يَاO حُسْنَهَاher beauty حِينَwhen تَجَلَّتْshe revealed herself عَلَىto
يَا حُسْنَهَا حِينَ تَجَلَّتْ عَلَى
عُبَّادِهَاher worshippers فِيin عِزَّةٍmajesty لاnot تُرَامْto be attained
عُبَّادِهَا فِي عِزَّةٍ لا تُرَامْ
Oh, her beauty when she revealed herself to
Her worshippers in unassailable majesty!
بَيْنَamong نُجَيْمَاتٍlittle stars بَدَتْappeared حَوْلَهَاaround her
بَيْنَ نُجَيْمَاتٍ بَدَتْ حَوْلَهَا
لَهَاtheirs was رَفِيفُthe shimmer of القَطَرَاتِthe drops السِّجَامْstreaming
لَهَا رَفِيفُ القَطَرَاتِ السِّجَامْ
Among little stars that appeared around her,
Shimmering like drops of streaming rain.
تَسْقِيshe gives drink to عُيُونَthe eyes of النَّاسِpeople شِبْهَthe likeness of النَّدَىdew
تَسْقِي عُيُونَ النَّاسِ شِبْهَ النَّدَى
مِنْof نُورِهَاher light الصَّافِيpure فَتَشْفِيand so she quenches الأُوَامْburning thirst
مِنْ نُورِهَا الصَّافِي فَتَشْفِي الأُوَامْ
She gives people's eyes a dewlike draught
Of her pure light, and quenches burning thirst.
كَأَنَّمَاas though الزَّهْرَاءُal-Zahra مَاan emphatic particle بَيْنَهَاamong them
كَأَنَّمَا الزَّهْرَاءُ مَا بَيْنَهَا
مَلِيكَةٌa queen فِيin مَوْكِبٍa procession ذِيpossessing نِظَامْorder
مَلِيكَةٌ فِي مَوْكِبٍ ذِي نِظَامْ
As though al-Zahra in their midst
Were a queen in an ordered procession.
وَالْقَوْمُand the people جَاثُونَkneeling لَدَىbefore حُسْنِهَاher beauty
وَالْقَوْمُ جَاثُونَ لَدَى حُسْنِهَا
سُجُودَthe prostration of حُبٍّlove صَادِقٍsincere وَاحْتِشَامْand reverence
سُجُودَ حُبٍّ صَادِقٍ وَاحْتِشَامْ
And the people kneel before her beauty,
Prostrate in sincere love and reverence,
مُطَهَّرُوpurified in الإِيمَانِfaith مِنْfrom شُبْهَةٍdoubt
مُطَهَّرُو الإِيمَانِ مِنْ شُبْهَةٍ
مُنَزَّهُوuntainted in الصَّبْوَةِpassion عَنْfrom كُلِّevery ذَامْblemish
مُنَزَّهُو الصَّبْوَةِ عَنْ كُلِّ ذَامْ
Their faith purified of doubt,
Their passion free of every blemish.
لاno كَافِرٌunbeliever مِنْهُمْamong them وَلاand no مُلْحِدٌatheist
لا كَافِرٌ مِنْهُمْ وَلا مُلْحِدٌ
وَلاand no جُحُودُdenial خَافِرٍa betrayer لِلذِّمَامْof covenants
وَلا جُحُودُ خَافِرٍ لِلذِّمَامْ
No unbeliever among them, nor atheist,
Nor the denial of a breaker of covenants.
مَاhow أَكْرَمَnoble الدِّينَreligion عَلَىto أَهْلِهِits followers
مَا أَكْرَمَ الدِّينَ عَلَى أَهْلِهِ
إِذَاwhen الْتَقَىmeet فِيهِwithin it التُّقَىpiety وَالْهُيَامْand passionate love
إِذَا الْتَقَى فِيهِ التُّقَى وَالْهُيَامْ
How noble religion is to its followers
When piety and passionate love meet within it!
وَكَانَand there was مِنْهُمْamong them رَجْلٌa man يَعْتَلِيascending
وَكَانَ مِنْهُمْ رَجْلٌ يَعْتَلِي
مِنَصَّةًa platform نُصَّتْerected لَهُfor him مِنْat أَمَامْthe front
مِنَصَّةً نُصَّتْ لَهُ مِنْ أَمَامْ
And among them was a man ascending
A platform erected for him at the front:
شَاعِرُهُمْtheir poet وَهْوَand he was لِسَانُthe tongue of الْهُدَىguidance
شَاعِرُهُمْ وَهْوَ لِسَانُ الْهُدَى
بَيْنَهُمُamong them وَهْوَand he was عَلَيْهِمْover them إِمَامْa leader
بَيْنَهُمُ وَهْوَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِمَامْ
Their poet—he was the tongue of guidance
Among them, and their leader—
يُسْمِعُهُمْhe lets them hear مِنْfrom وَحْيِهِhis inspiration مُنْشِداًreciting
يُسْمِعُهُمْ مِنْ وَحْيِهِ مُنْشِداً
شِعْراًpoetry لَهُit has فِيin النَّفْسِthe soul فِعْلُthe effect of المُدَامْwine
شِعْراً لَهُ فِي النَّفْسِ فِعْلُ المُدَامْ
Reciting, he let them hear from his inspiration
Poetry with wine's effect upon the soul.
فَقَالَthen said مِنْهُمْamong them رَجُلٌa man صَالِحٌrighteous
فَقَالَ مِنْهُمْ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ
ثَارَsurged بِهِwithin him الشَّوْقُlonging وَجَدَّand grew intense الْغَرَامْpassion
ثَارَ بِهِ الشَّوْقُ وَجَدَّ الْغَرَامْ
Then a righteous man among them spoke,
Longing surged within him and passion grew intense:
يَاO شَاعِرَpoet of الوَحْيinspiration وَنورَand light of التقَىpiety
يَا شَاعِرَ الوَحْي وَنورَ التقَى
أَلاَis there no لِقَاءٌmeeting قَبْلَbefore يَوْمِthe day of الحِمَامْdeath
أَلاَ لِقَاءٌ قَبْلَ يَوْمِ الحِمَامْ
"O poet of inspiration and light of piety,
Is there no meeting before the day of death?
قَدْindeed بَرَّحَdealt cruelly الوَجْدُlonging بِأَكْبَادِنَاwith our livers
قَدْ بَرَّحَ الوَجْدُ بِأَكْبَادِنَا
حَتَّىuntil اسْتَطَلْنَاwe found too long العُمْرَlife دُونَwithout المَرَامْthe desired goal
حَتَّى اسْتَطَلْنَا العُمْرَ دُونَ المَرَامْ
Longing has cruelly racked our vitals,
Till life seems too long, our goal unreached.
نَهْفُوwe yearn إِلَىfor الزَّهْراءِal-Zahra شَوْقاًwith longing فَإِنْand if
نَهْفُو إِلَى الزَّهْراءِ شَوْقاً فَإِنْ
جَفَتْshe turns away جَفَانَاforsakes us صَفْوُنَاour serenity وَالسَّلامْand peace
جَفَتْ جَفَانَا صَفْوُنَا وَالسَّلامْ
We yearn for al-Zahra, and if
She turns away, our serenity and peace forsake us.
لَقَدْindeed تَقَضَّىhas passed خَيْرُthe best of أَيَّامِناour days
لَقَدْ تَقَضَّى خَيْرُ أَيَّامِنا
وَنَحْنُwhile we نَرْجُوhope وَرِضَاهَاand her favor حَرَامْis forbidden
وَنَحْنُ نَرْجُو وَرِضَاهَا حَرَامْ
Indeed, the best of our days have passed,
While we hope, and her favor remains forbidden.
إِذَاwhen أَتَىcomes اللَّيْلُnight سَهِرْنَاwe keep vigil لَهَاfor her
إِذَا أَتَى اللَّيْلُ سَهِرْنَا لَهَا
بِأَعْيُنٍwith eyes مَفْتُونَةٍspellbound لاnot تَنَامْsleeping
بِأَعْيُنٍ مَفْتُونَةٍ لا تَنَامْ
When night comes, we keep vigil for her
With spellbound eyes that never sleep.
وَإِنْand if أَتَىcomes الصُّبْحُmorning دَعَوْنَاwe pray بِأَنْthat
وَإِنْ أَتَى الصُّبْحُ دَعَوْنَا بِأَنْ
يَخْفَىit disappears وَشِيكاًsoon وَيَعُودُand returns الظَّلامْdarkness
يَخْفَى وَشِيكاً وَيَعُودُ الظَّلامْ
And when morning comes, we pray that
It vanish soon and darkness return.
أَلَمْhas it not يَحِنْbecome time وَالعَهْدُand the interval قَدْalready طَالَhas grown long أَنْthat
أَلَمْ يَحِنْ وَالعَهْدُ قَدْ طَالَ أَنْ
تُنْجِزَshe fulfills وَعْدَthe promise of المُلْهَمِينَthe inspired ones الْكِرَامْnoble
تُنْجِزَ وَعْدَ المُلْهَمِينَ الْكِرَامْ
Is it not time, after so long, for her
To fulfill the promise of the noble inspired ones,
فَتَتَرَاءىand so she appears بَشَراًa human being مِثْلَنَاlike us
فَتَتَرَاءى بَشَراً مِثْلَنَا
وَتَتَوَلَّىand she assumes مُلْكَهَاher rule فِيamong الأَنَامْhumankind
وَتَتَوَلَّى مُلْكَهَا فِي الأَنَامْ
And appear as a human being like us,
And assume her rule among humankind?"
فَرَفَعَthen raised الشَّاعِرُthe poet أَبْصَارُهُhis eyes
فَرَفَعَ الشَّاعِرُ أَبْصَارُهُ
إِلَىto الْعُلَىthe heights ثُمَّthen جَثَاhe knelt ثُمَّthen قَامْhe rose
إِلَى الْعُلَى ثُمَّ جَثَا ثُمَّ قَامْ
Then the poet raised his eyes
To the heights, then knelt, then rose,
وَاسْتَنْزَلَand he called down الْوَحْيَinspiration فَخَطَّتْthen she inscribed لَهُfor him
وَاسْتَنْزَلَ الْوَحْيَ فَخَطَّتْ لَهُ
أَيَةَa sign of نُورٍlight فَتَوَلَّىthen he took up الكَلامْspeech
أَيَةَ نُورٍ فَتَوَلَّى الكَلامْ
And called down inspiration; there was inscribed for him
A sign of light, and he began to speak.
وَقَالَand he said مَنْwhoever قَرَّبَmakes offerings مِنْكُمْamong you لَهَاto her
وَقَالَ مَنْ قَرَّبَ مِنْكُمْ لَهَا
عِدَّةfor a span of شَهْرَيْنِtwo months وَصَلَّىand prays وَصَامْand fasts
عِدَّة شَهْرَيْنِ وَصَلَّى وَصَامْ
He said, "Whoever among you makes offerings to her
For two months, and prays and fasts,
أَبْصَرَهَاwill see her إِنسِيَّةًas a human woman تَنْجَلِيrevealing herself
أَبْصَرَهَا إِنسِيَّةً تَنْجَلِي
فِيin المَعْبَدِthe temple الأَكْبَرِgreatest يَوْمَon the day of الْخِتَامْcompletion
فِي المَعْبَدِ الأَكْبَرِ يَوْمَ الْخِتَامْ
Will see her appear as a mortal woman
In the greatest temple on the final day."
فَانْصَرَفَthen departed الْقَوْمُthe people وَبَاتُواand they spent the night وَهُمْwhile they
فَانْصَرَفَ الْقَوْمُ وَبَاتُوا وَهُمْ
بِمَاwith what بِهِconcerning it الشَّاعِرُthe poet أَوْصَىenjoined قِيَامْdiligently engaged
بِمَا بِهِ الشَّاعِرُ أَوْصَى قِيَامْ
Then the people departed, and spent the night
Carrying out what the poet had enjoined,
يَرْتَقِبُونَawaiting المَوْعِدَthe appointed time المُرْتَجَىhoped for
يَرْتَقِبُونَ المَوْعِدَ المُرْتَجَى
لِذَلِكَfor that الأَمْرِevent الْعُجَابِwondrous الجُسَامْmomentous
لِذَلِكَ الأَمْرِ الْعُجَابِ الجُسَامْ
Awaiting the hoped-for appointed time
For that wondrous, momentous event.
حَتَّىuntil إِذَاwhen وَقْتُthe time of التَّجَلِّيthe revelation أَتَىcame
حَتَّى إِذَا وَقْتُ التَّجَلِّي أَتَى
وَضَاقَand grew cramped بِالأَشْهَادِwith witnesses رَحْبُthe spacious expanse of المُقَامْthe place
وَضَاقَ بِالأَشْهَادِ رَحْبُ المُقَامْ
Until, when the time of revelation came,
And the spacious place grew cramped with witnesses,
وَانْتَثَرَand were scattered الْقَوْمُthe people صِغَارَsmall in البُنَىbuild
وَانْتَثَرَ الْقَوْمُ صِغَارَ البُنَى
بَيْنَamong سَوارِيهِits columns الطِّوَالِtall الضِّخَامْmassive
بَيْنَ سَوارِيهِ الطِّوَالِ الضِّخَامْ
And the people, small of frame, were scattered
Among its tall, massive columns,
وَأَوْشَكَتْand nearly أَثْبَتُthe firmest of أَرْكَانِهِits supports
وَأَوْشَكَتْ أَثْبَتُ أَرْكَانِهِ
تَمِيدُswaying مِمَّاbecause of how اشْتَدَّintensified فِيهِwithin it الزَّحَامْthe crowding
تَمِيدُ مِمَّا اشْتَدَّ فِيهِ الزَّحَامْ
And its firmest supports were on the verge
Of swaying from the fierce crowding within,
دَوَّتْresounded زَوَايَاهُits corners بِإِنْشَادِهِمْwith their chanting
دَوَّتْ زَوَايَاهُ بِإِنْشَادِهِمْ
وَعَقَدَand formed التَّبْخِيرُthe burning of incense شِبْهَthe likeness of الْغَمَامْclouds
وَعَقَدَ التَّبْخِيرُ شِبْهَ الْغَمَامْ
Its corners rang with their chanting,
And burning incense formed a semblance of clouds.
وَشَحُبَand grew pale النُّورُthe light كَأَنْas though قَدْalready عَرَاhad afflicted
وَشَحُبَ النُّورُ كَأَنْ قَدْ عَرَا
مِنْfrom غَيْرِهِjealousy of it شَمْسِthe sun of الأَصِيلِlate afternoon السَّقَامْsickness
مِنْ غَيْرِهِ شَمْسِ الأَصِيلِ السَّقَامْ
And the light grew pale, as though there had fallen
Upon the sunset sun a sickness born of jealousy.
فَلاحَthen shone بُرْقٌlightning خَاطِفٌdazzling بَغْتَةًsuddenly
فَلاحَ بُرْقٌ خَاطِفٌ بَغْتَةً
وَانْشَقُّand parted سِتْرٌa curtain عَنْfrom مِثَالa statue مُقَامْset upright
وَانْشَقُّ سِتْرٌ عَنْ مِثَال مُقَامْ
Then suddenly a dazzling flash of lightning shone,
And a curtain parted to reveal an upright statue,
عَنْof غَادَةٍa maiden مَاثِلَةٍstanding بِالجِسْمِin bodily form فِيin
عَنْ غَادَةٍ مَاثِلَةٍ بِالجِسْمِ فِي
أَبْدَعِthe most exquisite رَسْمٍdepiction لِلْجَمَالِof beauty التَّمَامْperfect
أَبْدَعِ رَسْمٍ لِلْجَمَالِ التَّمَامْ
Of a maiden standing in bodily form, in
The most exquisite depiction of perfect beauty.
مَنْحُوتَةٍcarved فِيin الصَّخْرِstone لَكِنَّهَاbut she
مَنْحُوتَةٍ فِي الصَّخْرِ لَكِنَّهَا
تَكَادُshe almost تُحْيِيbrings to life بَالِيَاتِdecayed الْعِظَامُthe bones
تَكَادُ تُحْيِي بَالِيَاتِ الْعِظَامُ
Carved in stone, and yet she
Could almost bring decayed bones to life.
لاno رُوحَspirit فِيهَاin her غَيْرَexcept إِيمَاضَةٍa gleam
لا رُوحَ فِيهَا غَيْرَ إِيمَاضَةٍ
مِنْfrom جَانِبِthe realm of الإِعْجَازِthe miraculous فِيهَاin her تُشَامْcan be discerned
مِنْ جَانِبِ الإِعْجَازِ فِيهَا تُشَامْ
No spirit was in her, save a gleam
From the realm of the miraculous, discernible within her.
لِحَاظُهَاher glances تَرْمِيshoot سِهَامَthe arrows of الْهَوَىlove
لِحَاظُهَا تَرْمِي سِهَامَ الْهَوَى
وَوَجْهُهَاand her face يَنْشُرُspreads آيَthe signs of السَّلامْpeace
وَوَجْهُهَا يَنْشُرُ آيَ السَّلامْ
Her glances shot love's arrows,
And her face spread signs of peace.
وَصَدْرُهَاand her breast أُفْقٌa horizon بَدَاappeared كَوْكَبٌa star
وَصَدْرُهَا أُفْقٌ بَدَا كَوْكَبٌ
فِيهِwithin it كَأَنَّas though النُّورَthe light مِنْهُfrom it ابْتِسَامْa smile
فِيهِ كَأَنَّ النُّورَ مِنْهُ ابْتِسَامْ
And her breast was a horizon; a star appeared
Within it, its light seeming a smile.
تِلْكَthat هِيshe الزَّهْرَاءُal-Zahra لاحَتْappeared لَهُمْto them
تِلْكَ هِي الزَّهْرَاءُ لاحَتْ لَهُمْ
وَالكَوْكَبُand the star الْبَادِيvisible عَلَيْهَاupon her وِسَامْa medal
وَالكَوْكَبُ الْبَادِي عَلَيْهَا وِسَامْ
That was al-Zahra, appearing to them,
And the star displayed upon her was a medal.
Sol 6.1