مَنwho لصَبٍّfor a lovesick one تصاعدتmounted حسراتُهhis regrets
مَن لصَبٍّ تصاعدت حسراتُه
ومُحبٍّand a lover تساقطتfell عَبَرَاتُهhis tears
ومُحبٍّ تساقطت عَبَرَاتُه
Who will aid a lovesick one whose regrets have mounted,
One whose longing arose in grief,
and a lover whose tears have fallen?
whose lover's tears fell,
مَنwho لهfor him إنif رماهassailed him بالهجرwith abandonment والand the—
مَن له إن رماه بالهجر وال
بينseparation حبيبٌa beloved معشوقةٌadored لمحاتُهhis glances
بين حبيبٌ معشوقةٌ لمحاتُه
Who will aid him if he is struck with abandonment and
one whose beloved's glances revived him when estranged,
separation by a beloved whose glances are adored?
my soul is stirred by his tread, like a wandering gazelle,
وبنفسيand my soul as ransom الظبيُthe gazelle الأغَنُّsoftly nasal-voiced إذاwhen ماever (with 'when')
وبنفسي الظبيُ الأغَنُّ إذا ما
قامَrose يمشىwalks تهزُّنيstir me خطراتُهhis swaying steps
قامَ يمشى تهزُّني خطراتُه
My soul be ransom for the soft-voiced gazelle whenever
if he stirs his lips with a word,
he rises and walks: his swaying steps stir me.
our bodies swoon at his motions.
وإذاand when حرَّكَmoved الشفاهَthe lips بلفظٍwith an utterance
وإذا حرَّكَ الشفاهَ بلفظٍ
منهfrom him أضنتwasted جسومَناour bodies حركاتُهhis movements
منه أضنت جسومَنا حركاتُه
And whenever he moves his lips to utter a word
I'm his victim of passion and ecstasy,
of his, his movements waste our bodies.
and the companion of passion - his life cannot be hoped for.
أناI منهby him قتيلُslain شوقٍlonging ووَجْدٍand passion
أنا منه قتيلُ شوقٍ ووَجْدٍ
وأَخوand one possessed of الشوقlonging ليسis not تُرْجَىhoped for حياتُهhis life
وأَخو الشوق ليس تُرْجَى حياتُه
By him I am slain with longing and passion;
Wondrous is he who denies the slain,
one possessed by longing has no hope of life.
while my witnesses against him are his spear-thrusts.
عجباًhow strange! منهof him كيفhow ينكِرُdenies قتلىmy slaying
عجباً منه كيف ينكِرُ قتلى
وشُهودِيand my witnesses عليهagainst him ليfor me وَجَنَاتُهhis cheeks
وشُهودِي عليه لي وَجَنَاتُه
How strange of him—how can he deny my slaying,
I'm drunk with love like him, but
when his cheeks are my witnesses against him?
his intoxications do him no harm.
أناI سكرانُdrunk مثلهlike him فيin الهَوىlove لكbeginning of 'but he'
أنا سكرانُ مثله في الهَوى لك
نّهcompletion of 'but he' لاnot تضرُّهharm him سكراتُهhis drunken trances
نّه لا تضرُّه سكراتُه
I am drunk like him with love, but
I'm delighted by him, but he was bent
his drunken trances do him no harm.
in youth by the flexing of his figure.
أناI نشوانُintoxicated منهby him لكنهbut he زاbeginning of 'adorned'
أنا نشوانُ منه لكنه زا
نَتْcompletion of 'adorned' بعطِفَيْهon his two flanks فيin الصباyouth نشواتُهhis ecstasies
نَتْ بعطِفَيْه في الصبا نشواتُه
I am intoxicated by him, yet
His glances kill the lovers if he unsheathes
his ecstasies in youth have adorned his flanks.
a sword from their lives for a moment.
يقتلُkills العاشقينthe lovers إنif سلَّdrew سيفاًa sword
يقتلُ العاشقين إن سلَّ سيفاً
مِنfrom جفونِeyelids حياتهمtheir life لحظاتُهhis glances
مِن جفونِ حياتهم لحظاتُه
He kills lovers when he draws a sword
A beloved who increases my love when he spurns me
from his eyelids; his glances are their life.
after nearness with affection then estrangement.
وحبيبٍand a beloved يزيدُنيincreases for me إنif جفانيhe shuns me
وحبيبٍ يزيدُني إن جفاني
بعدَafter قُرْبٍcloseness مودةًaffection جفواتُهhis estrangements
بعدَ قُرْبٍ مودةً جفواتُه
And a beloved—if he shuns me,
My death is his abandonment and turning away,
his estrangements after closeness deepen my affection.
and my life is in his intimacy after turning toward me.
فمماتيso my death هجرانُهhis abandonment ونَوَاهُand his distance
فمماتي هجرانُه ونَوَاهُ
وحياتيand my life بعدَafter النَّوَىseparation خلواتُهhis private meetings
وحياتي بعدَ النَّوَى خلواتُه
His abandonment and distance are my death;
How sweet is meeting him after being apart,
his private meetings after separation are my life.
were it not for his enviers and slanderers.
ماhow أَحْلَىsweet لقاءَهmeeting him بعدafter بَيْنِparting
ما أَحْلَى لقاءَه بعد بَيْنِ
منهfrom him لولاwere it not for حُسَّاُدهhis enviers ووشاتُهand his slanderers
منه لولا حُسَّاُده ووشاتُه
How sweet to meet him after parting
My heart is weakened with love for him had it not been for his love
from him, were it not for his enviers and slanderers!
that gave me the wine of passion to drink.
أَناI مُضْنَيwasted الفؤادthe heart لولاwere it not for هواهlove for him
أَنا مُضْنَي الفؤاد لولا هواه
ماnot سقتنيgave me to drink كاسَthe cup الغرامِof passion سقاتُهhis cupbearers
ما سقتني كاسَ الغرامِ سقاتُه
I am wasted at heart; were it not for loving him,
Perhaps one day I'll be successful in meeting him
his cupbearers would not have given me the cup of passion.
and his melodies will revive my joyousness,
فلعلىso perhaps I أَفوزُshall attain يوماone day بلقياa meeting with—
فلعلى أَفوزُ يوما بلقيا
هُhim وتُحيىand revive حَشاشتيmy remaining life نغماتُهhis melodies
هُ وتُحيى حَشاشتي نغماتُه
Perhaps one day I shall win a meeting
by a miser I sent my tears toward his rainclouds
with him, and his melodies will revive what life remains in me.
and his meadows were watered.
وبخيلٍand one miserly بالوصلwith union أَرسلْتُI sent دمعيmy tears
وبخيلٍ بالوصل أَرسلْتُ دمعي
نحوtoward مَغْناهhis dwelling فارتوتand drank their fill عرصاتُهhis courtyards
نحو مَغْناه فارتوت عرصاتُه
And one miserly with union—I sent my tears
As if the Imam Sultan bestowed generosity,
toward his dwelling, and its courtyards drank their fill.
for generosity is his nature.
فكأنso it is as though الإمامَthe imam سلطانَSultan أعداinfected—
فكأن الإمامَ سلطانَ أعدا
هُhim سخاءًwith generosity فإنماfor indeed الجودُgenerosity ذاتُهhis very essence
هُ سخاءً فإنما الجودُ ذاتُه
It is as though Imam Sultan had infected
Comfort, dew, favor, kindness, glory and loftiness
him with generosity, for generosity is his very essence.
are his habits.
والنَّدَىand bounty والإنعامُand beneficence والفضلُand favor والإand kindness (beginning)
والنَّدَى والإنعامُ والفضلُ والإ
حسانُkindness (completion) والمجدُand glory والعُلاand loftiness عاداتُهhis habits
حسانُ والمجدُ والعُلا عاداتُه
Bounty, beneficence, favor, and
The heart finds rest with him though empty
kindness, glory, and loftiness are his habits.
of wealth, family, and oases.
راحةُease القلبِof the heart عندهwith him إنif خَلَتْbecame empty منof
راحةُ القلبِ عنده إن خَلَتْ من
مالهhis wealth أوor لُجَيْنِهhis silver واحاتُهhis oases
ماله أو لُجَيْنِه واحاتُه
His heart finds ease when his oases are emptied of
He is the lord of dew, lord of generous hands,
his wealth or his silver.
feared by the deer for his raids.
هوhe ربُّlord of الندىbounty وربُّand lord of الأياديfavors
هو ربُّ الندى وربُّ الأيادي
الغُرِّresplendent مرهوبةُfeared الظباthe sword-edges غاراتُهhis raids
الغُرِّ مرهوبةُ الظبا غاراتُه
He is lord of bounty and lord of favors
A just imam who is unjust with wealth,
resplendent; the sword-edges of his raids are feared.
generously, as if it were his disobedience.
وإمامٌand an imam عدلjust يجورُwrongs علىagainst الأمواwealth (beginning)
وإمامٌ عدل يجورُ على الأموا
لِwealth (completion) جُوداًthrough generosity كأنهنas though they were عُصاتُهhis rebels
لِ جُوداً كأنهن عُصاتُه
And a just imam who wrongs his
A governor good in rule, spending freely -
wealth by generosity, as though it were his rebels.
obedience to God among people is his obedience.
وولىٌّand a patron يولىbestows جميلاkindness ويسخوand gives generously
وولىٌّ يولى جميلا ويسخو
طاعةُobedience to اللهGod فيamong الورىmankind طاعاتُهhis acts of obedience
طاعةُ الله في الورى طاعاتُه
And a patron who bestows kindness and gives freely;
Pleased, whose pleasure is God’s pleasure,
his acts of obedience among mankind are obedience to God.
and devout, whose deeds are desired.
ورضىٌّand one well-pleasing رضاthe pleasure of الإلهGod رضاهhis pleasure
ورضىٌّ رضا الإله رضاه
وتقيٌّand a pious man أَعمالُهhis deeds مرضاتُهHis approval
وتقيٌّ أَعمالُه مرضاتُه
And one well-pleasing, whose pleasure is God's pleasure;
A sovereign whose sovereigns are servants,
and one devout, whose deeds win His approval.
generous, the meadows are his open hands.
ومليكٌand a king لهto him الملوكُthe kings عبيدٌslaves
ومليكٌ له الملوكُ عبيدٌ
وسخىٌّand a generous man كلall البراياcreation عُفاتُهhis petitioners
وسخىٌّ كل البرايا عُفاتُه
And a king to whom kings are slaves;
Valiant, who wades into the sea of death,
and a generous man whose petitioners are all creation.
his firmness not weakened by its waves.
وشجاعٌand a brave man يخوضُplunges into بحرthe sea of المناياdeaths
وشجاعٌ يخوضُ بحر المنايا
لمdid not تَهِلْهُfrighten him منof الردىdeath غمراتُهits engulfing depths
لم تَهِلْهُ من الردى غمراتُه
And a brave man who plunges into the sea of death;
Stalwart, who withstands souls with power,
death's depths have never frightened him.
in a dark battle whose raids are blackened.
وقويٌّand a strong man يجشِّمُmakes endure النفسthe soul بأْساًbattle's might
وقويٌّ يجشِّمُ النفس بأْساً
فيin وَطيسٍa furnace of battle مسودةٍdarkening غاراتُهhis raids
في وَطيسٍ مسودةٍ غاراتُه
And one strong, who makes his soul endure battle's might
Stout of heart, who has no peer,
in war's furnace, with raids that darken it.
his famous generosity widely known.
باسِلُbrave القلبِof heart ماnot لهfor him منany نظيرequal
باسِلُ القلبِ ما له من نظير
فيin سَظاهُhis might (unclear spelling) مشهورةٌrenowned كرَّاتُهhis charges
في سَظاهُ مشهورةٌ كرَّاتُه
Brave of heart, he has no equal
He leads the nomads, enslaves the settled,
in his [might]; his charges are renowned.
his grace and affection hoped for.
يعربىّa Ya'rubi الأعرابthe Bedouin Arabs يستعبدُenslaves الأحfree men (beginning)
يعربىّ الأعراب يستعبدُ الأح
رارfree men (completion) تُرْجَىare hoped for أفضالُهhis favors وصِلاتُهand his gifts
رار تُرْجَى أفضالُه وصِلاتُه
A Ya'rubi among the Bedouin Arabs, he enslaves
His concern is the rule of kingdoms -
free men; his favors and gifts are hoped for.
his struggle, fasting, and prayers.
هَمُّهhis concern تدبيرُmanagement of الممالكthe realms فيin
هَمُّه تدبيرُ الممالك في
الملكthe kingdom اجتهاداًdiligently وصومُهand his fasting وصلاتُهand his prayer
الملك اجتهاداً وصومُه وصلاتُه
His concern is governing the realms within
His state is one whether prosperous or wretched,
his kingdom diligently, together with his fasting and prayer.
his states are equal in both.
حالُهhis state فيin السراءِprosperity حالٌa state وفيand in الضرَّاadversity (beginning)
حالُه في السراءِ حالٌ وفي الضرَّا
ءِadversity (completion) سيانِalike فيهماin both حالاتُهhis states
ءِ سيانِ فيهما حالاتُه
His state in prosperity is the same as in adversity;
For glory he is an asset, and for the heights
in both, his states are alike.
his aims in the land are endless.
فهْوso he للمجدfor glory غلةٌa yield or harvest والمعاليand lofty deeds
فهْو للمجد غلةٌ والمعالي
فيamong البراياmankind لاnot تنتهىreach an end غاياتُهhis aims
في البرايا لا تنتهى غاياتُه
He is a harvest of glory and lofty deeds;
To him belong grandeur, kingdom, and praise -
among mankind, his aims know no end.
flags exalted and renowned.
ولهand his are الكِبْرياءُgrandeur والملكُand dominion والحمدُand praise
وله الكِبْرياءُ والملكُ والحمدُ
علاءٌlofty honor مشهورةٌrenowned راياتُهhis banners
علاءٌ مشهورةٌ راياتُه
His are grandeur, dominion, and praise,
Descriptors fall short describing him,
and lofty honor; his banners are renowned.
his attributes too majestic for them.
يعجزُare unable الواصفونَthe describers أنto يصفرهdescribe him (likely intended)
يعجزُ الواصفونَ أن يصفره
بصفاتٍwith qualities تجلٌّtranscend عنهمbeyond them صفاتُهhis qualities
بصفاتٍ تجلٌّ عنهم صفاتُه
Describers are powerless to [describe him]
Through him our age was adorned and by his
in qualities: his qualities transcend them.
law, his words about our religion clarified.
فبهso through him زانَadorned دهرَناour age وتجلَّتْand shone forth
فبه زانَ دهرَنا وتجلَّتْ
بسناهby his radiance عنconcerning دينناour faith كلماتُهhis words
بسناه عن ديننا كلماتُه
Through him our age was adorned, and
The times grew straight after crookedness
by his radiance, his words concerning our faith shone forth.
and its nights were illuminated by his justice.
واستقامَand became upright الزمانُTime بعدَafter اعوجاجِcrookedness
واستقامَ الزمانُ بعدَ اعوجاجِ
وأنارتand shone بعدلهthrough his justice ليلاتُهits nights
وأنارت بعدله ليلاتُه
Time grew upright after crookedness,
The pillar of the deceitful collapsed,
and its nights shone through his justice.
their courts emptied and abandoned.
وبهand through him انهدَّcollapsed ركْنُthe pillar of أهلthe people of المخازيdisgraces
وبه انهدَّ ركْنُ أهل المخازي
فتداعَىso it crumbled وأقفرتand became deserted ساحاتُهits courtyards
فتداعَى وأقفرت ساحاتُه
Through him, the pillar of the shameful collapsed,
Justice prevailed in the regions
so it crumbled, and its courtyards stood deserted.
through his judgments, and his governors were set right.
وغداand became العدلُjustice فيthroughout النواحيthe regions عميماًuniversal
وغدا العدلُ في النواحي عميماً
بقضاياهthrough his judgments واستقامتand became upright ولاتُهhis governors
بقضاياه واستقامت ولاتُه
Justice became universal throughout the regions
Passion faded, and its people censured ignorance
through his judgments, and his governors grew upright.
and injustice, and its term expired.
واضمحلَّand faded away الهوىcaprice وأهلوهand its followers أهpeople (beginning)
واضمحلَّ الهوى وأهلوه أه
لُpeople (completion) الجورِinjustice والجهلand ignorance وانقضَىand ended ميقاتُهits appointed time
لُ الجورِ والجهل وانقضَى ميقاتُه
Caprice faded away, and its followers, the
Whoever supports him is always laden
people of injustice and ignorance; its appointed time ended.
with good deeds on his balance.
إنindeed مَنwhoever والاهbefriended him علىin كلevery حالِcircumstance
إن مَن والاه على كل حالِ
ثقلتgrew weighty فيin مَعادهhis final return حسناتُهhis good deeds
ثقلت في مَعاده حسناتُه
Whoever befriends him in every circumstance
Whoever disobeys the imams in religion
will have weighty good deeds upon his final return.
grave are his stumbles.
إنindeed مَنwhoever عَصَىdisobeyed الأئمةthe imams فيin الديthe faith (beginning)
إن مَن عَصَى الأئمة في الدي
نfaith (completion) الحنبفيِّupright (unclear spelling) عظيمةٌgrave زَلاَّتُهhis transgressions
ن الحنبفيِّ عظيمةٌ زَلاَّتُه
Whoever disobeys the imams in the
Whoever breaks from them is misguided,
[upright] faith has grave transgressions.
his life and death equal.
ومَنand whoever انسلَّslipped away عنهمُfrom them فهوthen he is مَغْبوcheated (beginning)
ومَن انسلَّ عنهمُ فهو مَغْبو
نٌcheated (completion) سواءٌalike حياتُهhis life وحماتُهand his protectors (probably 'his death')
نٌ سواءٌ حياتُه وحماتُه
Whoever slips away from them is cheated;
His nearness enriched me with his generosity,
his life and [death] are alike.
and dispelled my heart's doubts - without his justice
قرَّبتْنيbrought me near زُلْفَىin closeness إليهto him فأمسيتُso I became
قرَّبتْني زُلْفَى إليه فأمسيتُ
غنيّاًwealthy بجودهthrough his generosity قرباتُهhis favors of closeness
غنيّاً بجوده قرباتُه
His favors of closeness brought me near him, and I became
doubts would not have been dispelled.
wealthy through his generosity.
My heart desires none but praising him
وانجلتand cleared away شبهةُthe doubt of الفؤادthe heart ولولاand were it not for
وانجلت شبهةُ الفؤاد ولولا
عدلُهhis justice الحقُّtrue ماnot انجلتcleared away شبهاتُهits doubts
عدلُه الحقُّ ما انجلت شبهاتُه
The heart's doubt cleared away; but for
and praising him is its passion.
his true justice, its doubts would not have cleared.
O Imam of the people, Sultan of the sword,
إنindeed قلبيmy heart لاnot يشتهيdesires غيرother than مدحيهmy praising him
إن قلبي لا يشتهي غير مدحيه
وإنِّيand indeed I ومدحَهand praising him شهواتُهits desires
وإنِّي ومدحَه شهواتُه
My heart desires nothing but to praise him;
through you our time was adorned and its moments made virtuous.
and I—his praise is all that it desires.
You are the best imam for us, for
ياO إمامَimam of الأنامِmankind سلطانَSultan سيفِSayf
يا إمامَ الأنامِ سلطانَ سيفِ
بِكَthrough you زانتadorned زمانناour age أوقاتُهits moments
بِكَ زانت زماننا أوقاتُه
O imam of mankind, Sultan Sayf,
the times were defiant with troubles.
through you the moments of our age are adorned.
So decide in life what you will, for
أنتَyou نِعْمَexcellent is الإمامُthe imam فيناamong us لأنbecause
أنتَ نِعْمَ الإمامُ فينا لأن
الدهرَTime عنَّاaway from us مأْسورةٌheld captive آفاتُهits afflictions
الدهرَ عنَّا مأْسورةٌ آفاتُه
You are an excellent imam among us, because
life is a submissive slave whose steps are controlled.
Time's afflictions are held captive away from us.
O finest of the noble, blessed is the age
فاقضِso decree فيin الدهرTime ماwhatever تشاءyou wish فإنّfor indeed
فاقضِ في الدهر ما تشاء فإنّ
الدهرَTime عبدٌa slave مقِهورةٌsubdued خطواتُهits steps
الدهرَ عبدٌ مقِهورةٌ خطواتُه
Decree in Time whatever you wish, for
for you are its masters today in the world.
Time is a slave whose steps are subdued.
For you are the imams of justice in religion,
ياO فَتىyoung man of الأكرمينthe most generous طُوبَىblessedness لدهرِfor an age
يا فَتى الأكرمين طُوبَى لدهرِ
أنتمُyou اليومَtoday فيamong الورىmankind ساداتُهits masters
أنتمُ اليومَ في الورى ساداتُه
O youth of the most generous, blessed is an age
its shelter and guardians.
whose masters among mankind today are you.
For you are its cavaliers and governors,
ولأنتمand you indeed أئمةُimams of العدلِjustice فيin الدينthe faith
ولأنتم أئمةُ العدلِ في الدين
وأنتمand you ليونُهits lions (unclear spelling) وحماتُهand its protectors
وأنتم ليونُه وحماتُه
You are indeed the imams of justice in the faith,
its stalwarts and guardians.
and you are its [lions] and its protectors.
O nobles of mankind, an age grew mighty
ولأنتمand you indeed قصاتُهits judges (unclear spelling) وولاتُهand its governors
ولأنتم قصاتُه وولاتُه
ولأنتمand you indeed شجعانُهits brave men وكُماتُهand its armored champions
ولأنتم شجعانُه وكُماتُه
You are indeed its [judges] and its governors,
when you reformed it, for you are its nobles.
and you are indeed its brave men and armored champions.
O suns of time, were it not for you,
ياO سراةَnobles of الأنامِmankind عزَّgrew mighty زمانٌan age
يا سراةَ الأنامِ عزَّ زمانٌ
قدindeed أقمتمyou dwelt بهin it وأنتمand you سَراتُهits nobles
قد أقمتم به وأنتم سَراتُه
O nobles of mankind, mighty is an age
time would be stripped of light and its splendor darkened.
in which you dwell, and whose nobles you are.
For our religion was made straight,
ياO شموسَsuns of الزمانِTime لولاكُمُwere it not for you
يا شموسَ الزمانِ لولاكُمُ
الدهرُTime تَعَرَّىbecame stripped bare وأظلمتand darkened بهجاتُهits splendors
الدهرُ تَعَرَّى وأظلمت بهجاتُه
O suns of Time, without you,
and its fruits ripened for us.
Time would be stripped bare and its splendors darkened.
May God eternalize your kingdom and be pleased with you
ولماand would not كانbe دينُناour faith مستقيماًupright
ولما كان دينُنا مستقيماً
ولماand would not أينعتripen لناfor us ثمراتُهits fruits
ولما أينعت لنا ثمراتُه
Nor would our faith stand upright,
in an age adorned by your groups.
nor would its fruits ripen for us.
Our age fears you - if you abandoned it,
خلَّدَmay make everlasting اللهGod ملككمyour dominion وارتضاكُمand be pleased with you
خلَّدَ الله ملككم وارتضاكُم
فيin زمانٍan age زانتadorned بكمthrough you جُمْعَاتُهits Fridays
في زمانٍ زانت بكم جُمْعَاتُه
May God make your dominion everlasting and be pleased with you
none of its hours would flow.
in an age whose Fridays are adorned by you.
How can time disobey you while you are
هابكمfeared you دهرناour age فلوso if أنكمyou تَنْهَوْyou forbid it (beginning)
هابكم دهرنا فلو أنكم تَنْهَوْ
نَهyou forbid it (completion) لمwould not تَجُرْact unjustly بناtoward us ساعاتُهits hours
نَه لم تَجُرْ بنا ساعاتُه
Our age fears you; if you were to forbid
its party, even its champions and guardians?
it, its hours would not wrong us.
Command it, for it obeys you in all
كيفhow يعصيكمdisobey you الزمانُTime وأنتمwhile you
كيف يعصيكم الزمانُ وأنتم
حِزْبهits host بلrather لُيوثهits lions وكُماتُهand its armored champions
حِزْبه بل لُيوثه وكُماتُه
How can Time disobey you, when you are
you order - none of its moments disobey.
its host—rather, its lions and armored champions?
Shall I blame time when justice
فمُرُوهso command it فهْوَfor it is المطيعُthe obedient لكمto you فيin
فمُرُوه فهْوَ المطيعُ لكم في
ماwhatever أمرتمyou command وليسand are not تُعْصَىdisobeyed سُعاتُهits envoys
ما أمرتم وليس تُعْصَى سُعاتُه
Command it, for it obeys you in
reigns among us and you are its confidants?
whatever you command, and its envoys are not disobeyed.
Time is in your hands, as are its people,
أأذمُّshall I blame الزمانَTime والعدلُwhile justice فيهwithin it
أأذمُّ الزمانَ والعدلُ فيه
قائمٌstanding بينناamong us وأنتمand you ثِقاتُهits trusted ones
قائمٌ بيننا وأنتم ثِقاتُه
Shall I condemn Time when justice within it
as are its life and death.
stands among us, and you are its trusted ones?
Advance in peace to the highest degree,
وبأيديكمand in your hands الزمانُTime وأهلوهُand its people
وبأيديكم الزمانُ وأهلوهُ
ومنكمand from you حياتُهits life ومماتُهand its death
ومنكم حياتُه ومماتُه
Time and its people are in your hands,
for the Highest degree belongs to you.
and from you come its life and its death.
The earth and time are adorned with you, and
وارفقواand proceed gently سالمينsafe فيon دَرَجthe steps of العَلياthe highest rank
وارفقوا سالمين في دَرَج العَليا
فإنfor indeed العُلَىloftiness لكمare yours درجاتُهits steps
فإن العُلَى لكم درجاتُه
Proceed gently, safe, on the steps of the highest rank,
knowledge - its scattered parts collected through you.
for the steps of loftiness are yours.
its breaths exuded musk,
زانتwere adorned الأرضthe earth والزمانُand Time بكمthrough you والْand the—
زانت الأرض والزمانُ بكم والْ
عِلْمُknowledge صارتbecame مجموعةًgathered together أشتاتُهits scattered parts
عِلْمُ صارت مجموعةً أشتاتُه
The earth and Time are adorned by you, and
In lines as if hidden pearls,
knowledge has had its scattered parts gathered together.
adorned by its components.
هاكَtake this مدحاًpraise ياO ابنson of الكرامthe noble كأنas though
هاكَ مدحاً يا ابن الكرام كأن
المسكmusk منهfrom it تضوَّعَتspread fragrantly نفحاتُهits wafts of scent
المسك منه تضوَّعَت نفحاتُه
Take this praise, O son of the noble, as though
With folds telling of the folds of a beloved,
musk's fragrant wafts spread from it.
nay, depicted by its sips.
بقَوَافٍin rhymes كأنهاas though they were اللؤلؤpearls المكنونhidden
بقَوَافٍ كأنها اللؤلؤ المكنون
نظماًstrung in verse قدindeed زينتهadorned it مَهاتُهits crystal gems
نظماً قد زينته مَهاتُه
With rhymes like hidden pearls,
It is sweeter than rest for the loyal,
strung in verse, adorned by its crystal gems.
and for foes, its heat suffices you.
وثناياand folds of verse تحكىresemble ثناياfront teeth of حبيبٍa beloved
وثنايا تحكى ثنايا حبيبٍ
بلrather حكَتْهmirrored it منfrom ثغرهhis mouth رشفاتُهhis sips
بل حكَتْه من ثغره رشفاتُه
And folds of verse that mirror a beloved's front teeth;
It surpassed all poetry, and people busied
rather, sips from his mouth have mirrored it.
themselves with interpreting it, while its narrations wandered.
فهوso it is أحلىsweeter منthan المُنَىwishes للمواليto the loyal friend
فهو أحلى من المُنَى للموالي
والمعاديand the enemy تكفيكمُsuffice you حُرقاتُهits burning pangs
والمعادي تكفيكمُ حُرقاتُه
For the loyal friend, it is sweeter than wishes;
Truly, composing poetry is little,
against the enemy, its burning pangs suffice you.
many are its narrations and links.
فاقَsurpassed كلall القريضpoetry فاشتغلso became occupied الناpeople (beginning)
فاقَ كل القريض فاشتغل النا
سُpeople (completion) بتفسيرهwith interpreting it وتاهتand grew proud رُواتُهits reciters
سُ بتفسيره وتاهت رُواتُه
It has surpassed all poetry, so
people labor to interpret it, and its reciters grow proud.
إنماonly صاغَةُcraftsmen of القريضpoetry قليلٌfew
إنما صاغَةُ القريض قليلٌ
وكثيرٌand many رُواتُهits reciters وشُداتُهand its singers
وكثيرٌ رُواتُه وشُداتُه
The craftsmen of poetry are few,
but its reciters and singers are many.
Partial English translation: 128 of 132 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1