عَزَاءِ الحِجَى وَالألْمَعِيَّةِ وَالنُّبْلِ

عَزَاءِ الحِجَى وَالألْمَعِيَّةِ وَالنُّبْلِ

فَفِي كُلِّهَا امْرَءًا فَاقِدَ المِثل

فَفِي كُلِّهَا امْرَءًا فَاقِدَ المِثل

Consolation to reason, brilliance, and nobility—

Consolation to wisdom, brilliance, and nobility;

for in them all a peerless man is lost.

For in all of them, one man had no equal.

تَوَلَّيْتَ يَا عَلاَّمَةَ الشَّرْقِ فَالأَسَى

تَوَلَّيْتَ يَا عَلاَّمَةَ الشَّرْقِ فَالأَسَى

إِلى الغَرْبِ مُمْتَدُّ السَّحَابَةِ وَالظلِّ

إِلى الغَرْبِ مُمْتَدُّ السَّحَابَةِ وَالظلِّ

You have departed, O savant of the East, and sorrow

You have departed, O great scholar of the East, and grief

stretches westward, heavy with clouds and shade.

Spreads its cloud and shadow as far as the West.

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى الفَرْدِ الَّذِي فِي خِصَالِهِ

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى الفَرْدِ الَّذِي فِي خِصَالِهِ

تَلاَقَتْ خِلاَلُ مَجْمُوعَةَ الشَّمْل

تَلاَقَتْ خِلاَلُ مَجْمُوعَةَ الشَّمْل

Peace upon that singular man, within whose character

Peace upon that singular man, in whose character

virtues gathered in one complete constellation.

Virtues met, gathered into one.

سَلاَم عَلَى ذَاكَ الذَّكَاءِ الَّذِي خَبَا

سَلاَم عَلَى ذَاكَ الذَّكَاءِ الَّذِي خَبَا

وَذَاكَ المُحَيَّا السَّمْحِ غُيِّبَ فِي الرَّمْل

وَذَاكَ المُحَيَّا السَّمْحِ غُيِّبَ فِي الرَّمْل

Peace upon that intellect whose radiance has gone out,

Peace upon that intelligence that has faded,

and upon that gracious conversationalist, hidden in the earth.

And that gracious face, buried in the sand.

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى ذاكَ الْفُؤادِ الَّذِي سلا

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى ذاكَ الْفُؤادِ الَّذِي سلا

وَمَا كَانَ إِلاِّ بِالمَحَامِدِ فِي شُغْلِ

وَمَا كَانَ إِلاِّ بِالمَحَامِدِ فِي شُغْلِ

Peace upon that heart, serene and untroubled,

Peace upon that heart that has found solace,

occupied with nothing but praiseworthy deeds.

And was occupied with nothing but praiseworthy deeds.

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى الآدَابِ أَجْمَلَ مَا بَدَتْ

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى الآدَابِ أَجْمَلَ مَا بَدَتْ

لَنَا فِي الفَتَى غَضِّ الإِهَابِ وَفِي الكَهْل

لَنَا فِي الفَتَى غَضِّ الإِهَابِ وَفِي الكَهْل

Peace upon the human form, fairest whenever it appeared—

Peace upon refinement, at its fairest when it appeared

fresh-skinned in youth and dignified in age.

To us in the fresh-skinned youth and the mature man.

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى الأخْلاَقِ رِيضَتْ وَهُذِّبَتْ

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى الأخْلاَقِ رِيضَتْ وَهُذِّبَتْ

فَلَمْ يَعْتَوِرْهَا النَّقْشُ بِالقَوْلِ وَالْفِعْل

فَلَمْ يَعْتَوِرْهَا النَّقْشُ بِالقَوْلِ وَالْفِعْل

Peace upon those morals, fragrant and refined,

Peace upon morals, disciplined and refined,

untouched by any fault in word or deed.

So no embellishment in speech or deed intruded upon them.

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى أَصْفَى الرِّجَالِ مَوَدَّةً

سَلاَمٌ عَلَى أَصْفَى الرِّجَالِ مَوَدَّةً

وَأَبْرَئِهِمْ نَفْساً مِنَ الحِقْدِ وَالغِلِّ

وَأَبْرَئِهِمْ نَفْساً مِنَ الحِقْدِ وَالغِلِّ

Peace upon the purest of men in affection,

Peace upon the purest of men in affection,

and the one whose soul was freest of rancor and spite.

And the freest in soul from rancor and malice.

إِذَا مَا قَضَى يَعْقُوبُ صَرُّوفَ نَحْبَهُ

إِذَا مَا قَضَى يَعْقُوبُ صَرُّوفَ نَحْبَهُ

فَمَهْمَا تَجِلِّي يَا صُرُوفَ النَّوى جِلِّي

فَمَهْمَا تَجِلِّي يَا صُرُوفَ النَّوى جِلِّي

When Yaqub Sarruf met his appointed death,

Now that Yaqub Sarruf has met his end,

then loom as greatly as you will, O turns of fate—loom great!

Then be as grievous as you will, O vicissitudes of separation!

تَدَاعَى بِنَاءُ المَجْدِ فِي عَالَمِ النُّهَى

تَدَاعَى بِنَاءُ المَجْدِ فِي عَالَمِ النُّهَى

وَنُكِّبَتِ الأعْلاَمُ فِي دَوْلَةِ الفَضْلِ

وَنُكِّبَتِ الأعْلاَمُ فِي دَوْلَةِ الفَضْلِ

The edifice of glory tottered in the realm of reason,

Glory's edifice has crumbled in the world of reason,

and the banners of excellence were struck down.

And the luminaries in the realm of excellence have been stricken.

فَفِي مِصرَ جُرْحٌ مِنْ مُفَاجَأَةِ النَّوَى

فَفِي مِصرَ جُرْحٌ مِنْ مُفَاجَأَةِ النَّوَى

ثَخِينٌ وَفِي لُبْنَانَ بَرْحٌ مِنَ الثُكْلِ

ثَخِينٌ وَفِي لُبْنَانَ بَرْحٌ مِنَ الثُكْلِ

Egypt bore a grievous share of fate’s sudden blow,

For Egypt bears a wound from sudden parting,

and Lebanon an anguish of bereavement.

A deep one; and Lebanon bears the anguish of bereavement.

وَفِي كُلِّ أُفْقٍ يَنْطِقُ الضَّادَ أَهْلُهُ

وَفِي كُلِّ أُفْقٍ يَنْطِقُ الضَّادَ أَهْلُهُ

غَمَائِمُ أَجْفَانٍ مُرَددَةُ الهَطْلِ

غَمَائِمُ أَجْفَانٍ مُرَددَةُ الهَطْلِ

In every land where its people speak the tongue of Ḍād,

And across every horizon whose people speak the tongue of ḍād,

eyelid-clouds repeatedly poured down torrents of rain.

Clouds of eyelids pour their rain again and again.

وَمِنْ عَجَبٍ أَنَّ الأُولَى فَازَ دُونَهُمْ

وَمِنْ عَجَبٍ أَنَّ الأُولَى فَازَ دُونَهُمْ

بِخَصِلِ الْعُلَى يَبْكُونَ مَنْ فَازَ بِالخَصْل

بِخَصِلِ الْعُلَى يَبْكُونَ مَنْ فَازَ بِالخَصْل

Strange that those whom he surpassed upon the heights

And it is a wonder that those he outstripped

should weep over the rich distinction he had won.

For the prize of eminence weep for the winner of that prize.

فَوَا حَرَبَا أَنْ تُخْتَمَ اليَوْمَ حِقْبَةٌ

فَوَا حَرَبَا أَنْ تُخْتَمَ اليَوْمَ حِقْبَةٌ

فَكَكْتَ بِهَا الأعْنَاقَ مِنْ رِبْقَةِ الجَهْلِ

فَكَكْتَ بِهَا الأعْنَاقَ مِنْ رِبْقَةِ الجَهْلِ

Alas that an era should end today—an era

Alas, that an era should come to an end today,

in which you freed necks from ignorance’s yoke.

In which you freed necks from the halter of ignorance,

وَهَيَّأتَ فِتْياناً يُدِيلُونَ لِلْحِمَى

وَهَيَّأتَ فِتْياناً يُدِيلُونَ لِلْحِمَى

إِبَاءً وَعِزَّاً مِنْ هَوَانٍ وَمِنْ ذُلِّ

إِبَاءً وَعِزَّاً مِنْ هَوَانٍ وَمِنْ ذُلِّ

You prepared young men who would restore to the homeland

And prepared youths who would bring their homeland

its awe and dignity after abasement and humiliation.

Pride and honor in place of abasement and humiliation.

تَجَشَّمْتَ مَا تَنْبُو بِأَيْسَرِهِ القَوَى

تَجَشَّمْتَ مَا تَنْبُو بِأَيْسَرِهِ القَوَى

وَلَمْ يَكُ مَا تَبْغِيهِ بِالمَطْلَبِ السَّهْل

وَلَمْ يَكُ مَا تَبْغِيهِ بِالمَطْلَبِ السَّهْل

You undertook what would exhaust even the slightest strength,

You shouldered what makes strength recoil at its slightest burden,

and what you sought was no easy prize.

And what you sought was no easy goal.

فَأطْلَقْتَ فِي خَمْسٍ وَخَمْسِينَ حِجَّةً

فَأطْلَقْتَ فِي خَمْسٍ وَخَمْسِينَ حِجَّةً

مَنَائِرَ لِلْعِرْفَانِ هَادِيَةً السُّبْلِ

مَنَائِرَ لِلْعِرْفَانِ هَادِيَةً السُّبْلِ

For fifty-five years you sent forth

So over fifty-five years you sent forth

beacons of learning to guide the roads.

Beacons of knowledge, guiding the paths.

أَرَتْنَا وُجُوه الحَقِّ فِي كُلِّ مُعْضِلٍ

أَرَتْنَا وُجُوه الحَقِّ فِي كُلِّ مُعْضِلٍ

وَمِنْ دُوِنهَا الاسْتَارُ مُحْكَمَةُ السَّبْلِ

وَمِنْ دُوِنهَا الاسْتَارُ مُحْكَمَةُ السَّبْلِ

You showed us the face of truth in every difficulty,

They showed us the faces of truth in every thorny question,

though tightly drawn curtains veiled it.

Though the curtains before them were tightly drawn.

فَلَمْ يَخْفَ سِرُّ النَّجْمِ فِي حُبُكِ الدُّجَى

فَلَمْ يَخْفَ سِرُّ النَّجْمِ فِي حُبُكِ الدُّجَى

ولَمْ يَخْفَ كُنْهُ النَّجْمِ يَكْتَنُّ فِي الحَقْل

ولَمْ يَخْفَ كُنْهُ النَّجْمِ يَكْتَنُّ فِي الحَقْل

The star’s secret was not hidden in the deepest dark,

So the star's secret in the weave of darkness was not hidden,

nor the essence of what grows and shines within the field.

Nor the essence of the low-growing plant concealed in the field.

إِذا الشَّهْرُ ولَّى أَقْبَلَ الشَّهْرُ بَعْدَهُ

إِذا الشَّهْرُ ولَّى أَقْبَلَ الشَّهْرُ بَعْدَهُ

بِسِفْرٍ جَدِيدِ البَحثِ فِي الفَصْلِ فَالفَضْل

بِسِفْرٍ جَدِيدِ البَحثِ فِي الفَصْلِ فَالفَضْل

Whenever one month passed, another followed it,

When one month passed, the next arrived

with a volume renewing inquiry, chapter after chapter.

With a volume of fresh research, in its chapters and its merit.

كِتَابٌ يَلِيهِ صِنْوُهُ وَيُتمُّهُ

كِتَابٌ يَلِيهِ صِنْوُهُ وَيُتمُّهُ

كَعِقْدٍ نَظِيمٍ مِنْ فَرَائِدَ تَسْتَتْلِي

كَعِقْدٍ نَظِيمٍ مِنْ فَرَائِدَ تَسْتَتْلِي

One book followed another, its companion completing it,

A book is followed by its twin, which completes it,

like a well-strung necklace of successive gems.

Like a well-strung necklace of rare pearls following one another.

وَفِي كُلِّ جُزْءٍ مِنْهُ يُدْرِكُ ذُو النُّهَى

وَفِي كُلِّ جُزْءٍ مِنْهُ يُدْرِكُ ذُو النُّهَى

مَدَارِكَ لَمْ تَخْطُرْ عَلَى الْقَلْب مِنْ قبلِ

مَدَارِكَ لَمْ تَخْطُرْ عَلَى الْقَلْب مِنْ قبلِ

In every part, the discerning mind perceived

And in each part of it, a person of reason grasps

realms that had never before occurred to the heart.

Insights that had never before entered the heart.

صَحَائِفُ أَوْعَتْ مِنْ بَيَانٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ

صَحَائِفُ أَوْعَتْ مِنْ بَيَانٍ وَحِكْمَةٍ

جَنَى العقْلِ فِي أَطْوَارِهِ وَجَنَى النَّقْلِ

جَنَى العقْلِ فِي أَطْوَارِهِ وَجَنَى النَّقْلِ

Pages entrusted with eloquence and wisdom—

Pages that held, in eloquence and wisdom,

the fruits of reason in its courses, and the fruits of transmitted learning.

The fruits of reason through its stages, and the fruits of transmitted learning.

تَدَفَّقَ مِنْهَا العِلْمُ فِي كلِّ مَطْلَبٍ

تَدَفَّقَ مِنْهَا العِلْمُ فِي كلِّ مَطْلَبٍ

بِأَبْلَغِ مَا يُوحِي وَأَفْصَحِ مَا يُمْلِي

بِأَبْلَغِ مَا يُوحِي وَأَفْصَحِ مَا يُمْلِي

From them knowledge poured forth on every subject,

Knowledge poured from them into every field of inquiry,

in the clearest exposition and most eloquent dictation.

In the most eloquent inspiration and the clearest dictation.

أَنَرْتَ بِهَا الأَذْهَانَ أَيَّ إِنَارَةٍ

أَنَرْتَ بِهَا الأَذْهَانَ أَيَّ إِنَارَةٍ

مُفَرِّقَةٍ بَيْنَ الحَقِيقةِ وَالبُطْلِ

مُفَرِّقَةٍ بَيْنَ الحَقِيقةِ وَالبُطْلِ

Through them you illuminated minds—what illumination!—

How brilliantly you illuminated minds through them,

along the stair between truth and falsehood.

Distinguishing truth from falsehood.

فَيَا لَلْمَعَانِي مِنْ بَدِيعٍ وَرَائِعٍ

فَيَا لَلْمَعَانِي مِنْ بَدِيعٍ وَرَائِعٍ

وَيَا لَلْمَبَانِي مِنْ رَفِيقٍ وَمِن جَزْلِ

وَيَا لَلْمَبَانِي مِنْ رَفِيقٍ وَمِن جَزْلِ

What meanings they held, wondrous and splendid!

Oh, how wondrous and splendid the meanings!

What words, at once delicate and strong!

And how graceful and vigorous the forms of expression!

وَيَا لَمَعِينِ الفِكْرِ لَيْسَ بِنَاضِبٍ

وَيَا لَمَعِينِ الفِكْرِ لَيْسَ بِنَاضِبٍ

وَيَا لَصَحِيحِ اللَّفْظِ لَيْسَ بِمُعْتَلِّ

وَيَا لَصَحِيحِ اللَّفْظِ لَيْسَ بِمُعْتَلِّ

What intellectual riches, never running dry!

And what a spring of thought, never running dry!

What sound expression, untouched by defect!

And what sound diction, never ailing!

كَمَا كُنْتَ يَا يَعْقوبُ فَلْيَكُنِ الَّذِي

كَمَا كُنْتَ يَا يَعْقوبُ فَلْيَكُنِ الَّذِي

يَجِدُّ فَلاَ يُلْوِي بِلَهْوٍ وَلا هَزْلِ

يَجِدُّ فَلاَ يُلْوِي بِلَهْوٍ وَلا هَزْلِ

For you, O Yaqub, were a man who

As you were, O Yaqub, so let him be who

labored earnestly, turning neither to diversion nor jest.

Works earnestly, turning aside for neither diversion nor jest;

ويُؤْثِرُ مِنْ دُونِ المَسَالِكِ مَسْلَكاً

ويُؤْثِرُ مِنْ دُونِ المَسَالِكِ مَسْلَكاً

يُجانِبُ أَسْبَابَ المَلاَمَةِ وَالعذْلِ

يُجانِبُ أَسْبَابَ المَلاَمَةِ وَالعذْلِ

Among all roads, you chose a road of your own,

And chooses, among all paths, a path

keeping far from every kind of blame and reproach.

That avoids the causes of blame and reproach;

وَيَنْشُد غَايَاتِ الكَمَالِ مُثَابِراً

وَيَنْشُد غَايَاتِ الكَمَالِ مُثَابِراً

عَلَى مَا تُمِر الحَادِثَاتُ وَمَا تُحلِي

عَلَى مَا تُمِر الحَادِثَاتُ وَمَا تُحلِي

You sought the utmost reaches of perfection, climbing onward

And pursues the aims of perfection, persevering

through whatever trials might embitter or make sweet.

Through whatever events make bitter or sweet;

صَبُوراً عَلَى مَا يَسْتَفِزُّ مِنَ الأَذى

صَبُوراً عَلَى مَا يَسْتَفِزُّ مِنَ الأَذى

يَرَى الحَزْمَ فِي عُقْبَاهُ أَشْفى مِنَ الجَهلِ

يَرَى الحَزْمَ فِي عُقْبَاهُ أَشْفى مِنَ الجَهلِ

Patient beneath whatever harm provoked you,

Patient under the hurt that provokes him,

you found resolve in the end sweeter than folly.

Seeing prudence as more healing in the end than rashness;

عَلِيماً بِأَنَّ المَرْءَ فِي الدهْرِ ظَاعِنٌ

عَلِيماً بِأَنَّ المَرْءَ فِي الدهْرِ ظَاعِنٌ

يُقِيمُ إِلى حِينٍ وَفِي عَقْبِهِ يُجْلِي

يُقِيمُ إِلى حِينٍ وَفِي عَقْبِهِ يُجْلِي

Knowing that a man is but a traveler through time,

Knowing that man is a traveler through time,

he advances for a while, then leaves what follows him.

Who stays awhile and then departs;

وَفِيّاً لِمَنْ وَاَلَى وَشَارَكَ ثَابِتاً

وَفِيّاً لِمَنْ وَاَلَى وَشَارَكَ ثَابِتاً

عَلَى العَهْدِ فِي خِصْبِ الحَياةِ وَفِي المحل

عَلَى العَهْدِ فِي خِصْبِ الحَياةِ وَفِي المحل

Faithful to those who befriended and shared with him, steadfast

Loyal to those he befriended and associated with, steadfast

in his pledge through life’s afflictions and its barren seasons.

To his pledge, in life's abundance and in its drought.

أَرَى اليَوْمَ فِي ذِكْرَاهُ آخِرَ صُورَةٍ

أَرَى اليَوْمَ فِي ذِكْرَاهُ آخِرَ صُورَةٍ

لِفانٍ قَوِيمِ العِطْفِ مُزْدَهِرِ الشَّكْل

لِفانٍ قَوِيمِ العِطْفِ مُزْدَهِرِ الشَّكْل

Today, in remembering him, I see the final image

Today, in remembering him, I see a final image

of an ancient gracious art, splendid in form.

Of a mortal, upright in bearing and radiant in form.

عَلاَ تِبْرُ فَوْدَيهِ لُجَيْنُ مَشِيبهِ

عَلاَ تِبْرُ فَوْدَيهِ لُجَيْنُ مَشِيبهِ

سِوى لَمَعَاتٍ مُومِئَاتٍ إِلى الأصْل

سِوى لَمَعَاتٍ مُومِئَاتٍ إِلى الأصْل

Above it shone his heart’s devotion to his faith,

The silver of his gray hair overlaid the gold at his temples,

with flashes of light returning toward the source.

Save for gleams that hinted at the original hue.

بِمَسْمَعِهِ عَنْ قَالَةِ السُّوءِ نَبْوَةٌ

بِمَسْمَعِهِ عَنْ قَالَةِ السُّوءِ نَبْوَةٌ

وَيُرْهِفُهُ مَا شَاءَ لِلحَقِّ وَالعَدْل

وَيُرْهِفُهُ مَا شَاءَ لِلحَقِّ وَالعَدْل

His hearing held nobly aloof from malicious talk,

His ear recoiled from malicious talk,

while his force was sharpened for truth and justice.

And he made it keen at will for truth and justice.

وَفِي نفسِهِ لِلأَرِيحِيَّةِ هِزَّةٌ

وَفِي نفسِهِ لِلأَرِيحِيَّةِ هِزَّةٌ

تَرَى إِثْرَهَا فِي وَجْهِهِ حِينَ تَسْتَجْلي

تَرَى إِثْرَهَا فِي وَجْهِهِ حِينَ تَسْتَجْلي

Within his soul, magnanimity would stir,

And in his soul was a thrill of magnanimity,

and you could see its trace upon his face when it shone forth.

Whose trace you see on his face when you look closely.

وَفِي طَيِّبِ الرِّزْقِ الَّذِي هُوَ كَاسِبٌ

وَفِي طَيِّبِ الرِّزْقِ الَّذِي هُوَ كَاسِبٌ

زَكَاتَانِ مِنْ لُطْفِ الإِشارَةِ وَالبَذْلِ

زَكَاتَانِ مِنْ لُطْفِ الإِشارَةِ وَالبَذْلِ

Of the wholesome livelihood he earned,

And in the wholesome earnings he acquired

its due was paid through unstinting generosity.

Were two forms of charity: kindly gestures and giving.

تَقسَّمَ بيْنَ النَّفعِ للنَّاسِ قلبُه

تَقسَّمَ بيْنَ النَّفعِ للنَّاسِ قلبُه

وَبَيْنَ جَمِيلِ البِرِّ بِالصَّحْبِ وَالأهْل

وَبَيْنَ جَمِيلِ البِرِّ بِالصَّحْبِ وَالأهْل

His heart divided its care between benefiting humankind

His heart was divided between benefiting people

and beautiful kindness to companions and family.

And gracious kindness to companions and family.

وَأُوتِيَ حَظّاً فِي بَنِيهِ وَزَوْجِهِ

وَأُوتِيَ حَظّاً فِي بَنِيهِ وَزَوْجِهِ

كَرِيماً عَلَى قَدْرِ المُرُوءَةِ وَالعَقْلِ

كَرِيماً عَلَى قَدْرِ المُرُوءَةِ وَالعَقْلِ

He was richly blessed in children and in a spouse,

And he was granted good fortune in his sons and wife,

noble in proportion to his honor and reason.

A noble fortune, in keeping with his integrity and intellect.

فَما مِثْلهُ بَيْنَ الأُبُوَّةِ مِنْ أَبٍ

فَما مِثْلهُ بَيْنَ الأُبُوَّةِ مِنْ أَبٍ

وَمَا مِثْلُهُ بَيْن البُعُولَةِ مِنْ بَعْلِ

وَمَا مِثْلُهُ بَيْن البُعُولَةِ مِنْ بَعْلِ

Among fathers, there was no father like him.

For among fathers, no father was like him,

Among husbands, there was none like him as a husband.

Nor among husbands was any husband like him.

وَمَا فِي النَّسَاءِ الفُضْلَيَاتِ كَزَوْجِهِ

وَمَا فِي النَّسَاءِ الفُضْلَيَاتِ كَزَوْجِهِ

وَلاَ كَبَنِيهِ الغُرِّ فِي صالِحِ النَّسْل

وَلاَ كَبَنِيهِ الغُرِّ فِي صالِحِ النَّسْل

Among virtuous women, none was like his wife,

And no woman of excellence was like his wife,

nor among worthy offspring were there any like his sons.

Nor any worthy offspring like his illustrious sons.

جزَاهُ بِمَا أَهْدى مِنَ الخَيْرِ رَبُّهُ

جزَاهُ بِمَا أَهْدى مِنَ الخَيْرِ رَبُّهُ

وَعوَّضَنَا مِنْ ذَلِكَ اللَّيثِ بِالشِّبْلِ

وَعوَّضَنَا مِنْ ذَلِكَ اللَّيثِ بِالشِّبْلِ

May his Lord reward them for the good he bestowed,

May his Lord reward him for the good he gave,

and compensate us for that lion with his cubs.

And compensate us for that lion with his cub.