حُبٌّlove وَماand not كَانَwas فِيin الصِّبَاyouth جَهْلاَfolly
حُبٌّ وَما كَانَ فِي الصِّبَا جَهْلاَ
بَكَّرَcame early يَدْعُوcalling فلَمْand did not تَقُلْyou say مَهْلاَwait!
بَكَّرَ يَدْعُو فلَمْ تَقُلْ مَهْلاَ
Love—and in youth it was no folly—
Love, and it was not ignorance in youth
came early calling, and you did not say, “Wait!”
He called early, but you did not say take your time
أَهْلُthose worthy of الْهَوَىlove مَنْwhoever أَجَابَanswered دَعْوَتَهُits call
أَهْلُ الْهَوَى مَنْ أَجَابَ دَعْوَتَهُ
وَمَنْand whoever عَصَىdisobeyed لَيْسَis not لِلْهَوَىof love أَهْلاَworthy
وَمَنْ عَصَى لَيْسَ لِلْهَوَى أَهْلاَ
Those worthy of love are those who answer its call;
The people of passion are those who answered his call
whoever disobeys is unworthy of love.
And those who disobeyed, passion has no people
هَلْdoes? تُبْهِجُgladden المَرْءَa person نِعْمَةٌa blessing حَصَلَتْreceived
هَلْ تُبْهِجُ المَرْءَ نِعْمَةٌ حَصَلَتْ
مَاso long as لَمْnot يَكُنْhe is مُبْهِجاًbringing joy بِهَاthrough it أَهْلاًa household
مَا لَمْ يَكُنْ مُبْهِجاً بِهَا أَهْلاً
Does a blessing received gladden a man
Does a blessing that one attained delight a person
unless he brings his family joy through it?
If he was not delighted with it before?
هَلْdoes? يَطْلُبُseek المَجْدَglory مِنْthrough مَآزِقِهِits perils
هَلْ يَطْلُبُ المَجْدَ مِنْ مَآزِقِهِ
مَنْone who لمْhas not تشجِّعْهُemboldened him مُقْلةٌan eye نَجْلاَwide and lovely
مَنْ لمْ تشجِّعْهُ مُقْلةٌ نَجْلاَ
Does anyone seek glory through its perils
Can one seek glory from its paths
whom no wide, lovely eye has emboldened?
If no glorious ancestry encouraged him?
يَاO نَجْلَson of يَعْقُوبَYa'qub حَقُّthe due of هِمَّتِهِhis lofty resolve
يَا نَجْلَ يَعْقُوبَ حَقُّ هِمَّتِهِ
عَلَىincumbent upon الْعُلَىthe heights أَنْthat تُرَىyou be seen لَهُas his نَجْلاَa son
عَلَى الْعُلَى أَنْ تُرَى لَهُ نَجْلاَ
O son of Ya'qub, his lofty resolve has a claim
O descendant of Jacob, his ambition
upon glory: that you be acknowledged as his son.
Is to be seen as glorious by the eminent
أَبُوكَyour father أَسْرَىthe noblest of الرِّجَالِmen فِيin بَلَدٍa land
أَبُوكَ أَسْرَى الرِّجَالِ فِي بَلَدٍ
مَاnot زَالَhas ceased فِيهِin it مَقَامُهُhis station الأَعْلَىthe highest
مَا زَالَ فِيهِ مَقَامُهُ الأَعْلَى
Your father is the noblest of men in a land
Your father is the most honorable of men in a country
where his station has always been the highest.
Where his stay remains the highest
وَأَنْتَand you ماwhat أَنْتَyou are فِيin الحِمَىthe homeland حَسَباًin lineage
وَأَنْتَ ما أَنْتَ فِي الحِمَى حَسَباً
وَأَنْتَand you مَنْwho أَنْتَyou are بِالحِجَىin intellect فَضْلاَin excellence
وَأَنْتَ مَنْ أَنْتَ بِالحِجَى فَضْلاَ
And what a man you are in your homeland by lineage,
And you are who you are in struggle a lineage
and what a man you are in intellectual distinction!
And you are who you are in nobility excellence
طبُّكَyour medicine بُرْءٌhealing وَفِيكَand in you مَعْرِفَةٌknowledge
طبُّكَ بُرْءٌ وَفِيكَ مَعْرِفَةٌ
بِالنَّفْسِof the soul تَشْفِيyou heal الضَّمِيرَthe conscience مُعتَلاَailing
بِالنَّفْسِ تَشْفِي الضَّمِيرَ مُعتَلاَ
Your medicine is healing, and you possess knowledge
Your morality is innocent and you have
of the soul; you heal the conscience when it ails.
Self-knowledge that heals the troubled conscience
إِنْif تَبْدَإِyou begin الأمْرَthe task تنْهِهِyou finish it وَإِذَاand when
إِنْ تَبْدَإِ الأمْرَ تنْهِهِ وَإِذَا
وُلِّيْتَyou are entrusted with أَمْراًa task كَفَيْتَyou satisfy مَنْwhoever وَلَّىappointed
وُلِّيْتَ أَمْراً كَفَيْتَ مَنْ وَلَّى
If you begin a task, you finish it; and when
If you start a matter, forbid it, and when
entrusted with a task, you satisfy whoever appointed you.
You take on a responsibility, you suffice the one who entrusted
وَلاَand not تَرَىyou countenance الْخَوْفَfear إِنْeven if تَظَنَّنَهُdeems it
وَلاَ تَرَى الْخَوْفَ إِنْ تَظَنَّنَهُ
سِوَاكَsomeone besides you أَمْناًsafety ولاَand not تَرَىyou countenance البُخْلاstinginess
سِوَاكَ أَمْناً ولاَ تَرَى البُخْلا
You do not countenance fear, even if it is deemed
Do not see fear if you think
safety by others; nor do you countenance stinginess.
It keeps you safe, and do not see stinginess
تَبْذُلُyou give لاَnot عَابِساًfrowning وَلاَand not بَرِماًresentful
تَبْذُلُ لاَ عَابِساً وَلاَ بَرِماً
بِطِيبِwith gladness of نَفْسٍspirit يُضاعِفُthat doubles البَدَلاَthe recompense
بِطِيبِ نَفْسٍ يُضاعِفُ البَدَلاَ
You give without frowning or resentment,
You spend neither sullen nor grudging
with a willing heart that doubles the recompense.
With a willing soul that doubles the substitute
مَاhow أَلْطَفَlovely النَّجْدَةَthe help الجَمِيلَةَgracious مِنْfrom
مَا أَلْطَفَ النَّجْدَةَ الجَمِيلَةَ مِنْ
جَمِيلِa handsome وَجْهٍface لَبَّىthat answered وَمَاand not اعْتَلاَّmade excuses
جَمِيلِ وَجْهٍ لَبَّى وَمَا اعْتَلاَّ
How lovely is gracious help from
How gentle the beautiful aid from
a handsome face that answered and offered no excuse!
A beautiful face that captivated and did not exaggerate
رَائِفُRa'if زَيْنُornament of الشَّبَابِyoung men حَسْبُكَenough for you أَنْthat
رَائِفُ زَيْنُ الشَّبَابِ حَسْبُكَ أَنْ
أَحْرزْتَyou have won مَاwhat لَمْnot يُحْرِزْhas won فَتًىa young man قَبلاَbefore
أَحْرزْتَ مَا لَمْ يُحْرِزْ فَتًى قَبلاَ
Ra'if, ornament of young men, it is enough for you that
The ornaments of the bloom of youth are enough for you that
you have won what no young man has won before.
You gained what no young man gained before
فَكُنْso be وَنَجْلاَءَand Najla فَرْقَدَيْthe two Farqad stars of أُفُقٍa horizon
فَكُنْ وَنَجْلاَءَ فَرْقَدَيْ أُفُقٍ
يَهِلُّrises فِيهِin it الوَفَاءُfaithfulness مَاas long as هَلاَّthey both rise
يَهِلُّ فِيهِ الوَفَاءُ مَا هَلاَّ
So be, with Najla, the twin Farqad stars of a horizon
So be glorious, the two dawns of an awakening
where faithfulness rises as long as they both rise.
In which loyalty does not cease
وَطَاوِلاَand both rival in height بِالزَّكَاءِin noble growth أَصْلَكُمَاyour ancestry
وَطَاوِلاَ بِالزَّكَاءِ أَصْلَكُمَا
أَكْرِمْhow noble بِفَرْعٍis a branch يُطَاوِلُthat rivals in height الأَصلاَthe root
أَكْرِمْ بِفَرْعٍ يُطَاوِلُ الأَصلاَ
And rival your roots in noble growth;
And seek with intelligence your origin
how noble a branch that rivals its root in height!
Honor with a branch that equals the origin
أَلْيَوْمَtoday تَسْتَقْبِلاَنِyou both welcome سَعْدَكُمَاyour happiness
أَلْيَوْمَ تَسْتَقْبِلاَنِ سَعْدَكُمَا
وبَابُهُand its gate النَّضْرُfresh-blooming عَاقِدٌframing فَأْلاَa good omen
وبَابُهُ النَّضْرُ عَاقِدٌ فَأْلاَ
Today you both welcome your happiness,
Is it today that you receive your good fortune
and its verdant gate frames a good omen.
With its gate of prosperity bound, so enter it
بَابٌa gate مِنَof الزَّهْرِflowers فَادْخُلاَهُso both enter it إِلىinto
بَابٌ مِنَ الزَّهْرِ فَادْخُلاَهُ إِلى
فِرْدَوْسِthe paradise of هَذِيthis الْحَياةِlife وَاحْتَلاَّand both settle there
فِرْدَوْسِ هَذِي الْحَياةِ وَاحْتَلاَّ
A gate of flowers: enter through it into
A gate of flowers, so enter it to
the paradise of this life, and settle there together.
The paradise of this life and settle
أَهْدَتْoffered إِلَيْهِto it الرِّيَاضُthe gardens زَنْبَقَهَاtheir lilies
أَهْدَتْ إِلَيْهِ الرِّيَاضُ زَنْبَقَهَا
وَالْوَرْدَand roses وَالْيَاسِمِينَand jasmine وَالْفُلاَّand Arabian jasmine
وَالْوَرْدَ وَالْيَاسِمِينَ وَالْفُلاَّ
The gardens have offered it their lilies,
The gardens offered it their lilies
and roses, jasmine, and Arabian jasmine.
Roses, jasmine and vines
وَأَوْدَعَand deposited الشِّعْرُpoetry فِيهِin it زِينَتَهُits adornment
وَأَوْدَعَ الشِّعْرُ فِيهِ زِينَتَهُ
مِنْof كلِّevery ضَرْبٍkind بِحُسْنِهِwith its beauty أَدْلَىcame forward
مِنْ كلِّ ضَرْبٍ بِحُسْنِهِ أَدْلَى
And poetry has placed its adornment there,
And poetry endowed it with its adornment
in every form, putting its beauty on display:
Of every type with its beauty more hanging
بِكُلِّwith every بَيْتٍverse أَلْقَتْhave cast فَوَاصِلُهُits cadences
بِكُلِّ بَيْتٍ أَلْقَتْ فَوَاصِلُهُ
فِيin كُلِّevery عِقْدٍgarland مُخْضَوضِرٍverdant فَصلاَa dividing interval
فِي كُلِّ عِقْدٍ مُخْضَوضِرٍ فَصلاَ
with every verse whose cadences have set
With every verse it cast, its articulations
a pause in every verdant garland;
In every intertwined branch, an articulation
وَكُلِّand every لَفْظٍword فِيin طيِّthe folds of نَابِتَةٍa growing sprig
وَكُلِّ لَفْظٍ فِي طيِّ نَابِتَةٍ
كَالروحِlike the soul فِيin جِسْمِa body of بَهْجةٍbeauty حَلاَّdwelt
كَالروحِ فِي جِسْمِ بَهْجةٍ حَلاَّ
and every word within a living sprig,
And every word in a twisting growth
dwelling like a soul in a body of beauty.
Like the soul in the body of delightful dissolution
بَابٌa gate عَلَىfor المالِكِينَthe rulers عَزَّwas beyond reach وَعَنْyet below
بَابٌ عَلَى المالِكِينَ عَزَّ وَعَنْ
حَقِّكُمَاthe due of you both قَدْperhaps إِخَالُهُI deem it قَلاَّtoo little
حَقِّكُمَا قَدْ إِخَالُهُ قَلاَّ
A gate beyond rulers' reach, yet compared with
A gate above the angels - your right
what you both deserve, I think it falls short.
Has made few share it
يَاO حُسْنَsplendor of عُرْسٍa wedding عُيُونthe eyes of شَاهِدِهِits beholder
يَا حُسْنَ عُرْسٍ عُيُون شَاهِدِهِ
لَمْnot تَرَhave seen فِيin غَابِرٍthe past لَهُfor it مِثْلاَan equal
لَمْ تَرَ فِي غَابِرٍ لَهُ مِثْلاَ
How splendid a wedding! Its witnesses' eyes
O beautiful wedding, the eyes that witnessed it
have never in the past beheld its like.
Did not see the like of it in times past
عَاهدَpledged itself to فِيهِin it الصَّفَاءُpurity ذَاone possessed of كَلَفٍardent love
عَاهدَ فِيهِ الصَّفَاءُ ذَا كَلَفٍ
جَارَىfollowed مُنَاهُhis wishes وَشَاوَرَand consulted النُّبْلاَnobility
جَارَى مُنَاهُ وَشَاوَرَ النُّبْلاَ
In it, purity pledged itself to an ardent lover,
In it serenity with tenderness covenanted
who followed his desires and took counsel with nobility.
Consulting nobility, contending
آثَرَhe chose حَوْرَاءَa dark-eyed maiden نَافَسَتْwho rivaled أَدَباًin refinement
آثَرَ حَوْرَاءَ نَافَسَتْ أَدَباً
خَيْرَthe finest of الْعَذَارَىmaidens وَرَاجَحَتْand surpassed عَقْلاَin intellect
خَيْرَ الْعَذَارَى وَرَاجَحَتْ عَقْلاَ
He chose a dark-eyed maiden who rivaled in refinement
He chose a houri who rivaled in courtesy
the finest maidens, and surpassed them in intellect.
The best of maidens, outweighing reason
تَنَابَهَتْshe rose to distinction عَنْabove لِدَاتِهَاher peers خُلُقاًin character
تَنَابَهَتْ عَنْ لِدَاتِهَا خُلُقاً
وَشَابَهَتْand resembled أَبْدَعَthe most exquisite of الدُّمَىstatues شَكْلاَin form
وَشَابَهَتْ أَبْدَعَ الدُّمَى شَكْلاَ
She excelled her peers in character,
She surpassed her peers in manners
and resembled the most exquisite statues in form.
And resembled the most wondrous of beauties in form
تَوَافَقَagreed النَّعْتُthe description وَاسْمُهَاand her name فَدَعَاso he invoked
تَوَافَقَ النَّعْتُ وَاسْمُهَا فَدَعَا
بِالسِّحْرِfor enchantment فِيin الْعَيْنِthe eye مَنْthe one who دَعَاnamed نَجلاَNajla (wide-eyed)
بِالسِّحْرِ فِي الْعَيْنِ مَنْ دَعَا نَجلاَ
Her description matched her name; thus he invoked
Her attributes and name coincided, so she called
enchantment in her eyes, the one who named her Najla.
With magic in the eye whoever called “bride”
وَرُبَّand many an عَيْنٍeye لَوْلاَwere it not for تَعَفُّفُهَاits modest restraint
وَرُبَّ عَيْنٍ لَوْلاَ تَعَفُّفُهَا
لامْتَلأَتْwould surely be filled حَوْمَةُthe battlefield of الهَوَىlove قَتْلَىwith the slain
لامْتَلأَتْ حَوْمَةُ الهَوَى قَتْلَى
And many an eye—but for its modest restraint—
And many an eye, were it not for her chastity
love's battlefield would be filled with the slain.
Would have filled the pit of passion with slain
لِلهِGod be praised for ذَاكَthat الوَجْهَface المُوَرَّدُrosy مَاhow
لِلهِ ذَاكَ الوَجْهَ المُوَرَّدُ مَا
أَصْبَىcaptivating وَذَاكَand that الوَقَارُdignity مَاhow أَحْلَىsweet
أَصْبَى وَذَاكَ الوَقَارُ مَا أَحْلَى
God be praised for that rosy face—how
God granted that blushing face - how ruddy!
captivating! And that dignity—how sweet!
And that dignity - how sweet!
قَدْindeed كَانَthere was فِيin دَوْلَةِthe realm of الْبَلاَغَةِeloquence مَنْone who
قَدْ كَانَ فِي دَوْلَةِ الْبَلاَغَةِ مَنْ
يَصُولُcharges forth فَرْماًcutting to pieces وَهَكَذَاand thus ظَلاَّhe has remained
يَصُولُ فَرْماً وَهَكَذَا ظَلاَّ
There was indeed, in the realm of eloquence, one
There was in the dynasty of eloquence one who
who attacks with crushing force, and has remained so.
Galloped wildly thus he remained
كَلاَمُهُhis speech رقَّis refined مُبْتَغَاهُhis aim سَمَاis lofty
كَلاَمُهُ رقَّ مُبْتَغَاهُ سَمَا
نِظَامُهُhis composition دَقَّis subtle فِكْرُهُhis thought جلاَّis exalted
نِظَامُهُ دَقَّ فِكْرُهُ جلاَّ
His speech is refined; his aim is lofty;
His words were gentle, his purpose sublime
his composition is subtle; his thought sublime.
His composition precise, his thoughts glorious
وَلاَand not يُجَارَىis he rivaled فِيamong المُفْصِحِينَthe eloquent إِذَاwhen
وَلاَ يُجَارَى فِي المُفْصِحِينَ إِذَا
قَالَhe delivers خِطاباa speech أَوْor خَطَّwrites أَوْor أَعْلَىraises his voice
قَالَ خِطابا أَوْ خَطَّ أَوْ أَعْلَى
Among the eloquent he has no rival when
And he cannot be matched among the eloquent when
he delivers a speech, writes, or raises his voice.
He speaks an address or drafts or dictates
مَاnot زَالَhas ceased يَأْتِيhe comes بِكُلِّwith every رَائِعَةٍmasterpiece
مَا زَالَ يَأْتِي بِكُلِّ رَائِعَةٍ
وعَزْمُهُand his resolve فِيin الْبَدِيعِrhetorical artistry مَاnot كَلاَّhas faltered
وعَزْمُهُ فِي الْبَدِيعِ مَا كَلاَّ
He continues to bring forth every marvel,
He continues to produce every wonder
and his resolve in rhetorical artistry has never flagged.
And his resolve in literary device does not weaken
إِذَاwhen تَوَخَّىhe seeks الثَّنَاءَpraise أَكْمَلَهُhe perfects it
إِذَا تَوَخَّى الثَّنَاءَ أَكْمَلَهُ
وَإِنْand if تَوَخَّىhe seeks الْهِجَاءَsatire ماnot خَلَّىhe spares
وَإِنْ تَوَخَّى الْهِجَاءَ ما خَلَّى
When he seeks to praise, he perfects it;
If he seeks praise he perfects it
and when he seeks satire, he spares nothing.
And if he seeks satire he does not refrain
حَدِيثهُhis conversation لاَnot يُمَلُّis found tiresome مِنfrom طرَبٍdelight
حَدِيثهُ لاَ يُمَلُّ مِن طرَبٍ
إِذَاwhen حَدِيثٌconversation مِنْfrom غَيْرِهِsomeone other than him مُلاَّis found tiresome
إِذَا حَدِيثٌ مِنْ غَيْرِهِ مُلاَّ
His conversation is never wearisome, so full of delight,
His conversation does not bore from charm
when another's conversation is found tiresome.
When the conversation of another bores
هُوَhe الصْدِيقُthe friend الأَصْفَىmost sincere لِصَاحِبِهِto his companion
هُوَ الصْدِيقُ الأَصْفَى لِصَاحِبِهِ
وَهْوَand he الصَّدوقُthe utterly truthful الأَوْفَىmost faithful لَدَىamid الجُلَّىgreat adversity
وَهْوَ الصَّدوقُ الأَوْفَى لَدَى الجُلَّى
He is the most sincere friend to his companion,
He is the most sincere friend to his companion
and the most truthful, most faithful in grave adversity.
And he is the most truthful beside the eminent
فَيَاso O عَرُوسَيْنِbride and groom بِاقْتِرانِهِمَاthrough their union
فَيَا عَرُوسَيْنِ بِاقْتِرانِهِمَا
يَجْتمِعُcome together الصَّونُchastity وَالندَىand generosity شَمْلاَin unity
يَجْتمِعُ الصَّونُ وَالندَى شَمْلاَ
So, bride and groom, through whose union
So O two brides, by their pairing
chastity and generosity are brought together,
Protection and splendor are united
وَيَاand O شَرِيكَيْtwo partners in صَبَابَةٍardent love وَصِبىًand youth
وَيَا شَرِيكَيْ صَبَابَةٍ وَصِبىً
هُمَاthey two هُمَاthey two الْعُمْرُlife أَوْor هُمَاthey two أَغلَىdearer
هُمَا هُمَا الْعُمْرُ أَوْ هُمَا أَغلَى
and O partners in ardent love and youth—
And O two fellows of youth and youthfulness
these two are life itself, or dearer still!
They are life or they are more precious
خَيْرُthe best of دُعَائِيmy prayers مُهَنِّئاًoffering congratulations لَكُمَاto you both
خَيْرُ دُعَائِي مُهَنِّئاً لَكُمَا
عِيشاlive, both of you سَعِيدَيْنِhappy وَازْكُوَاand both flourish نَسْلاَin offspring
عِيشا سَعِيدَيْنِ وَازْكُوَا نَسْلاَ
My best prayer, as I congratulate you both:
My best congratulatory prayer to you
live happily, and flourish in your offspring.
May you live happy and your progeny virtuous
Sol 6.1