طَرَقَتكَshe visited you by night زائِرَةًas a visitor فَحَيِّso greet خَيالَهاher apparition
طَرَقَتكَ زائِرَةً فَحَيِّ خَيالَها
بَيضاءُfair-skinned تُخلِطُshe mingles بِالحَياءِwith modesty دَلالَهاher coy charm
بَيضاءُ تُخلِطُ بِالحَياءِ دَلالَها
She came to you as a night visitor; greet her apparition.
A white vision visited you, and brought to life her imagination,
Fair-skinned, she mingles her coy charm with modesty.
Modesty mixing with coquetry in her glance,
قادَتshe led فُؤادَكَyour heart فَاِستَقادَso it yielded وَمِثلُهاand one like her
قادَت فُؤادَكَ فَاِستَقادَ وَمِثلُها
قادَled القُلوبَhearts إِلىtoward الصِباyouthful passion فَأَمالَهاand swayed them
قادَ القُلوبَ إِلى الصِبا فَأَمالَها
She led your heart, and it yielded; one like her
She led your heart and it recovered, as did hearts led to youth and bent them,
has led hearts toward youthful passion and swayed them.
As if she knocked with a meadow's breeze, its shade spreading in spring,
وَكَأَنَّماand as though طَرَقَتshe visited by night بِنَفحَةِwith the fragrance of رَوضَةٍa garden
وَكَأَنَّما طَرَقَت بِنَفحَةِ رَوضَةٍ
سَحَّتpoured down بِهاupon it دِيَمُsteady rainclouds الرَبيعِof spring ظِلالَهاtheir shade
سَحَّت بِها دِيَمُ الرَبيعِ ظِلالَها
And it was as though she came by night with a garden's fragrance,
She asked questions in a dream to a sleepless one,
where spring's steady rainclouds poured down their shade.
Unceasing in her questioning, disheveled, clutching his cloak,
باتَتshe spent the night تُسائِلُquestioning فيin المَنامِa dream مُعَرِّساًa traveler resting by night
باتَت تُسائِلُ في المَنامِ مُعَرِّساً
بِالبيدِin the deserts أَشعَثَdisheveled لاnot يَمَلُّhe tires of سُؤالَهاher questioning
بِالبيدِ أَشعَثَ لا يَمَلُّ سُؤالَها
All night she questioned, in a dream, a traveler resting
To the youths she came when they were resting, done with pursuing fancies and their trials,
disheveled in the deserts, never tiring of her questions,
Their clothes like Indian cloth, eyes overlooking its embroidery,
فيamong فِتيَةِyoung men هَجَعواthey slept غِراراًbriefly بَعدَماafter
في فِتيَةِ هَجَعوا غِراراً بَعدَما
سَئِموthey wearied of مُراعَشَةَthe jolting of السُرىnight travel وَمِطالَهاand its prolongation
سَئِمو مُراعَشَةَ السُرى وَمِطالَها
among young men who slept briefly after
They laid their cheeks by their loved ones, their bites complaining of the pain of parting,
wearying of night travel's jolting and its dragging length.
She sought out the Commander of the Faithful, reaching him at dawn after her journey,
فَكَأَنَّso, as though حَشوَthe contents of ثِيابِهِمtheir clothes هِندِيَّةٌIndian swords
فَكَأَنَّ حَشوَ ثِيابِهِم هِندِيَّةٌ
نَحَلَتgrown thin وَأَغفَلَتِand neglected العُيونُeyes صَقالَهاtheir polish
نَحَلَت وَأَغفَلَتِ العُيونُ صَقالَها
As though the bodies within their clothes were Indian swords,
Drawing you out into the wilderness, crossing its expanses and sands,
grown thin, their polish neglected by the eyes.
Pursuing the she-camel, its saddle shaken by its leanness and wear,
وَضَعواthey laid الخُدودَtheir cheeks لَدىbeside سَواهِمَgaunt camels جُنَّحٍbowed low
وَضَعوا الخُدودَ لَدى سَواهِمَ جُنَّحٍ
تَشكوcomplaining of كُلومَwounds صِفاحِهاtheir sides وَكَلالَهاand their exhaustion
تَشكو كُلومَ صِفاحِها وَكَلالَها
They laid their cheeks beside gaunt camels bowed low,
Passionately yearning, rending apart the midday suns when they are overlooked,
complaining of wounds on their sides and their exhaustion.
Escaping when the flock is raised, as the pregnant ewe escaped, completing its journey in the dark,
طَلَبَتthey sought أَميرَthe Commander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful فَواصَلَتso they joined
طَلَبَت أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ فَواصَلَت
بَعدَafter السُرىnight travel بِغُدُوِّهاwith their morning journeys آصالَهاtheir late-afternoon journeys
بَعدَ السُرى بِغُدُوِّها آصالَها
They sought the Commander of the Faithful, joining
Like an archer's arrow, she reached you, filling her saddle and straps,
after night travel, their late afternoons with their mornings.
The Commander of the Faithful Muhammad revived the ways of the Prophet, their prohibitions and permissions,
نَزَعَتthey pressed onward إِلَيكَtoward you صَوادِياًthirsty فَتَقاذَفَتand bounded onward
نَزَعَت إِلَيكَ صَوادِياً فَتَقاذَفَت
تَطويfolding up الفَلاةَthe wilderness حُزونَهاits rugged ground وَرِمالَهاand its sands
تَطوي الفَلاةَ حُزونَها وَرِمالَها
Thirsting, they pressed toward you and bounded onward,
A King whose spring gushed forth from Hashim, God extended its shade over all people,
folding up the wilderness, its rugged ground and its sands.
A mountain for his nation, taking refuge in its pillar, reducing to rubble the mountains of its enemies,
يَتبَعنَthey follow ناجِيَةًa swift she-camel يَهُزُّshakes مِراحُهاher vigor
يَتبَعنَ ناجِيَةً يَهُزُّ مِراحُها
بَعدَafter النُحولِgrowing lean تَليلَهاher neck وَقَذالِهاand the back of her head
بَعدَ النُحولِ تَليلَها وَقَذالِها
They follow a swift she-camel whose vigor shakes
No great fear befell it, but he made time and space for it,
after she has grown lean, her neck and the back of her head.
Until the most blessed son relieves it, he found his father a reliever of its like,
هَوجاءَheadlong تَدَّرِعُshe dons الرُباthe hills وَتَشُقُّهاand cleaves them
هَوجاءَ تَدَّرِعُ الرُبا وَتَشُقُّها
شَقَّthe tearing of الشَموسِa restive mount إِذاwhen تُراعُit is startled جِلالَهاits saddlecloths
شَقَّ الشَموسِ إِذا تُراعُ جِلالَها
Headlong, she dons the hills and cleaves them,
Firm-footed amidst the changing tides of events, directing each situation toward its outcome,
as a restive mount, when startled, tears its saddlecloths.
With both hands you gave generously to the Muslims, and against the enemy - affliction,
تَنجوshe speeds away إِذاwhen رُفِعَis raised القَطيعُthe whip كَماas نَجَتsped away
تَنجو إِذا رُفِعَ القَطيعُ كَما نَجَت
خَرجاءُa pied ostrich بادَرَتِhurried ahead of الظَلامَdarkness رِئالَهاher chicks
خَرجاءُ بادَرَتِ الظَلامَ رِئالَها
She speeds away when the whip is raised, as sped
By your pardon, souls fell under your command, you dispelled their greatest fears,
a pied ostrich hurrying her chicks ahead of darkness.
You gave safety without punishment, released prisoners from their shackles,
كَالقَوسِlike a bow ساهِمَةٌgaunt أَتَتكَshe came to you وَقَدand once تُرىshe was seen
كَالقَوسِ ساهِمَةٌ أَتَتكَ وَقَد تُرى
كَالبُرجِlike a tower تَملأُfilling رَحلَهاher saddle وَحِبالَهاand her ropes
كَالبُرجِ تَملأُ رَحلَها وَحِبالَها
Gaunt as a bow, she came to you, though once she was seen
And risked yourself, the best self, for them, making your wealth their protection,
like a tower, filling her saddle and its ropes.
Had any caliph before him ever achieved what he achieved for it?
أَحياrevived أَميرُthe Commander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad
أَحيا أَميرُ المُؤمِنينَ مُحَمَّدٌ
سُنَنَthe ways of النّبِيِّthe Prophet حَرامَهاtheir prohibitions وَحَلالَهاand their permissions
سُنَنَ النّبِيِّ حَرامَها وَحَلالَها
Muhammad, Commander of the Faithful, revived
He set out on the roads, tucking up his skirt, spurring on his horses,
the Prophet's ways—what they forbid and permit.
A light shining ahead of them and between them,
مَلِكٌa king تَفَرَّعَbranched نَبعُهُhis bow-wood tree مِنfrom هاشِمٍHashim
مَلِكٌ تَفَرَّعَ نَبعُهُ مِن هاشِمٍ
مَدَّspread الإِلهُGod عَلىover الأَنامِhumankind ظِلالَهاits shade
مَدَّ الإِلهُ عَلى الأَنامِ ظِلالَها
A king whose bow-wood tree branched from Hashim,
His troops shortened their reins around him and minimized their pace,
God spread its shade over humankind.
Yet his reserve forces prolonged it,
جَبَلٌa mountain لِأُمَّتِهِfor his community تَلوذُwhich takes refuge بِرُكنِهِat his side
جَبَلٌ لِأُمَّتِهِ تَلوذُ بِرُكنِهِ
رادىbattled جِبالَthe mountains of عَدُوِّهاits enemy فَأَزالَهاand removed them
رادى جِبالَ عَدُوِّها فَأَزالَها
A mountain for his community, which shelters at his side;
Until the vanguard of his cavalry poured into the enemy its calamity,
he battled its enemy's mountains and swept them away.
He protected the lands of the Muslims, making lawful their lands and mountains,
لَمdid not تَغشَهاbefall it مِمّاof what تَخافُit fears عَظيمَةٌa great calamity
لَم تَغشَها مِمّا تَخافُ عَظيمَةٌ
إِلّاexcept that أَجالَhe turned لَهاfor it الأُمورَaffairs مَجالَهاalong their course
إِلّا أَجالَ لَها الأُمورَ مَجالَها
No great calamity of the kind it fears befalls it
The onslaughts of his horses and his warriors left nothing of them but their icons and families,
but he turns affairs on its behalf along their course,
Can you obscure its stars with your palms, or veil its crescent moon?
حَتّىuntil يُفَرِّجهاhe dispels it أَغَرُّa radiant man مُبارَكٌblessed
حَتّى يُفَرِّجها أَغَرُّ مُبارَكٌ
أَلفىhe found أَباهُhis father مُفَرِّجاًdispelling أَمثالَهاothers like it
أَلفى أَباهُ مُفَرِّجاً أَمثالَها
until a radiant, blessed man dispels it—
Or deny a saying from your Lord which Gabriel delivered to the Prophet who spoke it?
one who found his father dispelling calamities like it.
The last verse of the spoils bore witness to his inheritance - yet you sought to nullify it!
ثَبتٌsteadfast عَلىon زَلَلِthe slipperiness of الحَوادِثِevents راكِبٌriding
ثَبتٌ عَلى زَلَلِ الحَوادِثِ راكِبٌ
مِنfrom صَرفِهِنَّtheir vicissitudes لِكُلِّfor each حالٍcircumstance حالَهاits fitting course
مِن صَرفِهِنَّ لِكُلِّ حالٍ حالَها
Steadfast on the slippery ground of events, he rides
So leave the lions to their feasting in their dens - do not let their cubs taste your blood!
their shifts, taking the fitting course for every circumstance.
The Caliph healed my eyes and adorned them with his blessed hand, I was envied for its gifts,
كِلتاboth يَدَيكَyour hands جَعَلتَyou assigned فَضلَthe abundance of نَوالِهاtheir bounty
كِلتا يَدَيكَ جَعَلتَ فَضلَ نَوالِها
لِلمُسلِمينَfor the Muslims وفيand upon العَدُوِّthe enemy وَبالَهاtheir scourge
لِلمُسلِمينَ وفي العَدُوِّ وَبالَها
You have assigned the abundant bounty of both your hands
Until it was said I walked arrogantly, exuding the self-importance of the overindulged,
to the Muslims, and their scourge to the enemy.
But you followed the path of those who obeyed and those who disobeyed,
وَقَعَتsettled مَواقِعهاin their places بِعَفوِكَthrough your pardon أَنفُسٌsouls
وَقَعَت مَواقِعها بِعَفوِكَ أَنفُسٌ
أَذهَبتَyou dispelled بَعدَafter مَخافَةٍfear أَوجالَهاtheir terrors
أَذهَبتَ بَعدَ مَخافَةٍ أَوجالَها
Souls settled in their places through your pardon;
Walking in the footsteps the Prophet exemplified.
after fear, you dispelled their terrors.
أَمَّنتَyou granted safety to غَيرَwithout مُعاقِبٍpunishing طُرّادَهاtheir pursuers
أَمَّنتَ غَيرَ مُعاقِبٍ طُرّادَها
وَفَكَكتَand you unfastened مِنfrom أُسَرائِهاtheir captives أَغلالَهاtheir shackles
وَفَكَكتَ مِن أُسَرائِها أَغلالَها
You granted safety, without punishment, to their pursuers,
and unfastened the shackles from their captives.
وَنَصَبتَand you set نَفسَكَyourself خَيرَthe best نَفسٍsoul دونَهاin their defense
وَنَصَبتَ نَفسَكَ خَيرَ نَفسٍ دونَها
وَجَعَلتَand you made مالَكَyour wealth واقِياًa protection for أَموالَهاtheir wealth
وَجَعَلتَ مالَكَ واقِياً أَموالَها
And you set yourself, the best of souls, before them in defense,
and made your wealth a protection for their wealth.
هَلquestion marker تَعَمونَyou know (apparently intended) خَليفَةًa caliph مِنfrom قَبلِهِbefore him
هَل تَعَمونَ خَليفَةً مِن قَبلِهِ
أَجرىhe raced لِغايَتِهِtoward his goal الَّتيwhich أَجرىhe raced لَهاfor it
أَجرى لِغايَتِهِ الَّتي أَجرى لَها
Do you know a caliph before him
who raced toward the goal for which he has raced?
طَلَعhe climbed الدُروبthe passes مُشَمِّراًtucking up his garment عَنfrom ساقِهِhis shin
طَلَع الدُروب مُشَمِّراً عَن ساقِهِ
بِالخَيلِwith the cavalry مُنصَلِتاًcharging forth يُجَدُّare renewed نِعالَهاtheir horseshoes
بِالخَيلِ مُنصَلِتاً يُجَدُّ نِعالَها
He climbed the passes, tucking his garment above his shin,
with the cavalry, charging forth, their shoes renewed.
قُوداًlong-necked تُريعُthey turn back إِلىtoward أَغَرَّa radiant man لِوَجهِهِhis face has
قُوداً تُريعُ إِلى أَغَرَّ لِوَجهِهِ
نورٌa light يُضيءُshining أَمامَهاbefore them وَخِلالَهاand among them
نورٌ يُضيءُ أَمامَها وَخِلالَها
Long-necked, they turn toward a radiant man whose face has
a light that shines before them and among them.
قَصُرَتwere too short حَمائِلُهُhis sword-straps عَلَيهَupon him فَقَلَّصَتand rode high
قَصُرَت حَمائِلُهُ عَلَيهَ فَقَلَّصَت
وَلَقدand indeed تَحَفَّظَtook care قَينُهاtheir smith فَأَطالَهاand lengthened them
وَلَقد تَحَفَّظَ قَينُها فَأَطالَها
His sword-straps were too short for him and rode high,
though their smith had taken care and made them long.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen وَرَدَتreached أَوائِلُthe vanguard of خَيلِهِhis cavalry
حَتّى إِذا وَرَدَت أَوائِلُ خَيلِهِ
جَيحانَJayhan بَثَّhe dispersed عَلىagainst العَدُوِّthe enemy رِعالَهاits squadrons
جَيحانَ بَثَّ عَلى العَدُوِّ رِعالَها
Until, when his cavalry's vanguard reached
Jayhan, he loosed its squadrons upon the enemy.
أَحمىhe protected بِلادَthe lands of المُسلِمينَthe Muslims عَلَيهِمagainst them
أَحمى بِلادَ المُسلِمينَ عَلَيهِم
وَأَباحَand he laid open سَهلَthe plains of بِلادِهِمtheir lands وَجِبالَهاand their mountains
وَأَباحَ سَهلَ بِلادِهِم وَجِبالَها
He protected the Muslims' lands against them,
and laid open their country's plains and mountains.
أَدمَتbloodied دَوابِرَthe heels of خَيلِهِhis horses وَشَكيمهاand their bits
أَدمَت دَوابِرَ خَيلِهِ وَشَكيمها
غاراتُهُنَّtheir raids وَأَلحَقَتand drew in آطالَهاtheir flanks
غاراتُهُنَّ وَأَلحَقَت آطالَها
His horses' heels and bits were bloodied
by their raids, which drew their flanks inward.
لَمnot تُبقِleft بَعدَafter مَقادِهاtheir being led وَطِرادِهاand their pursuits
لَم تُبقِ بَعدَ مَقادِها وَطِرادِها
إِلّاexcept نَحائِرَهاtheir chests (sense uncertain) وَإِلّاand except آلَهاtheir outlines
إِلّا نَحائِرَها وَإِلّا آلَها
After they were led and driven in pursuit, nothing remained
except their chests and their outlines.
هَلquestion marker تَطمِسونُyou blot out مِنَfrom السَماءِthe sky نُجومَهاits stars
هَل تَطمِسونُ مِنَ السَماءِ نُجومَها
بِأَكُفِّكُمwith your palms أَمor تَستُرونُyou conceal هِلالَهاits crescent moon
بِأَكُفِّكُم أَم تَستُرونُ هِلالَها
Can you blot out the sky's stars
with your palms, or conceal its crescent?
أَمor تَجحَدونَyou deny مَقالَةًa pronouncement عَنfrom رَبِّكُمyour Lord
أَم تَجحَدونَ مَقالَةً عَن رَبِّكُم
جبِريلُGabriel بَلَّغَهاconveyed it to النَبِيَّthe Prophet فَقالَهاand he spoke it
جبِريلُ بَلَّغَها النَبِيَّ فَقالَها
Or do you deny a pronouncement from your Lord,
which Gabriel conveyed to the Prophet, who then spoke it?
شَهِدَتbore witness مِنَof الأَنفالِal-Anfal (The Spoils) آخِرُthe final آيَةٍverse
شَهِدَت مِنَ الأَنفالِ آخِرُ آيَةٍ
بِتُراثِهِمto their inheritance فَأَرَدتُمُyet you sought إِبطالَهاto annul it
بِتُراثِهِم فَأَرَدتُمُ إِبطالَها
The final verse of al-Anfal bore witness
to their inheritance, yet you sought to annul that verse.
فَذَرواso leave الأُسودَthe lions خَوادِراًlying hidden فيin غيلِهاtheir thickets
فَذَروا الأُسودَ خَوادِراً في غيلِها
لاdo not تولِغُنَّever make lap دِماءَكُمyour blood أَشبالَهاtheir cubs
لا تولِغُنَّ دِماءَكُم أَشبالَها
So leave the lions lying hidden in their thickets;
never make their cubs lap your blood.
رَقَعmended الخَليفَةُthe caliph ناظِرَيَّmy two eyes وَراشَنيand enriched me
رَقَع الخَليفَةُ ناظِرَيَّ وَراشَني
بِيَدٍwith a hand مُبارَكَةٍblessed شَكَرتُI gave thanks for نَوالَهاits bounty
بِيَدٍ مُبارَكَةٍ شَكَرتُ نَوالَها
The caliph mended my eyes and feathered me
with a blessed hand for whose bounty I gave thanks.
وَحُسِدتُand I was envied حَتّىuntil قيلَit was said أَصبَحَhe became باغِياًinsolent
وَحُسِدتُ حَتّى قيلَ أَصبَحَ باغِياً
فيin المَشيِhis walk مُتَرَفَpampered شيمَةin disposition مُختالَهاswaggering in it
في المَشيِ مُتَرَفَ شيمَة مُختالَها
And I was envied, until it was said: 'He has become insolent
in his walk, pampered in disposition and swaggering in it.'
وَلَقَدand indeed حَذَوتَyou fashioned لِمَنfor whoever أَطاعَobeyed وَمَنand whoever عَصىdisobeyed
وَلَقَد حَذَوتَ لِمَن أَطاعَ وَمَن عَصى
نَعلاًa sandal وَرِثتَyou inherited عَنِfrom النَبِيِّthe Prophet مِثالَهاits pattern
نَعلاً وَرِثتَ عَنِ النَبِيِّ مِثالَها
You have indeed fashioned, for those who obeyed and those who disobeyed,
a sandal whose pattern you inherited from the Prophet.
Partial English translation: 41 of 76 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1