بِقُوَّةِby the power of الْعِلْمِknowledge تَقْوَىgrows strong شَوْكَةُthe might of الأُمَمِnations
بِقُوَّةِ الْعِلْمِ تَقْوَى شَوْكَةُ الأُمَمِ
فَالْحُكْمُfor rule فِيin الدَّهْرِthe ages مَنْسُوبٌis ascribed إِلَىto الْقَلَمِthe pen
فَالْحُكْمُ فِي الدَّهْرِ مَنْسُوبٌ إِلَى الْقَلَمِ
Through the power of knowledge, the might of nations grows;
for rule throughout the ages is ascribed to the pen.
كَمْhow much بَيْنَbetween مَاwhat تَلْفِظُspew forth الأَسْيَافُswords مِنْof عَلَقٍclotted blood
كَمْ بَيْنَ مَا تَلْفِظُ الأَسْيَافُ مِنْ عَلَقٍ
وَبَيْنَand between مَاwhat تَنْفُثُbreathe forth الأَقْلامُpens مِنْof حِكَمِwisdom
وَبَيْنَ مَا تَنْفُثُ الأَقْلامُ مِنْ حِكَمِ
How vast the gulf between the clotted blood that swords spew
and the wisdom that pens breathe forth!
لَوْif أَنْصَفَacted justly النَّاسُpeople كَانَwould be الْفَضْلُdistinction بَيْنَهُمُamong them
لَوْ أَنْصَفَ النَّاسُ كَانَ الْفَضْلُ بَيْنَهُمُ
بِقَطْرَةٍthrough a drop مِنْof مِدَادٍink لاnot بِسَفْكِthrough shedding دَمِblood
بِقَطْرَةٍ مِنْ مِدَادٍ لا بِسَفْكِ دَمِ
If people acted justly, distinction among them would be
through a drop of ink, not through the shedding of blood.
فَاعْكِفْso devote yourself عَلَىto الْعِلْمِknowledge تَبْلُغْyou will attain شَأْوَthe height of مَنْزِلَةٍa station
فَاعْكِفْ عَلَى الْعِلْمِ تَبْلُغْ شَأْوَ مَنْزِلَةٍ
فِيin الْفَضْلِexcellence مَحْفُوفَةٍsurrounded بِالْعِزِّby honor وَالْكَرَمِand nobility
فِي الْفَضْلِ مَحْفُوفَةٍ بِالْعِزِّ وَالْكَرَمِ
Devote yourself to knowledge: you will attain a station's height
in excellence, surrounded by honor and nobility.
فَلَيْسَfor none يَجْنِيgathers ثِمَارَthe fruits of الْفَوْزِsuccess يَانِعَةًripe
فَلَيْسَ يَجْنِي ثِمَارَ الْفَوْزِ يَانِعَةً
مِنْfrom جَنَّةِthe garden of الْعِلْمِknowledge إِلَّاexcept صَادِقُone sincere in الْهِمَمِresolve
مِنْ جَنَّةِ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا صَادِقُ الْهِمَمِ
For none gathers the ripe fruits of success
from knowledge's garden except one sincere in resolve.
لَوْif لَمْnot يَكُنْthere were فِيin الْمَسَاعِيendeavors مَاthat which يَبِينُbecomes clear بِهِthrough it
لَوْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي الْمَسَاعِي مَا يَبِينُ بِهِ
سَبْقُthe precedence of الرِّجَالِmen تَسَاوَىwould be equal النَّاسُpeople فِيin الْقِيَمِworth
سَبْقُ الرِّجَالِ تَسَاوَى النَّاسُ فِي الْقِيَمِ
Were there nothing in endeavors to reveal
men's preeminence, all people would be equal in worth.
وَلِلْفَتَىand a young man has مُهْلَةٌallotted time فِيin الدَّهْرِtime إِنْif ذَهَبَتْpassed
وَلِلْفَتَى مُهْلَةٌ فِي الدَّهْرِ إِنْ ذَهَبَتْ
أَوْقَاتُهَاits hours عَبَثَاًin vain لَمْnot يَخْلُbe free مِنْof نَدَمِregret
أَوْقَاتُهَا عَبَثَاً لَمْ يَخْلُ مِنْ نَدَمِ
A young man has his allotted time; should it pass,
its hours spent in vain, he cannot escape regret.
لَوْلاwere it not for مُدَاوَلَةُthe exchange of الأَفْكَارِideas مَاnot ظَهَرَتْappeared
لَوْلا مُدَاوَلَةُ الأَفْكَارِ مَا ظَهَرَتْ
خَزَائِنُthe treasures of الأَرْضِthe earth بَيْنَbetween السَّهْلِthe plain وَالْعَلَمِand the mountain
خَزَائِنُ الأَرْضِ بَيْنَ السَّهْلِ وَالْعَلَمِ
Were it not for the exchange of ideas, there would not appear
the earth's treasures, between plain and mountain.
كَمْhow many a أُمَّةٍnation دَرَسَتْvanished أَشْبَاحُهَاits bodily forms وَسَرَتْand wandered
كَمْ أُمَّةٍ دَرَسَتْ أَشْبَاحُهَا وَسَرَتْ
أَرْوَاحُهَاits spirits بَيْنَنَاamong us فِيin عَالَمِthe world of الْكَلِمِwords
أَرْوَاحُهَا بَيْنَنَا فِي عَالَمِ الْكَلِمِ
How many a nation's bodily forms have vanished, yet still roam
its spirits among us in the realm of words!
فَانْظُرْso look إِلَىat الْهَرَمَيْنِthe two pyramids الْمَاثِلَيْنِstanding before you تَجِدْyou will find
فَانْظُرْ إِلَى الْهَرَمَيْنِ الْمَاثِلَيْنِ تَجِدْ
غَرَائِباًwonders لاnot تَرَاهَاsees them النَّفْسُthe soul فِيin الْحُلُمِdreams
غَرَائِباً لا تَرَاهَا النَّفْسُ فِي الْحُلُمِ
Look at the two pyramids standing before you: you will find
wonders the soul does not see in dreams.
صَرْحَانِtwo edifices مَاnever دَارَتِrevolved الأَفْلاكُthe celestial spheres مُنْذُsince جَرَتْmoved
صَرْحَانِ مَا دَارَتِ الأَفْلاكُ مُنْذُ جَرَتْ
عَلَىabove نَظِيرِهِمَاtheir equal فِيin الشَّكْلِform وَالْعِظَمِand great size
عَلَى نَظِيرِهِمَا فِي الشَّكْلِ وَالْعِظَمِ
Two edifices: the spheres, since first they moved, have never circled
above their equal in form and grandeur.
تَضَمَّنَاthey both contained حِكَماًwisdom بَادَتْperished مَصَادِرُهَاits sources
تَضَمَّنَا حِكَماً بَادَتْ مَصَادِرُهَا
لَكِنَّهَاyet it بَقِيَتْremained نَقْشاًan inscription عَلَىupon رَضَمِpiled stones
لَكِنَّهَا بَقِيَتْ نَقْشاً عَلَى رَضَمِ
They enshrined wisdom whose sources have perished,
yet it remains, inscribed upon piled stones.
قَوْمٌa people طَوَتْهُمْfolded them away يَدُthe hand of الأَيَّامِthe days فَانْقَرَضُواso they perished
قَوْمٌ طَوَتْهُمْ يَدُ الأَيَّامِ فَانْقَرَضُوا
وَذِكْرُهُمْand their memory لَمْhas not يَزَلْceased to be حَيّاًalive عَلَىdespite الْقِدَمِantiquity
وَذِكْرُهُمْ لَمْ يَزَلْ حَيّاً عَلَى الْقِدَمِ
A people whom the hand of days folded away, so they perished;
yet their memory has remained alive despite its age.
فَكَمْso how many بِهَاupon them صُوَرimages كَادَتْnearly تُخَاطِبُنَاspeak to us
فَكَمْ بِهَا صُوَر كَادَتْ تُخَاطِبُنَا
جَهْراًaloud بِغَيْرِwithout لِسَانٍa tongue نَاطِقٍspeaking وَفَمِand a mouth
جَهْراً بِغَيْرِ لِسَانٍ نَاطِقٍ وَفَمِ
How many images upon them almost speak to us
aloud, without a speaking tongue or mouth,
تَتْلُوreciting لِهِرْمِسَof Hermes آيَاتٍverses تَدُلُّpoint عَلَىto
تَتْلُو لِهِرْمِسَ آيَاتٍ تَدُلُّ عَلَى
فَضْلٍexcellence عَمِيمٍfar-reaching وَمَجْدٍand glory بَاذِخِlofty in الْقَدَمِstanding
فَضْلٍ عَمِيمٍ وَمَجْدٍ بَاذِخِ الْقَدَمِ
reciting Hermes' verses, which attest to
far-reaching excellence and glory of lofty standing.
آيَاتِverses of فَخْرٍpride تَجَلَّىshone forth نُورُهَاtheir light فَغَدَتْso they became
آيَاتِ فَخْرٍ تَجَلَّى نُورُهَا فَغَدَتْ
مَذْكُورَةًrenowned بِلِسَانِin the tongue of الْعُرْبِthe Arabs وَالْعَجَمِand non-Arabs
مَذْكُورَةً بِلِسَانِ الْعُرْبِ وَالْعَجَمِ
Verses of pride: their light shone forth, and they became
renowned in the tongues of Arabs and non-Arabs.
وَلاحَand appeared بَيْنَهُمَاbetween the two بَلْهِيبُBalhib مُتَّجِهاًfacing
وَلاحَ بَيْنَهُمَا بَلْهِيبُ مُتَّجِهاً
لِلشَّرْقِeastward يَلْحَظُwatching مَجْرَىthe course of النِّيلِthe Nile مِنْfrom أَمَمِnearby
لِلشَّرْقِ يَلْحَظُ مَجْرَى النِّيلِ مِنْ أَمَمِ
And between them Balhib appeared, facing
east, watching the Nile's course from nearby.
كَأَنَّهُas though he رَابِضٌcrouching لِلْوَثْبِto spring مُنْتَظِرٌawaiting
كَأَنَّهُ رَابِضٌ لِلْوَثْبِ مُنْتَظِرٌ
فَرِيسَةًprey فَهْوَso he يَرْعَاهَاwatches it وَلَمْand has not يَنَمِslept
فَرِيسَةً فَهْوَ يَرْعَاهَا وَلَمْ يَنَمِ
As though crouching to spring, awaiting
prey, he watches it and has not slept.
رَمْزٌa symbol يَدُلُّpoints عَلَىto أَنَّthat الْعُلُومَthe sciences إِذَاwhen
رَمْزٌ يَدُلُّ عَلَى أَنَّ الْعُلُومَ إِذَا
عَمَّتْspread widely بِمِصْرَthrough Egypt نَزَتْsprang up مِنْfrom وَهْدَةِthe hollow of الْعَدَمِnothingness
عَمَّتْ بِمِصْرَ نَزَتْ مِنْ وَهْدَةِ الْعَدَمِ
A symbol showing that, when the sciences
spread through Egypt, she springs from the hollow of nothingness.
فَاسْتَيْقِظُواso awaken يَاO بَنيsons of الأَوْطَانِthe homelands وَانْتَصِبُواand take your stand
فَاسْتَيْقِظُوا يَا بَني الأَوْطَانِ وَانْتَصِبُوا
لِلْعِلْمِfor knowledge فَهْوَfor it مَدَارُthe pivot of الْعَدْلِjustice فِيamong الأُمَمِnations
لِلْعِلْمِ فَهْوَ مَدَارُ الْعَدْلِ فِي الأُمَمِ
Awaken, then, sons of the homelands, and take your stand
for knowledge, for it is the pivot of justice among nations.
وَلاand do not تَظُنُّواsuppose نَمَاءَthe increase of الْمَالِwealth وَانْتَسِبُواand affiliate yourselves
وَلا تَظُنُّوا نَمَاءَ الْمَالِ وَانْتَسِبُوا
فَالْعِلْمُfor knowledge أَفْضَلُthe best of مَاwhat يَحْوِيهِpossesses it ذُوone endowed with نَسَمِbreath
فَالْعِلْمُ أَفْضَلُ مَا يَحْوِيهِ ذُو نَسَمِ
And do not deem increasing wealth [a distinction]; affiliate yourselves [with learning],
for knowledge is the best thing a living soul can possess.
فَرُبَّfor many a ذِيone with ثَرْوَةٍwealth بِالْجَهْلِfor ignorance مُحْتَقَرٍdespised
فَرُبَّ ذِي ثَرْوَةٍ بِالْجَهْلِ مُحْتَقَرٍ
وَرُبَّand many a ذِيone in خَلَّةٍpoverty بِالْعِلْمِfor knowledge مُحْتَرَمِrespected
وَرُبَّ ذِي خَلَّةٍ بِالْعِلْمِ مُحْتَرَمِ
For many a wealthy man is despised for ignorance,
and many a man in poverty is respected for knowledge.
شِيدُواbuild الْمَدَارِسَthe schools فَهْيَfor they are الْغَرْسُthe planting إِنْif بَسَقَتْgrew tall
شِيدُوا الْمَدَارِسَ فَهْيَ الْغَرْسُ إِنْ بَسَقَتْ
أَفْنَانُهُits branches أَثْمَرَتْbore fruit غَضّاًfresh مِنَof الْنِّعَمِblessings
أَفْنَانُهُ أَثْمَرَتْ غَضّاً مِنَ الْنِّعَمِ
Build schools: they are the planting; if it grows tall,
its branches bear fresh blessings as fruit.
مَغْنَىan abode of عُلُومٍlearning تَرَىyou see الأَبْنَاءَthe children عَاكِفَةًintent
مَغْنَى عُلُومٍ تَرَى الأَبْنَاءَ عَاكِفَةً
عَلَىupon الدُّرُوسِthe lessons بِهِin it كَالطَّيْرِlike birds فِيin الْحَرَمِthe sanctuary
عَلَى الدُّرُوسِ بِهِ كَالطَّيْرِ فِي الْحَرَمِ
An abode of learning, where you see the children intent
upon their lessons there, like birds within the sanctuary.
مِنْof كُلِّevery كَهْلِmature in الْحِجَاintellect فِيat سِنِّthe age of عَاشِرَةٍten
مِنْ كُلِّ كَهْلِ الْحِجَا فِي سِنِّ عَاشِرَةٍ
يَكَادُalmost مَنْطِقُهُhis speech يَنْهَلُّpours forth بِالْحِكَمِwith wisdom
يَكَادُ مَنْطِقُهُ يَنْهَلُّ بِالْحِكَمِ
Each mature in mind, though only ten years old,
his speech all but pouring forth wisdom.
كَأَنَّهَاas though they were فَلَكٌa firmament لاحَتْappeared بِهِin it شُهُبٌblazing stars
كَأَنَّهَا فَلَكٌ لاحَتْ بِهِ شُهُبٌ
تُغْنِيsuffice بِرَوْنَقِهَاby their brilliance عَنْin place of أَنْجُمِthe stars of الظُّلَمِdarkness
تُغْنِي بِرَوْنَقِهَا عَنْ أَنْجُمِ الظُّلَمِ
As though they were a firmament where blazing stars shone,
whose brilliance leaves no need for the stars of darkness.
يَجْنُونَthey gather مِنْfrom كُلِّevery عِلْمٍscience زَهْرَةًa flower عَبِقَتْwas fragrant
يَجْنُونَ مِنْ كُلِّ عِلْمٍ زَهْرَةً عَبِقَتْ
بِنَفْحَةٍwith a fragrant breath تَبْعَثُrestores الأَرْوَاحَsouls فِيto الرِّمَمِdecayed bones
بِنَفْحَةٍ تَبْعَثُ الأَرْوَاحَ فِي الرِّمَمِ
They gather from every science a flower, fragrant
with a breath that restores souls to crumbling bones.
فَكَمْso how many تَرَىyou see بَيْنَهُمْamong them مِنْof شَاعِرٍa poet لَسِنٍeloquent
فَكَمْ تَرَى بَيْنَهُمْ مِنْ شَاعِرٍ لَسِنٍ
أَوْor كَاتِبٍa writer فَطِنٍperceptive أَوْor حَاسِبٍa mathematician فَهِمِdiscerning
أَوْ كَاتِبٍ فَطِنٍ أَوْ حَاسِبٍ فَهِمِ
How many an eloquent poet you see among them,
or a perceptive writer, or a discerning mathematician;
وَنَابِغٍand a gifted man نَالَgained مِنْfrom عِلْمِthe study of الْحُقُوقِlaw بِهَاin them
وَنَابِغٍ نَالَ مِنْ عِلْمِ الْحُقُوقِ بِهَا
مَزِيَّةًa distinction أَلْبَسَتْهُclothed him in خِلْعَةَthe robe of honor of الْحَكَمِa judge
مَزِيَّةً أَلْبَسَتْهُ خِلْعَةَ الْحَكَمِ
and a gifted man who there gained from the study of law
a distinction that clothed him in a judge's robe of honor;
وَلُجِّand an ocean of هَنْدَسَةٍengineering تَجْرِيflow بِحِكْمَتِهِby his wisdom
وَلُجِّ هَنْدَسَةٍ تَجْرِي بِحِكْمَتِهِ
جَدَاوِلُchannels of الْمَاءِwater فِيthrough هَالٍloose earth مِنَof الأَكَمِthe hills
جَدَاوِلُ الْمَاءِ فِي هَالٍ مِنَ الأَكَمِ
and an ocean of engineering, through whose wisdom flow
water channels through the loose earth of hills.
بَلْindeed كَمْhow many a خَطِيبٍorator شَفَىhealed نَفْسَاًa soul بِمَوْعِظَةٍwith counsel
بَلْ كَمْ خَطِيبٍ شَفَى نَفْسَاً بِمَوْعِظَةٍ
وَكَمْand how many a طَبِيبٍphysician شَفَىhealed جِسْمَاًa body مِنَof السَّقَمِsickness
وَكَمْ طَبِيبٍ شَفَى جِسْمَاً مِنَ السَّقَمِ
Indeed, how many an orator has healed a soul with counsel,
and how many a physician has healed a body of sickness!
مُؤَدَّبُونَwell-bred بِآدَابِin the manners of الْمُلُوكِkings فَلاso not
مُؤَدَّبُونَ بِآدَابِ الْمُلُوكِ فَلا
تَلْقَىyou meet بِهِمْamong them غَيْرَother than عَالِيhigh in الْقَدْرِstanding مُحْتَشِمِdignified
تَلْقَى بِهِمْ غَيْرَ عَالِي الْقَدْرِ مُحْتَشِمِ
They are schooled in the manners of kings, so you will not
meet among them any but men of high standing and dignity.
قَوْمٌa people بِهِمْthrough them تَصْلُحُis set right الدُّنْيَاthe world إِذَاwhen فَسَدَتْit becomes corrupt
قَوْمٌ بِهِمْ تَصْلُحُ الدُّنْيَا إِذَا فَسَدَتْ
وَيَفْرُقُand separates الْعَدْلُjustice بَيْنَbetween الذِّئْبِthe wolf وَالْغَنَمِand the sheep
وَيَفْرُقُ الْعَدْلُ بَيْنَ الذِّئْبِ وَالْغَنَمِ
A people through whom the world is set right when it turns corrupt,
and justice keeps the wolf apart from the sheep.
وَكَيْفَand how يَثْبُتُstands firm رُكْنُthe pillar of الْعَدْلِjustice فِيin بَلَدٍa land
وَكَيْفَ يَثْبُتُ رُكْنُ الْعَدْلِ فِي بَلَدٍ
لَمْnot يَنْتَصِبْhas been raised بَيْنَهَاwithin it لِلْعِلْمِfor knowledge مِنْany عَلَمِbanner
لَمْ يَنْتَصِبْ بَيْنَهَا لِلْعِلْمِ مِنْ عَلَمِ
And how can the pillar of justice stand firm in a land
where no banner of knowledge has been raised?
مَاnot صَوَّرَfashioned اللَّهُGod لِلأَبْدَانِfor bodies أَفْئِدَةًhearts
مَا صَوَّرَ اللَّهُ لِلأَبْدَانِ أَفْئِدَةً
إِلَّاexcept لِيَرْفَعَto exalt أَهْلَthe people of الْجِدِّdiligence وَالْفَهَمِand understanding
إِلَّا لِيَرْفَعَ أَهْلَ الْجِدِّ وَالْفَهَمِ
God did not fashion hearts for bodies
except to exalt the people of diligence and understanding.
وَأَسْعَدُand the happiest of النَّاسِpeople مَنْwhoever أَفْضَىarrived إِلَىat أَمَدٍa goal
وَأَسْعَدُ النَّاسِ مَنْ أَفْضَى إِلَى أَمَدٍ
فِيin الْفَضْلِexcellence وَامْتَازَand stood apart بِالْعَالِيby what is lofty مِنَof الشِّيَمِqualities
فِي الْفَضْلِ وَامْتَازَ بِالْعَالِي مِنَ الشِّيَمِ
And happiest of people is he who reaches a height
in excellence, distinguished by lofty qualities.
لَوْلاwere it not for الْفَضِيلَةُvirtue لَمْwould not يَخْلُدْendure لِذِيfor one endowed with أَدَبٍculture
لَوْلا الْفَضِيلَةُ لَمْ يَخْلُدْ لِذِي أَدَبٍ
ذِكْرٌremembrance عَلَىthrough الدَّهْرِtime بَعْدَafter الْمَوْتِdeath وَالْعَدَمِand nonexistence
ذِكْرٌ عَلَى الدَّهْرِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ وَالْعَدَمِ
Without virtue, no man of letters would have enduring
remembrance through time, after death and extinction.
فَلْيَنْظُرِso let him consider الْمَرْءُa person فِيمَاinto what قَدَّمَتْsent ahead يَدُهُhis hand
فَلْيَنْظُرِ الْمَرْءُ فِيمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدُهُ
قَبْلَbefore الْمَعَادِthe Resurrection فَإِنَّfor indeed الْعُمْرَlife لَمْnot يَدُمِlasted
قَبْلَ الْمَعَادِ فَإِنَّ الْعُمْرَ لَمْ يَدُمِ
So let each person consider what his hand has sent ahead,
before the Resurrection, for life does not endure.
Sol 6.1