خَلاwas left empty القصْرُthe palace مِمنْof the one who كانused to يَمْلأُهُfill it بِشْراcheerfulness
خَلا القصْرُ مِمنْ كان يَمْلأُهُ بِشْرا
وَجَلَّلَand shrouded حُزْنُgrief رَوْضَةَthe garden of القَصْرِthe palace والقَصْرَاand the palace
وَجَلَّلَ حُزْنُ رَوْضَةَ القَصْرِ والقَصْرَا
The palace is empty of the one who used to fill it with cheer.
And grief has shrouded the palace garden and the palace itself.
فَتىa youth of الخلُقِcharacter العَالِيlofty وَمَاand not طَالَlasted long عَهْدُهُhis time
فَتى الخلُقِ العَالِي وَمَا طَالَ عَهْدُهُ
أَعَافَdid he shun? اصْطِحَابَthe company of النّاسِpeople فاصْطحَبَso he befriended الزُّهْراthe bright stars
أَعَافَ اصْطِحَابَ النّاسِ فاصْطحَبَ الزُّهْرا
A youth of lofty character, whose days were few—
did he shun human company and take the bright stars as companions?
مَشَتْwalked مِصْرُEgypt فِيin تَشِييعِهِhis funeral procession وَتدَفَّقتْand poured forth
مَشَتْ مِصْرُ فِي تَشِييعِهِ وَتدَفَّقتْ
وَفُودٌdelegations إِلىto الفُسطَاطِFustat زَاخِرَةٌsurging زَخْرَاin great abundance
وَفُودٌ إِلى الفُسطَاطِ زَاخِرَةٌ زَخْرَا
Egypt walked in his funeral procession, and there poured forth
delegations toward Fustat, surging in great numbers.
أَعَاظِمُهَاits dignitaries خلْفَbehind الجِنازةِthe bier خُشَّعُhumbled
أَعَاظِمُهَا خلْفَ الجِنازةِ خُشَّعُ
يُوَاكِبُهُمْaccompanies them شعْبٌa people مَحَاجِرُهُits eye sockets شَكْرَىbrimming with tears
يُوَاكِبُهُمْ شعْبٌ مَحَاجِرُهُ شَكْرَى
Its dignitaries followed the bier in reverence,
accompanied by a people whose eyes brimmed with tears.
كَإِكْرَامِهِمْlike their honoring of خَيْرَthe best of الأُبُوَّةِfatherhood قَبْلَهُbefore him
كَإِكْرَامِهِمْ خَيْرَ الأُبُوَّةِ قَبْلَهُ
لَقَدْindeed أَكْرَمُواthey honored خَيْرَthe best of البَنِينَsons ومَنand who أَحْرَىis worthier
لَقَدْ أَكْرَمُوا خَيْرَ البَنِينَ ومَن أَحْرَى
As they had honored the finest of fathers before him,
they honored the finest of sons—and who was worthier?
يُعِيدُونَthey recall ذِكْرَthe memory of الأَصْلِthe root فِيin ذِكْرِthe memory of فَرعِهِits branch
يُعِيدُونَ ذِكْرَ الأَصْلِ فِي ذِكْرِ فَرعِهِ
وَتِلْكَand that لَعُمْرِيby my life سِيرَةٌa life story تَبْعَثُawakens الفَخْرَاpride
وَتِلْكَ لَعُمْرِي سِيرَةٌ تَبْعَثُ الفَخْرَا
They recalled the root in remembering its branch,
and that, by my life, is a life story that awakens pride.
أَحَادِيثُهَاits tales تُذْكِيkindle عَزائِمَthe resolve of مَنwhoever وَعَىunderstands
أَحَادِيثُهَا تُذْكِي عَزائِمَ مَن وَعَى
وَتَتْرُكُand leave فِيin الأَلْبَابِminds مِنْfrom بَعْدِهَاafter them أَثْرَاa trace
وَتَتْرُكُ فِي الأَلْبَابِ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا أَثْرَا
Its tales kindle the resolve of those who understand,
and leave a trace in minds in their wake.
إِذَاwhen مَاemphasis اسْتَعَرْناwe borrow ضَوْءَهَاits light فَكأَنَّناthen it is as though we
إِذَا مَا اسْتَعَرْنا ضَوْءَهَا فَكأَنَّنا
فَتَحْنَاwe opened بِهِاwith it لِلْقَابِسِfor the seeker of light المُهْتَدِيguided سِفْرَاa volume
فَتَحْنَا بِهِا لِلْقَابِسِ المُهْتَدِي سِفْرَا
Whenever we borrow its light, it is as though we
had opened with it a volume for the guided seeker of light.
حَبِيبُHabib نَحَاaimed نَحْوَtoward العُلىthe heights وَهْوَwhile he was يَافِعٌa youth
حَبِيبُ نَحَا نَحْوَ العُلى وَهْوَ يَافِعٌ
وَلَمْand did not يَثْنِهِdeter him أَنْthat كَانwas مَسْلَكُهَاits path وَعْرَاrugged
وَلَمْ يَثْنِهِ أَنْ كَان مَسْلَكُهَا وَعْرَا
Habib sought the heights while still a youth,
nor did the ruggedness of their path deter him.
فَأقْدَمَso he advanced إِقْدَامَwith the boldness of الَّذِيthe one who رَاضَtrained نَفْسَهhimself
فَأقْدَمَ إِقْدَامَ الَّذِي رَاضَ نَفْسَه
عَلىfor الصَّعبِhardship وَاعْتَدَّand made ready الشَّجَاعَةَcourage وَالصَّبْرَاand patience
عَلى الصَّعبِ وَاعْتَدَّ الشَّجَاعَةَ وَالصَّبْرَا
He advanced with the boldness of one who had trained himself
for hardship, arming himself with courage and patience.
يُؤَثِّلhe establishes بِالرُّوحِwith the spirit العِصَامِيِّself-made جَاهُهُhis standing
يُؤَثِّل بِالرُّوحِ العِصَامِيِّ جَاهُهُ
فَإِمَّاso whenever تَجَنَّىwronged دَهرُهُhis fate كَافَحhe fought َالدَّهْرَاfate
فَإِمَّا تَجَنَّى دَهرُهُ كَافَح َالدَّهْرَا
He built his standing with a self-reliant spirit;
whenever his fate wronged him, he fought against fate.
عَليِماًknowing بِأَنَّthat الحَيَّthe living person لاَnot يُدْرِكُattains المُنَىhis hopes
عَليِماً بِأَنَّ الحَيَّ لاَ يُدْرِكُ المُنَى
إِذاif هُوَhe لَمْdid not يَقْتُلْmaster نَصَاريفَهits vicissitudes خُبْرَاthrough experience
إِذا هُوَ لَمْ يَقْتُلْ نَصَاريفَه خُبْرَا
Knowing that a living man cannot attain his hopes
if he has not mastered its vicissitudes through experience.
فَآبَso he emerged امرَأًa man فِيin جِيلِهِhis generation نسْجَa weave وَحْدِهِof his own
فَآبَ امرَأً فِي جِيلِهِ نسْجَ وَحْدِهِ
يُخَافُis feared وَيُرْجَىand is hoped for مِنْهُfrom him مَاwhat سَاءَcaused sorrow أَوor سَرَّاgave joy
يُخَافُ وَيُرْجَى مِنْهُ مَا سَاءَ أَو سَرَّا
So he emerged a man unique in his generation,
from whom ill was feared and good was hoped for.
وبَلَّغَهُand brought him to أَقْصَىthe furthest of الأَمانِيِّwishes أَنَّهُthat he
وبَلَّغَهُ أَقْصَى الأَمانِيِّ أَنَّهُ
بِأَخْلاقِهِin his character أَثْرَىwas rich وَأَمْوَالِهِand his wealth أَثْرَىwas rich
بِأَخْلاقِهِ أَثْرَى وَأَمْوَالِهِ أَثْرَى
And what brought him to the furthest reach of his wishes was that
he was rich in character, and rich in wealth.
أَتاحَتْgranted لَهُto him عُقْبَىthe reward of الجِّهادِstriving إِمَارَةًprincely rank
أَتاحَتْ لَهُ عُقْبَى الجِّهادِ إِمَارَةً
وَفِيand in بِيعَةِthe church of اللّهِGod الَّتيwhich شَادَهَاhe built it قَرَّاhe rested
وَفِي بِيعَةِ اللّهِ الَّتي شَادَهَا قَرَّا
The reward of his striving granted him princely rank,
and in God's church, which he built, he came to rest.
وَحَالفَهُand allied itself with him التَّوْفِيقُsuccess فِيin الْعَيْشِlife وَالرَّدَىand death
وَحَالفَهُ التَّوْفِيقُ فِي الْعَيْشِ وَالرَّدَى
فَطابَتso was pleasant لَهُfor him الدُّنْيَاthis world وَطَابَتْand was pleasant لهُfor him الأُخْرَىthe hereafter
فَطابَت لَهُ الدُّنْيَا وَطَابَتْ لهُ الأُخْرَى
Success allied itself with him in life and death,
so this world was sweet to him, and the hereafter was sweet.
فَلَمَّاthen when تَولَّىhe passed away وَطَّدَestablished اللّهُGod بَيْتهُhis household
فَلَمَّا تَولَّى وَطَّدَ اللّهُ بَيْتهُ
بِأَعْقابِwith descendants of خيْرٍgoodness شرفواthey ennobled البَيْتَthe house وَالنجْراand the lineage
بِأَعْقابِ خيْرٍ شرفوا البَيْتَ وَالنجْرا
When he passed away, God established his household
with worthy descendants who ennobled the house and its lineage.
ثَلاثَةُthree أَقْيَالٍprinces تَمَثَّلwas embodied فِيهِمin them
ثَلاثَةُ أَقْيَالٍ تَمَثَّل فِيهِم
أَبُوهُمْtheir father وَلَمْand did not يَأْلُوهُstint him حُبّاًin love وَلاnor بِرّاًin filial devotion
أَبُوهُمْ وَلَمْ يَأْلُوهُ حُبّاً وَلا بِرّاً
Three princes, in whom was embodied
their father; they never stinted him in love or filial devotion.
ترَاهُمْyou see them فَفِيand in كُلٍّeach تَرَىyou see مِنْfrom أَبِيهِمُtheir father
ترَاهُمْ فَفِي كُلٍّ تَرَى مِنْ أَبِيهِمُ
مَلامِحَهُhis features الغَرَّاءَradiant وَالشِّيمَand character traits الزُّهْرَاshining
مَلامِحَهُ الغَرَّاءَ وَالشِّيمَ الزُّهْرَا
Look at them: in each you see something of their father—
his radiant features and his shining virtues.
وَكَانُواand they were مِثَالاًan example لِلأُخُوَّةِof brotherhood يُحْتَذىto be emulated
وَكَانُوا مِثَالاً لِلأُخُوَّةِ يُحْتَذى
وقُدْوَةَand a model for مَنْwhoever يَرْعَىcherishes القَرَابَةَkinship وَالأَصْرَاand bonds
وقُدْوَةَ مَنْ يَرْعَى القَرَابَةَ وَالأَصْرَا
They were an example of brotherhood to be emulated,
and a model for those who cherish kinship and its bonds.
فَيَاso alas لِلأَسَىwhat sorrow أَنْthat فَرّقَhas parted اليَوْمَtoday بَيْنهُمْbetween them
فَيَا لِلأَسَى أَنْ فَرّقَ اليَوْمَ بَيْنهُمْ
زَمَانٌa time إِذاwhenever أَلْفَىit finds وَفاءًfidelity رَمَىit strikes غَدْراwith treachery
زَمَانٌ إِذا أَلْفَى وَفاءً رَمَى غَدْرا
Alas, that today they have been parted
by a time that strikes treacherously whenever it finds fidelity.
دوَىwasted away أَنْضَرُthe freshest of الإِخْوَانِthe brothers قَبْلَbefore أَوانِهِhis time
دوَى أَنْضَرُ الإِخْوَانِ قَبْلَ أَوانِهِ
فَأَيَّةthen what رِيحٍwind صَوَّحَتْwithered عُودَهُhis bough النضْرَاfresh and green
فَأَيَّة رِيحٍ صَوَّحَتْ عُودَهُ النضْرَا
The freshest of the brothers wasted away before his time;
what wind has withered his fresh, green bough,
وَأَوْدَتand carried off بِمِلءِone who filled العَينِthe eye أَرْوَعَmost splendid بَاذِخٍtowering
وَأَوْدَت بِمِلءِ العَينِ أَرْوَعَ بَاذِخٍ
سَمَاsurpassed كلَّevery نِدٍّpeer هَامَةًin stature وَسمَاand surpassed قدْرَاin worth
سَمَا كلَّ نِدٍّ هَامَةً وَسمَا قدْرَا
and carried off that magnificent, towering man who filled the eye,
who surpassed every peer in stature and in worth?
سَرِيٍa nobleman مِنَamong الغُرّthe illustrious المَيَامِينِthe blessed نَابِهٍdistinguished
سَرِيٍ مِنَ الغُرّ المَيَامِينِ نَابِهٍ
بِهِin him كِبَرٌgreatness حَقٌّtrue وَمَاand not يعْرِفُhe knows الكِبْراarrogance
بِهِ كِبَرٌ حَقٌّ وَمَا يعْرِفُ الكِبْرا
A distinguished nobleman among the illustrious and blessed,
possessing true greatness, yet knowing no arrogance.
هُمامٍa high-spirited man رَمَىaimed at أَسْمَىthe highest of المَرَامِيgoals وَلَمْand did not يَكَدْcome close
هُمامٍ رَمَى أَسْمَى المَرَامِي وَلَمْ يَكَدْ
طَمُوحٌone aspiring إِلىto مَجْدٍglory يُجَارِيهِkeep pace with him فِيin مَجْرَىa race
طَمُوحٌ إِلى مَجْدٍ يُجَارِيهِ فِي مَجْرَى
A high-spirited man who aimed at the highest goals; scarcely could
an aspirant to glory keep pace with him in the race.
لَهُfor him مَرْجِعٌa recourse فِيin أَمرِهِhis affairs حُكْمُthe judgment of نَفْسِهِhis own self
لَهُ مَرْجِعٌ فِي أَمرِهِ حُكْمُ نَفْسِهِ
وَمَنْand whoever لمْdid not يُحرِّرْliberate نَفْسَهُhimself لَمْdid not يَكنْbe حُرَّاfree
وَمَنْ لمْ يُحرِّرْ نَفْسَهُ لَمْ يَكنْ حُرَّا
In his affairs, his own judgment was his recourse;
whoever has not freed himself is not free.
صَبِيحِhandsome of المُيحَّاcountenance أَرِيَحِيٍgenerous-hearted مُحَبَّبٍّbeloved
صَبِيحِ المُيحَّا أَرِيَحِيٍ مُحَبَّبٍّ
إِلىby الخَلْقِpeople لاَnot كَيْداًguile يُكِنُّhe harbors وَلاnor مَكْرَاdeceit
إِلى الخَلْقِ لاَ كَيْداً يُكِنُّ وَلا مَكْرَا
Handsome of countenance, generous-hearted, beloved
by people, he harbored neither guile nor deceit.
يَلُوحُbecomes clear لَهُto him سِرُّthe secret of النَّجيthe confidant فِرَاسَةthrough intuition
يَلُوحُ لَهُ سِرُّ النَّجي فِرَاسَة
وَيأْبَىand forbids عَلَيْهِhim النُّبلُnobility أَنْto يَكْشِفَreveal السِّرَّاthe secret
وَيأْبَى عَلَيْهِ النُّبلُ أَنْ يَكْشِفَ السِّرَّا
His intuition revealed to him his confidant's secret,
but nobility forbade him to reveal that secret.
جَهِيرٍclear-voiced بإِلقاءِin delivering الكَلامِspeech مُصَارِحٍforthright
جَهِيرٍ بإِلقاءِ الكَلامِ مُصَارِحٍ
وَفِيمَاand in what عَداis other than إِحْسانَهُhis charity يُؤْثِرُhe prefers الجَهْرَاopenness
وَفِيمَا عَدا إِحْسانَهُ يُؤْثِرُ الجَهْرَا
Clear-voiced in speech, frank and forthright,
he favored openness in all but his charity.
وَليْسَand he is not كَظِيمَone suppressing الغَيْظِanger لَكِنَّهbut he إِذَاwhen
وَليْسَ كَظِيمَ الغَيْظِ لَكِنَّه إِذَا
شَفَاهُhe soothed it بعَتْبٍwith reproach لَمْdid not يَضِقْclose بِأَخٍagainst a brother صَدْرَاin heart
شَفَاهُ بعَتْبٍ لَمْ يَضِقْ بِأَخٍ صَدْرَا
He did not suppress his anger; but when
he soothed it with reproach, his heart did not close against a brother.
وَلَيسَand he is not بِهَيَّابٍfearful وَلاnor مُتَرَدِّدٍhesitant
وَلَيسَ بِهَيَّابٍ وَلا مُتَرَدِّدٍ
إِذَاwhen حَدَّثَتْهُprompted him نَفْسُهُhis soul فَنوَىand he resolved on أَمْرَاa matter
إِذَا حَدَّثَتْهُ نَفْسُهُ فَنوَى أَمْرَا
He was neither fearful nor hesitant
when his soul prompted him and he resolved on a course.
وَفِيand in كلِّevery حَالٍcircumstance يَفْعَلُhe performs الفِعْلَthe deed كَاملاًcompletely
وَفِي كلِّ حَالٍ يَفْعَلُ الفِعْلَ كَاملاً
وَلاand not يَسْتَشيرُhe consults الحِرْصَself-interest أَوْor يَنْتَهِيstops short حِذْرَاout of caution
وَلا يَسْتَشيرُ الحِرْصَ أَوْ يَنْتَهِي حِذْرَا
In every circumstance he performed the deed completely,
taking no counsel of self-interest, nor stopping short through caution.
يُرَىhe appears تَارَةًat times كاللَّيْثِlike a lion إِنْif هِيجَis roused بَأْسُهُhis might
يُرَى تَارَةً كاللَّيْثِ إِنْ هِيجَ بَأْسُهُ
وَآناًand at other times يُرَىhe appears كالغَيْثٍlike rain مِنْfrom رَحْمَةٍmercy ثَراabundant
وَآناً يُرَى كالغَيْثٍ مِنْ رَحْمَةٍ ثَرا
At times he seemed a lion, when his might was roused,
and at others, like rain, copious in mercy.
فَمَاfor not هُوَhe بِالسَّاعِيone seeking إِلىto الشَّرِّevil بَادِئاًas an initiator
فَمَا هُوَ بِالسَّاعِي إِلى الشَّرِّ بَادِئاً
وَمَاand not هُوَhe بِالوَاهِيweak إِذَاwhen دَفَعَhe repels الشَّرَّاevil
وَمَا هُوَ بِالوَاهِي إِذَا دَفَعَ الشَّرَّا
For he was not one to seek evil first,
nor was he weak when repelling evil.
وَأَمَّاand as for أَياِيهِhis benefactions فَليْسَso is not أَقلُّهاthe least of them
وَأَمَّا أَياِيهِ فَليْسَ أَقلُّها
وَقَدْand already ذاعَbecame widely known مِمَّاamong what نَسْتَطِيعُwe can لَهُfor it حَصْرَاmake a count
وَقَدْ ذاعَ مِمَّا نَسْتَطِيعُ لَهُ حَصْرَا
As for his benefactions, not even the least of them,
though widely known, can we fully reckon.
أَفِيis there in? معْهَدٍan institution لِلْبِرِّfor charity لَمْdid not يَكُbe جُهْدُهُhis effort
أَفِي معْهَدٍ لِلْبِرِّ لَمْ يَكُ جُهْدُهُ
عَلىat قَدْرِthe measure of مَاwhat يُرجَىis hoped for وَآلاؤُهُand his favors تَتْرىcome in succession
عَلى قَدْرِ مَا يُرجَى وَآلاؤُهُ تَتْرى
Was there a charitable institution where his effort was not
equal to what was hoped for, his favors coming in succession?
أَلَمْdid he not يَمْنحِgrant الآدَابَletters وَالعِلْمَand learning عَوْنَهُhis support
أَلَمْ يَمْنحِ الآدَابَ وَالعِلْمَ عَوْنَهُ
وَمَاand not يَبْتِغيhe seeks مِنْfrom غَيْرِother than خالِقِهِhis Creator أَجْرَاa reward
وَمَا يَبْتِغي مِنْ غَيْرِ خالِقِهِ أَجْرَا
Did he not lend his support to letters and learning,
seeking no reward from anyone but his Creator?
أَلَمْdid he not يَرْعَcare for شَأْنَthe needs of المُسْتَمِدِّينَthose deriving رِزْقَهُمtheir livelihood
أَلَمْ يَرْعَ شَأْنَ المُسْتَمِدِّينَ رِزْقَهُم
مِنَfrom الكَدِّhard labor زُرَّاعاًfarmers يَكُونُونَthey are أَوْor تَجْرَاmerchants
مِنَ الكَدِّ زُرَّاعاً يَكُونُونَ أَوْ تَجْرَا
Did he not care for those who earned their livelihood
by toil, whether farmers or merchants?
أَلَمْdid he not يُعْطِgive بِالبَذْلِthrough generosity الْوَجَاهَةَeminence حَقَّهاits due
أَلَمْ يُعْطِ بِالبَذْلِ الْوَجَاهَةَ حَقَّها
وَكمْand how often يَتَناسَىforgets الحَقَّthe duty مَنْwhoever أَعْطِيَwas granted الوَفْراabundance
وَكمْ يَتَناسَى الحَقَّ مَنْ أَعْطِيَ الوَفْرا
Did he not, by giving, grant eminence its due?
How often those granted abundance forget their duty!
تَظلcontinue وُفُودُgroups of النَّاسِpeople تَغْشَىvisiting رِحَابَهُhis spacious grounds
تَظل وُفُودُ النَّاسِ تَغْشَى رِحَابَهُ
وَيُسْرِفُand are lavish فِيin الأَنْعَامِlivestock غِلْمَانُهُhis servants نَحْرَاin slaughter
وَيُسْرِفُ فِي الأَنْعَامِ غِلْمَانُهُ نَحْرَا
Crowds of people keep visiting his spacious grounds,
and his servants slaughter livestock unstintingly.
فرَبُّfor the lord of الحِمَىthe estate يَسْتَقْبِلُwelcomes الضَّيفَthe guest مبشِراًcheerfully
فرَبُّ الحِمَى يَسْتَقْبِلُ الضَّيفَ مبشِراً
وَرَوْضُand the garden of الحِمَىthe estate يَسْتَقْبِلُwelcomes الضَّيفَthe guest مُغْتَراsmiling
وَرَوْضُ الحِمَى يَسْتَقْبِلُ الضَّيفَ مُغْتَرا
For the lord of the estate welcomes the guest cheerfully,
and the estate's garden welcomes the guest with a smile.
فَضائِلُvirtues زَادَتْهَاincreased them in سَناءًradiance وَرَوْعَةًand splendor
فَضائِلُ زَادَتْهَا سَناءً وَرَوْعَةً
جَلائِلُthe great deeds of مَاwhat يَأْتِيهِhe undertakes it فِيin حُبِّهhis love for مِصْرَاEgypt
جَلائِلُ مَا يَأْتِيهِ فِي حُبِّه مِصْرَا
Virtues whose radiance and splendor were enhanced
by the great deeds he undertook in his love for Egypt.
إِذَاwhen مَاemphasis دَعَاcalled داعِيthe summoner to الحِفاظِthe defense of honor أَجَابَهُhe answered him
إِذَا مَا دَعَا داعِي الحِفاظِ أَجَابَهُ
مُجِيبٌone answering يَرَىwho considers التَّفرِيطَneglect فِيof حَقِّهits due كُفْرَاfaithlessness
مُجِيبٌ يَرَى التَّفرِيطَ فِي حَقِّه كُفْرَا
Whenever the summons to defend honor called, he answered it,
as one who held neglect of that duty to be faithlessness.
سَلِask العُرْبَthe Arabs عَنْهُabout him مِنamong مُلوكٍkings وَفىhe was faithful لَهُمْto them
سَلِ العُرْبَ عَنْهُ مِن مُلوكٍ وَفى لَهُمْ
وَفَىhe paid دَينَa debt لِلأَوْطَانِto the homelands لَمْdid not يَأْلُهُمْstint them نَصْرَاin aid
وَفَى دَينَ لِلأَوْطَانِ لَمْ يَأْلُهُمْ نَصْرَا
Ask the Arabs about him—the kings to whom he was faithful;
he paid a debt to the homelands, sparing them no aid,
بِنَفسِwith the soul of هَمَامٍa high-spirited man لاnot تَرَىit sees عِنْدَwithin نفْسِهَاitself
بِنَفسِ هَمَامٍ لا تَرَى عِنْدَ نفْسِهَا
لإِخَفاقِهِfor his failure عُذْراًan excuse وَإِنْand even if أَبْلَتِit exhausted العُذْرَاthe excuses
لإِخَفاقِهِ عُذْراً وَإِنْ أَبْلَتِ العُذْرَا
with a high-spirited soul that found within itself
no excuse for his failure, even when it had exhausted every excuse.
عَزَاءَcomfort to الشَّقيقَيْنِthe two brothers الحَزِينينِgrieving هكَذاthus
عَزَاءَ الشَّقيقَيْنِ الحَزِينينِ هكَذا
جَرَىunfolded الأَمْرُthe decree وَالأَحْجَىand wisest مَنْwhoever امْتَثلَsubmitted to الأَمْراthe decree
جَرَى الأَمْرُ وَالأَحْجَى مَنْ امْتَثلَ الأَمْرا
Comfort to the two grieving brothers: thus
has the decree unfolded; wisest is he who submits to it.
وَغيْرُand not كَثِيرٍtoo much أَنthat نُرَجِّيwe hope مِنْهُمَاfrom them both
وَغيْرُ كَثِيرٍ أَن نُرَجِّي مِنْهُمَا
مَآثِرَnoble deeds تُبْقِيهِthat keep him alive بِإِبْقَائِهاthrough their preserving الذِّكرَىthe memory
مَآثِرَ تُبْقِيهِ بِإِبْقَائِها الذِّكرَى
Nor is it too much to hope from them both
for noble deeds that keep him alive by preserving his memory.
عزَاءَكِyour comfort يَاO أَوْفىmost faithful of الشَّقيقَاتِsisters وَارْفُقِيand be gentle
عزَاءَكِ يَا أَوْفى الشَّقيقَاتِ وَارْفُقِي
بِقَلْبٍwith a heart رَفِيقٍtender فِيهِin it أَذْكَىkindled الأَسَىgrief جَمْراembers
بِقَلْبٍ رَفِيقٍ فِيهِ أَذْكَى الأَسَى جَمْرا
Take comfort, most faithful of sisters, and be gentle
with a tender heart in which grief has kindled embers.
أَمَاwas it not? كانَwas ذاكَthat القَلْبُheart وَالعَقْلُand reason نُورُهُits light
أَمَا كانَ ذاكَ القَلْبُ وَالعَقْلُ نُورُهُ
لِقَلْبِfor the heart of أَخِيكِyour brother المُوئِلَthe refuge الهاديguiding الطَّهرَاpure
لِقَلْبِ أَخِيكِ المُوئِلَ الهادي الطَّهرَا
Was not that heart—with reason as its light—
the pure, guiding refuge for your brother's heart?
فَقِيدَO lost one of الَمعاليlofty deeds وَالمُرُوءَاتِand noble virtues وَالنَّدَىand generosity
فَقِيدَ الَمعالي وَالمُرُوءَاتِ وَالنَّدَى
وَحُلْوَand sweet in السجَايَاdisposition إِنwhether حَلاis sweet العَيْشُlife أَوor مَرَّاis bitter
وَحُلْوَ السجَايَا إِن حَلا العَيْشُ أَو مَرَّا
O lost one of lofty deeds, noble virtues, and generosity,
and sweet in disposition, whether life was sweet or bitter,
أَتيْتَyou accomplished أَمُوراًdeeds فِيin الحَيَاةِlife كَبِيرَةًgreat
أَتيْتَ أَمُوراً فِي الحَيَاةِ كَبِيرَةً
وَكَانand was سُمُوُّthe nobility of النَّفسِthe soul آيَتَهَاtheir hallmark الكُبْرَىgreatest
وَكَان سُمُوُّ النَّفسِ آيَتَهَا الكُبْرَى
you accomplished great things in life,
and nobility of soul was their greatest hallmark.
أَتَشْهَدُdo you behold هَذَاthis الجَّمعَgathering مِنْof صَفْوَةِthe finest of الحِمَىthe land
أَتَشْهَدُ هَذَا الجَّمعَ مِنْ صَفْوَةِ الحِمَى
وَأَجْفَانُهُمْand their eyelids تَهْمِيstream وَأَنْفَاسُهُمْand their breaths حَرَّىburning
وَأَجْفَانُهُمْ تَهْمِي وَأَنْفَاسُهُمْ حَرَّى
Do you behold this gathering of the finest in the land,
their eyelids streaming and their breaths burning?
لَكَyours الصَّدْرُthe seat of honor قَبْلَbefore اليَوْمِtoday وَالقَوْلُand speech بَيْنَهُمْamong them
لَكَ الصَّدْرُ قَبْلَ اليَوْمِ وَالقَوْلُ بَيْنَهُمْ
فَقَدْfor indeed حَلَّoccupied رَسْمٌa likeness صَامِتٌsilent دُونَكَin your place الصَّدْرَاthe seat of honor
فَقَدْ حَلَّ رَسْمٌ صَامِتٌ دُونَكَ الصَّدْرَا
Before today, yours were the seat of honor and the voice among them;
now a silent likeness has taken the seat of honor in your stead.
فَدَيْتُI would sacrifice myself for صَفِيّاًa cherished friend أَصْحَبُI accompany العُمْرَlife بَعْدَهُafter him
فَدَيْتُ صَفِيّاً أَصْحَبُ العُمْرَ بَعْدَهُ
وَمَاand what حَالُthe state of مَفْقُودِone bereft of المُنَىhopes يَصْحَبُwho accompanies العُمْرَاlife
وَمَا حَالُ مَفْقُودِ المُنَى يَصْحَبُ العُمْرَا
I would give my life for a dear friend, yet I live on after him;
what is the lot of one bereft of hopes who journeys through life?
سَتَحْيَاyou will live بِقَلْبِيin my heart مَاas long as حَيَيْتُI live فإِنْand if أَمُتْI die
سَتَحْيَا بِقَلْبِي مَا حَيَيْتُ فإِنْ أَمُتْ
سَتَحْيَاyou will live بِشِعْرِيin my poetry مَاas long as رَوَىrecite النَّاسُpeople ليof mine شِعْراverse
سَتَحْيَا بِشِعْرِي مَا رَوَى النَّاسُ لي شِعْرا
You will live in my heart as long as I live; and if I die,
you will live in my poetry as long as people recite my verse.
Sol 6.1