إِلَىto الْغَادَةِthe maiden الزَّهْرَاءِradiant مِنْfrom آلِthe family of فَاضِلٍFadil
إِلَى الْغَادَةِ الزَّهْرَاءِ مِنْ آلِ فَاضِلٍ
إِلَىto الْكَوْكَبِthe star الوَضَّاحِbrilliant مِنْfrom آلِthe family of مَسْعَدMas'ad
إِلَى الْكَوْكَبِ الوَضَّاحِ مِنْ آلِ مَسْعَد
To the radiant maiden of the Fadil family,
To the radiant and blossoming Mishaal from the esteemed house of Fayyad
To the brilliant star of the Mas'ad family:
To the brilliant star from the abode of Massaad
تَحِيَّاتِgreetings دَاعٍone praying لِلْعَرُوسَيْنِfor the bride and groom مُخْلِصاًsincerely
تَحِيَّاتِ دَاعٍ لِلْعَرُوسَيْنِ مُخْلِصاً
بَأَنْthat يَبْلُغَاthey both reach أَوْجِيْthe two summits of صَفَاءٍserenity وَسُؤْدَدِand eminence
بَأَنْ يَبْلُغَا أَوْجِيْ صَفَاءٍ وَسُؤْدَدِ
Greetings from one sincerely praying for the bridal pair
The greetings of a supplicant for the blessed couple sincerely
That they may reach the twin heights of serenity and eminence,
Wishing for them the utmost purity and tranquility
وَأَنْand that يُعْمَراthey both live عُمْراًa lifetime طَوِيلاًlong وَيَلْبَثَاand they both remain
وَأَنْ يُعْمَرا عُمْراً طَوِيلاً وَيَلْبَثَا
بِنُعْماءِin bliss تُفْضِيleads كُلَّevery يَوْمٍday إِلىto غَدِtomorrow
بِنُعْماءِ تُفْضِي كُلَّ يَوْمٍ إِلى غَدِ
And live a long life, and abide
And for them to live long, fulfilled lives and abide
In bliss that leads each day into tomorrow;
In bounty that grows greater each passing day
وَأَنْand that يَمْكُثَاthey both remain فِيin أُلْفَةٍharmony وَمَحَبَّةٍand love
وَأَنْ يَمْكُثَا فِي أُلْفَةٍ وَمَحَبَّةٍ
يَظَلُّremains غَيُوراًenvious مِنْهُمَاof them both كُلُّeach فَرْقَدِtwin polar star
يَظَلُّ غَيُوراً مِنْهُمَا كُلُّ فَرْقَدِ
And remain in harmony and love,
And for them to live in harmony, affection
Each of the twin polar stars ever envious of them;
With devoted protection from all who disrupt
أَمِينَيْنِboth secure فِيin جَاهِthe standing of الأَمِينِAmin وَظِلِّهِand his shade
أَمِينَيْنِ فِي جَاهِ الأَمِينِ وَظِلِّهِ
نِكَايَاتِharmful acts أَعْدَاءٍenemies وَأَعْيُنِand the eyes of حُسَّدِthe envious
نِكَايَاتِ أَعْدَاءٍ وَأَعْيُنِ حُسَّدِ
Secure through Amin's standing and beneath his shade,
Secure in the refuge of the Trustworthy, under His shade
From enemies' malice and the eyes of the envious.
From the evil of enemies and eyes of envy
أَمِينٌAmin بَنَىbuilt لِلْمَجْدِfor glory بَيْتاًa house مُشَيَّداًlofty
أَمِينٌ بَنَى لِلْمَجْدِ بَيْتاً مُشَيَّداً
عَلَىupon الْجَدِّdiligence أَعْظَمhow magnificent! بِالْبِنَاءِthe building المُشَيَّدِlofty
عَلَى الْجَدِّ أَعْظَم بِالْبِنَاءِ المُشَيَّدِ
Amin built for glory a lofty house,
The Trustworthy has built a glorious edifice of might
On diligence—how magnificent that lofty building!
On excellence, the greatest building firmly founded
حَذَاfollowed حَذْوَهُhis example مِيشِيلُMichel بَلْrather زَادَsurpassed هِمَّةًin resolve
حَذَا حَذْوَهُ مِيشِيلُ بَلْ زَادَ هِمَّةً
وَمَنْand who لأَبِيهِfor his father بِالشَّبَابِwith youth المُجَدِّدِrejuvenating
وَمَنْ لأَبِيهِ بِالشَّبَابِ المُجَدِّدِ
Michel followed his example, yet surpassed him in resolve;
Michel has followed in his footsteps, nay with greater vigor
And who can grant his father rejuvenating youth?
As befits one whose father renews youth again
فَتىًa young man قَبَلٌwinsome سَمحُgracious الْمُحَيَّاof countenance كَأَنَّهُas though he were
فَتىً قَبَلٌ سَمحُ الْمُحَيَّا كَأَنَّهُ
كَمِيتُdark-red الحِمِيُاwine طَاهِرُpure القَلْبِof heart وَاليَدِand hand
كَمِيتُ الحِمِيُا طَاهِرُ القَلْبِ وَاليَدِ
A winsome youth of gracious countenance, as though he were
A noble young man, generous, of pleasing address as though
Dark-red wine; pure of heart and hand,
He were Al-Mutanabbi, pure of heart and deed
عَلَىin pursuing النَّفْعِbenefit مِقْدَامٌbold عَنِfrom الضَرِّharm مُحْجَمٌholding back
عَلَى النَّفْعِ مِقْدَامٌ عَنِ الضَرِّ مُحْجَمٌ
إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle اسْتَبَانَhe clearly discerned الرَّأْيَthe course to take لَمْdid not يَتَرَدَّدِhesitate
إِذَا مَا اسْتَبَانَ الرَّأْيَ لَمْ يَتَرَدَّدِ
Bold in doing good, refraining from harm;
Bold in benefaction, sparing of harm
When he sees his course clearly, he does not hesitate.
Decisive when a matter is clear, without hesitation
وَلَوْand if شِئْتُI wished تعْدَاداًan enumeration لأَوْصَافِof the qualities of آلِهِhis family
وَلَوْ شِئْتُ تعْدَاداً لأَوْصَافِ آلِهِ
لأَطْرَبْتُكُمْI would delight you بِالْحَقَّwith the truth لاَnot بِالتَوَدُّدِthrough ingratiation
لأَطْرَبْتُكُمْ بِالْحَقَّ لاَ بِالتَوَدُّدِ
And if I wished to recount his family's qualities,
And if I wished to enumerate the virtues of his family
I would delight you with truth, not flattery.
I would entrance you with the truth, not mere flattery
هُمُthey الأَهْلُthe kin وَالأَحْبَابُand loved ones وَالجِيرَةُand neighbors الأُولىwhose
هُمُ الأَهْلُ وَالأَحْبَابُ وَالجِيرَةُ الأُولى
لِذِكْرَاهُمُfor their remembrance فِيin الْقَلْبِthe heart أَشْهَىsweetest تَرَدُّدِrecurrence
لِذِكْرَاهُمُ فِي الْقَلْبِ أَشْهَى تَرَدُّدِ
They are kin, loved ones, and neighbors whose
They are the kin, loved ones, and foremost of neighbors
Memory echoes most sweetly in the heart.
Whose memory in the heart is most delightful to revisit
رَأَيْنَاwe saw كَمَالَthe perfection of الأُمِّthe mother وَالبَيْتَand the home عِنْدَهُمْamong them
رَأَيْنَا كَمَالَ الأُمِّ وَالبَيْتَ عِنْدَهُمْ
وَحِكْمَةَand the wisdom of فِتْيَانٍyoung men وَعِفَّةَand the chastity of خَرَّدِshy maidens
وَحِكْمَةَ فِتْيَانٍ وَعِفَّةَ خَرَّدِ
We saw among them the perfection of mother and home,
We have seen the perfection of mother and home through them
And young men's wisdom and maidens' chastity.
And the wisdom of youth and chastity of the elderly
وَأَيّاًand whomever تُعَاشِرْyou associate with شَاهِداًwitnessing كَنْهَthe true essence of أَمْرِهِhis character
وَأَيّاً تُعَاشِرْ شَاهِداً كَنْهَ أَمْرِهِ
تَجِدْyou find مَحْضَهُhis pure essence لَيْسَis not الْمَغِيبُthe unseen كَمَشْهَدlike what is witnessed
تَجِدْ مَحْضَهُ لَيْسَ الْمَغِيبُ كَمَشْهَد
And whomever you befriend, seeing his true nature,
And whoever you know from them in person or reputation
You find his pure essence—the unseen is not like what is seen.
You will find they are the same, concealed as seen
كَفَىsuffices الْوُدَّfor affection عِنْدِيfor me أَنَّهُمْthat they نَبْتُthe shoots of زَحْلَةٍZahle
كَفَى الْوُدَّ عِنْدِي أَنَّهُمْ نَبْتُ زَحْلَةٍ
وَزَحْلَةُand Zahle لِيfor me دَارٌa home وَجَارَةُand a neighbor of مَوْلِدِbirthplace
وَزَحْلَةُ لِي دَارٌ وَجَارَةُ مَوْلِدِ
For my love, it is enough that they are scions of Zahle;
It is enough, the affection I have for them, that they are scions of Zahle
And Zahle is a home to me, a neighbor of my birthplace.
And Zahle is to me a home and birthplace
قَضَيْتُI spent بِهَاthere عَهْداًa period of time فَمَاand never زِلْتُI ceased رَاجِعاًreturning
قَضَيْتُ بِهَا عَهْداً فَمَا زِلْتُ رَاجِعاً
إِلَيْهِto it بِقَلْبٍwith a heart شَيِّقٍyearning مُتَعَهِّدِever mindful
إِلَيْهِ بِقَلْبٍ شَيِّقٍ مُتَعَهِّدِ
I spent a time there, and have never ceased returning
I made a pact with it, and have not ceased returning
To that time with a yearning heart, ever mindful.
To it, with a yearning and devoted heart
إِلَّيto me حَبِيبٌdear قُوْمُهاher people وَهَوَاؤُهَاand her air
إِلَّي حَبِيبٌ قُوْمُها وَهَوَاؤُهَا
وَمَاand whatever ثَمَّthere مِنْof حَيٍّliving thing وَمَاءٍand water وجَلْمَدand rock
وَمَا ثَمَّ مِنْ حَيٍّ وَمَاءٍ وجَلْمَد
Her people and her air are dear to me,
It has for me a beloved people, air, and clime
And all there is there of life, water, and rock;
With no other living being or water or barren land
تُنَاظِرُsymmetry طُوْدَيْهَاher two mountains بِمِرْآةِin the mirror of نَهْرِهَاher river
تُنَاظِرُ طُوْدَيْهَا بِمِرْآةِ نَهْرِهَا
وَبَهْجَةَand the splendor of مَاwhat فِيin لَيْلِهَاher night مِنْof تَوَقُّدِradiance
وَبَهْجَةَ مَا فِي لَيْلِهَا مِنْ تَوَقُّدِ
The symmetry of her two mountains in her river's mirror,
Its heights survey its river by reflection
And the splendor of the radiance in her night.
And the exhilaration of its nights with their fires
بِوَحْيِthrough the inspiration of هَوَاهَاlove for her رَاعَinspired awe شِعْرِيmy poetry إِجَادَةًin excellence
بِوَحْيِ هَوَاهَا رَاعَ شِعْرِي إِجَادَةً
فَأَنْشَدَهُso he recited it فِيamong قَوْمِهِhis people كُلevery مُنْشِدِreciter
فَأَنْشَدَهُ فِي قَوْمِهِ كُل مُنْشِدِ
Inspired by love for her, my verse amazed with its excellence,
Its passion inspired in my poetry a fluency
So every reciter declaimed it among his people.
That all who recite verse there intone
فَإِنِّيfor I لِمَاdo not أَدْرِيknow وذَاكَand that مَكَانَهُits standing
فَإِنِّي لِمَا أَدْرِي وذَاكَ مَكَانَهُ
أَأَخْلَدْتُهُhave I immortalized it? فِيamong النَّاسِpeople أَمْor هُوَit مُخْلِدِيmy immortalizer
أَأَخْلَدْتُهُ فِي النَّاسِ أَمْ هُوَ مُخْلِدِي
For I do not know, such is its standing,
So I do not know, such is its stature
Did I immortalize it among people, or does it immortalize me?
If I immortalized it among people, or it immortalized me
أُهَنِّيءُI congratulate مِيشِيلَMichel الْعَزِيزَdear وَآلَهُand his family
أُهَنِّيءُ مِيشِيلَ الْعَزِيزَ وَآلَهُ
أُهَنِّيءُI congratulate أَزْكَىthe purest غَادَةٍmaiden طِيبِgoodness of مُحْتَدِlineage
أُهَنِّيءُ أَزْكَى غَادَةٍ طِيبِ مُحْتَدِ
I congratulate dear Michel and his family;
I congratulate the esteemed Michel and his family
I congratulate the purest maiden, of good lineage,
I congratulate the most virtuous and fragrant Mishaal
مِنَfrom الْعُنْصُرِthe substance الأَنْقَىthe purest مِنَfrom الْمَعْدَنِthe mine الَّذِيwhose
مِنَ الْعُنْصُرِ الأَنْقَى مِنَ الْمَعْدَنِ الَّذِي
فَرَائِدَهُits rare gems مَخْلُوقَةٌcreated لِلْتَفَرُّدِto be unique
فَرَائِدَهُ مَخْلُوقَةٌ لِلْتَفَرُّدِ
Of the purest substance, from the mine whose
Of the purest lineage, of the metal which
Rare gems are created to be peerless.
Is singular in the excellence of its ingots
عَرُوسٌa bride بِهَاin her الْحُسْنَانِthe two beauties خُلْقاًin character وَخِلْقَةًand in form
عَرُوسٌ بِهَا الْحُسْنَانِ خُلْقاً وَخِلْقَةً
يَقُولاَنِthey both say سُبْحَانَglory be to الْمَلِيكِthe Sovereign المُوَحَّدِacknowledged as One
يَقُولاَنِ سُبْحَانَ الْمَلِيكِ المُوَحَّدِ
A bride whose twin beauties, of character and form,
A bride with beauty of form and character
Proclaim, 'Glory to the Sovereign, acknowledged as One!'
That declare: Glory to the One, the Unique
أَلاَbehold فَاغْنَمَاso seize, you two صَفْوَthe serenity of الْحَيَاةِlife وَسَعْدَهَاand its happiness
أَلاَ فَاغْنَمَا صَفْوَ الْحَيَاةِ وَسَعْدَهَا
وَجِيئاand come, you two بِنَسْلٍwith offspring صَالِحٍvirtuous مُتَعَدَّدِnumerous
وَجِيئا بِنَسْلٍ صَالِحٍ مُتَعَدَّدِ
Come, then, seize life's serenity and happiness, you two,
Come! Enjoy the essence of life and its joy
And bring forth abundant, virtuous offspring.
And produce goodly offspring, manifold
Sol 6.1