ كَيْفَ تَكُونُ
As you served the homelands, so let those serve
Serve your homelands like you served,
Who have seen how civilization's revival comes about.
And see progress and growth careen!
إِذَاif الدَّارُthe homeland هَانَتْis debased مِنْthrough جَهَالَةِthe ignorance of أَهْلِهَاits people
إِذَا الدَّارُ هَانَتْ مِنْ جَهَالَةِ أَهْلِهَا
فَكُلُّthen everything عَزيزٍprecious فِيin الوُجُودِexistence يَهُونُis debased
فَكُلُّ عَزيزٍ فِي الوُجُودِ يَهُونُ
If the homeland is debased through its people's ignorance,
When a home declines through ignorance of its people,
Then all that is precious in existence is debased.
All the great ones in it dim and preen.
وَهَلْand can تَرْتَقِيrise الأَقْوَامُpeoples مَاso long as لَمْnot تُرْقِهَاraise them
وَهَلْ تَرْتَقِي الأَقْوَامُ مَا لَمْ تُرْقِهَا
عُلُومٌsciences وَآدَابٌand letters بِهَاamong them وَفُنُونُand arts
عُلُومٌ وَآدَابٌ بِهَا وَفُنُونُ
And can peoples rise unless they are raised
Can a people rise if not raised by knowledge and arts?
By sciences, letters, and arts among them?
By these they are graced and keened.
سَلامٌpeace عَلَىupon مَثْوَاكَyour resting place تَنْشُرُyou spread حَوْلَهُaround it
سَلامٌ عَلَى مَثْوَاكَ تَنْشُرُ حَوْلَهُ
مَآثِرَكَyour noble deeds الكُبْرَىgreat وَأَنْتَwhile you دَفِينُburied
مَآثِرَكَ الكُبْرَى وَأَنْتَ دَفِينُ
Peace upon your resting place; around it you spread
Greetings to your grave which spreads about,
Your great deeds, though you lie buried.
Your great feats, as you lay demeaned.
بِمَاfor what طِبْتَyou were content نَفْساًin spirit عَنْهُto part with it مِمّاof what تُحِبُّهُyou love it
بِمَا طِبْتَ نَفْساً عَنْهُ مِمّا تُحِبُّهُ
لَكَto you الوَطَنُthe homeland البَاكِيweeping عَلَيْكَfor you مُدِينُindebted
لَكَ الوَطَنُ البَاكِي عَلَيْكَ مُدِينُ
For what you willingly relinquished of the things you loved,
You eschewed all that pleased you,
The homeland weeping for you is in your debt.
Your weeping homeland remains in debt.
ألاindeed أَنَّthat خَطْبَthe calamity of النِّيلِthe Nile فِيon يَومِthe day of كامِلٍKamil
ألا أَنَّ خَطْبَ النِّيلِ فِي يَومِ كامِلٍ
لَخَطْبٌtruly a calamity لَهُit has فِيalong الضِّفَتَيْنِboth banks رَنِينُa ringing echo
لَخَطْبٌ لَهُ فِي الضِّفَتَيْنِ رَنِينُ
Indeed, the Nile's calamity on Kamil's day
Oh! A Nile oration on a full day,
Is truly a calamity that echoes along both banks.
Resonates on both shores, I ween.
فَكَمْso how many دَارِفٍshedding دَمْعاًtears وَكَمْand how many صَافِقٍclapping hands أَسًىin sorrow
فَكَمْ دَارِفٍ دَمْعاً وَكَمْ صَافِقٍ أَسًى
كَمَاas يُصْفِقُclaps الارَاهَthe distraught one (uncertain reading) وَهْوَwhile he is غَبِينُcheated
كَمَا يُصْفِقُ الارَاهَ وَهْوَ غَبِينُ
How many shed tears, how many clap their hands in sorrow,
How many tearfully grieve, how many slap in agony,
As [a distraught man] claps, feeling cheated.
Like the fluttering palm, downcast and lean!
وَكَيْفَand how أَسَىthe sorrow of البَاكِيthe weeper وَلاand no عوضrecompense لَهُfor him
وَكَيْفَ أَسَى البَاكِي وَلا عوض لَهُ
يُرجِّيهِgives him hope وَالذُّخْرَand the treasure المُضَاعُlost ثَمِينُprecious
يُرجِّيهِ وَالذُّخْرَ المُضَاعُ ثَمِينُ
And how deep the weeper's grief, with no recompense
How can the bereaved not grieve, with no recompense,
To give him hope, while the treasure lost is precious!
When the precious loss cannot be redeemed?
خَلاis empty فِيin عُيُونِthe eyes of النَّاظِرِينَonlookers مَكَانَهُhis place
خَلا فِي عُيُونِ النَّاظِرِينَ مَكَانَهُ
وَمَنْزِلُهُand his place فِيin الذِّكْرَيَاتِmemories مَكِينُfirmly established
وَمَنْزِلُهُ فِي الذِّكْرَيَاتِ مَكِينُ
His place is empty in the eyes of onlookers,
You left a void in watchful eyes,
And his place in memory stands firm.
Your station in memories secured and ensconced.
أَيَنْسَىcan he be forgotten? وَفِيwhile among الأَعْقَابِlater generations آثَارُtraces فَضْلِهِhis virtue
أَيَنْسَى وَفِي الأَعْقَابِ آثَارُ فَضْلِهِ
سَتَبْقَىwill remain وَمَاand no لِلصَّالِحَاتِfor good deeds مَنُونُdeath
سَتَبْقَى وَمَا لِلصَّالِحَاتِ مَنُونُ
Can he be forgotten, when traces of his virtue among posterity
Can one forget? When in time’s wake lie vestiges of your grace,
Will endure, and good deeds know no death?
The righteous deeds will remain, evergreen.
فَفِيso in رَحْمَةِthe mercy of اللهِGod الكَرِيمِthe Generous مُجَاهِداًas a striver
فَفِي رَحْمَةِ اللهِ الكَرِيمِ مُجَاهِداً
بِأَوْفَىof the fullest جَزَاءٍreward فِيin النَّعِيمِbliss قَمِينُworthy
بِأَوْفَى جَزَاءٍ فِي النَّعِيمِ قَمِينُ
So may you rest in the mercy of God the Generous, as one who strove,
So in God’s generous mercy, after striving,
Worthy of the fullest reward in bliss.
You attained the finest reward in bliss serene.
Sol 6.1