هَانَتْwere humbled مَعَالِمُlandmarks مَاتَdied سَيِّدُهَاtheir master
هَانَتْ مَعَالِمُ مَاتَ سَيِّدُهَا
وَوَهَتْand weakened دَعَائِمُpillars مَادَtottered أَيِّدُهَاtheir mighty support
وَوَهَتْ دَعَائِمُ مَادَ أَيِّدُهَا
Landmarks are humbled: their master has died.
And pillars have weakened: their mighty support has tottered.
وَرَحَّبَتْand opened wide سَمَاءٌa sky كَانَwas فَرْقَدُهَاits star
وَرَحَّبَتْ سَمَاءٌ كَانَ فَرْقَدُهَا
مِلْءَfilling العُيُونِthe eyes فَبَانَthen departed فَرْقَدُهَاits star
مِلْءَ العُيُونِ فَبَانَ فَرْقَدُهَا
And a sky has grown vast, whose star once
filled the eyes; now its star has departed.
وَيْحُwoe to المَنِيَّةِdeath أَيُّwhat a مُعْتَصِمٍman in a stronghold
وَيْحُ المَنِيَّةِ أَيُّ مُعْتَصِمٍ
مَدَّتstretched out إِلَىtoward عَلْيَائِهِhis lofty heights يَدُهَاher hand
مَدَّت إِلَى عَلْيَائِهِ يَدُهَا
Woe to Death! What a well-defended man
her hand has reached in his lofty station!
فِيin مِصْرَEgypt أَنَّاتٌgroans مُصَعَّدَةٌsent aloft
فِي مِصْرَ أَنَّاتٌ مُصَعَّدَةٌ
لُبْنَانُLebanon مِنْfrom أَسَفٍgrief يُرَدِّدُهَاechoes them
لُبْنَانُ مِنْ أَسَفٍ يُرَدِّدُهَا
In Egypt, groans are raised aloft;
Lebanon echoes them in grief.
أَمُؤَلِّفِO founder of الشَّرِكَاتِcompanies مُقْتَحِماًboldly entering
أَمُؤَلِّفِ الشَّرِكَاتِ مُقْتَحِماً
غَمَرَاتِهَاtheir perilous depths إِذْwhen عَزَّwas scarce مُوجِدُهَاtheir founder
غَمَرَاتِهَا إِذْ عَزَّ مُوجِدُهَا
O founder of companies, boldly plunging
into their perils when a founder was hard to find;
وَمُهَنْدِسُand architect of الأَمْصَارِcities تَحْكُمُهَاyou make them firm
وَمُهَنْدِسُ الأَمْصَارِ تَحْكُمُهَا
أُسُساًin foundations وَلاand not تُوَطِّدُهَاyou consolidate them
أُسُساً وَلا تُوَطِّدُهَا
And architect of cities, you make them firm
in their foundations, yet do not consolidate them;
وَمَعَالِجُand cultivator of الأَرْضَيْنِthe lands تُصْلِحُهَاyou improve them
وَمَعَالِجُ الأَرْضَيْنِ تُصْلِحُهَا
مِنْfrom حَيْثُwhere كَانَwas الجَهْلُignorance يُفْسِدُهَاruining them
مِنْ حَيْثُ كَانَ الجَهْلُ يُفْسِدُهَا
And cultivator of lands, you improve them
where ignorance once laid them waste.
لِلْمَالِfor wealth فِيهَاin them كُلُّevery عَائِدَةٍreturn
لِلْمَالِ فِيهَا كُلُّ عَائِدَةٍ
تَزْكُوgrows وَلِلأَوْطَانِand for the homelands أَعْوَدُهَاtheir greatest benefit
تَزْكُو وَلِلأَوْطَانِ أَعْوَدُهَا
Every return on wealth in them
grows, and the homelands reap the greatest benefit.
تِلْكَthose الحَدَائِقُgardens رَاعَawed مَنْظَرُهَاtheir appearance
تِلْكَ الحَدَائِقُ رَاعَ مَنْظَرُهَا
لِلآهِلينَfor the inhabitants وَرَاقَand delighted مَوْرِدُهَاtheir water source
لِلآهِلينَ وَرَاقَ مَوْرِدُهَا
Those gardens—their appearance awed
the inhabitants, and their water source delighted them.
تِلْكَthose المَرَافِقُamenities فِيin تَعَدُّدِهَاtheir multiplicity
تِلْكَ المَرَافِقُ فِي تَعَدُّدِهَا
يَخْتَالُstruts عُجْباًin pride مَنْwhoever يُعَدِّدُهَاcounts them
يَخْتَالُ عُجْباً مَنْ يُعَدِّدُهَا
Those amenities, in all their multitude—
whoever counts them struts with pride.
يَاO لِلأَسَىfor sorrow أَقْضَىhe fulfilled the needs of مِصْرَEgypt مِنْهَاfrom them
يَا لِلأَسَى أَقْضَى مِصْرَ مِنْهَا
بِذَكَائِهِthrough his intelligence وَتَوَىand perished مُشَيِّدُهَاtheir builder
بِذَكَائِهِ وَتَوَى مُشَيِّدُهَا
Alas! He met Egypt's needs with them
through his brilliance—and their builder has perished.
ذَاكَthat one الَّذِيwho وَرَدَmet الرَّدَىdeath نَصِفاًmiddle-aged
ذَاكَ الَّذِي وَرَدَ الرَّدَى نَصِفاً
وَلَهُand he has مِنَamong الآثَارِachievements أَخْلَدُهَاthe most enduring of them
وَلَهُ مِنَ الآثَارِ أَخْلَدُهَا
That man who met death in middle age,
and whose achievements are among the most enduring.
كَانَتْused to تُيَمِّمُmake for بَابَهُhis door زُمَرٌgroups
كَانَتْ تُيَمِّمُ بَابَهُ زُمَرٌ
مَاas much as اسْطَاعَhe could يُسْعِفُهَاhe aids them وَيُسْعِدُهَاand gladdens them
مَا اسْطَاعَ يُسْعِفُهَا وَيُسْعِدُهَا
Groups would make for his door;
as far as he could, he helped and gladdened them.
يَهِبُgives الهِبَاتِgifts لِغَيْرِwithout مَاany عِلَلٍmotives
يَهِبُ الهِبَاتِ لِغَيْرِ مَا عِلَلٍ
فَيَزِيدُهَاso increases them بِرّاًin goodness تَجَرُّدُهَاtheir selflessness
فَيَزِيدُهَا بِرّاً تَجَرُّدُهَا
He gave gifts without ulterior motives,
so their selflessness increased their goodness.
وَيَكَادُand almost يُنْقَضُis undone فَضْلُthe merit of بَاذِلِهَاtheir giver
وَيَكَادُ يُنْقَضُ فَضْلُ بَاذِلِهَا
فِيin غِبْنِthe unfairness of نَائِلهَاtheir recipient تَعَوَّدَهَاbecoming accustomed to them
فِي غِبْنِ نَائِلهَا تَعَوَّدَهَا
And the giver's merit is almost undone
when the recipient unfairly takes them for granted.
شَأْنُthe way of النُّفُوسِsouls وَقَدْand indeed تَنَزَّهَhas kept aloof عَنْfrom
شَأْنُ النُّفُوسِ وَقَدْ تَنَزَّهَ عَنْ
إِحْرَازِwinning شُكْرٍthe thanks of النَّاسِpeople مَقْصَدُهَاtheir purpose
إِحْرَازِ شُكْرٍ النَّاسِ مَقْصَدُهَا
Such is the way of souls whose purpose has risen above
winning the gratitude of people.
خَلُصَتْbecame pure لِوَجْهِfor the sake of الخَيْرِgoodness نِيَّتُهَاtheir intention
خَلُصَتْ لِوَجْهِ الخَيْرِ نِيَّتُهَا
فَزَكَاso flourished مِنَfrom الذِّكْرَىremembrance تَزَوُّدِهَاtheir store of provision
فَزَكَا مِنَ الذِّكْرَى تَزَوُّدِهَا
Their intention was pure, for goodness alone;
so rich grew their store of remembrance.
يَاO رَاحِلاًdeparted one رُزْءُthe bereavement of القُلوبِthe hearts بِهِover him
يَا رَاحِلاً رُزْءُ القُلوبِ بِهِ
لَمْdid not يَنْتَقِصْdetract مِنْهُfrom it تَعَدُّدُهَاtheir multitude
لَمْ يَنْتَقِصْ مِنْهُ تَعَدُّدُهَا
O departed one, the hearts' grief for you
is not diminished by their multitude.
مَاnot النَّارُthe fire فِيin حَطَبٍwood تَضَرُّمِهَاits blazing
مَا النَّارُ فِي حَطَبٍ تَضَرُّمِهَا
كَالنَّارِlike the fire فِيin كَبِدٍa liver تَوَقُّدِهَاits burning
كَالنَّارِ فِي كَبِدٍ تَوَقُّدِهَا
The blaze of fire in wood is not
like the burning of fire within the liver.
هَلْdid رُحْتَyou go تَسْتَبِقُracing ahead of المَرَاحِلَthe stages فِيin
هَلْ رُحْتَ تَسْتَبِقُ المَرَاحِلَ فِي
دُنْيَاكَyour life حَتَّىuntil حَانَcame due أَبْعَدُهَاtheir farthest
دُنْيَاكَ حَتَّى حَانَ أَبْعَدُهَا
Did you race ahead through the stages of
your life, until the farthest was at hand?
لَكَأَنَّsurely as though مَشْهَدَكَyour funeral المَهِيبُsolemn وَقَدْwhile indeed
لَكَأَنَّ مَشْهَدَكَ المَهِيبُ وَقَدْ
مَشَتِwalked المَحَامِدُthe virtues فِيهِin it مَشْهَدَهَاtheir funeral
مَشَتِ المَحَامِدُ فِيهِ مَشْهَدَهَا
It was as though your solemn funeral, where
the virtues walked, were their own funeral.
تَبْكِيweep الشَّمَائِلُfine qualities أُنْسَthe companionship of مُوحِشِهَاthe one who left them lonely
تَبْكِي الشَّمَائِلُ أُنْسَ مُوحِشِهَا
وَمَكَارِمُand noble qualities الأَخْلاقِof character تُسْعِدُهَاjoin them in mourning
وَمَكَارِمُ الأَخْلاقِ تُسْعِدُهَا
Fine qualities weep for the warmth of him who left them lonely,
and noble virtues join them in mourning.
كَانَhe was المِضَنَّةَthe cherished treasure لِلنُّفُوسِfor souls فَلَمْyet did not
كَانَ المِضَنَّةَ لِلنُّفُوسِ فَلَمْ
يَشْفَعْintercede بِهِfor him أَنْthat ضَنَّwas reluctant to part أَجْوَدُهَاtheir most generous
يَشْفَعْ بِهِ أَنْ ضَنَّ أَجْوَدُهَا
He was a treasure souls would not surrender; yet
not even the most generous soul's reluctance could intercede for him.
مَادَتْswayed بِهَاat it شُمُّthe lofty الصُّرُوحِedifices فَهَلْso did
مَادَتْ بِهَا شُمُّ الصُّرُوحِ فَهَلْ
شَعَرَتْbecome aware بِحَدْثَانٍof a calamity يُهَدِّدُهَاthat threatens them
شَعَرَتْ بِحَدْثَانٍ يُهَدِّدُهَا
The lofty towers swayed at this—had they
sensed a calamity threatening them?
كَيْفَhow الثَّبَاتُsteadfastness وَكَانَwhen he was أَرْسَخَmore firmly rooted مِنْthan
كَيْفَ الثَّبَاتُ وَكَانَ أَرْسَخَ مِنْ
طَوْدٍa mountain فَلَمْyet did not يَثْبُتْstand firm مُشَيِّدُهَاtheir builder
طَوْدٍ فَلَمْ يَثْبُتْ مُشَيِّدُهَا
How could they stand, when he was more firmly rooted than
a mountain—yet their builder did not endure?
تَبْكِيweeps المُرُوءةُnobility of spirit أَنَّthat نَاصِرَهَاits champion
تَبْكِي المُرُوءةُ أَنَّ نَاصِرَهَا
وَلَّىhas departed وَأَقْوَىand lay deserted مِنْهُof him مَعْهَدُهَاits abode
وَلَّى وَأَقْوَى مِنْهُ مَعْهَدُهَا
Nobility of spirit weeps, for its champion
has gone, and its abode is empty of him.
تَوَتِperished العَزَائِمُresolves غَيْرَexcept أَنَّthat لَهَاthey have
تَوَتِ العَزَائِمُ غَيْرَ أَنَّ لَهَا
بَيْنَamong الوَرَىhumankind سِيَراًlife-stories تُخَلِّدُهَاthat immortalize them
بَيْنَ الوَرَى سِيَراً تُخَلِّدُهَا
Resolves have perished, yet they have
among humankind stories that make them immortal.
وَلَهَاand they have ذَخائِرُtreasures فِيin الحَيَاةِlife وَفِيand in
وَلَهَا ذَخائِرُ فِي الحَيَاةِ وَفِي
مَاwhat بَعْدُcomes after يَبْلِيwears out الدَّهْرَTime سَرْمَدُهَاtheir eternity
مَا بَعْدُ يَبْلِي الدَّهْرَ سَرْمَدُهَا
And they have treasures in life and in
what comes after: their eternity wears out Time.
قَدْindeed كَانَhe used to يُنْشِيءُinitiate كُلَّevery مَنْقَبَةٍnoble deed
قَدْ كَانَ يُنْشِيءُ كُلَّ مَنْقَبَةٍ
يُدْعَىhe is called إِلَيْهَاto it أَوْor يُجَدِّدُهَاhe renews it
يُدْعَى إِلَيْهَا أَوْ يُجَدِّدُهَا
He would initiate every worthy deed
to which he was called, or renew it.
صَرَّفْتَyou applied عَقْلَكَyour mind فِيto الفُنُونِthe arts فَلَمْso did not
صَرَّفْتَ عَقْلَكَ فِي الفُنُونِ فَلَمْ
يَفْلُتْهُelude it أَجْدَاهَاtheir most useful وَأَجْوَدُهَاand their finest
يَفْلُتْهُ أَجْدَاهَا وَأَجْوَدُهَا
You applied your mind to the arts, and
their most useful and finest did not elude it.
وَشَرَعْتَand you embarked فِيon الأَعْمَالِworks تُحْكِمُهَاmaking them firm
وَشَرَعْتَ فِي الأَعْمَالِ تُحْكِمُهَا
أُسُساًin foundations وَلاand not تَأْلُوyou spare effort تُوَطِّدُهَاyou consolidate them
أُسُساً وَلا تَأْلُو تُوَطِّدُهَا
And you embarked on works, making them firm
in their foundations, sparing no effort to consolidate them.
اللهُGod فِيregarding أُمٍّa mother تُقِيمُlives on عَلَىamid
اللهُ فِي أُمٍّ تُقِيمُ عَلَى
مَاwhat نَابَهَاbefell her وَيَزُولُand passes away أَوْحَدُهَاher peerless one
مَا نَابَهَا وَيَزُولُ أَوْحَدُهَا
God help a mother who lives on with
what has befallen her, while her peerless son is gone.
وَحَلِيلَةٌand a wife فَقَدَتْhas lost مُدَلَّهَةًdistraught
وَحَلِيلَةٌ فَقَدَتْ مُدَلَّهَةً
مَنْthe one who كَانَwas بَعْدَafter اللهِGod يَعْبُدُهَاworshipping her
مَنْ كَانَ بَعْدَ اللهِ يَعْبُدُهَا
And a wife, distraught, who has lost
the man who, after God, worshipped her.
وَشَقِيقَةٌand a sister شَقَّتْsplit open مَرَارَتَهَاher gallbladder
وَشَقِيقَةٌ شَقَّتْ مَرَارَتَهَا
مِنْfrom حُزْنِهَاher grief إِذْwhen بَانَdeparted مُنْجِدُهَاher helper
مِنْ حُزْنِهَا إِذْ بَانَ مُنْجِدُهَا
And a sister whose gall was split
by grief, when her helper departed.
وَعَشِيرَةٌand a clan أَدْمَىmade bleed مَآقِيَهَاits inner eye corners
وَعَشِيرَةٌ أَدْمَى مَآقِيَهَا
بِنَوَاهُby his departure أَسْرَاهَاits noblest وَأَمْجَدَهَاand its most glorious
بِنَوَاهُ أَسْرَاهَا وَأَمْجَدَهَا
And a clan whose tear ducts were bloodied
by the departure of its noblest and most glorious.
هِيَit is أُسْرَةٌa family كَشَفَتْhas bared مَقَاتِلَهَاits vulnerable spots
هِيَ أُسْرَةٌ كَشَفَتْ مَقَاتِلَهَا
لِلدَّهْرِto Time لَمَّاwhen صِيدَwas hunted down أَصْيَدُهَاits proudest one
لِلدَّهْرِ لَمَّا صِيدَ أَصْيَدُهَا
It is a family that has bared its vulnerable places
to Time, now that its proudest has been hunted down.
تَرْجُوlooks hopefully to ابْنَهُhis son لِمَفَاخِرَfor glorious deeds وَعُلَىand eminence
تَرْجُو ابْنَهُ لِمَفَاخِرَ وَعُلَى
فِيin إِثْرِthe footsteps of وَالدِهِhis father يُجَدِّدُهَاhe renews them
فِي إِثْرِ وَالدِهِ يُجَدِّدُهَا
It looks to his son for glorious deeds and eminence,
which he will renew in his father's footsteps.
Sol 6.1