أَلمُورِيَاتُthe fire-kindlers أَخْمَدَتْquenched زِنَادِيmy flint
أَلمُورِيَاتُ أَخْمَدَتْ زِنَادِي
وَالمَرْثِيَاتُand the elegies أَنْضَبَتْdrained مِدَادِيmy ink
وَالمَرْثِيَاتُ أَنْضَبَتْ مِدَادِي
The fire-kindlers have quenched my flint,
and elegies have drained my ink.
وَكادَand almost لاَnot يَتْرُكُleaves إِلاَّexcept لَوْنَهُits hue
وَكادَ لاَ يَتْرُكُ إِلاَّ لَوْنَهُ
فِيin أَعْيُنِيmy eyes تَعَاقُبُthe succession of الحِدَادِmourning
فِي أَعْيُنِي تَعَاقُبُ الحِدَادِ
And almost nothing but its hue is left
in my eyes by mourning upon mourning.
يَاO مُلْهِمَinspirer of الشِّعْرَpoetry طَغَىoverwhelmed الحُزْنُgrief عَلَىupon
يَا مُلْهِمَ الشِّعْرَ طَغَى الحُزْنُ عَلَى
فِكْرِيmy thought فَهَلْso is there فَضْلٌfurther bounty مِنَof الإِمْدَادِaid
فِكْرِي فَهَلْ فَضْلٌ مِنَ الإِمْدَادِ
O inspirer of poetry, grief has overwhelmed
my thought; is there yet more aid to give?
أَلعَلمُthe banner الخفَّاقُfluttering فِيin الشَّرْقِthe East هَوَىfell
أَلعَلمُ الخفَّاقُ فِي الشَّرْقِ هَوَى
عَنْfrom طَوْدهِits mountain المُوفِيtowering عَلَىabove الأَطْوَادِthe mountains
عَنْ طَوْدهِ المُوفِي عَلَى الأَطْوَادِ
The banner fluttering in the East has fallen
from its mountain, towering above the mountains.
أَأَصْبَحَhas he become اليَوْمَtoday فَقِيدَthe lost one of قَوْمهِhis people
أَأَصْبَحَ اليَوْمَ فَقِيدَ قَوْمهِ
مَنْhe who عَاشَlived فِيهِمْamong them فَاقِدَlacking الأَنْدَادِpeers
مَنْ عَاشَ فِيهِمْ فَاقِدَ الأَنْدَادِ
Has he today become his people's lost one,
he who lived among them without a peer?
وَاعُمَرَاalas, Umar! أَسَامِعٌdo you hear يَوْمَon the day of النَّوَىparting
وَاعُمَرَا أَسَامِعٌ يَوْمَ النَّوَى
آهَةthe sigh of مِصْرٍEgypt وَأَنيِنَand the groan of الْوَاديthe valley
آهَة مِصْرٍ وَأَنيِنَ الْوَادي
Alas, Umar! Do you hear, on the day of parting,
Egypt's sigh and the valley's groan?
اَسَامِعٌdo you hear فِيamong أُمَّةa people وَالِهَةٍdistraught with grief
اَسَامِعٌ فِي أُمَّة وَالِهَةٍ
شَكْوَىthe lament of الأَسَىsorrow مِنْfrom رَائِحٍone going at evening وَغَادِand one going at morning
شَكْوَى الأَسَى مِنْ رَائِحٍ وَغَادِ
Do you hear, among a grief-stricken people,
sorrow's lament from all who come and go?
إِسْكنْدَرِيَّةAlexandria التِيwhich آثَرْتَهَاyou favored
إِسْكنْدَرِيَّة التِي آثَرْتَهَا
مَاwhat نَالَهَاbefell her مِنْof أَلَمِthe pain of البِعَادِseparation
مَا نَالَهَا مِنْ أَلَمِ البِعَادِ
Alexandria, which you favored—
what pain of separation has befallen her!
وَكُنْتَand you were فِيهَاin her مَوْرِداًa watering-place مُبَارَكاًblessed
وَكُنْتَ فِيهَا مَوْرِداً مُبَارَكاً
وَمَصْدَراًand a source لِلخَيْرِof goodness وَالإِسْعَادِand of bringing happiness
وَمَصْدَراً لِلخَيْرِ وَالإِسْعَادِ
And there you were a blessed watering-place
and a source of goodness and happiness.
فِيin النُّوبِNubia وَالسُّودَانِand Sudan قَوْمٌpeople رُزِئُواthey were bereaved of
فِي النُّوبِ وَالسُّودَانِ قَوْمٌ رُزِئُوا
أَكْفىthe ablest نَصِيرٍchampion وَأَبَرُّand most benevolent هَادٍguide
أَكْفى نَصِيرٍ وَأَبَرُّ هَادٍ
In Nubia and Sudan are people bereaved
of the ablest champion and most benevolent guide.
شدَّhe bound firmly بِمَاwith what أُوتِيَهُhe was given it مِنَof القُوَىstrength
شدَّ بِمَا أُوتِيَهُ مِنَ القُوَى
أَوَاخِيَthe bonds of الإِلْفِfellowship وَالاِتَّحادِand unity
أَوَاخِيَ الإِلْفِ وَالاِتَّحادِ
With all the strength he had been given, he bound
the ties of fellowship and unity.
بِكُلِّupon every قُطْرٍland عَرَبِيٍّArab نَزَلَتْdescended
بِكُلِّ قُطْرٍ عَرَبِيٍّ نَزَلَتْ
نَازِلَةٌa calamity تَفُتُّshatters فِيwithin الأَعْضَادِthe upper arms
نَازِلَةٌ تَفُتُّ فِي الأَعْضَادِ
Upon every Arab land has descended
a calamity that breaks the strength of arms.
مَاwhat بِالحِجَازِin the Hijaz وَالسَّوَادَيْنِand the two Sawads وَمَاand what
مَا بِالحِجَازِ وَالسَّوَادَيْنِ وَمَا
بِالشَّامِin al-Sham مِنْof تَصَدُّعِthe rending of الأَكْبَادِlivers
بِالشَّامِ مِنْ تَصَدُّعِ الأَكْبَادِ
What grief in the Hijaz and the two Sawads, and what
rending of livers in al-Sham!
أَلَمْdid ... not? تَكُنْyou be أَوْحَىthe swiftest وَأَقْوَىand strongest نَاصِرٍchampion
أَلَمْ تَكُنْ أَوْحَى وَأَقْوَى نَاصِرٍ
لِكُلِّfor every شَعْبٍpeople نَاطِقٍspeaking بِالضَّادِin the language of ḍād
لِكُلِّ شَعْبٍ نَاطِقٍ بِالضَّادِ
Were you not the swiftest and strongest champion
of every people speaking the tongue of ḍād?
وَهَلْand has ...? أُبِيْحَbeen violated مِنْany حِمىprotected land فِيin الشَّرْقِthe East لَمْnot
وَهَلْ أُبِيْحَ مِنْ حِمى فِي الشَّرْقِ لَمْ
يَفُزْgain بِذُخْرٍreserves مِنْكَfrom you أَوْor عَتَادِequipment
يَفُزْ بِذُخْرٍ مِنْكَ أَوْ عَتَادِ
And was any protected land in the East violated that did not
gain from you reserves or equipment?
أَعْظِمْhow great بِمَاis what خَلَّفْتَyou left behind فِيamong الجِيلِthe generation الَّذيwhich
أَعْظِمْ بِمَا خَلَّفْتَ فِي الجِيلِ الَّذي
عَايَشْتَهُyou lived alongside it مِنْof خَالِدenduring الأَياديbenefactions
عَايَشْتَهُ مِنْ خَالِد الأَيادي
How great what you left among the generation
whose life you shared—your enduring benefactions!
أَلسْتَare you not أَوَّلَthe first of المَيَامِينِthe blessed ones الأُولَىwho
أَلسْتَ أَوَّلَ المَيَامِينِ الأُولَى
دَعَوْاthey called إِلىfor تَحَرُّرِthe liberation of البِلاَدِthe country
دَعَوْا إِلى تَحَرُّرِ البِلاَدِ
Were you not the first of those blessed men who
called for the country's liberation?
يحْفِزُكَspurs you on الإِيمَانfaith بِالحقِّin truth وَمَاand not
يحْفِزُكَ الإِيمَان بِالحقِّ وَمَا
تَثْيِنكَdeters you عَنْهُfrom it صَوْلَةٌan onslaught لِعَاديof an aggressor
تَثْيِنكَ عَنْهُ صَوْلَةٌ لِعَادي
Faith in truth spurred you on, and no
aggressor's onslaught could turn you from it.
وَإِنَّماand only الأرَاءُopinions أَنْthat تَجْلُوَهَاyou bring them to light
وَإِنَّما الأرَاءُ أَنْ تَجْلُوَهَا
مَاwhat تَفْعَلُdo السُّيُوفُthe swords فِيin الأَغْمَادِthe sheaths
مَا تَفْعَلُ السُّيُوفُ فِي الأَغْمَادِ
And ideas are meant to be brought to light;
what can swords do in their sheaths?
أَيُّwhat a أَميرٍprince كُنْتَyou were ماhow أَتْقَىdevout وماand how
أَيُّ أَميرٍ كُنْتَ ما أَتْقَى وما
أَنْقَىpure وماand how أَهْدىwell guided إِلىtoward السِدادِsound judgment
أَنْقَى وما أَهْدى إِلى السِدادِ
What a prince you were! How devout, and how
pure, and how well guided toward sound judgment!
أَيُّwhat a وَفِيٍّfaithful man لاَno وَفِيَّfaithful man مِثْلُهُlike him
أَيُّ وَفِيٍّ لاَ وَفِيَّ مِثْلُهُ
أَيُّwhat a هُمَامٍvaliant man مُسْعِفٍhelpful جَوَادِgenerous
أَيُّ هُمَامٍ مُسْعِفٍ جَوَادِ
What a faithful man, with none as faithful as he!
What a valiant, helpful, generous soul!
أَيُّwhat a أَبٍfather لِلْفُقَرَاءِto the poor وَأَخٍand a brother
أَيُّ أَبٍ لِلْفُقَرَاءِ وَأَخٍ
لِلضُّعفاءِto the weak عَاجِلِswift in الإِنْجَادِcoming to aid
لِلضُّعفاءِ عَاجِلِ الإِنْجَادِ
What a father to the poor, and a brother
to the weak, swift to come to their aid!
أَيُّwhat a حَكِيمٍsage لَمْnot يُكدِّرْdisturb صَفْوَهُhis serenity
أَيُّ حَكِيمٍ لَمْ يُكدِّرْ صَفْوَهُ
تَخَالُفُdifferences in الرَّأْيِopinion وَالاِعْتِقَادِand belief
تَخَالُفُ الرَّأْيِ وَالاِعْتِقَادِ
What a sage, whose serenity was never disturbed
by differences of opinion and belief!
وَيَرأَبُand he mends الصُّدُوعَthe rifts فِيwithin أُمَّتهِhis people
وَيَرأَبُ الصُّدُوعَ فِي أُمَّتهِ
بِحِكْمَةٍwith wisdom تَشْفِيheals مِنَfrom الأَحْقَادِrancor
بِحِكْمَةٍ تَشْفِي مِنَ الأَحْقَادِ
And he would mend the rifts within his people
with wisdom that healed rancor.
وَيَجْعَلُand he makes الخُلْفَdiscord بِمَاwith what فِيwithin وُسْعِهhis power
وَيَجْعَلُ الخُلْفَ بِمَا فِي وُسْعِه
زِيَادَةًan increase فِيin الإِلْفِfellowship وَالوِدَادِand affection
زِيَادَةً فِي الإِلْفِ وَالوِدَادِ
And, with all in his power, he would turn discord
into greater fellowship and affection.
كَمْhow much جَدَّhe strove فِيin صِيَانَةِprotecting السَّوَادِthe populace مِنْfrom
كَمْ جَدَّ فِي صِيَانَةِ السَّوَادِ مِنْ
غَوَائِلِthe scourges of التَّاوِيدِdegradation وَالفَسَادِand corruption
غَوَائِلِ التَّاوِيدِ وَالفَسَادِ
How hard he strove to shield the populace from
the scourges of degradation and corruption,
بِمَنْحهِby his giving الأَخْلاَقَmoral conduct قِسْطاًa share وَافِراًample
بِمَنْحهِ الأَخْلاَقَ قِسْطاً وَافِراً
مِنْof هِمَمٍenergies تُعْطِيthat give بِلاَwithout نَفَادِexhaustion
مِنْ هِمَمٍ تُعْطِي بِلاَ نَفَادِ
by devoting to moral conduct an ample share
of energies that gave without end.
أَلجَهْلُignorance وَالخَمْرُand wine وَآفَاتُهُمَاand the harms of both
أَلجَهْلُ وَالخَمْرُ وَآفَاتُهُمَا
أَلَسْنَare they not مِنْamong أَسْلِحَةthe weapons of الأَعَاديthe enemies
أَلَسْنَ مِنْ أَسْلِحَة الأَعَادي
Ignorance and wine, and the afflictions they bring—
are they not among the enemies' weapons?
كانَwas البِدَارُprompt action دَأْبَهُhis habit عِنَايَةًout of care
كانَ البِدَارُ دَأْبَهُ عِنَايَةً
بِشَأْنِfor the affairs of مَنْthose whom يَرْعَىhe tends مِنَamong العِبَادِpeople
بِشَأْنِ مَنْ يَرْعَى مِنَ العِبَادِ
Hastening to act was his habit, out of care
for the affairs of the people under his care.
أَجَائِزٌis it permissible لِيfor me ذِكْرَto mention إِحْسَانٍa kindness لَهُof his
أَجَائِزٌ لِي ذِكْرَ إِحْسَانٍ لَهُ
عِنْدِيtoward me وَفِيand in الحَقِّtruth بِهin it اعْتِدَادِيmy pride
عِنْدِي وَفِي الحَقِّ بِه اعْتِدَادِي
May I mention a kindness of his
toward me, in which I rightly take pride?
مَاnot أَخْطَأَتْنِيfailed to reach me كُتْبُهُhis letters فِيin فَرَحٍjoy
مَا أَخْطَأَتْنِي كُتْبُهُ فِي فَرَحٍ
أَوْor تَرَحٍsorrow بِحُسْنِwith kindly الاِفْتِقادِinquiries
أَوْ تَرَحٍ بِحُسْنِ الاِفْتِقادِ
His letters never failed to reach me in joy
or sorrow, with kindly inquiries after me.
عَوَارِفٌkindnesses هَيْهَاتَfar be it أَنْthat تُنْسَىthey be forgotten وَقَدْand indeed
عَوَارِفٌ هَيْهَاتَ أَنْ تُنْسَى وَقَدْ
يُضَاعِفُdoubles الجَمِيلَthe favor لُطْفُthe graciousness of البَاديthe one offering it
يُضَاعِفُ الجَمِيلَ لُطْفُ البَادي
Kindnesses that can never be forgotten—and indeed
the giver's graciousness doubles the favor.
فِيin عُمْرِكَyour lifetime المَيْمُونِblessed كَمْhow many مِنْof مَسْجِدٍa mosque
فِي عُمْرِكَ المَيْمُونِ كَمْ مِنْ مَسْجِدٍ
عَمَرْتَهُyou built it وَمَعْهَدٍand an institute وَنَادِand a club
عَمَرْتَهُ وَمَعْهَدٍ وَنَادِ
In your blessed lifetime, how many a mosque
you built, and how many an institute and club!
وَكَمْand how many جَمَاعَةٍan association وَكَمْand how many نِقَابَةٍa guild
وَكَمْ جَمَاعَةٍ وَكَمْ نِقَابَةٍ
أُلْتَyou managed بِهَاthrough them مَرَافِقَthe services of العِبَادِthe people
أُلْتَ بِهَا مَرَافِقَ العِبَادِ
And how many an association, how many a guild,
through which you tended to the people's welfare!
لَمْnot تَدَّخِرْyou held back نُصْحاًcounsel وَلاَnor عَزِيمَةًresolve
لَمْ تَدَّخِرْ نُصْحاً وَلاَ عَزِيمَةً
فِيin سُبُلِthe paths of المَعَاشِlivelihood وَالمَعَادِand the hereafter
فِي سُبُلِ المَعَاشِ وَالمَعَادِ
You spared neither counsel nor resolve
in the paths of livelihood and the life to come.
عُنِيتَyou cared بِالزَّرْعِfor cultivation وَبِالزُّرَّاعِand for farmers مَاnot
عُنِيتَ بِالزَّرْعِ وَبِالزُّرَّاعِ مَا
فَرَّطْتَyou neglected فِيin جُهْدٍeffort وَلاَnor اجْتِهَادِdiligent endeavor
فَرَّطْتَ فِي جُهْدٍ وَلاَ اجْتِهَادِ
You cared for cultivation and for farmers; you never
neglected any effort or endeavor.
عُنيتَyou cared بِالفُنُونِfor the arts وَالآدَابِand letters لَمْnot
عُنيتَ بِالفُنُونِ وَالآدَابِ لَمْ
تَضَنَّyou were sparing بِالعَطْفِwith favor عَلَىtoward مِجْوَادِone who excels
تَضَنَّ بِالعَطْفِ عَلَى مِجْوَادِ
You cared for arts and letters, never
withholding your favor from one who excelled.
وَكُنْتand you were لِلعَدْلِof justice نَصِيراًa champion يَقِظاًvigilant
وَكُنْت لِلعَدْلِ نَصِيراً يَقِظاً
وَكُنْتَand you were لِلظَّالِمِfor the oppressor بِالمِرْصَادِlying in wait
وَكُنْتَ لِلظَّالِمِ بِالمِرْصَادِ
And you were a vigilant champion of justice,
and lay in wait for the oppressor.
هَذَاall this وَكَمْand how much عَانَيْتَyou endured فِيin ضُحَاكَyour daylight مِنْof
هَذَا وَكَمْ عَانَيْتَ فِي ضُحَاكَ مِنْ
جُهْدٍtoil وَفِيand in دُجَاكَyour darkness مِنْof سُهَادِsleeplessness
جُهْدٍ وَفِي دُجَاكَ مِنْ سُهَادِ
All this—and how much you endured in your daylight:
toil, and in your darkness, sleeplessness!
فَجِئْتَthus you brought بِالآيَاتِmarvels تَعْيَاfalter دُونَهَاshort of them
فَجِئْتَ بِالآيَاتِ تَعْيَا دُونَهَا
عَزَائِمُthe resolves of الجُمُوعِmultitudes لاَnot الآحَادindividuals
عَزَائِمُ الجُمُوعِ لاَ الآحَاد
Thus you brought forth marvels before which would fail
the resolve of multitudes, not merely individuals:
مِنْof كُتُبٍbooks أَخْرَجْتَهَاyou published them وَصُحُفٍand journals
مِنْ كُتُبٍ أَخْرَجْتَهَا وَصُحُفٍ
دَبَّجتَهَاyou adorned them with writing لِلهَدْيِfor guidance وَالإِرْشَادِand direction
دَبَّجتَهَا لِلهَدْيِ وَالإِرْشَادِ
books you published, and journals
you adorned with writing for guidance and direction;
وَسِيَرٍand biographies بَعَثْتَهَاyou revived them فَجَدَّدَتْand so they renewed
وَسِيَرٍ بَعَثْتَهَا فَجَدَّدَتْ
مَفَاخِرَthe glories of الآبَاءِfathers وَالأَجْدَادِand forefathers
مَفَاخِرَ الآبَاءِ وَالأَجْدَادِ
and biographies you revived, renewing
the glories of fathers and forefathers;
وَذِكَرٍand recollections نَشَرْتَyou unfolded مِنْfrom مَطْوِيِّهاtheir folded contents
وَذِكَرٍ نَشَرْتَ مِنْ مَطْوِيِّها
مَآثِرَthe exploits of الجُيُوشِarmies وَالقُوَّادand commanders
مَآثِرَ الجُيُوشِ وَالقُوَّاد
and records from whose hidden folds you revealed
the exploits of armies and commanders;
وَقَبَسَاتٍand sparks مِنْfrom هُدَىthe guidance of الأَسْفَارِjourneys فِيin
وَقَبَسَاتٍ مِنْ هُدَى الأَسْفَارِ فِي
حَواَضِرِthe cities of الدُّنْيَاthe world وَفِيand in البَوَادِيthe deserts
حَواَضِرِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي البَوَادِي
and sparks of guidance from journeys through
the world's cities and its desert lands;
وَصُورٍand images تَجْلُوyou reveal بِهَامَاwith them what غَيَّبتْconcealed
وَصُورٍ تَجْلُو بِهَامَا غَيَّبتْ
أَيْديthe hands of البِلَىdecay فَكُلُّso every خَافhidden thing بَادِis visible
أَيْدي البِلَى فَكُلُّ خَاف بَادِ
and images with which you reveal what was concealed by
the hands of decay, so all that was hidden is plain;
وَأَثَرٍand a relic تَرُدُّهُyou return it مِنْfrom غُرْبَةٍexile
وَأَثَرٍ تَرُدُّهُ مِنْ غُرْبَةٍ
وَقَدْand indeed بَذَلْتَyou spent فِيهon it بَذْلَas the spending of الفَادِيone paying ransom
وَقَدْ بَذَلْتَ فِيه بَذْلَ الفَادِي
and a relic you bring back from exile,
having spent upon it as a ransomer would.
تِلكَthose ذَخَائِرٌtreasures لِتَارِيخِfor the history of الحِمَيthe homeland
تِلكَ ذَخَائِرٌ لِتَارِيخِ الحِمَي
لَوْلاَكَwere it not for you ظَلَّتْthey would have remained طُرُفاًrarities بَدَادِscattered apart
لَوْلاَكَ ظَلَّتْ طُرُفاً بَدَادِ
These are treasures for the homeland's history;
without you they would have remained rarities scattered apart.
يَاO مَنْyou who سَمَاrose high بِنَفْسهthrough his own worth كَمَاjust as سَمَاhe rose high
يَا مَنْ سَمَا بِنَفْسه كَمَا سَمَا
بِشَرَفِthrough the nobility of المَحْتدِlineage وَالمِيلاَدِand birth
بِشَرَفِ المَحْتدِ وَالمِيلاَدِ
O you who rose through your own worth, just as you rose
through nobility of lineage and birth,
فَارَقْتَyou left دُنْيَاكَyour world وَلَمْand not تَأْبَهْyou cared لَهَاfor it
فَارَقْتَ دُنْيَاكَ وَلَمْ تَأْبَهْ لَهَا
مُجْتَزِئاًcontent عَنْهَاwithout it بِخَيْرِwith the best زَادِprovision
مُجْتَزِئاً عَنْهَا بِخَيْرِ زَادِ
you left your world without a care for it,
content instead with the best provision,
مُنْتَبِذاًshunning بَهَارِجَthe gaudy trappings of التَّشْيِيعِthe funeral procession وَالتَّand the fare-
مُنْتَبِذاً بَهَارِجَ التَّشْيِيعِ وَالتَّ
وْدِيعِ-well (completing 'farewell') فِيat نِهَايَةthe end of الجِهَادِthe struggle
وْدِيعِ فِي نِهَايَة الجِهَادِ
shunning the gaudy pomp of funeral processions and fare-
well, at the end of the struggle.
أَثَابَكَmay ... reward you اللهُGod بِمَاfor what أَسْلَفْتَyou sent ahead مِنْof
أَثَابَكَ اللهُ بِمَا أَسْلَفْتَ مِنْ
مَحَامِدٍpraiseworthy deeds تَبْقَىendure عَلَىthroughout الآبادِall ages
مَحَامِدٍ تَبْقَى عَلَى الآبادِ
May God reward you for what you sent ahead:
praiseworthy deeds that endure through all ages;
وَزَادَand may ... increase نَجْلَيْكَyour two sons كَمَالاًin perfection وَعُلىًand eminence
وَزَادَ نَجْلَيْكَ كَمَالاً وَعُلىً
فِيamong الأُمَرَاءِthe princes النُّجبِnoble الأَمْجَادِillustrious
فِي الأُمَرَاءِ النُّجبِ الأَمْجَادِ
and increase your two sons in perfection and eminence
among the noble, illustrious princes.
Sol 6.1