لَقَدindeed كُنتَyou were لِلمَظلومِfor the oppressed عِزّاًstrength وَناصِراًand a defender
لَقَد كُنتَ لِلمَظلومِ عِزّاً وَناصِراً
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) تَعَيّاfaltered فيin الأُمورِaffairs حُصونُهاtheir strongholds
إِذا ما تَعَيّا في الأُمورِ حُصونُها
You were indeed strength and a defender for the oppressed,
Truly, you were solace for the oppressed, their mighty defender,
When, amid troubles, their strongholds failed.
Whenever fortresses resisted them in their affairs,
كَماjust as كانَwas حِصناًa fortress لاnot يُرامُis assailed مُمَنَّعاًwell fortified
كَما كانَ حِصناً لا يُرامُ مُمَنَّعاً
بأَشبالِby cubs أُسدٍof lions لاnot يُرامُis assailed عَرينُهاtheir lair
بأَشبالِ أُسدٍ لا يُرامُ عَرينُها
Like a fortress, unassailable and well defended
Like an unassailable fortress of lion cubs whose den cannot be approached.
By lion cubs whose lair none could assail.
If only—but never did you exercise authority over us,
وَلِيتَyou held office فَماso not شانَتكَdisgraced you فيناamong us وِلايَةٌoffice
وَلِيتَ فَما شانَتكَ فينا وِلايَةٌ
وَلاnor أَنتَyou فيهاin it كُنتَwere مِمَّنamong those who يَشينُهاdisgrace it
وَلا أَنتَ فيها كُنتَ مِمَّن يَشينُها
You held office, and office did not disgrace you among us;
Nor were you among those who disgraced it.
Nor were you in it among those who disgrace it.
Your soul disdained wealth out of piety,
فَعَفّتso abstained عَنِfrom الأَموالِwealth نَفسُكَyour soul رَغبَةًwillingly
فَعَفّت عَنِ الأَموالِ نَفسُكَ رَغبَةً
وَأَكرِمand how noble! بِنَفسٍa soul (exclamatory) عِندَat ذاكَthat تَصونُهاyou safeguard it
وَأَكرِم بِنَفسٍ عِندَ ذاكَ تَصونُها
Your soul willingly abstained from wealth;
And you honored yourself thereby.
And how noble the soul you safeguarded then!
Then you refrained, like one who restrains himself lest he dishonor it.
وَعَطَّلتَهاand you left it unadorned مِنfrom بَعدِafter ذَلِكَthat كَالَّذيlike one who
وَعَطَّلتَها مِن بَعدِ ذَلِكَ كَالَّذي
نَهىcurbed نَفسَهُhis soul أَنthat (apparently intended as 'if') خالَفَتهُit defied him يُهينهاhe humbles it
نَهى نَفسَهُ أَن خالَفَتهُ يُهينها
And afterward you left it unadorned, like one
You toiled at it, a cautious laborer,
Who curbed his soul, humbling it if it defied him.
Certain that God would ultimately judge it.
كَدَحتَyou labored لَهاfor it كَدحَthe toil of اِمرِىٍa man مُتَحَرِّجٍscrupulous
كَدَحتَ لَها كَدحَ اِمرِىٍ مُتَحَرِّجٍ
قَدindeed أَيقَنَhe was certain أَنَّthat اللَهَGod سَوفَwill يَدينُهاjudge it
قَد أَيقَنَ أَنَّ اللَهَ سَوفَ يَدينُها
You labored for it with the toil of a scrupulous man,
So none faulted you for a thing—their souls were convinced of it.
Certain that God would call it to account.
You lived virtuously in the wilderness, just,
فَماso not عابَfound fault مِنin شَيءٍanything عَلَيهِwith him فَإِنَّهُfor indeed he
فَما عابَ مِن شَيءٍ عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّهُ
قَدindeed اِستَيقَنَتbecame certain فيهِabout him نفوسُsouls يقينُهاtheir certainty
قَد اِستَيقَنَت فيهِ نفوسُ يقينُها
No fault was found in him; for indeed,
Fulfilling its rights, never betraying them.
Souls had reached firm certainty concerning him.
You died fettered. Still it weeps in widowhood for you
فَعِشتَso you lived حَميداًpraised فيamong البَرِيَّةِhumankind مُقسِطاًacting justly
فَعِشتَ حَميداً في البَرِيَّةِ مُقسِطاً
تُؤَدّيyou render إِلَيهاto them حَقَّهاtheir due ماnot تَخونُهاyou betray them
تُؤَدّي إِلَيها حَقَّها ما تَخونُها
So you lived praised among humankind, dealing justly,
And with unstanching tears.
Rendering them their due, never betraying them.
When the warbling doves begin their laments
وَمُتَّand you died فَقيداًsorely missed فَهيَso they تَبكيweep بِعَولَةٍwith wailing
وَمُتَّ فَقيداً فَهيَ تَبكي بِعَولَةٍ
عَلَيكَfor you وَحُزنٍand grief ماnever تَجِفُّdry عُيونُهاtheir eyes
عَلَيكَ وَحُزنٍ ما تَجِفُّ عُيونُها
And died sorely missed; they weep with wailing
In the lush treetops on the branches’ boughs,
For you in grief, their eyes never drying.
My eyes weep over the good days now gone
إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) بَداappeared شَجواًsorrowfully حَمامٌdoves مُغَرِّداًwarbling
إِذا ما بَدا شَجواً حَمامٌ مُغَرِّداً
عَلىon أَثلَةٍa tamarisk خَضراءَgreen دانٍhanging low غُصونُهاits branches
عَلى أَثلَةٍ خَضراءَ دانٍ غُصونُها
Whenever doves appeared, warbling in sorrow,
As succeeding tribulations commence.
On a green tamarisk with low-hanging branches,
I recalled days past and nights
بَكَتwept for عُمَرَUmar الخَيراتِof good deeds عَينيmy eye بِعَبرَةٍwith a tear
بَكَت عُمَرَ الخَيراتِ عَيني بِعَبرَةٍ
عَلىon إِثرِthe heels of أُخرىanother تَستَهِلُّstream شُؤونُهاits tear ducts
عَلى إِثرِ أُخرى تَستَهِلُّ شُؤونُها
My eye wept for Umar of good deeds, one tear
When safety dwelt in them, justice too.
Following another, its tear ducts streaming.
But when morning comes, the times have changed.
تَذَكَّرتُI remembered أَيّاماًdays خَلَتgone by وَلَيالِياًand nights
تَذَكَّرتُ أَيّاماً خَلَت وَلَيالِياً
بِهاin them الأَمنُsecurity فيهاwithin them العَدلُjustice كانَتwere تَكونُهاwould be them (wording unclear)
بِها الأَمنُ فيها العَدلُ كانَت تَكونُها
I remembered days gone by, and nights,
What was fresh has spoiled, turned fetid.
Security was in them, justice within them; such was their being.
It lived well when you made it comfortable.
فَإِنso if تُصبِحِawakens الدُنياthe world تَغَيَّرَhas changed صَفوُهاits serenity
فَإِن تُصبِحِ الدُنيا تَغَيَّرَ صَفوُها
فَحالَتand so it changed وَأَمسَتand reached evening وَهيَwhile it is غَثٌّlean سَمينُهاits fat
فَحالَت وَأَمسَت وَهيَ غَثٌّ سَمينُها
If the world wakes with its serenity changed,
But many are its guiles now.
And has turned, its fat grown lean by evening,
Had death taken another, you’d not have found
فَقَدfor indeed غَنِيَتit flourished إِذwhen كُنتَyou were فيهاin it رَخِيَّةًat ease
فَقَد غَنِيَت إِذ كُنتَ فيها رَخِيَّةً
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it قِدماًfrom of old كَثيرٌmany فُنونُهاits varied turns
وَلَكِنَّها قِدماً كَثيرٌ فُنونُها
It had flourished in ease when you were in it;
One so generous to it while you lived.
Yet its varied turns have long been many.
Now who will be there for the orphans and poor
فَلَوso if كانَhad ذاقَtasted المَوتَdeath غَيرُكَsomeone other than you لَمnot تَجِدyou would find
فَلَو كانَ ذاقَ المَوتَ غَيرُكَ لَم تَجِد
سَخِيّاًa generous man بِهاin it ماas long as عِشتَyou lived فيهاin it يَمونُهاhe sustains it
سَخِيّاً بِها ما عِشتَ فيها يَمونُها
Had someone other than you tasted death, you would not have found
And the widow overcome by her moans—
A generous man there, sustaining it while you lived in it.
Though she is not ill, just starving, and finds
فَمَنso who لِليَتامىfor the orphans وَالمَساكينِand the poor بَعدَهُafter him
فَمَن لِليَتامى وَالمَساكينِ بَعدَهُ
وَأَرمَلَةٍand a widow باتَتshe spent the night شَديداًintense أَنينُهاher moaning
وَأَرمَلَةٍ باتَت شَديداً أَنينُها
Who, then, is there for the orphans and the poor after him,
None to aid her hunger after you?
And for a widow whose moaning grew fierce through the night?
You were refreshing rain for her and green meadows
وَلَيسَand there is no بِهاin her سُقمٌillness سِوىexcept الجوعِhunger لَمdid not تَجِدfind
وَلَيسَ بِها سُقمٌ سِوى الجوعِ لَم تَجِد
عَلىagainst جوعِهاher hunger مِنfrom بَعدِهاafter it مَنanyone who يُعينُهاhelps her
عَلى جوعِها مِن بَعدِها مَن يُعينُها
She has no sickness save hunger, nor has she found
Like the abundant pools of the raging sea.
Anyone, afterward, to help her withstand her hunger.
If the world is bound to pass, and its people too,
وَكُنتَand you were لَهاfor her غَيثاًlife-giving rain مَريعاًbringing rich pasture وَمَرتَعاًand a pasture
وَكُنتَ لَها غَيثاً مَريعاً وَمَرتَعاً
كَماjust as فيin غَمارِthe depths of البَحرِthe sea أَمرَعَgrew plump نونُهاits fish
كَما في غَمارِ البَحرِ أَمرَعَ نونُها
And you were her bountiful rain and her pasture,
When justice goes, its time has surely come.
As its fish grow plump in the depths of the sea.
It has settled, but its comfort is lost.
فَإِنso if كانَthere is لِلدُنياfor the world زَوالٌan end وَأَهلِهاand its people
فَإِن كانَ لِلدُنيا زَوالٌ وَأَهلِها
لِعَدلٍthrough justice إِذاwhen وَلّىdeparts فَقَدthen indeed حانَhas arrived حينُهاits hour
لِعَدلٍ إِذا وَلّى فَقَد حانَ حينُها
If the world and its people are to perish
No good remains when its gentleness goes.
When justice departs, then its hour has come.
The outskirts wept for him; they shuddered at his loss.
أَقامَتremained لَكُمfor you دُنياa world وَزالَand vanished رَخاؤُهاits prosperity
أَقامَت لَكُم دُنيا وَزالَ رَخاؤُها
فَلاso no خَيرَgood فيin دُنياa world إِذاwhen زالَvanishes لينُهاits gentleness
فَلا خَيرَ في دُنيا إِذا زالَ لينُها
The world has remained for you, but its prosperity has gone;
The plains and hills grieved for him.
There is no good in a world once its gentleness is gone.
Every land his justice touched
بَكَتهُwept for him الضَواحيthe outlying lands وَاِقشَعَرَّتand shuddered لِفَقدِهِat his loss
بَكَتهُ الضَواحي وَاِقشَعَرَّت لِفَقدِهِ
بِحُزنٍwith grief عَلَيهاupon them سَهلُهاtheir plains وَحُزونُهاand their rugged uplands
بِحُزنٍ عَلَيها سَهلُها وَحُزونُها
The outlying lands wept for him and shuddered at his loss,
Yearns for him, filled with ardent longing.
Their plains and rugged uplands, with grief upon them.
The righteous women wept for his justice,
فَكُلُّso every بِلادٍland نالَهاreached it عَدلُthe justice of حُكمِهِhis rule
فَكُلُّ بِلادٍ نالَها عَدلُ حُكمِهِ
شَديدٌintense إِلَيهاtoward it شَوقُهاits longing وَحَنينُهاand its yearning
شَديدٌ إِلَيها شَوقُها وَحَنينُها
Every land reached by the justice of his rule
And the unborn for what they missed of him.
Has fierce longing and yearning for it.
When he left, they shuddered and knew
فَلَمّاso when بَكَتهُwept for him الصالِحاتُthe good lands بِعَدلِهِfor his justice
فَلَمّا بَكَتهُ الصالِحاتُ بِعَدلِهِ
وَماand what فاتَهاthey had lost مِنهُof him بَكَتهُwept for him بُطونُهاtheir depths
وَما فاتَها مِنهُ بَكَتهُ بُطونُها
When the good lands wept for him, for his justice
Their intimacy and trustee were gone.
And what they had lost of him, their depths wept for him.
Their wombs shone radiantly for him,
وَلَمّاand when اِقشَعَرَّتthey shuddered حينَwhen وَلّىhe departed وَأَيقَنَتand became certain
وَلَمّا اِقشَعَرَّت حينَ وَلّى وَأَيقَنَت
لَقَدindeed زالَhad departed مِنهاfrom them أُنسُهاtheir solace وَأَمينُهاand their trusted guardian
لَقَد زالَ مِنها أُنسُها وَأَمينُها
And when they shuddered as he departed, and knew for certain
Glimpsing the blessings within them.
Their solace and trusted guardian had indeed gone from them,
If their wombs shone and brought good tidings
وَقالَتand they said لَهُto him أَهلاًwelcome وَسَهلاًand be at ease وَأَشرَقَتand shone
وَقالَت لَهُ أَهلاً وَسَهلاً وَأَشرَقَت
بِنورٍwith light لَهُfor him مُستَشرِفاتٍrising expectantly بُطونُهاtheir depths
بِنورٍ لَهُ مُستَشرِفاتٍ بُطونُها
They said to him, 'Welcome, be at ease!' and shone
When he died and entered them,
With light for him, their depths rising expectantly.
Adorning them with his presence and dignity
فَإِنfor if أَشرَقَتshone مِنهاwithin them بطونٌdepths وَأَبشَرَتand rejoiced
فَإِن أَشرَقَت مِنها بطونٌ وَأَبشَرَت
لَهُfor him إِذwhen ثَوىhe rested فيهاwithin them مُقيماًremaining رَهيناa captive
لَهُ إِذ ثَوى فيها مُقيماً رَهينا
If their depths shone and rejoiced
As he once adorned the lands—
For him, when he lay within them, abiding as a captive,
They made his grave a fragrant bed;
وَقَدand indeed زانَهاhe adorned them زيناًan adornment لَهُfor him وَكَرامَةًand an honor
وَقَد زانَها زيناً لَهُ وَكَرامَةً
كَماjust as كانَhe used to فيon ظَهرِthe surface of البِلادِthe lands يَزينُهاadorn them
كَما كانَ في ظَهرِ البِلادِ يَزينُها
He had indeed adorned them—an adornment and honor for him—
Blessèd is the embryo in its womb.
As he had adorned the surface of the lands.
May our Lord water, from Deir Sam'an, a tomb
لَقَدindeed ضُمِّنَتهُwas entrusted with him حُفرَةٌa grave طابَgrew sweet نَشرُهاits fragrance
لَقَد ضُمِّنَتهُ حُفرَةٌ طابَ نَشرُها
وَطابَand was good جَنيناًas a hidden child ضُمِّنَتهُit was entrusted with him جَنينُهاits hidden child
وَطابَ جَنيناً ضُمِّنَتهُ جَنينُها
Indeed, a grave was entrusted with him; its fragrance grew sweet,
Where the best of days lies buried.
And good was its hidden child, the child entrusted to it.
Brilliant lamps—abundant pilgrims—
سَقىmay water رَبُّناour Lord مِنfrom دَيرِthe monastery of سَمعانَSam'an حُفرَةًa grave
سَقى رَبُّنا مِن دَيرِ سَمعانَ حُفرَةً
بِهاin it عُمَرُUmar الخَيراتِof good deeds رَهناًheld in pledge دَفينهاits buried one
بِها عُمَرُ الخَيراتِ رَهناً دَفينها
May our Lord water a grave at Dayr Sam'an,
Torches of sorrow without respite.
Where Umar of good deeds lies buried, held in pledge,
صَوابِحَmorning showers مِنfrom مُزنٍrain clouds ثِقالٍheavy عَوادِياًreturning repeatedly
صَوابِحَ مِن مُزنٍ ثِقالٍ عَوادِياً
دَوالِحَheavily laden دُهماًblack ماin labor (first word fragment) خِضاتٍin labor (second word fragment) دُجونهاtheir gloom
دَوالِحَ دُهماً ما خِضاتٍ دُجونها
With morning showers from heavy, returning clouds,
Laden and black, their gloom in labor with rain.
Partial English translation: 57 of 60 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1