بِكَthrough you عَادَreturned الرَّضِيal-Radi وَابْنُand Ibn العَمِيدِal-Amid
بِكَ عَادَ الرَّضِي وَابْنُ العَمِيدِ
وَالعُلَىand glory بَيْنَbetween مُبْديءٍan originator وَمُعِيدِand a renewer
وَالعُلَى بَيْنَ مُبْديءٍ وَمُعِيدِ
Through you al-Radi and Ibn al-Amid have returned,
and glory lies between originator and renewer.
يَاO إِمَامَmaster of البَيَانِeloquence نَظْماًin verse وَنَثْراُand in prose
يَا إِمَامَ البَيَانِ نَظْماً وَنَثْراُ
عِيدُكَyour festival اليَوْمَtoday لِلنُّهىfor discerning minds أَيُّwhat a عِيدِfestival
عِيدُكَ اليَوْمَ لِلنُّهى أَيُّ عِيدِ
O master of eloquence, in verse and prose,
what a feast your festival today is for discerning minds!
جَاءَcame فِيwith تَوْبَةِthe repentance of الزَّمَانِTime إِلىtoward الشَّرْthe East (beginning)
جَاءَ فِي تَوْبَةِ الزَّمَانِ إِلى الشَّرْ
قِEast (ending) وَفِيand under طَالِعٍa rising star أَغَرَّradiant سَعِيدِauspicious
قِ وَفِي طَالِعٍ أَغَرَّ سَعِيدِ
It came with Time's repentance toward the East,
and under a radiant, auspicious star.
يَتَبَارَىvie فِيهِin it القصِيدُpoems جَمَالاًin beauty
يَتَبَارَى فِيهِ القصِيدُ جَمَالاً
وَافْتِنَاناًand inventiveness فِيin وَصْفِdescribing رَبِّthe master of القَصِيدِverse
وَافْتِنَاناً فِي وَصْفِ رَبِّ القَصِيدِ
In it, poems vie in beauty
and inventiveness, describing the master of verse.
وَإِلىand to الكَاتِبِthe writer المُجِيدِaccomplished يُسَاقُis borne الـthe
وَإِلى الكَاتِبِ المُجِيدِ يُسَاقُ الـ
ـمَدْحُpraise مِنْfrom كُلِّevery أَلمَعِيٍّbrilliant wit مُجِيدِaccomplished
ـمَدْحُ مِنْ كُلِّ أَلمَعِيٍّ مُجِيدِ
And to the accomplished writer is borne
praise from every brilliant master.
عَلَمٌَa luminary لَيْسَis not فِيin طَرَابُلُسٍTripoli دوُapart from (beginning)
عَلَمٌَ لَيْسَ فِي طَرَابُلُسٍ دوُ
نَapart from (ending) سِوَاهَاplaces other than it بِالعَبْقَرِيِّthe genius الوَحِيدِpeerless
نَ سِوَاهَا بِالعَبْقَرِيِّ الوَحِيدِ
A luminary: not in Tripoli
alone, but elsewhere too, is he the peerless genius.
كَمْhow many لَهُhe has فِيin مَنَاجعِthe fertile grounds of العِلْمِlearning مِنْof راa seeker (beginning)
كَمْ لَهُ فِي مَنَاجعِ العِلْمِ مِنْ را
ئِدِseeker (ending) فضلٍexcellence وَكَمْand how many لَهُhe has مِنْof مُرِيدِa disciple
ئِدِ فضلٍ وَكَمْ لَهُ مِنْ مُرِيدِ
How many, in learning's pastures, seek
excellence with him, and how many are his disciples!
شَاعِرٌa poet يَنْظُمُstrings القَلاَئِدَnecklaces مِنْfrom دُرٍpearls
شَاعِرٌ يَنْظُمُ القَلاَئِدَ مِنْ دُرٍ
يَتِيمٍpeerless وَمِنْand from جُمَانٍsmall pearls نَضِيدِarrayed in order
يَتِيمٍ وَمِنْ جُمَانٍ نَضِيدِ
A poet who strings necklaces of pearls—
peerless ones—and of pearls arrayed in rows.
حَاضِرُalert in الذِّهْنِmind مَاwhenever دَعَاhe summons الوَحْيَinspiration لَبَّىit answers
حَاضِرُ الذِّهْنِ مَا دَعَا الوَحْيَ لَبَّى
مِنْfrom سَمَاءٍthe heaven of الحِجَىintellect بِمَعْنَىwith an idea جَدِيدِnew
مِنْ سَمَاءٍ الحِجَى بِمَعْنَى جَدِيدِ
Alert of mind: whenever he summons inspiration, it answers
from the heaven of intellect with a fresh idea.
فِيin قَوَافِيهِhis rhymes كُلُّevery آنِسَةٍmaiden تُطمِـentices (beginning)
فِي قَوَافِيهِ كُلُّ آنِسَةٍ تُطمِـ
ـعُentices (ending) لُطْفاًthrough charm وَكُلُّand every رُودٍtender maiden شَرُودِelusive
ـعُ لُطْفاً وَكُلُّ رُودٍ شَرُودِ
In his rhymes, every maiden who entices
with grace, and every tender, elusive beauty,
بِنْتُa daughter of فِكْرٍthought غَرَّاءُradiant بِكْرvirgin جَلاَهَاhe unveiled her
بِنْتُ فِكْرٍ غَرَّاءُ بِكْر جَلاَهَا
مُبْدِعٌa creator عَارِفٌversed بِسِرِّin the secret of الخلودِimmortality
مُبْدِعٌ عَارِفٌ بِسِرِّ الخلودِ
is a radiant, virgin daughter of thought, unveiled
by a creator versed in the secret of immortality.
فَعَلىand so through كَرَّةِthe recurrence of العُصْورِthe ages لَهَاshe has حُسْbeauty (beginning)
فَعَلى كَرَّةِ العُصْورِ لَهَا حُسْ
نُbeauty (ending) يُعِيرُlends العَهِيدَthe old familiar زَهْوَthe splendor of العَتِيدِthe present
نُ يُعِيرُ العَهِيدَ زَهْوَ العَتِيدِ
Through the returning ages, she has a beauty
that lends the old the splendor of the present.
عَجَبٌa wonder يَاO مُجَاجَةَnectar of النَّفسِthe soul هَلْdid أَجْـhe made you flow (beginning)
عَجَبٌ يَا مُجَاجَةَ النَّفسِ هَلْ أَجْـ
ـرَاكَhe made you flow (ending) مَجْرَىin the manner of سُلاَفَةِthe first-pressed wine of العُنْقُودِthe grape cluster
ـرَاكَ مَجْرَى سُلاَفَةِ العُنْقُودِ
What wonder, O nectar of the soul! Did he set you flowing
like the first-pressed wine of a grape cluster,
فَبَدَاso appeared كَالشُّعاعِlike a ray of light مَاwhat أَخَرَجَbrought forth الدِّهْthe vintner (beginning)
فَبَدَا كَالشُّعاعِ مَا أَخَرَجَ الدِّهْ
قَانُvintner (ending) مِنْfrom ظُلَمَةِthe darkness of الزَّمَانِtime البَعِيدِdistant
قَانُ مِنْ ظُلَمَةِ الزَّمَانِ البَعِيدِ
so what the vintner brought forth appeared like sunlight
out of the darkness of a distant age?
ذَلِكَthat الشِّعرُpoetry مِنْof رَقِيقٍthe delicate وَمِنْand of جَزْthe forceful (beginning)
ذَلِكَ الشِّعرُ مِنْ رَقِيقٍ وَمِنْ جَزْ
لٍforceful (ending) هُوَit is السِّحرُmagic فِيin نِظَامٍan arrangement فَرِيدِunique
لٍ هُوَ السِّحرُ فِي نِظَامٍ فَرِيدِ
That poetry, whether delicate or forceful,
is magic in a matchless arrangement.
يَمْلأُfills السَّمعَthe hearing مُطْرِبَاتٍrapturous strains وَمَهْمَاand however often
يَمْلأُ السَّمعَ مُطْرِبَاتٍ وَمَهْمَا
يُسْتَعَدْit is requested again زَادَincreases لَذَّةَthe delight of المُسْتَعِيدِthe one requesting a repeat
يُسْتَعَدْ زَادَ لَذَّةَ المُسْتَعِيدِ
It fills the ear with rapturous strains, and however often
it is repeated, it delights whoever asks to hear it again.
لاَnot يُضَاهِيrivals حِلاَهُits beauties إِلاَّexcept حِلَىthe beauties of النَّثْprose (beginning)
لاَ يُضَاهِي حِلاَهُ إِلاَّ حِلَى النَّثْ
رِprose (ending) وَحَدِّثْand speak عَنْof نَثْرَِعَبْدِthe prose of Abd الحَمِيدِal-Hamid
رِ وَحَدِّثْ عَنْ نَثْرَِعَبْدِ الحَمِيدِ
Nothing rivals its beauties but the beauties of prose—
and speak, indeed, of Abd al-Hamid's prose!
كَرَطِيبِlike fresh الجَنَىpicked fruit شَهِيّاًappetizing إِلىto النفـthe soul (beginning)
كَرَطِيبِ الجَنَى شَهِيّاً إِلى النفـ
ـسِsoul (ending) وَكَالماءِand like water سَائِغاًeasy to drink لِلوُرُودِfor those coming to drink
ـسِ وَكَالماءِ سَائِغاً لِلوُرُودِ
Like fresh-picked fruit, delicious to the soul,
and like water, palatable to those who come to drink.
رَاعَawed دِيبَاجَةًin rich diction وَرَاقَand delighted انْسِجَاماًin harmony
رَاعَ دِيبَاجَةً وَرَاقَ انْسِجَاماً
وَخَلاَand was free مِنْof مَآخِذِthe faults of التَّعقِيدِcomplexity
وَخَلاَ مِنْ مَآخِذِ التَّعقِيدِ
It awes with its rich texture and delights with its harmony,
and is free of the faults of tangled expression.
أَنْجَبَتْbore gifted sons قَبْلَكِbefore you الحَوَاضِرُthe cities إِلاَّbut
أَنْجَبَتْ قَبْلَكِ الحَوَاضِرُ إِلاَّ
أنَّهاthat they لَمْdid not تَجِيءْcome بِعَبْدِwith Abd الحَمِيدِal-Hamid
أنَّها لَمْ تَجِيءْ بِعَبْدِ الحَمِيدِ
Cities bore gifted sons before you, but
they never brought forth an Abd al-Hamid.
غَنِيَتْthey grew rich بِالعَدِيدِthrough the many مِنْamong نَابِغِيهَاtheir gifted sons
غَنِيَتْ بِالعَدِيدِ مِنْ نَابِغِيهَا
وَبِفَذٍّand through one peerless man غَنِيتِyou grew rich لاَnot بالعَدِيدِthrough the many
وَبِفَذٍّ غَنِيتِ لاَ بالعَدِيدِ
They grew rich in the multitude of their gifted sons,
but you grew rich through one peerless man, not many.
لَسْتُI do not أَنْسَىforget يَوْماًa day تَفَيَّأتُI took shade فِيهِon it
لَسْتُ أَنْسَى يَوْماً تَفَيَّأتُ فِيهِ
وَارِفَspreading الظِّلthe shade مِنْfrom ذُرَاكِyour heights المَدِيدِfar-reaching
وَارِفَ الظِّل مِنْ ذُرَاكِ المَدِيدِ
I never forget a day when I took shelter
in the spreading shade of your far-reaching heights.
فَأَقرَّتْand delighted عَيْنَيَّmy eyes جَنَّاتُكِyour gardens النُّضْـverdant (beginning)
فَأَقرَّتْ عَيْنَيَّ جَنَّاتُكِ النُّضْـ
ـرُverdant (ending) بِايَاتِwith the wonders of حُسْنِهَاtheir beauty المَشْهُودِmanifest
ـرُ بِايَاتِ حُسْنِهَا المَشْهُودِ
Your verdant gardens delighted my eyes
with the wonders of their manifest beauty.
وَشَجَتْand stirred مِسْمَعِيmy hearing أَفَانِينُvarieties of شَدُوٍsong
وَشَجَتْ مِسْمَعِي أَفَانِينُ شَدُوٍ
مِنْfrom تَغَنِّيthe singing of هَزَارِكِyour nightingale الغِرِّيدِmelodious
مِنْ تَغَنِّي هَزَارِكِ الغِرِّيدِ
And varied strains of song stirred my ear,
from the singing of your melodious nightingale.
ولَقِيتُand I met الأَحْبَابَloved ones وَالأَهْلَand kin فِيin سَاcourtyards (beginning)
ولَقِيتُ الأَحْبَابَ وَالأَهْلَ فِي سَا
حَاتِcourtyards (ending) أُنْسٍfellowship طَلْقٍcheerful وَبَاحَاتِand open spaces of جُودgenerosity
حَاتِ أُنْسٍ طَلْقٍ وَبَاحَاتِ جُود
And I met loved ones and kin in courtyards
of cheerful fellowship, and in precincts of generosity.
ذَاكَthat عَهْدٌa time ذِكْرَاهُits memory فِيin النَّفسِthe soul أَبْقَىmore enduring
ذَاكَ عَهْدٌ ذِكْرَاهُ فِي النَّفسِ أَبْقَى
مِنْthan سِوَاهَاany other memory فِيamong ذِكْرَيَاتِmemories of العُهُودِpast times
مِنْ سِوَاهَا فِي ذِكْرَيَاتِ العُهُودِ
That was a time whose memory endures longer in the soul
than any other among the memories of past days.
وَصَفَاand was pure صَفْوَwith the purity of ذَلِكَthat الخلْقِcharacter الطَّاpure (beginning)
وَصَفَا صَفْوَ ذَلِكَ الخلْقِ الطَّا
هِرِpure (ending) مِنْof وَصمَةٍa stain وَمِنْand of تَفْنِيدِcensure
هِرِ مِنْ وَصمَةٍ وَمِنْ تَفْنِيدِ
And it was pure as that character, unsullied
by any stain or censure.
ياO فَخَاراًa source of pride لِلرَّافِعِيِّينfor the Rafi'is زكىenhanced
يا فَخَاراً لِلرَّافِعِيِّين زكى
بِطرِيفٍwith new distinction شَأْنَthe stature of الفَخَارِglory التَّليدِancestral
بِطرِيفٍ شَأْنَ الفَخَارِ التَّليدِ
O pride of the Rafi'i family, who enhanced
their ancestral glory's standing with new distinction!
فزَهَاand so shone أَصْلُهُhis root المَجِيدُglorious بِتَاجٍwith a crown
فزَهَا أَصْلُهُ المَجِيدُ بِتَاجٍ
فَاخِرٍsplendid مِنْof نُضَارٍpure gold فَرْعٍa branch مَجِيدِglorious
فَاخِرٍ مِنْ نُضَارٍ فَرْعٍ مَجِيدِ
Thus his glorious root shone with a crown,
splendid, of pure gold—a glorious branch.
وَعَمِيداًand O leader بَثَّspread الهِدَايَةَguidance فِيamong قَوْa people (beginning)
وَعَمِيداً بَثَّ الهِدَايَةَ فِي قَوْ
مٍpeople (ending) لَهُمْthey have تِيهُهُمْtheir proud exultation بِذَاكَin that العَمِيدِleader
مٍ لَهُمْ تِيهُهُمْ بِذَاكَ العَمِيدِ
And O leader, who spread guidance among a people
who glory in that leader!
هَذَّبَتْهُمْrefined them آدَابُهُhis writings وَأَرَاهُمْand he showed them
هَذَّبَتْهُمْ آدَابُهُ وَأَرَاهُمْ
أَقْوَمَthe straightest لَهُمْfor them السُّبْلِpaths فِيthrough شِعَابِthe ravines of الوُجُودِexistence
أَقْوَمَ لَهُمْ السُّبْلِ فِي شِعَابِ الوُجُودِ
His writings refined them, and he showed them
the straightest paths for them through existence's ravines.
أَتَرَىdo you see اليَوْمَtoday أُمَّةthe nation of الضَّادِḍād, the Arabic letter فِيin هَـthese (beginning)
أَتَرَى اليَوْمَ أُمَّة الضَّادِ فِي هَـ
ـذِيthese (ending) الجَمَاعَاتِgatherings مِنْof سَرَاةِthe foremost of الوُفُودِdelegations
ـذِي الجَمَاعَاتِ مِنْ سَرَاةِ الوُفُودِ
Do you see today the nation of ḍād in these
gatherings of the foremost delegates?
مُهَجُthe hearts of الغَائِبِينَthe absent وَافَتْhave arrived تُحَيَّيto greet
مُهَجُ الغَائِبِينَ وَافَتْ تُحَيَّي
كَyou وَتَرْعَاكَand watch over you فِيthrough عُيُونِthe eyes of الشُّهودِthose present
كَ وَتَرْعَاكَ فِي عُيُونِ الشُّهودِ
The hearts of the absent have come to greet
you, and watch over you through the eyes of those present.
حَبَّذَاhow fine مُلتَقَىthe meeting of الأَفاضِلِthe worthy مِنْfrom شَتَّىvarious
حَبَّذَا مُلتَقَى الأَفاضِلِ مِنْ شَتَّى
القُرَىtowns وَاجْتِمَاعُهُمْand their gathering فِيon صَعِيدِa plain
القُرَى وَاجْتِمَاعُهُمْ فِي صَعِيدِ
How fine this meeting of worthy men from diverse
towns, and their gathering on a single plain!
ذَلِكَthat الاوْجُthe summit يَاO طَرَابُلُسُTripoli الفَيْحَاspacious (beginning)
ذَلِكَ الاوْجُ يَا طَرَابُلُسُ الفَيْحَا
ءُspacious (ending) بُلِّغْتِهِyou were brought to it فَهَلْand is there مِنْany مَزِيدِmore
ءُ بُلِّغْتِهِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مَزِيدِ
That is the summit, O spacious Tripoli,
that you have been brought to—is there yet more?
تَرَكَتْyou left بِيwithin me إِلىfor الدِّيَارِthe lands حَنِيناًa longing
تَرَكَتْ بِي إِلى الدِّيَارِ حَنِيناً
وَإِلىand for قَوْمِهَاtheir people الكِرَامِnoble الصِّيدِproud
وَإِلى قَوْمِهَا الكِرَامِ الصِّيدِ
You have left in me a longing for those lands
and for their noble, proud people.
فَإِلَيْهِمْso to them شُكْرٌthanks عَلَىthroughout الدَّهْرِtime بَاقٍenduring
فَإِلَيْهِمْ شُكْرٌ عَلَى الدَّهْرِ بَاقٍ
مِنْfrom ذَكُورٍone ever mindful لِلمَأْثُرَاتِof noble deeds وَدُودِaffectionate
مِنْ ذَكُورٍ لِلمَأْثُرَاتِ وَدُودِ
To them goes thanks that will endure through time,
from one mindful of noble deeds, full of affection.
وَإِلىand to السَّيدِthe lord الإِمَامِthe master أَلُوكٌa message
وَإِلى السَّيدِ الإِمَامِ أَلُوكٌ
حَمَلَcarried القَلْبَthe heart فِيamong حُمُولِthe loads of البَرِيدِthe post
حَمَلَ القَلْبَ فِي حُمُولِ البَرِيدِ
And to the honored master goes a message
that carried my heart among the loads of the post.
وَعَلَىand upon بُلْبُلِthe nightingale of الشَّآمِal-Sham سَلاَمٌa greeting
وَعَلَى بُلْبُلِ الشَّآمِ سَلاَمٌ
طيَّبتْهُperfumed it مِصْرٌEgypt بِنَفْحِwith the fragrance of الوُرُودِroses
طيَّبتْهُ مِصْرٌ بِنَفْحِ الوُرُودِ
And greetings to the nightingale of al-Sham,
perfumed by Egypt with the breath of roses.
صَوْتُهُhis voice فِيin وِهَادِهَاher valleys وَرُبَاهَاand her hills
صَوْتُهُ فِي وِهَادِهَا وَرُبَاهَا
شَائِقُalluring in الرَّجْعِecho شَائِعُwidespread in التَّردِيدِrepetition
شَائِقُ الرَّجْعِ شَائِعُ التَّردِيدِ
His voice, in her valleys and on her hills,
returns in lovely echoes, repeated far and wide.
فَإِذَاand when جَارَتِvied المَمَالِكَkingdoms فِيin تَمْglorifying him (beginning)
فَإِذَا جَارَتِ المَمَالِكَ فِي تَمْ
جِيدِهِglorifying him (ending) مَنْwho أَحَقُّmore worthy بِالتَّمجِيدِof glorification
جِيدِهِ مَنْ أَحَقُّ بِالتَّمجِيدِ
And when kingdoms vie in glorifying
him, who is more worthy of glorification?
دَامَmay endure إِقْبَالُهُhis prosperity وَمَتَّعهُand may He let him enjoy اللَّـGod (beginning)
دَامَ إِقْبَالُهُ وَمَتَّعهُ اللَّـ
ـهُGod (ending) بِعِزٍwith glory رَابٍever-growing وَعَيْشand a life رَغِيدِof ease
ـهُ بِعِزٍ رَابٍ وَعَيْش رَغِيدِ
May his prosperity endure, and may God grant him
ever-growing glory and a life of ease.
Sol 6.1