هِذِهthis الشَّمسُthe sun آذَنَتْannounced بِالسُّفورِher unveiling
هِذِه الشَّمسُ آذَنَتْ بِالسُّفورِ
بَعْدَafter سَبْقِthe prior arrival of الآيَاتِthe signs بالتَّبشيرِwith glad tidings
بَعْدَ سَبْقِ الآيَاتِ بالتَّبشيرِ
This sun has announced her unveiling,
This sun has announced the dawn
after the signs had first brought glad tidings.
After the signs have given good tidings
فَتَلَقَّىso welcomed ظُهُورَهَاher appearance كُلُّevery حَيٍّliving being
فَتَلَقَّى ظُهُورَهَا كُلُّ حَيٍّ
بِنَشِيدِwith a hymn of التَّهلِيلِproclaiming God's oneness وَالتَّكبِيرِand proclaiming God's greatness
بِنَشِيدِ التَّهلِيلِ وَالتَّكبِيرِ
So every living being welcomed her appearance
So every living being has received its light
with hymns proclaiming God's oneness and greatness.
With hymns of praise and sanctification
هِيَshe بِكْرُthe maiden of الْوُجُودِexistence لاَnot يَتَمَلَّىgazes his fill
هِيَ بِكْرُ الْوُجُودِ لاَ يَتَمَلَّى
مُجْتلاَهَاher revealed beauty إِلاَّexcept شهُودُthe witnesses of البُكُورِearly dawn
مُجْتلاَهَا إِلاَّ شهُودُ البُكُورِ
She is creation's maiden; none can gaze their fill
It is the first creation, it does not linger
upon her revealed beauty but those who witness early dawn.
Its beauty is witnessed only by the vigilant
أَرَأَيْتَhave you seen الصَّباحَmorning يَكْشِفُdraws away عَنْهَاfrom her
أَرَأَيْتَ الصَّباحَ يَكْشِفُ عَنْهَا
كِلَّةَthe gauzy curtain of اللَّيْلِnight مِنْfrom حِيَالِbefore السَّرِيرِthe bed
كِلَّةَ اللَّيْلِ مِنْ حِيَالِ السَّرِيرِ
Have you seen morning draw away from her
Have you seen the dawn uncover
the night's gauzy curtain from before the bed?
The garment of night from the bedsides
فَتَهَاوَىso fell away سِتْرُthe veil of الدَّجَىdarkness وَتَوَارَىand vanished
فَتَهَاوَى سِتْرُ الدَّجَى وَتَوَارَى
مَاwhat عَلَيْهِupon it مِنْof لُؤْلُؤٍpearls مَنْثُورِscattered
مَا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ لُؤْلُؤٍ مَنْثُورِ
So the veil of darkness fell away, and with it vanished
So the veil of gloom fell and hid
the pearls scattered upon it.
What pearls it contained scattered about
حَيَّتshe greeted الكَوْنَthe universe حِيْنَwhen لاَحَتْshe appeared فَأَحْيَتْand brought to life
حَيَّت الكَوْنَ حِيْنَ لاَحَتْ فَأَحْيَتْ
كُلَّevery عَوْدٍreturn لَهَاof hers جَدِيدُa fresh نُشُورِresurrection
كُلَّ عَوْدٍ لَهَا جَدِيدُ نُشُورِ
She greeted the universe when she appeared, bringing it to life;
It gave life to the universe when it appeared
each return of hers is a fresh resurrection.
Reviving every compliant soul
حَيْثُمَاwherever طَالَعَتْshe looked upon مَظِنَّةa promising place of خِصْبٍfertility
حَيْثُمَا طَالَعَتْ مَظِنَّة خِصْبٍ
أَسْفَرَunveiled التُرْبُthe soil عَنْto reveal نَبَاتٍplants نَضِيرِfresh and green
أَسْفَرَ التُرْبُ عَنْ نَبَاتٍ نَضِيرِ
Wherever she looked upon a place promising fertility,
Wherever it has shone expectantly
the soil revealed fresh green plants.
The soil has revealed peerless vegetation
وَانْجَلَىand disclosed لَحْظُهَاher glance عَنْto view الزَّهَرِthe blossoms
وَانْجَلَى لَحْظُهَا عَنْ الزَّهَرِ
الغَضِّtender وَعَذْبِand sweet الْجَنَىfruit وَطِيبِand fragrant العَبِيرِperfume
الغَضِّ وَعَذْبِ الْجَنَى وَطِيبِ العَبِيرِ
And her glance disclosed blossoms,
And its glance has shone on the flowers
tender and fresh, sweet fruit, and fragrant perfume,
Fresh, sweet fruit and fine fragrance
وَعَوَالِيand lofty النَّخيلِpalms خُضْرِgreen الأَكَالِيلِcrowns
وَعَوَالِي النَّخيلِ خُضْرِ الأَكَالِيلِ
زَوَاهِيresplendent with المَرْجَانِcoral حَوْلَaround النُّحورِthe necks
زَوَاهِي المَرْجَانِ حَوْلَ النُّحورِ
and tall palms with green crowns,
And the tall palm trees, green wreaths
their necks aglow with coral.
Garden beds of coral around the streams
بَرَزَتْappeared فِيin الغَدَاةِthe morning غَادَةُa graceful maiden of وَادِيthe valley of
بَرَزَتْ فِي الغَدَاةِ غَادَةُ وَادِي
النِّيلِthe Nile تُخْفِيconcealing جَمَالَهَاher beauty فِيin الْحَبِيرِpatterned cloth
النِّيلِ تُخْفِي جَمَالَهَا فِي الْحَبِيرِ
In the morning appeared a maiden of the valley
A maiden of the Nile valley appeared at dawn
of the Nile, hiding her beauty in patterned cloth.
Hiding her beauty in the ink
جَثْلَةُthick-haired الحَاجِبَيْنِboth eyebrows فَاحِمَةُcoal-black
جَثْلَةُ الحَاجِبَيْنِ فَاحِمَةُ
الفَوْدَيْنِboth side-locks تَرْنُوshe gazes بِطَرْفِwith the eye of ظَبْيٍa gazelle غَزِيرِbrimming
الفَوْدَيْنِ تَرْنُو بِطَرْفِ ظَبْيٍ غَزِيرِ
Thick-browed, with jet-black
With frowning eyebrows, bright eyes
side-locks, she gazes with a gazelle's brimming eye.
Glancing with a flowing, coy gaze
عَبْلَةُfull الْمِعْطَفَيْنِboth flanks نَاهِضَةُupraised
عَبْلَةُ الْمِعْطَفَيْنِ نَاهِضَةُ
الثَّديَيْنِboth breasts يُزْرِيputs to shame أَدِيمُهَاher skin بِالحَرِيرِsilk
الثَّديَيْنِ يُزْرِي أَدِيمُهَا بِالحَرِيرِ
Full in both flanks, with upraised
The smooth slope of her breasts rises
breasts, her skin puts silk to shame.
Her skin gleams with silk
لَوْنَهاher color ظَاهِرُevident انْتِسَابٍkinship إِلىwith
لَوْنَها ظَاهِرُ انْتِسَابٍ إِلى
الخَمْرِwine لَهُit has مِثْلُthe same as فِعْلِهَاits effect فِيin الصدُورِhearts
الخَمْرِ لَهُ مِثْلُ فِعْلِهَا فِي الصدُورِ
Her color shows evident kinship with
Her color openly betrays descent
wine, and has the same effect upon hearts.
From wine, having its effect in hearts
غَضَّsoftened مِنْthe level of صَوْتِهَاher voice الْحَيَاءُmodesty فَأَحْبِبْso how lovely
غَضَّ مِنْ صَوْتِهَا الْحَيَاءُ فَأَحْبِبْ
بِحَيَاءٍis modesty فِيهِin which حَيَاةُthe life of الشعُورِfeeling
بِحَيَاءٍ فِيهِ حَيَاةُ الشعُورِ
Modesty softened her voice—how lovely
Modesty has muted her voice, so love
a modesty in which feeling lives!
The life in that shyness of feelings
أَقْبَلَcame forward الْحَارِثُthe plowman المُبْكِرُearly-rising يَرْعَىtending
أَقْبَلَ الْحَارِثُ المُبْكِرُ يَرْعَى
حَرْثَهُhis field وَالفَلاَحُand success فِيin التَّبكِيرِrising early
حَرْثَهُ وَالفَلاَحُ فِي التَّبكِيرِ
The early-rising plowman came to tend
The early farmer went to pasture his field
his field; success lies in rising early.
And the farmer set out at first light
يَلْتَقِيreceives مِنْfrom يَدِthe hand of الصَّباحِmorning هَدَايَاgifts
يَلْتَقِي مِنْ يَدِ الصَّباحِ هَدَايَا
لَيْلِهِhis night النَّائِمِsleeping الأَمِينِsecure القَرِيرِrestful
لَيْلِهِ النَّائِمِ الأَمِينِ القَرِيرِ
From morning's hand he receives the gifts
They receive from the hand of morning
of his sleeping night, secure and restful.
Gifts of their peaceful, honest night
فَارَقَleft الدَّارَhome مُنْشِداًsinging لَحْنَهُhis melody الجَرَّاdrawn-out (first part)
فَارَقَ الدَّارَ مُنْشِداً لَحْنَهُ الجَرَّا
رَdrawn-out (completion) مُسْتَمْهِلَslowing الخُطَىthe steps فِيin الْمَسِيرِthe journey
رَ مُسْتَمْهِلَ الخُطَى فِي الْمَسِيرِ
He left home, singing his drawn-out
The traveler left home singing his song
melody, with unhurried steps along the way.
With slow, limping steps on his journey
إِنْif دَنَاdrew near الْهَمُّworry مِنْهُto him أَقْصَاهُbanished it عَنْهُfrom him
إِنْ دَنَا الْهَمُّ مِنْهُ أَقْصَاهُ عَنْهُ
ضَحِكُthe laughter of النَّبتِplants أَوْor تَنَاغِيthe gentle calls of الطيُورِbirds
ضَحِكُ النَّبتِ أَوْ تَنَاغِي الطيُورِ
If worry draws near him, it is driven away
If worries drew near he dismissed them
by the laughter of plants or the birds' gentle calls.
With the laughter of plants or birdsong
وَإِذَاand when مَاever (emphasis) شَكَاlamented هَوَاهُhis love أَعَادَتْechoed
وَإِذَا مَا شَكَا هَوَاهُ أَعَادَتْ
مُرْضِعُthe nurse of الحَقْلِthe field شَدْودَهُhis song بِالْخَرِيرِwith murmuring water
مُرْضِعُ الحَقْلِ شَدْودَهُ بِالْخَرِيرِ
And whenever he laments his love, his song is echoed
And if he complained of his love the wetnurse
by the field's nurse, in the murmur of flowing water.
Of the field restored his fervor with murmuring
لَقِيَتْهَاmet her الأَهْرَامُthe pyramids مُبْدِيَةًdisplaying مِنْof
لَقِيَتْهَا الأَهْرَامُ مُبْدِيَةً مِنْ
صَلَفٍarrogance مَاwhat تُكنُّهthey harbor فِيin الضَّميرِthe inner heart
صَلَفٍ مَا تُكنُّه فِي الضَّميرِ
The pyramids met her, displaying
The solemn obelisks encountered her
the arrogance they harbor deep within.
Showing in arrogance what they hide inside
غَرَّهَاdeluded them أَنَّهاthat they قَدِيمَةlong-standing عَهْدٍacquaintance
غَرَّهَا أَنَّها قَدِيمَة عَهْدٍ
بِذُكَاءٍwith Dhuka (the sun) وَالْفَخْرُand pride دَاعِيthe summons to الغُرُورِdelusion
بِذُكَاءٍ وَالْفَخْرُ دَاعِي الغُرُورِ
They were beguiled by their long acquaintance
She fooled them for being ancient
with Dhuka; pride invites delusion.
With intelligence and pride calls vanity
فَتَعَالَتْso they towered بِهَامِهَاwith their heads مَاas much as اسْتَطَاعَتْthey could
فَتَعَالَتْ بِهَامِهَا مَا اسْتَطَاعَتْ
وَأَطَالَتْand lengthened مِنْof ظِلِّهَاtheir shadow المَنْشُورِoutspread
وَأَطَالَتْ مِنْ ظِلِّهَا المَنْشُورِ
So they raised their heads as high as they could
So with all her might she towered over them
and lengthened their outspread shadows.
And extended the shade of her monument
غَيْرُهَاanother than they فِيamong الْجِبَالِthe mountains إِنْif تَاهَstrutted عُجْباًconceitedly
غَيْرُهَا فِي الْجِبَالِ إِنْ تَاهَ عُجْباً
غَضَّdiminished مِنْthe degree of عُجْبِهِits conceit جِوَارُthe nearness of حَفِيرِa hollow
غَضَّ مِنْ عُجْبِهِ جِوَارُ حَفِيرِ
If another among the mountains struts in pride,
Others in the mountains, if blown up by conceit
a neighboring hollow brings its pride low.
Their awe was reduced by a pit nearby
كَمْhow many هَوَتْfell دُونَهَاbefore them رَواسٍsteadfast mountains فَأَجْلَتْand left behind
كَمْ هَوَتْ دُونَهَا رَواسٍ فَأَجْلَتْ
عَنْas a remainder رُكَامٍrubble فِيin مُسْتَقَرٍa resting place حَقِيرِlowly
عَنْ رُكَامٍ فِي مُسْتَقَرٍ حَقِيرِ
How many steadfast mountains fell before them, leaving
How many heads have fallen below her
a heap of rubble in a lowly resting place.
Clearing rubble in a miserable abode
ثَمِلَgrew drunk الكَرْنكُKarnak الوَقُورُsolemn اصْطِبَاحاًon a morning draught
ثَمِلَ الكَرْنكُ الوَقُورُ اصْطِبَاحاً
فَتَرَاءَىand appeared فِيin المَاءِthe water غَيْرَnot وَقُورِsolemn
فَتَرَاءَى فِي المَاءِ غَيْرَ وَقُورِ
Solemn Karnak grew drunk on its morning draught,
The royal hawk puffed up with self-importance
and appeared in the water no longer solemn.
And saw in the water other than dignified
وَمَشَىand walked النورُlight فِيin حَنَايَاهُits recesses يَغْزُوinvading
وَمَشَى النورُ فِي حَنَايَاهُ يَغْزُو
مَاwhat نَجَاsurvived مِنْof شتائِتِfragments الدَّيْجُورِdeepest darkness
مَا نَجَا مِنْ شتائِتِ الدَّيْجُورِ
Light walked through its recesses, invading
And light walked in its crevices, invading
the surviving fragments of deepest darkness.
What remnants remained of gloomy ruins
وَتَنَاجَتْand whispered together أَشْبَاحُshades of آلِهَةٍgods مَاdied (first part)
وَتَنَاجَتْ أَشْبَاحُ آلِهَةٍ مَا
تُواdied (completion) وَفَانِينَand mortals خُلّدُواwere immortalized بِالْقُبُورِin tombs
تُوا وَفَانِينَ خُلّدُوا بِالْقُبُورِ
And the shades whispered together: gods who had
And shades of passed gods conversed
died, and mortals immortalized in tombs.
Those who were and perished, buried in graves
وَتَلاَقَتْand met وُجُوهُfaces of رَبٍّa lord وَمَرْبُوand a subject (first part)
وَتَلاَقَتْ وُجُوهُ رَبٍّ وَمَرْبُو
بٍsubject (completion) وَتالِيand a reciter of رُقىًspells وَصَالِيand a burner of بَخورِincense
بٍ وَتالِي رُقىً وَصَالِي بَخورِ
And faces met—the lord's and the
And the faces of gods and holy men met
subject's, the spell-reciter's and the incense-burner's.
Climbing ascents and climbing sweet smoke
كُلُّall ذَاكَthat التَّارِيخِhistory خَفَّsprang up عَلَىon سَاa leg (first part)
كُلُّ ذَاكَ التَّارِيخِ خَفَّ عَلَى سَا
قٍleg (completion) بِذِكْرَاهُwith its memories مِنْfrom قَدِيمِancient الدهُورِages
قٍ بِذِكْرَاهُ مِنْ قَدِيمِ الدهُورِ
All that history sprang to its
All that history has faded for an instant
feet, with memories from ages long past.
With its memories from beginnings of time
كشَفَunveiled الْفجْرُdawn عَنْfrom جنَادِلَboulders سُودٍblack
كشَفَ الْفجْرُ عَنْ جنَادِلَ سُودٍ
ضَمَّهاembraced them الغَمْرُthe flood مِنْamong بَنَاتِthe daughters of ثَبِيرِThabir
ضَمَّها الغَمْرُ مِنْ بَنَاتِ ثَبِيرِ
Dawn unveiled black boulders
Dawn uncovered black braids
embraced by the flood, among Thabir's daughters.
Dyed by the flood, Bint Thabeer’s daughters
تَتَراءَىappear فِيهَاupon them مَلاَمِحُfeatures بِيضٌwhite
تَتَراءَى فِيهَا مَلاَمِحُ بِيضٌ
حَيْثُمَاwherever صَودِفَتْwere found مَوَاقِعُpatches of نُورِlight
حَيْثُمَا صَودِفَتْ مَوَاقِعُ نُورِ
White features appear upon them
In them white features appeared
wherever patches of light are found.
Wherever traces of light were tossed
شَفَّrevealed translucently مِنْهَاamong them العُبَابُthe surge عَنْto view فَحَمٍcoal طَاfloating (first part)
شَفَّ مِنْهَا العُبَابُ عَنْ فَحَمٍ طَا
فٍfloating (completion) جَلَتْهُpolished it صَيَاقِلُthe polishers of الْبَلُّورِcrystal
فٍ جَلَتْهُ صَيَاقِلُ الْبَلُّورِ
The surge revealed among them floating coal,
The haze cleared from darkened ivory
burnished by crystal's polishers.
Polished by translucent chisels
قامَstood أُنْسُUns (Delight) الوُجُودِal-Wujud (Existence) يُؤْنِسُهَاkeeping them company قُرْnearby (first part)
قامَ أُنْسُ الوُجُودِ يُؤْنِسُهَا قُرْ
باًnearby (completion) وَأَعْزِزْand how rare بِمِثْلِهِis its like فِيamong الْقُصُورِpalaces
باً وَأَعْزِزْ بِمِثْلِهِ فِي الْقُصُورِ
Uns al-Wujud stood to keep them company
The pleasure of existence came to console them
nearby—how rare its like among palaces!
And fortify the like in palaces
كُلُّevery صَرْحٍedifice عَلاَrose high فَقصَّرَyet fell short عَنْهُof it
كُلُّ صَرْحٍ عَلاَ فَقصَّرَ عَنْهُ
مَاnot عَليْهِupon it مَعَرَّةٌdisgrace فِيin الْقُصُورِfalling short
مَا عَليْهِ مَعَرَّةٌ فِي الْقُصُورِ
Every edifice that rose yet fell short of it
Every towering mansion fell short before it
bears no disgrace in falling short.
Whatever glory is known in palaces
لَمْnot يطُلْsurpassed فَخْرَهُits glory الْقَدِيمَancient سوَىexcept مَاwhat
لَمْ يطُلْ فَخْرَهُ الْقَدِيمَ سوَى مَا
أَحْدَثَتْbrought into being آيَةُthe wonder of الزَّمَانِthe age الأَخِيرِlatest
أَحْدَثَتْ آيَةُ الزَّمَانِ الأَخِيرِ
Nothing surpassed its ancient glory except what
Its ancient pride did not last long but for
the wonder of the latest age brought into being.
The final miracle of time
أَرَأَيْتَhave you seen الْخَزَّانَthe dam يَنْبُوrecoils بِهِagainst it النِّيلُthe Nile
أَرَأَيْتَ الْخَزَّانَ يَنْبُو بِهِ النِّيلُ
فَيَطْغَىso rises in flood فِيon الْجَانِبِthe side المَغْمُورِsubmerged
فَيَطْغَى فِي الْجَانِبِ المَغْمُورِ
Have you seen the dam, against which the Nile recoils,
Have you seen the reservoir overflowing with the Nile
swelling on the submerged side?
Flooding to the submerged side
وَصَلَjoined الشَّامِخَيْنِthe two heights يُمْنَىon the right وَيُسْرَىand on the left
وَصَلَ الشَّامِخَيْنِ يُمْنَى وَيُسْرَى
وَثَنَىand restrained الْبَحْرَthe sea طَاغِياًraging كَالْغَدِيرِlike a pool
وَثَنَى الْبَحْرَ طَاغِياً كَالْغَدِيرِ
It joined the two heights, on the right and left,
And reaching the two heights, right and left
and checked the raging sea, making it like a pool.
Bending the sea bursting like rapids
كُلُّevery عَيْنٍeye; outlet مِنْهُof it تَصِبُّpours صَبِيباًa torrent
كُلُّ عَيْنٍ مِنْهُ تَصِبُّ صَبِيباً
كَالأَتِيِّlike an onrushing flood المُجَلْجَلِthundering المَحْدُورِplunging downward
كَالأَتِيِّ المُجَلْجَلِ المَحْدُورِ
Each of its eyes pours forth a torrent,
From it each spring pours a stream
like a thundering flood rushing down a slope.
Like the pure, stirring, mingled wine
يَرْتَمِيflings itself مَاؤُهَاits water مُثِيراًstirring up رَشَاشَاًspray
يَرْتَمِي مَاؤُهَا مُثِيراً رَشَاشَاً
مِنْof عُصَافَاتِwindblown specks of لُؤْلُؤٍpearls مَذْرُورِscattered
مِنْ عُصَافَاتِ لُؤْلُؤٍ مَذْرُورِ
Its water flings itself out, stirring up spray
Its water surges arousing a spray
of windblown specks of scattered pearls.
Of scattered pearls, some split, some whole
وَعَلَىand above مُنْحَنَاهُits curve قَوْسُa bow of سَحَابٍclouds
وَعَلَى مُنْحَنَاهُ قَوْسُ سَحَابٍ
تَتَبَاهَىflaunts itself بِكُلِّwith every لَوْنٍcolor مُنِيرِradiant
تَتَبَاهَى بِكُلِّ لَوْنٍ مُنِيرِ
And over its curve a cloud-bow
And above its curve is the bow of a cloud
flaunts every radiant color.
Boasting with every radiant color
يَاO عُبَاباًsurge يُلْقِيpours بِفَيْضِwith the overflow of نِدَاهُits moisture
يَا عُبَاباً يُلْقِي بِفَيْضِ نِدَاهُ
فِيinto عَقِيقٍa ravine حَصَبَاؤُهُits pebbles مِنْof سَعِيرِblazing fire
فِي عَقِيقٍ حَصَبَاؤُهُ مِنْ سَعِيرِ
O surge that pours forth its abundant moisture
O clouds casting its abundance
into a ravine whose pebbles are made of flame!
In carnelian rubble from hellfire
حَبَّذَاhow lovely الدَّمْعُthe tears مِنْfrom عُيُونِكَyour eyes يَهْمِيstream
حَبَّذَا الدَّمْعُ مِنْ عُيُونِكَ يَهْمِي
ضَاحِكاًlaughing بَيْنَamong عَابِسَاتِthe scowling الصخُورِrocks
ضَاحِكاً بَيْنَ عَابِسَاتِ الصخُورِ
How lovely the tears streaming from your eyes,
How excellent are the tears from your eyes smiling
laughing among the scowling rocks!
Laughing among frowning rocks
وَعجِيبٌand wondrous هَدِيرُthe roar of مَجْرَاكَyour course لَكِنyet
وَعجِيبٌ هَدِيرُ مَجْرَاكَ لَكِن
رُبmany a مَجْدٍglory تَرْتِيلُهُits chanting بِهَدِيرِwith a roar
رُب مَجْدٍ تَرْتِيلُهُ بِهَدِيرِ
Marvelous is the roar of your course, yet
And strange is the roar of your torrents but
many a glory is chanted with a roar.
Much glory has a murmuring paean
ذَاكَthat مَجْدُthe glory of النِّيلِthe Nile الْعَظِيمِmighty فَأَوْقِعْso sound
ذَاكَ مَجْدُ النِّيلِ الْعَظِيمِ فَأَوْقِعْ
أَلْفَa thousand صَوتٍnotes وَغَنِّهاand sing them بِزَئِيرِwith a roar
أَلْفَ صَوتٍ وَغَنِّها بِزَئِيرِ
That is the mighty Nile's glory—so sound
That is the glory of the great Nile, so unleash
a thousand notes, and sing them with a roar!
A thousand sounds and sing with fervor
كُلُّall هَذِيthese الآيَاتِwonders مُبْعَثُa source of وَحْيٍinspiration
كُلُّ هَذِي الآيَاتِ مُبْعَثُ وَحْيٍ
لِلنَّظيمِfor verse المُجَادِfinely wrought أَوِor لِلنَّثيرِfor prose
لِلنَّظيمِ المُجَادِ أَوِ لِلنَّثيرِ
All these wonders are a source of inspiration
All these signs are the inspiration
for finely wrought verse or for prose.
For the composer or the lyricist
كُلُّall هَذِيthese الآيَاتِwonders تُؤْخَذُare drawn عَنْهَاfrom them
كُلُّ هَذِي الآيَاتِ تُؤْخَذُ عَنْهَا
رَائِعَاتُsplendid works of التمْثِيلِrepresentation وَالتَّصويرِand depiction
رَائِعَاتُ التمْثِيلِ وَالتَّصويرِ
From all these wonders are drawn
All these signs are taken from them
splendid works of representation and depiction.
Marvels of imagery and depiction
كُلُّall هَذِيthese الآيَاتِwonders يُجْمَعُis gathered مِنْهَاfrom them
كُلُّ هَذِي الآيَاتِ يُجْمَعُ مِنْهَا
نَغَمُthe tones of الحُزْنِsorrow أَوْor نَشِيدُthe anthem of السرُورِjoy
نَغَمُ الحُزْنِ أَوْ نَشِيدُ السرُورِ
From all these wonders are gathered
All these signs together produce
the tones of sorrow or the anthem of joy.
The melody of sadness or song of bliss
مُعْجِزَاتٌmiracles فِيat كلِّevery آنmoment تَرَاهَاyou see them
مُعْجِزَاتٌ فِي كلِّ آن تَرَاهَا
بَاهِرَاتِdazzling in التنْويعِvariety وَالتَّغيِيرِand change
بَاهِرَاتِ التنْويعِ وَالتَّغيِيرِ
Miracles—you see them at every moment,
Miracles at every moment you see
dazzling in their variety and change.
Wondrous in variation and change
إِنَّindeed تِلْكَthat one الَّتيwhich تَرَاهاyou see صَبَاحاًin the morning
إِنَّ تِلْكَ الَّتي تَرَاها صَبَاحاً
نَبْتَةًas a plant كَالزُّمْرُّدِlike emerald المَوْشُورِfaceted
نَبْتَةً كَالزُّمْرُّدِ المَوْشُورِ
Indeed, what you see in the morning
That which you see in the morning
as a plant like faceted emerald,
As a sprout like polished emerald
سَتَرَاهَاyou will see it وَقَدْand already تَبَدَّتْappeared عَليْهَاupon it
سَتَرَاهَا وَقَدْ تَبَدَّتْ عَليْهَا
هَنَةٌa tiny thing شِبْهُlike دُرَّةٍa pearl فِيin الْهَجِيرِthe midday heat
هَنَةٌ شِبْهُ دُرَّةٍ فِي الْهَجِيرِ
you will see again, with something appearing upon it:
You will see forms on it
a tiny thing like a pearl in the midday heat.
Like a pearl in an oyster
وَتَرَىand you see فِيin الأَصِيلِlate afternoon يَاقُوتَةًa ruby قَاcrimson (first part)
وَتَرَى فِي الأَصِيلِ يَاقُوتَةً قَا
نئَةَcrimson (completion) اللَّوْنِin color آذنَتْannounced بِالظهُورِits appearance
نئَةَ اللَّوْنِ آذنَتْ بِالظهُورِ
And in late afternoon you will see a ruby,
And in the evening a ruby appears
crimson in hue, announcing its appearance.
Announcing its emergence
تَرَىyou see كُلَّمَاwhenever رَجَعْتَyou returned إِلَيْهاto it
تَرَى كُلَّمَا رَجَعْتَ إِلَيْها
عَجَباًa marvel مِنin جَدِيدِهَاits newness المَنْظُورِvisible
عَجَباً مِن جَدِيدِهَا المَنْظُورِ
Each time you return to it, you see
You will find each time you return to it
a marvel in its newly visible form.
A wonder among its visible novelties
جَلَّexalted is مَنْthe One who أَبْدَعَcreated الْجَمَالَbeauty أَفَانِينَin manifold forms
جَلَّ مَنْ أَبْدَعَ الْجَمَالَ أَفَانِينَ
وَأَعْطَىand gave الصَّغيرَthe small حَظَّthe share of الكَبِيرِthe great
وَأَعْطَى الصَّغيرَ حَظَّ الكَبِيرِ
Exalted is He who created beauty in manifold forms
He who created beauty in passing things
and gave the small the great one's share.
And gave insignificance a great due
يَأْخُذselects الصَّانِعُthe craftsman المُوَفَّقgifted مِنْهَاfrom them
يَأْخُذ الصَّانِعُ المُوَفَّق مِنْهَا
بالغَريبِwhat is rare المُسْتَظْرَفdelightful المَأْثُورِtreasured
بالغَريبِ المُسْتَظْرَف المَأْثُورِ
The gifted craftsman selects from them
The gifted artisan takes from it
the rare, the delightful, the treasured.
The wondrous, refined, unique
فَهُوَthus it is الْفَنُّart فِطْنَةًdiscernment وَاخْتيَاراًand choice
فَهُوَ الْفَنُّ فِطْنَةً وَاخْتيَاراً
وَابْتدَاعاًand creation عَلَىafter مِثَالthe example of الْقَديرِthe Almighty
وَابْتدَاعاً عَلَى مِثَال الْقَديرِ
For that is art: discernment and choice,
For it is art in perception and selection
and creation after the Almighty's example.
And innovation in the image of the Able
Sol 6.1