قِفْstand خَاشِعاًreverently بِضَرِيحِat the tomb of عِزِّIzz (glory of) الدِّينِal-Din (the faith)
قِفْ خَاشِعاً بِضَرِيحِ عِزِّ الدِّينِ
وَاقْرَأْand recite سَلامَa greeting of peace أخٍa brother عَلَيْهِover him حَزِينِgrieving
وَاقْرَأْ سَلامَ أخٍ عَلَيْهِ حَزِينِ
Stand reverently at the tomb of Izz al-Din,
Stand reverently at the tomb of the glory of the faith,
And recite over him a grieving brother's greeting of peace.
And read the greeting of a sorrowful brother upon him.
كُنَّاwe were عَلَىon وَعْدٍa promise فَحَالَbut intervened حِمَامُهُhis death
كُنَّا عَلَى وَعْدٍ فَحَالَ حِمَامُهُ
دُونَin the way of اللِّقَاءِthe meeting وَعُدْتَand you returned عَوْدَthe return of غَبِينِone cheated
دُونَ اللِّقَاءِ وَعُدْتَ عَوْدَ غَبِينِ
We had agreed to meet, but his death intervened,
We were bound by a promise, but his destiny intervened,
Preventing the meeting; you returned as one cheated.
Preventing the meeting, and you returned frustrated.
عَلَمٌa great man مِنَamong الأَعْلامِthe great men قَوَّضَهُbrought him down الرَّدَىdeath
عَلَمٌ مِنَ الأَعْلامِ قَوَّضَهُ الرَّدَى
أَنَّىhow طَوَاهُfolded him away وَكَانَand he was جِدَّvery مَكِينِfirmly established
أَنَّى طَوَاهُ وَكَانَ جِدَّ مَكِينِ
A great man among great men, brought down by death—
A towering figure felled by fate -
How could it fold him away, though he was so firmly established?
How it enveloped him though he was firmly rooted!
عَهْدِيmy recollection بِهِof him إِنْif كَافَحَتْهُassailed him حَوَادِثٌadversities
عَهْدِي بِهِ إِنْ كَافَحَتْهُ حَوَادِثٌ
أَبْلَىproved his mettle بِعَزْمٍwith resolve فِيin الْكِفَاحِthe struggle مَتِينِsteadfast
أَبْلَى بِعَزْمٍ فِي الْكِفَاحِ مَتِينِ
As I knew him, whenever adversities assailed him,
My pact with him - if difficulties assailed him -
He proved his mettle in the struggle with steadfast resolve.
Was eroded by a resolve firmly anchored in struggle.
قَدْindeed كَانَhe was أَحْسَنَthe best قُدْوَةٍexample فِيamong قَوْمِهِhis people
قَدْ كَانَ أَحْسَنَ قُدْوَةٍ فِي قَوْمِهِ
لِلسَّيْرِfor walking فِيalong مِنْهَاجِهِhis path المَسْنُونِestablished
لِلسَّيْرِ فِي مِنْهَاجِهِ المَسْنُونِ
He was indeed the finest example among his people
He was the best exemplar for his people
For walking along the path he had laid down.
To follow his well-trodden path.
رَجَعُواthey turned إِلَيْهِto him فَكَانَand he was أَصْدَقَthe sincerest نَاصِحٍadviser
رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِ فَكَانَ أَصْدَقَ نَاصِحٍ
وَاسْتَأْمَنُوهُand they trusted him فَكَانَand he was حَقَّtruly أَمِينِtrustworthy
وَاسْتَأْمَنُوهُ فَكَانَ حَقَّ أَمِينِ
They turned to him, and he was the most sincere adviser;
They turned to him, and he was the most truthful counselor,
And they put their trust in him: he was truly trustworthy.
Entrusted by them, and he was fully faithful.
أَثْرَىgrew wealthy بِحِكْمَتِهِthrough his wisdom فَعَزَّand so gained honor وَلَمْand did not يَكْنbe
أَثْرَى بِحِكْمَتِهِ فَعَزَّ وَلَمْ يَكْن
فِيمَاin what تَقَاضَاهُdemanded of him الْعُلَىeminence بِضَنِينِgrudging
فِيمَا تَقَاضَاهُ الْعُلَى بِضَنِينِ
He grew wealthy through his wisdom and gained honor, and was not
He enriched with his wisdom, and so became mighty,
Grudging with what eminence demanded of him.
Not stingy in his lofty demands.
أَرْضَىhe pleased الإِلَهَGod وَنَفْسَهُand his own soul وَمَضَىand went إِلَىtoward
أَرْضَى الإِلَهَ وَنَفْسَهُ وَمَضَى إِلَى
غَايَاتِthe goals of دُنْيَاهُhis worldly life سَلِيمَsound in الدِّينِfaith
غَايَاتِ دُنْيَاهُ سَلِيمَ الدِّينِ
He pleased God and his own soul, and went toward
He pleased God and himself, and departed
The goals of his earthly life, his faith intact.
To the goals of his life in perfect faith.
سَلْask فِيin التِّجَارَةِcommerce كَيْفَhow كَانَwas نَجَاحَهُhis success
سَلْ فِي التِّجَارَةِ كَيْفَ كَانَ نَجَاحَهُ
وَبُلُوغُهُand his attainment of مَاwhat لَيْسَwas not بِالمَظْنُونِexpected
وَبُلُوغُهُ مَا لَيْسَ بِالمَظْنُونِ
Ask how he prospered in commerce,
Ask about his trade, how successful it was,
And attained what was not expected.
And his attainments beyond the expected.
وَسَلِand ask المَرَافِقَthe enterprises كَيْفَhow كَانَhe used to يُديرُهَاmanage them
وَسَلِ المَرَافِقَ كَيْفَ كَانَ يُديرُهَا
بِنَشَاطِwith the vigor of مِقْدَامٍa bold man وَحَزْمٍand firmness رَزِينِmeasured
بِنَشَاطِ مِقْدَامٍ وَحَزْمٍ رَزِينِ
And ask the enterprises how he managed them,
And ask his companions how he managed affairs
With a bold man's vigor and measured firmness,
With vigorous enterprise and steady wisdom.
فَيُبَلُّغُthus he brings غَايَةَthe utmost extent of نُجْحِهَاtheir success
فَيُبَلُّغُ غَايَةَ نُجْحِهَا
بِالْقَصْدِthrough thrift وَالتَّدْبِيرِand planning وَالتَّحْسِينِand improvement
بِالْقَصْدِ وَالتَّدْبِيرِ وَالتَّحْسِينِ
Thus bringing them to their fullest success
Achieving through moderation, planning and improvement
Through thrift, planning, and improvement.
The utmost success.
أَيْO مُصْطَفَىMustafa أَلْقَيْتَyou delivered دَرْساًa lesson عَلَّهُmay it
أَيْ مُصْطَفَى أَلْقَيْتَ دَرْساً عَلَّهُ
يَبْقَىremain لَدَىwith الْفِتْيَانِthe young men نُصْبَbefore عُيُونِeyes
يَبْقَى لَدَى الْفِتْيَانِ نُصْبَ عُيُونِ
O Mustafa, you taught a lesson; may it
O Mustafa, you have taught a lesson; may it
Remain before the eyes of the young men.
Remain before the youth as a splendid landmark!
مَجْدُthe glory of البِلادِthe country بِجَاهِهَاin its prestige وَثَرَائِهَاand its wealth
مَجْدُ البِلادِ بِجَاهِهَا وَثَرَائِهَا
لاnot بِالخَصَاصَةِin poverty وَهْيَand it is بَابُthe gate to الْهُونِhumiliation
لا بِالخَصَاصَةِ وَهْيَ بَابُ الْهُونِ
The country's glory lies in its prestige and wealth,
The glory of a country is through its stature and wealth,
Not in poverty, which is the gate to humiliation.
Not through stinginess - the gate of disgrace.
شَتَّانَhow far apart بَيْنَbetween طَلِيقِa free man of قَوْمٍa people يَبْتَنِيbuilds
شَتَّانَ بَيْنَ طَلِيقِ قَوْمٍ يَبْتَنِي
مُلْكاًa kingdom وَبَيْنَand between مُغَلَّلٍa shackled man مِسْكِينِwretched
مُلْكاً وَبَيْنَ مُغَلَّلٍ مِسْكِينِ
How far apart are a free man among his people, building
Far apart is the released one of a people who builds
A kingdom, and a wretched man in chains!
A kingdom, and the shackled destitute!
يُغْرِيهِtempts him أَنْthat تُجْرَىbe paid عَلَيْهِto him وَظَائِفٌstipends
يُغْرِيهِ أَنْ تُجْرَى عَلَيْهِ وَظَائِفٌ
وَبِحُبِّهَاand for love of them يُرْضِيهِsatisfies him عَيْشُa livelihood ضَمِينِassured
وَبِحُبِّهَا يُرْضِيهِ عَيْشُ ضَمِينِ
He is tempted by stipends paid to him,
Tempted by offices conferred on him,
And, for love of them, is content with an assured livelihood.
And pleased by them, his meager living satisfied.
لَمْdid not يَخْتَدِعْdeceive عَرَضٌoutward show حِجَاكَyour reason وَلَمْnor did يَجُرْdivert
لَمْ يَخْتَدِعْ عَرَضٌ حِجَاكَ وَلَمْ يَجُرْ
بِكَwith you عَنَّaway from طَرِيقِthe path of الجَوْهَرِthe essence المَكْنُونِhidden
بِكَ عَنَّ طَرِيقِ الجَوْهَرِ المَكْنُونِ
No outward show deceived your reason, nor led
No bribe seduced your reason, nor led you astray
You away from the path of the hidden essence.
From the path of hidden essence.
فَاذْهَبِso depart حَمِيداًpraised خَالِدَimmortal in الذِّكْرَىmemory وَفُزْand gain
فَاذْهَبِ حَمِيداً خَالِدَ الذِّكْرَى وَفُزْ
بِثَوَابِwith the reward for مَاwhat أَسْلَفْتَyou did before فَوْزَthe attainment of قَمِينِone deserving it
بِثَوَابِ مَا أَسْلَفْتَ فَوْزَ قَمِينِ
So depart praised, immortal in memory, and gain
Go rewarded, eternally remembered, and win
The reward for what you did before, as one deserving it.
The reward for what you did - a triumph assured.
عَبْدَAbd (servant of) الحَمِيدal-Hamid (the Praiseworthy) كَرَامَةًout of respect وَمَحَبَّةًand affection
عَبْدَ الحَمِيد كَرَامَةً وَمَحَبَّةً
أَفَلاthen, should not...? أُجِيبُI answer السُّؤْلَthe request إِذْwhen تَدْعُونِيyou call on me
أَفَلا أُجِيبُ السُّؤْلَ إِذْ تَدْعُونِي
Abd al-Hamid, out of respect and affection,
Abdul Hamid - in reverence and love:
Should I not grant the request when you call on me?
Should I not respond when you call me?
لِلأَكْرَمِينَfor the noblest بَنِيsons of طَرَابُلُسٍTripoli يَدٌa kindness
لِلأَكْرَمِينَ بَنِي طَرَابُلُسٍ يَدٌ
عِنْدِيtoward me وَفَضْلٌand generosity لَيْسَis not بِالمَمْنُونِheld over one
عِنْدِي وَفَضْلٌ لَيْسَ بِالمَمْنُونِ
The noblest sons of Tripoli have shown kindness
For the noblest of the sons of Tripoli, I have
To me, and generosity never held over me.
A hand and favor that will not be grudged.
هَيْهَاتَfar be it أَنْthat أَنْسَىI forget وَإِنْeven if طَالَgrows long المَدَىthe span of time
هَيْهَاتَ أَنْ أَنْسَى وَإِنْ طَالَ المَدَى
ذِكْرَىthe memory of حَفَاوَاتٍwarm welcomes بِهِنَّwith them لَقُونِيthey received me
ذِكْرَى حَفَاوَاتٍ بِهِنَّ لَقُونِي
Never could I forget, however much time passes,
Never will I forget, though time be long,
The memory of the warm welcomes with which they received me.
Memories of intimacy that brought me near.
فَلَهُمْso for them وِدَادٌaffection صَادِقٌsincere مُتَقَادِمٌlong-standing
فَلَهُمْ وِدَادٌ صَادِقٌ مُتَقَادِمٌ
مَوْصُولَةٌbound أَسْبَابُهُits cords بِوَتِينِيto my aorta
مَوْصُولَةٌ أَسْبَابُهُ بِوَتِينِي
So I bear them sincere, long-standing affection;
So my true, long friendship remains for them
Its cords are bound to my aorta.
With ties strongly binding me.
أَفَإِنْthen, if...? تَوَلَّىpasses away ذُوa man of مَقَامٍstanding بَيْنَهُمْamong them
أَفَإِنْ تَوَلَّى ذُو مَقَامٍ بَيْنَهُمْ
يَعْتَاقُنِيkeeps me back شُغْلٌan occupation عَنِfrom التَّأْبِينِthe eulogy
يَعْتَاقُنِي شُغْلٌ عَنِ التَّأْبِينِ
Then, if a man of standing among them passes away,
If one of high station among them turns from me,
Could any task keep me from the eulogy?
Does occupation spare me from eulogy?
فِيof أَيِّwhat a نَجْمٍstar لِلْهِدَايَةِfor guidance زَاهِرٍradiant
فِي أَيِّ نَجْمٍ لِلْهِدَايَةِ زَاهِرٍ
فُجِعُواthey were bereaved وَرُكْنٍand a pillar لِلْفَخَارِof pride رَكِينِsteadfast
فُجِعُوا وَرُكْنٍ لِلْفَخَارِ رَكِينِ
What a radiant star of guidance
For which shining star of guidance should I grieve
They have lost—and what a steadfast pillar of pride!
Now they are bereft of pillar and steadfast mainstay?
لَوْif أَنthat بِيin my power إِرْقَاءَthe staunching of مَاءِthe water of شُؤُونِهِمْtheir tear ducts
لَوْ أَن بِي إِرْقَاءَ مَاءِ شُؤُونِهِمْ
أَرْقَأْتُهُI would staunch it وَبَذَلْتُand I would offer مَاءَthe water of شُؤُونِيmy tear ducts
أَرْقَأْتُهُ وَبَذَلْتُ مَاءَ شُؤُونِي
If I could staunch the flow from their tear ducts,
If I could pour the water of their affairs,
I would staunch it and offer the flow from my own.
I would pour it, and expend my own water.
يَاO وَاصِفُWasif النَّجْلِthe son النَّجِيبِnoble المُرْتَجَىlooked to with hope
يَا وَاصِفُ النَّجْلِ النَّجِيبِ المُرْتَجَى
لِلْجَاهِfor prestige بَعْدَafter أَبِيهِhis father وَالتَّمْكِينِand authority
لِلْجَاهِ بَعْدَ أَبِيهِ وَالتَّمْكِينِ
O Wasif, noble son, in whom hope is placed
O you who describe the esteemed, noble scion,
For prestige and authority after his father,
To glory after his father and empowerment -
عَظُمَتْwas great مُوَاسَاةُthe sympathy of الحِمَىthe homeland لَكَfor you فَلْيَكُنْso let there be
عَظُمَتْ مُوَاسَاةُ الحِمَى لَكَ فَلْيَكُنْ
فِيهَاin it العَزَاءُconsolation لِقَلْبِكَfor your heart المَحْزُونِgrieving
فِيهَا العَزَاءُ لِقَلْبِكَ المَحْزُونِ
Great has been the homeland's sympathy for you; let
Greatly comforting the protected one for you - let it be
There be consolation in it for your grieving heart.
In this, solace for your grieving heart.
Sol 6.1