بَقِيَremained الِّذكْرِremembrance وَالرَّغَامُand the dust فَنِيperished
بَقِيَ الِّذكْرِ وَالرَّغَامُ فَنِي
وَسَيَحْيَىand he will live فِيamong الخَالِدِينَthe immortals فِنيFini (a name)
وَسَيَحْيَى فِي الخَالِدِينَ فِني
Remembrance remains, while the dust has perished.
The boasting and pride are transient
And Fini shall live among the immortals.
While my poetry will live on in the immortal
حَسْرَةٌa sorrow للِضِّعَافِfor the weak أنَّthat يَداًa hand
حَسْرَةٌ للِضِّعَافِ أنَّ يَداً
نَصَرَتْهُمُit championed them تُغَلُّis fettered فِيin كفَنِa shroud
نَصَرَتْهُمُ تُغَلُّ فِي كفَنِ
A sorrow for the weak: a hand
It's sorrowful for the weak when a hand
That championed them is fettered in a shroud.
That supported them is shackled in a coffin
لَقِيَmet الْحَتْفَdeath وَالأَسَىand grief عَمَمٌall-pervading
لَقِيَ الْحَتْفَ وَالأَسَى عَمَمٌ
عَلَمٌa luminary مِنُamong مَفَاخِرٍthe glories of الزَّمَنِthe age
عَلَمٌ مِنُ مَفَاخِرٍ الزَّمَنِ
He met death, and grief was everywhere—
He met his fate and sorrow prevail
A luminary among the glories of the age.
A monument among the glories of time
بَلَّغَتْهُbrought him to عَلْيَاءهُhis eminence هِمَمٌhigh resolves
بَلَّغَتْهُ عَلْيَاءهُ هِمَمٌ
فَوْقَbeyond وَصْفِthe description of المُفَوَّهِthe eloquent speaker اللَّقِنِquick-witted
فَوْقَ وَصْفِ المُفَوَّهِ اللَّقِنِ
High resolves brought him to his eminence,
His determination took him to great heights
Beyond the telling of an eloquent, quick-witted speaker.
Beyond the words of the most eloquent speaker
إنَّindeed لِلمَرْءِa man has فِيin الحَيَاةِlife مُنًىaspirations
إنَّ لِلمَرْءِ فِي الحَيَاةِ مُنًى
إنْif سَمَتْthey rise high عَزَّhe is exalted أَوْتَهُنْor they sink low بَهُنِthrough them
إنْ سَمَتْ عَزَّ أَوْتَهُنْ بَهُنِ
Indeed, a man has aspirations in life;
A person's fate in life heads to an end
If lofty, they exalt him; if low, they bring him low.
Whether it reaches glory or is disgraced in shame
سِوْفَwill يَبْلَىdecay مَاwhat يُبْتَنَىis built لِبِلُىfor decay
سِوْفَ يَبْلَى مَا يُبْتَنَى لِبِلُى
وَسَيَبْقَىand it will remain مَاwhat لِلبَقَاءِfor permanence بُنِيwas built
وَسَيَبْقَى مَا لِلبَقَاءِ بُنِي
What is built to perish will decay,
What is built will wear away and decay
And what was built to endure will remain.
While what is made to last will remain
سَاسَguided أَعْمَالَهُhis undertakings فَأَنْجَحَهَاso made them succeed
سَاسَ أَعْمَالَهُ فَأَنْجَحَهَا
جَهْدُthe effort of رَوَّاضِan expert tamer of صَعْبَةٍan unruly mare مَرِنِseasoned
جَهْدُ رَوَّاضِ صَعْبَةٍ مَرِنِ
His undertakings were guided and brought to success
He led his deeds so the best prevailed
By the effort of a seasoned tamer of an unruly mare,
Through the effort of one who masters the difficult
بتَصَاريفِwith the measures of عَازمٍa resolute man ثَقِفٍskillful
بتَصَاريفِ عَازمٍ ثَقِفٍ
وَأَسَالِيبِand the methods of حَازِمٍa firm man ذَهِنِdiscerning
وَأَسَالِيبِ حَازِمٍ ذَهِنِ
With the measures of a resolute, skillful man,
With the ways of a prudent and wise one
And the methods of a firm, discerning one.
And methods of a judicious mind
لَمْdid not يُمَالِيءْside with عَلَىagainst الصَّوَابِwhat is right هَوىcaprice
لَمْ يُمَالِيءْ عَلَى الصَّوَابِ هَوى
أوْor يُجَنِبْshun مَاwhat اسْتَدَّran straight مِنْof سَنَنِa course
أوْ يُجَنِبْ مَا اسْتَدَّ مِنْ سَنَنِ
He never sided with caprice against what was right,
He did not compromise truth to desire
Nor shunned a course that ran straight.
Or avoid what traditions deemed right
وَلَقَدْand indeed غَامَرَbraved الخُطُوبَcalamities فَلَمْyet did not
وَلَقَدْ غَامَرَ الخُطُوبَ فَلَمْ
بيهِunclear; likely 'quail' مِنْbefore بَأُسِهَاtheir might وَلَمْand did not يَهِنِgrow weak
بيهِ مِنْ بَأُسِهَا وَلَمْ يَهِنِ
And he braved calamities, yet never
He took risks and was undaunted
[Quailed] before their might, nor grew weak.
By their severity and was not disgraced
بَسْطَةُthe largesse of اللهِGod فِيin الثَّرَاءِwealth لَهُto him
بَسْطَةُ اللهِ فِي الثَّرَاءِ لَهُ
أَجْمَلَتْmade beautiful شُكْرَهَاgratitude for it يَدَاthe two hands of فَمِنِunclear; perhaps 'a worthy man'
أَجْمَلَتْ شُكْرَهَا يَدَا فَمِنِ
God's largesse in bestowing wealth upon him
God's generosity in prosperity to him
Was beautifully thanked by a [worthy] man's two hands.
Multiplied his gratitude and bounty
لاَnot كَمَنْlike one who فِيin الجَمِيلِkindness مَرْتَعُهُhis pasture
لاَ كَمَنْ فِي الجَمِيلِ مَرْتَعُهُ
وَكَأَنَّand as though الجَمِيلَthe kindness لَمْhad not يَكُنِexisted
وَكَأَنَّ الجَمِيلَ لَمْ يَكُنِ
Not like one whose pasture lies in kindness,
Unlike one whose pasture is favor
And who acts as though that kindness never was.
As if favor has never existed
أَوْسَعَlavished البِرَّcharity فِيin مَعَاهِدِهِits institutions
أَوْسَعَ البِرَّ فِي مَعَاهِدِهِ
مِنَحاًgifts لَمْnot يُشَبْنwere tainted بِالمِنَنِwith reminders of favors
مِنَحاً لَمْ يُشَبْن بِالمِنَنِ
He lavished charity within its institutions,
His kindness in his covenants was vast
With gifts untainted by reminders of favors.
Gifts that were not stained with favors
مَأْثُرَاتٌnoble deeds جَلَّتْwere great وَضَاعَفَهَاand multiplied them
مَأْثُرَاتٌ جَلَّتْ وَضَاعَفَهَا
أَنَّهَاthat they are مِنْfrom دَقَائِقِthe subtleties of الفِطَنِkeen insights
أَنَّهَا مِنْ دَقَائِقِ الفِطَنِ
Great deeds, whose worth was multiplied
Deeds that were great and multiplied
By their being born of subtle discernment.
For they were of the finest consciousness
لَبْسَwas not (apparent typo) مِنْfrom مِصْرَEgypt وَاسْمُهُand his name عَلَمٌa beacon
لَبْسَ مِنْ مِصْرَ وَاسْمُهُ عَلَمٌ
فِيin القُرىthe villages النَّائْيَاتِdistant وَالمُدُنِand the cities
فِي القُرى النَّائْيَاتِ وَالمُدُنِ
He was not of Egypt, yet his name is a beacon
His reputation from Egypt spread
In distant villages and in cities.
To distant villages and cities
بَيْنَamong مَنْthose whose أَكْرَمَتْshe honored وِفَادَتَهُمْtheir arrival
بَيْنَ مَنْ أَكْرَمَتْ وِفَادَتَهُمْ
مَنْwho رَعَىkept العَهْدَthe pledge كَالفَقِيدِlike the departed مَنِwho?
مَنْ رَعَى العَهْدَ كَالفَقِيدِ مَنِ
Among those whose arrival she honored,
Between those whose loyalty he treasured
Who kept faith like the departed—who?
And those who kept their word like the deceased
ألوْif (unclear form) حَذَوْاthey followed حَذْوَهُhis example لَطَابَwould have been sweet لَهُمْfor them
ألوْ حَذَوْا حَذْوَهُ لَطَابَ لَهُمْ
وِرْدُهُمْtheir draught صَفياًclear مِنَof الإحَنِrancor
وِرْدُهُمْ صَفياً مِنَ الإحَنِ
Had they followed his example, sweet to them
If only they followed his example
Would have been their draught, free from rancor.
Their return would be pure from sorrow
مَنْwhoever أحَبَّloves الإحْسَانَgoodness لَمْdoes not يُرِهِshow him
مَنْ أحَبَّ الإحْسَانَ لَمْ يُرِهِ
دَهْرُهُhis lifetime غَيْرَother than وَجْهِهِits face الحَسَنِkindly
دَهْرُهُ غَيْرَ وَجْهِهِ الحَسَنِ
Whoever loves goodness is shown
Whoever loves kindness will not see
By his days nothing but their kindly face.
His days as anything but beautiful
أَيْنwhere مِنْcompared with جًودِthe generosity of بَاذِلٍa giver وَهُدَىand the guidance of
أَيْن مِنْ جًودِ بَاذِلٍ وَهُدَى
رَأيِهِhis judgment شُحُّstinginess بَاخِلٍa miser أفِنِwitless
رَأيِهِ شُحُّ بَاخِلٍ أفِنِ
What, beside a generous giver's bounty and the guidance
Where is the open-handed and guided one
Of his judgment, is the stinginess of a witless miser?
Whose view overcame the stingy and vain
حُظْوَةٌa privilege لِلغَنِيِّfor the rich man أُوتِيَhe was granted أنْto
حُظْوَةٌ لِلغَنِيِّ أُوتِيَ أنْ
يُقْرِضَlend to اللهَGod وَهْوَwhile He عَنْهُof him غَنِيhas no need
يُقْرِضَ اللهَ وَهْوَ عَنْهُ غَنِي
A privilege for the rich man: he is granted leave
A blessing for the wealthy to loan God
To lend to God, though God has no need of him.
While He is without need from him
لَيْسَis not وَقْعُthe falling of النَّدَىdew عَلَىupon زَعَرٍbarren ground
لَيْسَ وَقْعُ النَّدَى عَلَى زَعَرٍ
مِثْلَlike وَقْعِthe falling of النَّدَىdew عَلَىupon دِمَنِdung-heaps
مِثْلَ وَقْعِ النَّدَى عَلَى دِمَنِ
Dew falling on barren ground is not
Dew falling on a flower is not
Like dew falling on dung-heaps.
Like dew falling on a pile of hay
يَاO أمِيراًprince لَنَاfor us العَزَاءُconsolation بِهِin him
يَا أمِيراً لَنَا العَزَاءُ بِهِ
عَنْfor the loss of أَعَزَthe dearest of الأَحْياءِthe living إنْif يَحِنِhis hour comes
عَنْ أَعَزَ الأَحْياءِ إنْ يَحِنِ
O prince, in whom we find consolation
O prince, we have solace in you
For the dearest of the living, should his hour come,
For the most noble of the living, if he passes
ولَكَand you have فِيin كُلِّevery حَالَةٍcircumstance عَرَضَتْthat arose
ولَكَ فِي كُلِّ حَالَةٍ عَرَضَتْ
سُنَّةٌa practice مِنْamong طَرَائِفِthe choicest examples of السُّنَنِpractices
سُنَّةٌ مِنْ طَرَائِفِ السُّنَنِ
And in every circumstance that has arisen, you have
And you have in every situation
A practice among the choicest of practices.
A tradition of diverse traditions
مِنَنٌfavors لاَnot تَنِيyou grow weary تتَابِعُهَاyou continue them
مِنَنٌ لاَ تَنِي تتَابِعُهَا
قَدْindeed مَلأَتَyou have filled الأَيَّامَthe days بِالمِنَنِwith favors
قَدْ مَلأَتَ الأَيَّامَ بِالمِنَنِ
Favors you never tire of continuing—
Favors that do not cease, continuing
You have filled the days with favors.
To fill the days with favors
يَوْمُthe day of هَذَاthis التَّأْبِينِcommemoration مَفْخَرَةٌa source of pride
يَوْمُ هَذَا التَّأْبِينِ مَفْخَرَةٌ
فَلْيُثِبْكَso may He reward you القَدِيرُthe Almighty وَليَصُنِand may He protect
فَلْيُثِبْكَ القَدِيرُ وَليَصُنِ
This day of commemoration is a source of pride;
This day of mourning is a pride
May the Almighty reward you and protect you.
So may God Almighty make it last
كَانَwas أسْمَىthe loftiest مَعْنًىmeaning وَألْطَفُهُand its most delicate
كَانَ أسْمَى مَعْنًى وَألْطَفُهُ
مَاwhat بِهذَاby this الحَشْدِgathering المَهِيبِsolemn عُنِيwas intended
مَا بِهذَا الحَشْدِ المَهِيبِ عُنِي
The loftiest meaning, and the most delicate, was
The highest and gentlest meaning
What this solemn gathering was intended to convey.
Was what this majestic gathering intended
أَهْلُthe people of ثَغْرِthe port of الإسكَنْدَرِيْةِAlexandria فِيin
أَهْلُ ثَغْرِ الإسكَنْدَرِيْةِ فِي
كُلِّevery فَتْحٍadvance; victory طَليعَةُthe vanguard of الوَطنِthe nation
كُلِّ فَتْحٍ طَليعَةُ الوَطنِ
The people of Alexandria's port, in
The people of Alexandria's shore in
Every advance, are the nation's vanguard.
Every conquest, the vanguard of the nation
مَثَّلُواthey represented الشَّعْبَthe people فِيin الوَدَاعِfarewell لِمَنْto one who
مَثَّلُوا الشَّعْبَ فِي الوَدَاعِ لِمَنْ
بِالأُمُورِwith the affairs الَّتِيthat عَنَتْهُconcerned him عَنِيhe concerned himself
بِالأُمُورِ الَّتِي عَنَتْهُ عَنِي
They represented the people in bidding farewell to one
Representing the people in farewell to one
Who cared for the affairs that concerned him.
Busy with matters that preoccupied him from me
أيُّwhat a حَفْلٍgathering بَدَاappeared الصَّنِيعُbeneficence بِهِin it
أيُّ حَفْلٍ بَدَا الصَّنِيعُ بِهِ
وَالوَفَاءُand loyalty البَدِيعُwondrous فِيin قَرَنِunion
وَالوَفَاءُ البَدِيعُ فِي قَرَنِ
What a gathering, where beneficence appeared
What gathering has kindness appeared in
In union with wondrous loyalty!
And marvelous loyalty of its age
حَسْبُenough for رُوحِthe soul of الفَقِيدِthe departed مَاwhat لَقيَتْit received
حَسْبُ رُوحِ الفَقِيدِ مَا لَقيَتْ
مِنْof ثَنَاءِthe praise of القُلُوبِhearts وَاللُّسُنِand tongues
مِنْ ثَنَاءِ القُلُوبِ وَاللُّسُنِ
Enough for the departed's soul is what it received
The soul of the deceased is content
Of praise from hearts and tongues.
With the praise of hearts and tongues
إنَّهُindeed he كَانَwas للِعُلَىfor greatness سَكَناًa dwelling
إنَّهُ كَانَ للِعُلَى سَكَناً
فَبَكَتْso it wept شَجْوَهَاits sorrow عَلَىover السَّكَنِthe dwelling
فَبَكَتْ شَجْوَهَا عَلَى السَّكَنِ
He was indeed a dwelling for greatness,
He was a dweller of the heights
So it wept its sorrow over that dwelling.
So it wept its sorrows over the dwelling
هَلْcan تُعَزِّيكِconsole you (feminine) يَاO عَقِيلَتَهُhis noble wife
هَلْ تُعَزِّيكِ يَا عَقِيلَتَهُ
أُمَّةٌa nation شَارَكَتْكِshared with you فِيin الحَزَنِsorrow
أُمَّةٌ شَارَكَتْكِ فِي الحَزَنِ
Can you be consoled, O his noble wife,
Can a nation that shared your sorrow
By a nation that has shared your sorrow?
Comfort you, O his beloved wife?
عَلَّperhaps أَشْجَانَهَاits sorrows مُلَطِّفَةٌsoftening
عَلَّ أَشْجَانَهَا مُلَطِّفَةٌ
بَرْحَthe anguish of مَاwhat ذُقْتِهِyou tasted it مِنَof الشَّجَنِgrief
بَرْحَ مَا ذُقْتِهِ مِنَ الشَّجَنِ
Perhaps its sorrows may soften
Consoling its anguish
The anguish of the grief you have tasted.
Over what you have tasted of grief
كُنْتِyou were (feminine) مِعْوَانَةَthe helpmate of الأَبَرِّthe most virtuous man وَمَاand no one
كُنْتِ مِعْوَانَةَ الأَبَرِّ وَمَا
بَرَّtreated kindly زَوْجاًa husband كَالزَّوْجِlike a wife إنْif تُعِنِshe helps
بَرَّ زَوْجاً كَالزَّوْجِ إنْ تُعِنِ
You were the most virtuous man's helpmate; and no one
You were the aid of the righteous one and none
Has served a husband as kindly as a wife who helps.
Excelled the husband if you support him
فَإِذَاso if مَاemphatic particle بَقِيَتِshe remains سَالِمَةًsafe and sound
فَإِذَا مَا بَقِيَتِ سَالِمَةً
فَكَأَنَّso it is as though الفَقِيدَthe departed لَمْhas not يَبِنِgone away
فَكَأَنَّ الفَقِيدَ لَمْ يَبِنِ
So, if she remains safe and sound,
So if you remain safe
It is as though the departed has not gone away.
It is as if the deceased never lived
Sol 6.1