بَحَمْدُونُBhamdoun إِنْif تَنْشَقْyou inhale عَلِيلَgentle نَسِمِيهَاher breeze
بَحَمْدُونُ إِنْ تَنْشَقْ عَلِيلَ نَسِمِيهَا
فَإِنَّfor indeed شِفَاءَhealing النَّفْسِthe soul مَاwhat تَتَنَسَّمُyou breathe
فَإِنَّ شِفَاءَ النَّفْسِ مَا تَتَنَسَّمُ
Bhamdoun—if you inhale her gentle breeze,
then what you breathe is the soul's healing.
صَفَاbecame pure جَوُّهَاher air فَالشَّمْسُso the sun فِيهِin it سَلامَةٌwell-being
صَفَا جَوُّهَا فَالشَّمْسُ فِيهِ سَلامَةٌ
تُصَبُّis poured عَلَىupon الأَبْدَانِbodies وَالبَدْرُand the full moon بَلْسَمُbalm
تُصَبُّ عَلَى الأَبْدَانِ وَالبَدْرُ بَلْسَمُ
Her air is pure; the sun in it is well-being
poured upon bodies, and the full moon is balm.
وَرَاقَتْand became clear مَسَاقِيهَاher watercourses وَطَابَتْand grew sweet ثِمَارُهَاher fruits
وَرَاقَتْ مَسَاقِيهَا وَطَابَتْ ثِمَارُهَا
فَمَاfor ... not الْعَيْشُlife إِلاَّexcept صِحَّةٌhealth وَتَنَعمُand enjoyment
فَمَا الْعَيْشُ إِلاَّ صِحَّةٌ وَتَنَعمُ
Her watercourses are clear, and her fruits are sweet;
for life is nothing but health and enjoyment.
أَطَلَّتْshe overlooked مُطَلاًّa prospect فِيهِin it لِلْبَحْرِtoward the sea جَانِبٌa side
أَطَلَّتْ مُطَلاًّ فِيهِ لِلْبَحْرِ جَانِبٌ
وَآخَرُand another لِلْوَادِيtoward the valley فَلاَso no شَيْءَthing أَوْسَمُmore beautiful
وَآخَرُ لِلْوَادِي فَلاَ شَيْءَ أَوْسَمُ
She commands a view, with one side toward the sea,
and another toward the valley; nothing is more beautiful.
أَرَاعَكَdid it awe you? سَيْفٌa sword فِيalong الشَّوَاطِيءِthe shores مُلْتَوٍwinding
أَرَاعَكَ سَيْفٌ فِي الشَّوَاطِيءِ مُلْتَوٍ
مَضَارِبُهُits striking edges سُمْرٌdusky وَسَاحِلُهand its shore دَمُblood
مَضَارِبُهُ سُمْرٌ وَسَاحِلُه دَمُ
Has a winding sword along the shores awed you,
its striking edges dusky, its shore blood?
فَنَجْدٌso a highland إِلَىto نَجْدٍa highland تَسَامَىrose high فَهَضْبَةٌthen a hill
فَنَجْدٌ إِلَى نَجْدٍ تَسَامَى فَهَضْبَةٌ
إِلَىto هَضْبَةٍa hill وَالطَّوْدُand the mountain لِلطَّوْدِfor the mountain سُلَّمُa stairway
إِلَى هَضْبَةٍ وَالطَّوْدُ لِلطَّوْدِ سُلَّمُ
So highland towers beside highland, then hill
beside hill, and mountain is a stairway to mountain.
فَأَشْتَاتُso varieties أَلْوَانٍof colors بِرِفْقِwith gentleness مِزَاجِهَاtheir blending
فَأَشْتَاتُ أَلْوَانٍ بِرِفْقِ مِزَاجِهَا
تَرِفُّshimmer وَتَزْهُوand glow أَوْor تَحُولُchange وَتَقْتِمُand darken
تَرِفُّ وَتَزْهُو أَوْ تَحُولُ وَتَقْتِمُ
So varied colors, in their gentle blending,
shimmer and glow, or change and darken.
يَسُرُّكَdelights you مِنْهَاamong them نَاطِقٌwhat speaks جَنْبَbeside صَامِتٍwhat is silent
يَسُرُّكَ مِنْهَا نَاطِقٌ جَنْبَ صَامِتٍ
وَيُرضِيكَand pleases you مُفْشِيthe revealer السِّرِّthe secret وَالمُتَكَتِّمُand the secret-keeper
وَيُرضِيكَ مُفْشِي السِّرِّ وَالمُتَكَتِّمُ
What speaks among them beside what is silent delights you,
and both the secret-revealer and the secret-keeper please you.
مَنَاظِرُvistas وَالمَرْآةُand the mirror تُجْلَىis polished حِيَالَهَاbefore them
مَنَاظِرُ وَالمَرْآةُ تُجْلَى حِيَالَهَا
تُريكَshow you أَفَانِينَvarieties الْحِلَىof ornaments كَيْفَhow تُنْظَمُare strung
تُريكَ أَفَانِينَ الْحِلَى كَيْفَ تُنْظَمُ
Vistas—with the mirror polished before them—
show you how varied ornaments are strung.
بِأَيِّwith what جَمَالٍbeauty أَبْدَأَbegan اللهُGod رَسْمَهَاtheir depiction
بِأَيِّ جَمَالٍ أَبْدَأَ اللهُ رَسْمَهَا
وَأَيِّand what جَلالٍmajesty ذَلِكَthat الرَّسْمُdepiction يُخْتَمُis completed
وَأَيِّ جَلالٍ ذَلِكَ الرَّسْمُ يُخْتَمُ
With what beauty God began painting them,
and with what majesty that painting is completed!
إِذِwhere الرَّمْلُthe sand مَشْبُوبُglowing الْعَقِيقِagate وَدُونَهُand before it
إِذِ الرَّمْلُ مَشْبُوبُ الْعَقِيقِ وَدُونَهُ
زُجَاجٌglass إِلَىto أَقْصَىthe farthest reach of المُحِيطِthe ocean مُحَطَّمُshattered
زُجَاجٌ إِلَى أَقْصَى المُحِيطِ مُحَطَّمُ
Where the sand is glowing agate, and before it
shattered glass stretches to the ocean's farthest reach.
فَإِنْso if رَوِيَتْdrank their fill مِنْكَwithin you الْجَوَانِحُthe ribs بَهْجَةَwith delight
فَإِنْ رَوِيَتْ مِنْكَ الْجَوَانِحُ بَهْجَةَ
وَأَظْمَأَهَاand made them thirsty وِرْدٌa watering place جَدِيدٌnew يُيَمَّمُis sought
وَأَظْمَأَهَا وِرْدٌ جَدِيدٌ يُيَمَّمُ
So if your breast has drunk its fill of delight,
and a new watering place to seek has made it thirst,
جَلَتْunveiled لَكَfor you حَمَّانَاHammana رَوَائِعَهَاher wonders الَّتِيwhich
جَلَتْ لَكَ حَمَّانَا رَوَائِعَهَا الَّتِي
تَدِقُّgrow delicate إِلَىtoward الْغَابَاتِthe forests فَنّاًin artistry وَتَعْظُمُand grow grand
تَدِقُّ إِلَى الْغَابَاتِ فَنّاً وَتَعْظُمُ
Hammana reveals to you her wonders, which
reach into the forests in artistry both delicate and grand.
لَكَfor you اللهُGod مِنْwhat a وَادٍvalley بَدِيعٍwondrous نِظَامُهُits design
لَكَ اللهُ مِنْ وَادٍ بَدِيعٍ نِظَامُهُ
بِهِin it افتَنَّdisplayed artistry مَاwhatever شَاءَHe wished الْبَدِيعُthe wondrous one المُنَظِّمُthe Designer
بِهِ افتَنَّ مَا شَاءَ الْبَدِيعُ المُنَظِّمُ
God bless you, valley of wondrous design,
in which the wondrous Designer practiced His art as He pleased.
يُخَيَّلُit seems لِلرَّائِيto the beholder جَلالَكَyour majesty أَنَّهُthat he
يُخَيَّلُ لِلرَّائِي جَلالَكَ أَنَّهُ
بِمَاby what هُوَhe رَاءٍsees مِنْof جَلالِكَyour majesty مُلْهَمُinspired
بِمَا هُوَ رَاءٍ مِنْ جَلالِكَ مُلْهَمُ
To one beholding your majesty, it seems that he
is inspired by the majesty he sees in you.
وَيَحْسَبُand thinks مَنْwhoever يَرْنُوgazes إِلَيْهِat it وَدُونَهُand before it
وَيَحْسَبُ مَنْ يَرْنُو إِلَيْهِ وَدُونَهُ
أَرَقُّthe thinnest غِشَاءٍveil أَنَّهُthat he مُتَوَهِّمُimagining things
أَرَقُّ غِشَاءٍ أَنَّهُ مُتَوَهِّمُ
And whoever gazes at it, with only
the thinnest veil before it, thinks he is imagining things.
مَدَارِجُterraces مِنْfrom أَدنَىthe lowest السُّفُوحslopes إِلَىto الذُّرَىthe summits
مَدَارِجُ مِنْ أَدنَى السُّفُوح إِلَى الذُّرَى
يَرُودُexplores حِلاهَاtheir adornments النَّاظِرُthe beholder المُتَسَنِّمُthe ascending one
يَرُودُ حِلاهَا النَّاظِرُ المُتَسَنِّمُ
Terraces rise from the lowest slopes to the summits;
the ascending beholder explores their adornments.
جُيُوبٌhollows بِهَاin them مِنْof كُلِّevery غَالٍprecious وَفَاخِرٍand splendid
جُيُوبٌ بِهَا مِنْ كُلِّ غَالٍ وَفَاخِرٍ
نَفَائِسُtreasures تَغْزُوهَاraid them اللِّحَاظُglances فَتَغْنَمُand so take spoils
نَفَائِسُ تَغْزُوهَا اللِّحَاظُ فَتَغْنَمُ
Hollows hold, of every costly and splendid kind,
treasures that glances raid and take as spoils.
إِلَىto قِمَمٍpeaks شُمٍّlofty ذَوَاهِبَsoaring فِيinto الْعُلَىthe heights
إِلَى قِمَمٍ شُمٍّ ذَوَاهِبَ فِي الْعُلَى
يُؤَخِّرُهَاsets them back حُسْنٌbeauty وَحُسْنٌand beauty يُقَدِّمُbrings forward
يُؤَخِّرُهَا حُسْنٌ وَحُسْنٌ يُقَدِّمُ
To lofty peaks soaring into the heights,
one beauty sets them back, and another brings them forward.
تُفيضُpour forth عَلَىupon الأَغْوَارِthe depths دَرَّflowing milk ثُدِيِّهَاtheir breasts
تُفيضُ عَلَى الأَغْوَارِ دَرَّ ثُدِيِّهَا
فَتُرْضِعُthus suckle خَضْرَاءَthe green expanse of الرِّيَاضِthe meadows وَتَرْأمُand cherish
فَتُرْضِعُ خَضْرَاءَ الرِّيَاضِ وَتَرْأمُ
They pour the milk of their breasts upon the depths,
nursing the green meadows and tenderly cherishing them.
إِذَاwhen مَاfor emphasis تَغَنَّىsings مَاؤُهَاtheir water مُتَحَدِّراًcascading
إِذَا مَا تَغَنَّى مَاؤُهَا مُتَحَدِّراً
شَجَانَاmoved us وَلَمْand did not يَفْهَمْunderstand لُغَاهُits speech مُتَرْجِمُan interpreter
شَجَانَا وَلَمْ يَفْهَمْ لُغَاهُ مُتَرْجِمُ
When their water sings as it cascades,
it moves us, though no interpreter understands its speech.
جِبَالٌmountains تَرَامَتْstretched far فِيacross الفَضَاءِopen space خُطُوطُهَاtheir outlines
جِبَالٌ تَرَامَتْ فِي الفَضَاءِ خُطُوطُهَا
يُرَقِّقُهَاmakes them slender رَسَّامُهَاtheir painter وَيُضَخِّمُand thickens
يُرَقِّقُهَا رَسَّامُهَا وَيُضَخِّمُ
Mountains whose outlines stretch across the sky—
their painter thins them and makes them bold.
أَحَبُّmost beloved طِباقٍantithesis فِيin البَدِيعِrhetorical art طِبَاقُهَاtheir contrasts
أَحَبُّ طِباقٍ فِي البَدِيعِ طِبَاقُهَا
يَرُوعُawes النُّهَىminds مُنْآدُهَاtheir curved forms وَالمُقَوَّمُand the straightened
يَرُوعُ النُّهَى مُنْآدُهَا وَالمُقَوَّمُ
The loveliest antithesis in rhetoric is their contrast;
their curved and straightened forms astound the mind.
وَلاand no ظَرْفَelegance إِلاَّexcept عُطْلُهَاtheir unadorned forms وَمَزِينُهَاand their adorned forms
وَلا ظَرْفَ إِلاَّ عُطْلُهَا وَمَزِينُهَا
وَلاand no لُطْفَgrace إِلاَّexcept غُفْلُهَاtheir plain forms وَالمَنَمْنَمُand the intricately ornamented
وَلا لُطْفَ إِلاَّ غُفْلُهَا وَالمَنَمْنَمُ
And no elegance but in their bare and adorned forms,
and no grace but in their plain and intricately patterned forms.
تَدَلَّتْhung down قُرَاهَاtheir villages عَنْfrom رِحَابِthe expanses of صُدُورِهَاtheir breasts
تَدَلَّتْ قُرَاهَا عَنْ رِحَابِ صُدُورِهَا
فَكَمْso how many عَجَبٍwonders يَبْدُوappear لِمَنto whoever يَتَوَسَّمُlooks discerningly
فَكَمْ عَجَبٍ يَبْدُو لِمَن يَتَوَسَّمُ
Their villages hang from their broad breasts;
how many wonders appear to one who looks discerningly!
أَلاah حَبَّذَاhow lovely تِلْكَthose البُيُوتُhouses وَحَبَّذَاand how lovely
أَلا حَبَّذَا تِلْكَ البُيُوتُ وَحَبَّذَا
نَباتٌvegetation جمِيعٌclustered حَوْلَهَاaround them وَمُقَسَّمُand divided
نَباتٌ جمِيعٌ حَوْلَهَا وَمُقَسَّمُ
Ah, how lovely those houses, and how lovely
the plants around them, clustered and spaced apart!
بُيُوتٌhouses بِأَسْبَابِby the cords of السَّمَاءِheaven تَعَلَّقَتْhung suspended
بُيُوتٌ بِأَسْبَابِ السَّمَاءِ تَعَلَّقَتْ
لَهَاfor them فِيin المَهَاوِيthe chasms مُسْتَقَرٌّa resting place وَمَجْثَمُand a perch
لَهَا فِي المَهَاوِي مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَجْثَمُ
Houses suspended from the cords of heaven,
with a resting place and a perch in the chasms.
حِجَارَتُهَاtheir stones ضَحَّاكَةٌlaughing عَنْrevealing بَيَاضِهَاtheir whiteness
حِجَارَتُهَا ضَحَّاكَةٌ عَنْ بَيَاضِهَا
وَآجُرُّهَاand their bricks عَنْrevealing حُمْرةٍredness يَتَبَسَّمُsmiles
وَآجُرُّهَا عَنْ حُمْرةٍ يَتَبَسَّمُ
Their stones laugh, showing their whiteness,
and their bricks smile, showing redness.
وَأَشْجَارُهَاand their trees تُؤْتِيyield الزَّكِيَّthe wholesome مِنَof الْجَنَىfruit
وَأَشْجَارُهَا تُؤْتِي الزَّكِيَّ مِنَ الْجَنَى
وَأَطْيَارُهَاand their birds حَوْلَaround الْجَنَىthe fruit تَتَرَنَّمُwarble
وَأَطْيَارُهَا حَوْلَ الْجَنَى تَتَرَنَّمُ
And their trees yield wholesome fruit,
and their birds warble around the fruit.
فَيَاso O هَذِهِthese الْجَنَّاتُgardens بَيْنَbetween مِهَادِهَاtheir level grounds
فَيَا هَذِهِ الْجَنَّاتُ بَيْنَ مِهَادِهَا
وَبَيْنَand between الثَّنِيَّاتِthe mountain passes الْجَمَالُbeauty المُتَمِّمُthe crowning
وَبَيْنَ الثَّنِيَّاتِ الْجَمَالُ المُتَمِّمُ
Ah, these gardens! Between their level grounds
and the mountain passes lies the crowning beauty.
أُحَيِّيكِI greet you مِنْfrom قُرْبٍnearby وَكَمْand many a مُتَدَكِّرٍone remembering
أُحَيِّيكِ مِنْ قُرْبٍ وَكَمْ مُتَدَكِّرٍ
عُهُودَكِyour past days مِنْfrom بُعْدٍafar عَلَيْكِto you يُسَلَّمُsends greetings
عُهُودَكِ مِنْ بُعْدٍ عَلَيْكِ يُسَلَّمُ
I greet you from nearby; and many a one recalling
your past days from afar sends you greetings.
إِذَاwhen وَفَرَتْabound فِيكِin you المَنَافِعُbenefits وَالمُنَىand hopes
إِذَا وَفَرَتْ فِيكِ المَنَافِعُ وَالمُنَى
عَجِبْتُI marvel لِمَنْat whoever يَشْكُوcomplains وَمَنْand whoever يَتَألَّمُsuffers
عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يَشْكُو وَمَنْ يَتَألَّمُ
When benefits and hopes abound in you,
I marvel at those who complain and those who suffer.
وَإِنْand if كَانَwere أَهْلُوكَyour people الأُولَىthose whom يَعْرِفُknows النَّدَىgenerosity
وَإِنْ كَانَ أَهْلُوكَ الأُولَى يَعْرِفُ النَّدَى
عَجِبْتُI marvel لِمَنْat whoever يَرجُوseeks نَدَاهُمْtheir bounty وَيُحْرَمُand is denied
عَجِبْتُ لِمَنْ يَرجُو نَدَاهُمْ وَيُحْرَمُ
And if your people are those whom generosity knows,
I marvel at one who seeks their bounty and is denied.
وَيَاand O أَيُّهَاyou الْحَشْدُthe throng الَّذِينَwho تَوَافَدُواgathered
وَيَا أَيُّهَا الْحَشْدُ الَّذِينَ تَوَافَدُوا
لِبِرٍّfor charity تَمَلُّوْاsavor نِعْمَةَthe blessing of الْعَيْشِlife وَاسْلَمُواand remain well
لِبِرٍّ تَمَلُّوْا نِعْمَةَ الْعَيْشِ وَاسْلَمُوا
And O throng who have gathered
for charity: savor the blessing of life, and remain well.
هُوَit is الرِّفْقُkindness بِالضَّعْفَىto the weak وَأَيُّand what مَبَرَّةٍact of charity
هُوَ الرِّفْقُ بِالضَّعْفَى وَأَيُّ مَبَرَّةٍ
عَلَىin the sight of اللهِGod مِنْthan هَذِيthis المَبَرَّةِact of charity أَكْرَمُnobler
عَلَى اللهِ مِنْ هَذِي المَبَرَّةِ أَكْرَمُ
It is kindness to the weak; and what act of charity
in God's sight is nobler than this charity?
أَفِيضُواpour forth عَلَيْهِمْupon them قُرَّةَdelight of العَيْنِthe eye تَنْقَعُواyou will quench
أَفِيضُوا عَلَيْهِمْ قُرَّةَ العَيْنِ تَنْقَعُوا
غَلِيلاًa burning thirst بِهِwith which أَحْشَاؤُهُمْtheir entrails تَتَضَرَّمُblaze
غَلِيلاً بِهِ أَحْشَاؤُهُمْ تَتَضَرَّمُ
Pour the eyes' delight upon them, and you will quench
a burning thirst that sets their entrails aflame.
وَمَاand not مِنْكُمُamong you مَنْone who يُسْتَعَانُis sought for aid بِفَضْلِهِthrough his bounty
وَمَا مِنْكُمُ مَنْ يُسْتَعَانُ بِفَضْلِهِ
عَلَىagainst الدَّهْرِfate آناًa time بَعْدَafter آنٍa time فَيسْأَمُand so grows weary
عَلَى الدَّهْرِ آناً بَعْدَ آنٍ فَيسْأَمُ
And none of you whose bounty is sought for aid
against fate, time after time, grows weary.
هَنِيئاًcongratulations لَكُمْto you أَنَّthat المُرُوءةَnoble virtue قَدْindeed دَعَتْhas called
هَنِيئاً لَكُمْ أَنَّ المُرُوءةَ قَدْ دَعَتْ
إِلَىto وَاجِبٍa duty أَبْنَاءهَاher children فَأَجَبْتُمُso you answered
إِلَى وَاجِبٍ أَبْنَاءهَا فَأَجَبْتُمُ
Congratulations to you: noble virtue has called
her children to a duty, and you have answered.
جَمِيلٌa good deed تَبَارَتْvied فِيهِin it كُلُّevery جَمِيلَةٍlovely woman
جَمِيلٌ تَبَارَتْ فِيهِ كُلُّ جَمِيلَةٍ
تَرِقُّfeels tenderness لِمَنْfor whoever جَافَىspurned الْقَضَاءُfate وَتَرْحَمُand shows mercy
تَرِقُّ لِمَنْ جَافَى الْقَضَاءُ وَتَرْحَمُ
A good deed in which every lovely woman has vied,
feeling tenderness for those whom fate has spurned, and showing mercy.
قَلائِلُfew فِينَاamong us وَالشُّرُورُand evils كَثِيرةٌmany
قَلائِلُ فِينَا وَالشُّرُورُ كَثِيرةٌ
تُقَوِّضُundermine مِنْof أَخْلافِنَاour descendants وَتُهْدِّمُand destroy
تُقَوِّضُ مِنْ أَخْلافِنَا وَتُهْدِّمُ
They are few among us, while evils are many,
undermining and laying waste to our descendants.
تَشَبَّهْنَthey modeled themselves إِحْساناًin charity وَطُهْراًand in purity بِمَرْيَمٍon Mary
تَشَبَّهْنَ إِحْساناً وَطُهْراً بِمَرْيَمٍ
وَهَيْهَاتَand far from it مَاnot كُلُّevery الْعَقَائِلِnoble woman مَرْيَمُMary
وَهَيْهَاتَ مَا كُلُّ الْعَقَائِلِ مَرْيَمُ
They have emulated Mary in charity and purity,
yet far from it—not every noble woman is Mary.
Sol 6.1