أصُولُroots الضَّادِḍād; the Arabic tongue طَيِّبَةُgood الأُرُومِrootstocks
أصُولُ الضَّادِ طَيِّبَةُ الأُرُومِ
تَفَرَّعُit branches كُلَّevery تَفْريعٍbranching مَرُومِdesired
تَفَرَّعُ كُلَّ تَفْريعٍ مَرُومِ
The roots of the tongue of ḍād are of good stock,
The roots of the letter dhaad are fragrant and lush,
branching in every desired way.
Each branch blossoming into fragrance.
تَرَىyou see فِيin رَوْضِهَاits garden مَاwhat تشْتهِيهِcraves it
تَرَى فِي رَوْضِهَا مَا تشْتهِيهِ
مُنَاكَyour wishes مِنَamong البَوَاسِقِtowering trees وَالنُّجُومِand low-growing plants
مُنَاكَ مِنَ البَوَاسِقِ وَالنُّجُومِ
In its garden you see whatever is craved
In its garden you find whatever you desire-
by your wishes, among towering trees and low-growing plants.
Comfort in its towering trees and stars.
وَتَلْقَىand you find مِنْamong طَرِيفِexquisite الوَشْيِembroidery فِيهَاin it
وَتَلْقَى مِنْ طَرِيفِ الوَشْيِ فِيهَا
أفَانِينَvarieties الأزَاهِرِblossoms وَالوُشُومِand tattooed markings
أفَانِينَ الأزَاهِرِ وَالوُشُومِ
And there, among its exquisite embroidery, you find
And from the gentle rustling branches
varieties of blossoms and tattooed patterns.
You hear the melodies of flowers and herbs.
فَدَعْso leave aside مَاwhat يَدَّعيهِhe claims it كُلُّevery خَصْمٍadversary
فَدَعْ مَا يَدَّعيهِ كُلُّ خَصْمٍ
خَفِيِّconcealed الكَيْدِscheming أَوْor فَدْمٍa dullard غَشُومِtyrannical
خَفِيِّ الكَيْدِ أَوْ فَدْمٍ غَشُومِ
So leave aside what every adversary claims,
So ignore the claims of each disputant,
whether covertly scheming or dull and tyrannical.
Whether a sly schemer or hot-tempered fool.
وَسَلْand ask عَمَّاabout what جَنَىharvested مِنْهَاfrom it لِجِيلٍfor a generation
وَسَلْ عَمَّا جَنَى مِنْهَا لِجِيلٍ
فَجِيلٍthen a generation كُلُّevery مُطَّلِعٍwell-informed reader عَلِيمِknowledgeable
فَجِيلٍ كُلُّ مُطَّلِعٍ عَلِيمِ
And ask what has been harvested from it for generation
Ask what bounty it brought each generation,
after generation by every learned, well-informed reader.
Generation after generation of learned scholars.
أَمَاare there not فِيin عَصْرِنَاour age هَذَاthis فُحُولٌgreat masters
أَمَا فِي عَصْرِنَا هَذَا فُحُولٌ
أعَادُواthey restored رَوْعَةَsplendor العَصْرِthe age العَظِيمِgreat
أعَادُوا رَوْعَةَ العَصْرِ العَظِيمِ
Are there not great masters in this age of ours
For in our time there are outstanding men
who have restored the splendor of the great age,
Who restored the glory of that great age,
وَآتَوْهَاand they gave it مَفَاخِرَglories أَثَّلُوهَاthey firmly established them
وَآتَوْهَا مَفَاخِرَ أَثَّلُوهَا
تَزِيدُadd to مَفَاخِرَglories الإرْثِthe inheritance الكَريمِnoble
تَزِيدُ مَفَاخِرَ الإرْثِ الكَريمِ
and bestowed on it glories they firmly established,
Bringing it new glories to adorn
adding to the glories of its noble inheritance?
The precious inherited treasure.
تَبَوَّأَtook his place هَيْكَلٌHaykal بِالحَقِّrightfully فِيهِمْamong them
تَبَوَّأَ هَيْكَلٌ بِالحَقِّ فِيهِمْ
يُجَشِّمُهُburden him الثِّقَالُthe weighty ones مِنَof الهُمُومِcares
يُجَشِّمُهُ الثِّقَالُ مِنَ الهُمُومِ
Haykal has rightly taken his place among them,
A sanctum arose among them in truth
burdened by weighty cares.
Weighed down by the heaviest cares,
فَمَاso not يُغْنِيهِsuffices him مِنْof حُسْنٍbeauty طِلاءٌa coating
فَمَا يُغْنِيهِ مِنْ حُسْنٍ طِلاءٌ
وَمَاand not يَبْغِيهِhe seeks it إلاّexcept فِيin الصَّمِيمِthe very core
وَمَا يَبْغِيهِ إلاّ فِي الصَّمِيمِ
No varnish of beauty suffices him,
So no adornment can improve its beauty,
and he seeks it only at the very core.
Its needs lie only in the essence.
إذَاif لَمْnot تَبْتَدِعْyou create فِكْراًa thought جَمِيلاًbeautiful
إذَا لَمْ تَبْتَدِعْ فِكْراً جَمِيلاً
تُصَوِّرُهُyou portray it بِأُسْلُوبٍin a style وَسِيمِgraceful
تُصَوِّرُهُ بِأُسْلُوبٍ وَسِيمِ
If you do not create a beautiful thought
If you do not originate some beautiful idea,
and portray it in a graceful style,
Depicting it in a fine style,
فَمَاthen not يُغْنِيavails عَلَىupon التَّكْرَارِrepetition قَوْلٌspeech
فَمَا يُغْنِي عَلَى التَّكْرَارِ قَوْلٌ
وَإنْand not هُوَit غَيْرُother than تَرْدِيدٍreiteration عَقِيمِbarren
وَإنْ هُوَ غَيْرُ تَرْدِيدٍ عَقِيمِ
then speech based on repetition is of no use,
Of what use is speech, however often repeated,
and it is nothing but barren reiteration.
If it is but empty repetition?
وَهَلْand does فِيin الرَّسْمِdrawing أَوْor فِيin النَّقْشِengraving تُجْدِيavail
وَهَلْ فِي الرَّسْمِ أَوْ فِي النَّقْشِ تُجْدِي
إعادَاتُrepetitions النُّقُوشِengravings أَوِor الرُّسُومِdrawings
إعادَاتُ النُّقُوشِ أَوِ الرُّسُومِ
And in drawing or engraving, is there any use
What good are drawings or carvings
in repeating engravings or drawings?
With endlessly recurring shapes and figures?
أمَاdo not تُوحِيinspire الصُّرُوحُedifices عَلَتْrose high وَرَاعَتand awed
أمَا تُوحِي الصُّرُوحُ عَلَتْ وَرَاعَت
كَإيحاءِlike the inspiration of الأَثَافِيhearthstones وَالرسُومِand traces of ruins
كَإيحاءِ الأَثَافِي وَالرسُومِ
Do not edifices, towering and awe-inspiring, inspire
Do not dilapidated buildings suggest
as hearthstones and traces of ruins inspire?
Ruin, like remnants and vestiges?
أمَاis there not فِيin البَرْقِlightning مَعْنىًa meaning غَيْرُother than وَمْضٍa flash
أمَا فِي البَرْقِ مَعْنىً غَيْرُ وَمْضٍ
بِلاَwithout أثَرٍa trace يُلَعْلِعُblazes فِيin الغُيُومِthe clouds
بِلاَ أثَرٍ يُلَعْلِعُ فِي الغُيُومِ
Is there no meaning in lightning beyond a flash
Is lightning devoid of meaning beyond a flash,
that blazes in the clouds and leaves no trace?
Leaving no trace in the clouds?
أمَاis there nothing فِيin النُّورِlight أَوْor فِيin النَّارِfire إلاَّexcept
أمَا فِي النُّورِ أَوْ فِي النَّارِ إلاَّ
ذُبَالٌwicks أَوْor ضِرَامٌa blaze فِيin هَشِيمِdry brushwood
ذُبَالٌ أَوْ ضِرَامٌ فِي هَشِيمِ
Is there nothing in light or in fire but
Does fire or light contain aught
wicks, or a blaze in dry brushwood?
But fuel or ember in the ashes?
أتَىcame هَذَاthis الزَّمَانُage بِأَلْفِwith a thousand الوْنٍa color
أتَى هَذَا الزَّمَانُ بِأَلْفِ الوْنٍ
جَدِيدٍnew فِيin الفُنُونِthe arts وَفِيand in العُلُومِthe sciences
جَدِيدٍ فِي الفُنُونِ وَفِي العُلُومِ
This age has brought a thousand colors,
This age has brought a thousand brilliant hues
new in the arts and in the sciences.
Novel in the arts and sciences,
كُنُوزٌtreasures لِلأَدِيبِfor the writer بِهَاin them ثَرَاءٌriches
كُنُوزٌ لِلأَدِيبِ بِهَا ثَرَاءٌ
فَلَيْسَso is not بِقائِمٍvalid عُذْرُexcuse العَدِيمِthe destitute
فَلَيْسَ بِقائِمٍ عُذْرُ العَدِيمِ
Treasures that hold riches for the writer;
Treasures for the writer to enrich him,
so the destitute man's excuse does not stand.
So lack of means is no excuse for the destitute.
فَإِنْso if يَنْعَوْاthey denounce عَلَىagainst الفُصْحَىliterary Arabic قُصُوراًinadequacy
فَإِنْ يَنْعَوْا عَلَى الفُصْحَى قُصُوراً
فَقَدْthen perhaps يَقَعُfalls المَلاَمُblame مِنَfrom المُلِيمِthe blameworthy
فَقَدْ يَقَعُ المَلاَمُ مِنَ المُلِيمِ
If they fault literary Arabic for falling short,
If they complain that Arabic has shortcomings,
the blame may come from someone himself blameworthy.
The blame may fall on the critic.
أَمِنْهَاis it from it? العَجْزُincapacity أمْor مِنَّاfrom us وَمَاذاand what
أَمِنْهَا العَجْزُ أمْ مِنَّا وَمَاذا
عَلَىupon المَخْدُومِthe master مِنْof عَجْزِincapacity الخَدِيمِthe servant
عَلَى المَخْدُومِ مِنْ عَجْزِ الخَدِيمِ
Does incapacity come from it or from us—and what
Does the incapacity come from it or us? What is
blame falls on the master for the servant's incapacity?
The servant's fault in the master's failure?
لَهَاit has وَادٍa valley هُوَit is الدُّنْيَاthe world جَمِيعاًin its entirety
لَهَا وَادٍ هُوَ الدُّنْيَا جَمِيعاً
وَنُقْصِرُهَاand we confine it عَلَىto وَادِيthe valley of الصَّريمِal-Sarim
وَنُقْصِرُهَا عَلَى وَادِي الصَّريمِ
Its valley is the whole world,
It encompasses the entire world,
yet we confine it to the valley of al-Sarim.
Yet we limit it to the Valley of Serene Joy.
تَتَبَّعْfollow هَيْكَلاًHaykal فِيمَاin what نَحَاهُhe pursued it
تَتَبَّعْ هَيْكَلاً فِيمَا نَحَاهُ
بِخُطَّتِهِwith his method مِنَof النَّحْوِapproach القَويمِsound
بِخُطَّتِهِ مِنَ النَّحْوِ القَويمِ
Follow Haykal in the course he pursued,
Study the architecture of an edifice,
through the sound approach of his method.
Built on the soundest grammatical principles,
وَأَعْدِدْand prepare وَاجْتَهِدْand strive واخْلُقْand create وَنَسِّقْand arrange
وَأَعْدِدْ وَاجْتَهِدْ واخْلُقْ وَنَسِّقْ
بِتَقْديرٍwith judgment مِنَfrom الذَّوْقِtaste السَّلِيمِsound
بِتَقْديرٍ مِنَ الذَّوْقِ السَّلِيمِ
And prepare, strive, create, and arrange,
And invent, strive, create, and arrange
with judgment drawn from sound taste.
With sound judgment and refined taste.
فَمَاfor not الإِنِشَاءُcomposition إنْشَاءٌcomposition إذَاwhen مَاever
فَمَا الإِنِشَاءُ إنْشَاءٌ إذَا مَا
بِهِin it انْطَبَقَmatched الرَّسِيمِthe traced pattern علىwith الرسيمthe traced pattern
بِهِ انْطَبَقَ الرَّسِيمِ على الرسيم
For composition is not true composition when
For composition is no composition unless
in it, pattern simply matches pattern.
The prose harmonizes with the verse.
تَرَسُّلُprose writing هَيْكَلٍHaykal's مَاءٌwater مُصَفَّىpurified
تَرَسُّلُ هَيْكَلٍ مَاءٌ مُصَفَّى
حَبَتْهُshe endowed it بِسِرِّهَاwith her secret بِنْتُdaughter الكُرُومِthe vines
حَبَتْهُ بِسِرِّهَا بِنْتُ الكُرُومِ
Haykal's prose is purified water
The stream of immaculate water
which the daughter of the vines has endowed with her secret;
Flows smoothly in well-crafted phrases.
أَحَبُّdearer إلَيْكَto you مِنْthan كَأْسِa cup الحُمَيَّاheady wine
أَحَبُّ إلَيْكَ مِنْ كَأْسِ الحُمَيَّا
عَلَىwith شَوْقٍlonging وَمِنْand than أُنْسِfellowship النَّدِيمِthe drinking companion
عَلَى شَوْقٍ وَمِنْ أُنْسِ النَّدِيمِ
dearer to you than a cup of heady wine,
More delightful to you than a goblet of wine
eagerly desired, and than a drinking companion's fellowship.
When filled with longing and a boon companion,
تَرَىyou see فِيهِin it ذَكَاءًintelligence عَبْقَرِيّاًof genius
تَرَى فِيهِ ذَكَاءً عَبْقَرِيّاً
وَدَِّقةَand keenness فِطْنَةٍdiscernment وَصَفَاءَand purity خِيمِcharacter
وَدَِّقةَ فِطْنَةٍ وَصَفَاءَ خِيمِ
In it you see the intelligence of genius,
You find in it brilliant genius
keen discernment and purity of character.
And refined discernment in purest thought.
وَتَسْمَعُand you hear لِلسَّلاسَةِof fluency فِيهِin it جَرْساًa resonance
وَتَسْمَعُ لِلسَّلاسَةِ فِيهِ جَرْساً
كَغُنَّةِlike the nasal hum of صَوتِهِhis voice السَّلِسِflowing الرَّخِيمِmellow
كَغُنَّةِ صَوتِهِ السَّلِسِ الرَّخِيمِ
And in its fluency you hear a resonance
And in its eloquence you hear a tone
like the hum of his flowing, mellow voice.
Like the melody of a gentle, subtle voice.
بَيَانٌeloquence مَاwhatever تَشَاءyou wish ُتُصِيبُyou find فِيهِin it
بَيَانٌ مَا تَشَاء ُتُصِيبُ فِيهِ
سُرُورَjoy مُسَاهِمٍa participant وَأَسَىand sorrow قَسِيمِa fellow sharer
سُرُورَ مُسَاهِمٍ وَأَسَى قَسِيمِ
An eloquence in which you find whatever you wish:
It can express whatever meaning you wish
a sharer's joy and a companion's sorrow.
To bring joy to a friend or sorrow to a foe.
تَزُورُyou visit بِهِthrough it دِياراًlands لَمْnot تَزُرْهَاyou visit them
تَزُورُ بِهِ دِياراً لَمْ تَزُرْهَا
مُلِمّاًacquainted بِالمَقَامِwith the dwelling وَبِالمُقيمِand with the dweller
مُلِمّاً بِالمَقَامِ وَبِالمُقيمِ
Through it you visit lands you have never visited,
With it you visit lands you've never seen
acquainted with the dwelling and the dweller.
Knowing the locale and its folk intimately,
فَتَشْهَدُهَاso you behold them وَتَعْرِفُand you know سَاكِنِيهاtheir inhabitants
فَتَشْهَدُهَا وَتَعْرِفُ سَاكِنِيها
كَأَنَّكَas though you فِيin الدِّيارِthe lands مِنَfrom الصَّميمِthe very heart
كَأَنَّكَ فِي الدِّيارِ مِنَ الصَّميمِ
You behold them and know their inhabitants,
As if you are native to that place
as though you belonged to the very heart of those lands.
At home with its innermost secrets.
وَتَسْتَدْنِيand you draw close الجِنَانَthe gardens مُنوَّراتٍin bloom
وَتَسْتَدْنِي الجِنَانَ مُنوَّراتٍ
تَفُوحُwaft بِهِنَّthrough them أعْرَافُfragrances النَّعِيمِbliss
تَفُوحُ بِهِنَّ أعْرَافُ النَّعِيمِ
And you draw blooming gardens close,
You draw near to radiant gardens
through which the fragrances of bliss waft.
Redolent with the scents of bliss,
يُلَطِّفُهَاhe refines them وَبِالتَّلْطِيفِand through refinement تَزْكُوthey flourish
يُلَطِّفُهَا وَبِالتَّلْطِيفِ تَزْكُو
فَتَفْضُلso they surpass كلُevery طِيبٍperfume فِيin الشَّمِيمِfragrance
فَتَفْضُل كلُ طِيبٍ فِي الشَّمِيمِ
He refines them, and through refinement they flourish,
Made more fragrant and refined
surpassing every perfume in fragrance.
Than any perfume in the breeze.
وَتَفْتَقِدُand you seek out الأسَىsorrow مَنْfrom كُلِّevery قَلْبٍheart
وَتَفْتَقِدُ الأسَى مَنْ كُلِّ قَلْبٍ
بِحَيْثُwhere قَرَارَةُdeepest recess الجُرْحِthe wound الألِيمِpainful
بِحَيْثُ قَرَارَةُ الجُرْحِ الألِيمِ
And you seek out sorrow in every heart,
You heal the sorrows of every heart
at the deepest recess of the painful wound.
Wherever the wound is deep.
فَحِسُّكَso your feeling حِسُّهُhis feeling لَكِنَّbut بُرْءاًhealed
فَحِسُّكَ حِسُّهُ لَكِنَّ بُرْءاً
كُلُومُكَyour wounds وَهْيَthough they مِنْamong تِلْكَthose الكُلُومِwounds
كُلُومُكَ وَهْيَ مِنْ تِلْكَ الكُلُومِ
Your feeling is his, but healed
You feel its pain yet remain detached,
are your wounds, though they are among those same wounds.
Your torment is not that torment.
وَتَنْظُرُand you look فِيinto السَّرَائِرِinner secrets وَالطَّوَايَاand hidden thoughts
وَتَنْظُرُ فِي السَّرَائِرِ وَالطَّوَايَا
مُمَحَّصَةَsifted الحَميدِthe praiseworthy مِنَfrom الذَّمِيمِthe blameworthy
مُمَحَّصَةَ الحَميدِ مِنَ الذَّمِيمِ
And you look into inner secrets and hidden thoughts,
You look into hearts and motives
with the praiseworthy sifted from the blameworthy.
Discerning the good from the bad.
فَلاَso not يَخْفَىis hidden عَلَيْكَfrom you أَدَقُّthe subtlest شَيْءٍthing
فَلاَ يَخْفَى عَلَيْكَ أَدَقُّ شَيْءٍ
يَجُولُpasses بِخَاطِرthrough the mind of العانِيthe sufferer الكَظِيمِone suppressing grief
يَجُولُ بِخَاطِر العانِي الكَظِيمِ
So not even the subtlest thing is hidden from you
Nothing escapes you, not the subtlest thing
that crosses the mind of the sufferer who stifles his grief.
Troubling the mind of one in anguish.
وَتَرْعَىand you heed مَاwhat النُّفُوسُsouls بِهِabout it تَنَاجَىconfide together
وَتَرْعَى مَا النُّفُوسُ بِهِ تَنَاجَى
بِأَخْفَتَmore softly مِنْthan مُنَاجَاةِthe whispering of النَّسِيمِthe breeze
بِأَخْفَتَ مِنْ مُنَاجَاةِ النَّسِيمِ
And you heed what souls confide to one another
You overhear the whispers of souls
more softly than the whispering of the breeze.
More softly than the murmur of the breeze.
وَقَدْand perhaps تَلْقَىyou find مُنَاكَyour wishes مُصَوَّرَاتٍportrayed
وَقَدْ تَلْقَى مُنَاكَ مُصَوَّرَاتٍ
وَلَمْand not يَخْطُرْنَthey occur فِيin ظَنِّthe mind of الحَمِيمِthe close friend
وَلَمْ يَخْطُرْنَ فِي ظَنِّ الحَمِيمِ
And you may find your wishes portrayed,
You find depicted what never occurred
though they never crossed your close friend's mind.
To the minds of even the closest confidant.
هُوَit is الوَصْفُdescription العَجِيبُwondrous وَلَيسَand not تَلقَىyou find
هُوَ الوَصْفُ العَجِيبُ وَلَيسَ تَلقَى
لَهُof it وَجْهاًan aspect سِوَىother than الوَجْهِthe aspect القَسِيمِbeautiful
لَهُ وَجْهاً سِوَى الوَجْهِ القَسِيمِ
It is wondrous description, and you find
It is wondrous description, nothing like it
no aspect of it but a beautiful one.
Except itself in excellence.
تَفَنَّنَdisplayed artistry هَيْكَلٌHaykal فِيهِin it فَأَبْدَىthus revealed
تَفَنَّنَ هَيْكَلٌ فِيهِ فَأَبْدَى
لَطِيفَsubtle الحِسِّfeeling فِيin أجْلَىthe clearest الرُّسُومِpictures
لَطِيفَ الحِسِّ فِي أجْلَى الرُّسُومِ
Haykal has displayed his artistry in it, revealing
A skillful artisan produced it, displaying
subtle feeling in the clearest pictures.
Utmost refinement in the finest composition.
يُطِيلُhe writes at length فَفِيfor in الإطَالَةِexpansiveness مِنْهُfrom him سِرٌّa secret
يُطِيلُ فَفِي الإطَالَةِ مِنْهُ سِرٌّ
يُديلُgives victory to الشَّوْقَlonging مِنْover سَأَمِthe boredom of السَّئُومِthe easily bored
يُديلُ الشَّوْقَ مِنْ سَأَمِ السَّئُومِ
He writes at length, for his expansiveness holds a secret
Length adds mystery and charm,
that makes longing triumph over the weary one's boredom.
Banishing the boredom of tedium.
فَإِنْand if يُوجِزْhe is brief فَفِيthen in الإِيجازَbrevity رَجْعٌan echo
فَإِنْ يُوجِزْ فَفِي الإِيجازَ رَجْعٌ
شَهِيٌّdelightful مَاwhenever تَرَدَّدَreverberates فِيin الحُلُومِminds
شَهِيٌّ مَا تَرَدَّدَ فِي الحُلُومِ
And if he is brief, his brevity holds an echo,
Concision brings pleasing echoes
delightful whenever it reverberates in the mind.
Of flavors relished and savored.
فَأمَّاas for البَحْثُinquiry يَنْضُوunsheathes الرَّأْيَjudgment فِيهِin it
فَأمَّا البَحْثُ يَنْضُو الرَّأْيَ فِيهِ
وَيَنْهَضُand rises مِنْهُof it بِالعِبْءِwith the burden الجَسيْمِweighty
وَيَنْهَضُ مِنْهُ بِالعِبْءِ الجَسيْمِ
As for inquiry, he unsheathes his judgment in it,
Discourse hones the intellect,
and shoulders its weighty burden.
Lifting heavy burdens.
وَيَسْتَوْفِيand draws fully on بِهِthrough it مَاwhat قَدَّمَتْهُhave offered it
وَيَسْتَوْفِي بِهِ مَا قَدَّمَتْهُ
نُهَىintellects البُلَغَاءِthe eloquent مِنْamong عَرَبِArabs وَرُومِand Romans
نُهَى البُلَغَاءِ مِنْ عَرَبِ وَرُومِ
And through it he draws fully on what has been offered
It covers the ground of ancient masters,
by the intellects of eloquent Arabs and Romans.
Arab and Roman, omitting nothing.
وَيَبْذُلُand expends جَاهِداًstriving فِيهِon it قُواهُhis powers
وَيَبْذُلُ جَاهِداً فِيهِ قُواهُ
لإِصْلاحٍfor reform خَصِيصٍparticular أَوْor عَمِيمِgeneral
لإِصْلاحٍ خَصِيصٍ أَوْ عَمِيمِ
And he earnestly expends his powers upon it
Striving to reform some specific abuse
for reform, whether particular or general.
Or broadly establish justice.
فَمِضْمَارٌthus a racecourse مَضَىadvanced فِيهِin it حُسَيْنٌHusayn
فَمِضْمَارٌ مَضَى فِيهِ حُسَيْنٌ
مَضَاءَthe vigor of المَقْدِمِthe bold الدَّرِبِseasoned العَزُومِresolute
مَضَاءَ المَقْدِمِ الدَّرِبِ العَزُومِ
It is a racecourse on which Husayn has pressed forward
It is a track where two Hussains raced,
with the vigor of a bold, seasoned, resolute man.
Pacesetters on the steep ascent.
وَجَارَىand raced السَّابِقِينَthe forerunners بِهِin it فَجَلَّىso came first
وَجَارَى السَّابِقِينَ بِهِ فَجَلَّى
وَبَزَّand surpassed المُعَلِمِّينَthe teachers مِنَamong القُزُومِthe dwarfs
وَبَزَّ المُعَلِمِّينَ مِنَ القُزُومِ
He raced its forerunners and came in first,
They vied with former champions, proving themselves
and outstripped the teachers among the dwarfs.
And outstripping established masters.
كِتَابُthe book on مُحَمَّدMuhammad فِيهِin it افتِنَانٌvaried artistry
كِتَابُ مُحَمَّد فِيهِ افتِنَانٌ
أفَاضَpoured مِنَfrom الحَديثِthe modern عَلَىupon القَدِيمِthe ancient
أفَاضَ مِنَ الحَديثِ عَلَى القَدِيمِ
The book on Muhammad displays varied artistry,
Muhammad's book holds such fascination
pouring the modern upon the ancient.
Spanning old and new with inspiration.
وَحَلَّىand adorned بِاليَتيمِwith the peerless pearl سُمُوطَnecklaces of دُرٍّpearls
وَحَلَّى بِاليَتيمِ سُمُوطَ دُرٍّ
تُسَلْسِلُrecount sequentially سِيرَةَthe life of الفَرْدِthe peerless اليَتِيمِorphan
تُسَلْسِلُ سِيرَةَ الفَرْدِ اليَتِيمِ
And with a peerless pearl it adorns pearl necklaces
It strings precious pearls, the orphan's story,
that recount in sequence the life of the peerless orphan.
An epic of that singular life.
إذَاwhen مَاever الوَحْيُrevelation عَادَreturned بِهِthrough it جَدِيداًanew
إذَا مَا الوَحْيُ عَادَ بِهِ جَدِيداً
وَلَمْand not يَكُit is بِالهَجِينِdebased وَلاَnor السَّقِيمِunsound
وَلَمْ يَكُ بِالهَجِينِ وَلاَ السَّقِيمِ
When revelation returns anew through it,
When revelation renews it
neither debased nor unsound,
With neither gibberish nor drivel
فَذَلِكَthat is أنَّbecause أنْوَاراًlights تَجَلَّتْshone forth
فَذَلِكَ أنَّ أنْوَاراً تَجَلَّتْ
بِهِthrough it مِنْfrom مَهْبِطِthe place of descent of اللهِGod الحَكيمِthe All-Wise
بِهِ مِنْ مَهْبِطِ اللهِ الحَكيمِ
that is because lights have shone forth
It is because luminous rays have shone
through it, from the place of revelation of God the All-Wise.
From the Wise God's place of descent
لآياتِfor the signs of الحِجَىreason وَالقَلبِand the heart فِيهِin it
لآياتِ الحِجَى وَالقَلبِ فِيهِ
رَوَائِعُmarvels تَسْتَبِيcaptivate لُبَّthe mind of الحَلِيمِthe wise man
رَوَائِعُ تَسْتَبِي لُبَّ الحَلِيمِ
The signs of reason and heart within it hold
Containing signs and portents for hearts
marvels that captivate the wise man's mind.
To captivate the sage's inner mind
هُوَit is الشِّعْرُpoetry الطَّلِيقُfreed مِنَfrom القَوَافِيrhymes
هُوَ الشِّعْرُ الطَّلِيقُ مِنَ القَوَافِي
ومفْخَرَةُand the pride of النَّثِيرِprose عَلَىover النَّظِيمِverse
ومفْخَرَةُ النَّثِيرِ عَلَى النَّظِيمِ
It is poetry freed from rhymes,
It is eloquent poetry free of meter,
and the pride of prose over verse.
Surpassing composers in musical rhyme.
Sol 6.1