أَجَلْyes. أناI لَيْلايَmy Layla منthe one who عاشَرَlived with البَلوىaffliction
أَجَلْ. أنا لَيْلايَ من عاشَرَ البَلوى
سِنيناًfor years. ولمand did not يُبْدِshow الدُّموعَtears ولاnor الشَّكْوىcomplaint!
سِنيناً. ولم يُبْدِ الدُّموعَ ولا الشَّكْوى!
Yes, my Layla, I am the one who lived with affliction
Yes, I am the one who spent ten years in affliction
For years, and showed neither tears nor complaint!
Yet did not shed a tear or utter a complaint
أَجَلْyes أناI هذاthis one المُسْتَويstanding upright بِضَمِيِرِهِwith his conscience...
أَجَلْ أنا هذا المُسْتَوي بِضَمِيِرِهِ...
بِذَرْوةِat the summit of صَبْرٍpatience لاnot يَضِيقُgrows cramped بهاat it المَثْوىthe dwelling!
بِذَرْوةِ صَبْرٍ لا يَضِيقُ بها المَثْوى!
Yes, I am the one who stands with his conscience
Yes, I am the one with the steadfast conscience
At patience's summit, where the dwelling never grows cramped!
With patience that this abode cannot constrain
أَجَلْyes أناI هذاthis one فاذْكريso remember ذلكَthat one الذيwho
أَجَلْ أنا هذا فاذْكري ذلكَ الذي
رآكsaw you فلمand could not يَمِلِكْretain هُداهُhis guidance ولاnor التَّقْوىpiety!
رآك فلم يَمِلِكْ هُداهُ ولا التَّقْوى!
Yes, I am this man; remember the one who
Yes, I am the one, so remember the one who saw you
Saw you and could retain neither his guidance nor his piety!
And could not restrain himself or piety
وكْنْتِand you were لهfor him نَبْضَthe pulse of الحياةlife ورَاحَهاand its wine
وكْنْتِ له نَبْضَ الحياة ورَاحَها
ورَيْحانِهاand its sweet basil . والمَجْدُand glory والشِّعْرُand poetry والنَّجْوىand intimate whispers!
ورَيْحانِها . والمَجْدُ والشِّعْرُ والنَّجْوى!
You were for him life's pulse and its wine,
You were the pulse of his life and its comfort
And its sweet basil, and glory, poetry, and whispered confidences!
And its basil, his glory, poetry and whispering confidences
وكانتand there were زِياراتُvisits. وكانتْand there were مَواثِقٌpledges
وكانت زِياراتُ. وكانتْ مَواثِقٌ
تَعَهَّدْتِyou pledged فيهاin them أَنَّكِthat you السَّعْدُhappiness والرَّضوىand contentment!
تَعَهَّدْتِ فيها أَنَّكِ السَّعْدُ والرَّضوى!
There were visits, and there were pledges
There were visits, pledges you made
In which you promised that you were happiness and contentment!
In which you vouched that you were his happiness and acceptance
وضَحَّيْتِand you sacrificed منfor أَجْلىmy sake بِشَتَّىall kinds of أًَواصرٍties
وضَحَّيْتِ من أَجْلى بِشَتَّى أًَواصرٍ
وآثَرْتِand you preferred عَنْهاover them كلَّهاall of them ذلكَthat المأْوىrefuge!
وآثَرْتِ عَنْها كلَّها ذلكَ المأْوى!
For my sake you sacrificed all manner of ties,
And for my sake you forfeited all bonds
And chose that refuge over them all!
Preferring over them all only that shelter
نعِمْناwe lived in bliss بهin it حِيناًa while منof الدَّهْرtime حالياًpleasant
نعِمْنا به حِيناً من الدَّهْر حالياً
نَعِيشُwe live بهin it كالطَّيْرِlike a bird يَسْتَعْذِبُfinds sweet الجَوَّاthe air!
نَعِيشُ به كالطَّيْرِ يَسْتَعْذِبُ الجَوَّا!
We lived in bliss there for a pleasant span of time,
For a while we reveled in the days of life
Living there like a bird savoring the air!
Living like birds savoring the air
يداعِبُناcaresses us شَجْوٌyearning فَيَطوٍيand so it folds جَوانِحاًribs; hearts
يداعِبُنا شَجْوٌ فَيَطوٍي جَوانِحاً
عليهaround it. ونَأْبىand we refuse أَنْto تُخامِرَهmingle with it السَّلوىforgetfulness!
عليه. ونَأْبى أَنْ تُخامِرَه السَّلوى!
Yearning caressed us, folding our hearts
Melancholy toys with us, then folds its wings over us
Around itself; we refused to let forgetfulness mingle with it!
And we refuse to let it disturb our joy
وماand how كانَwas أَحْلاهُsweet it was هَوًىpassion وطَراوَةًand tenderness
وما كانَ أَحْلاهُ هَوًى وطَراوَةً
فَكُنَّاso we were بهthrough it النَّشْوانَthe intoxicated man يَثْمَلُgrows drunk والنَّشوىand the intoxicated woman!
فَكُنَّا به النَّشْوانَ يَثْمَلُ والنَّشوى!
And how sweet it was in passion and tenderness!
And however sweet his passion and freshness may be
So through it we were the drunken man, growing drunk, and the drunken woman!
In it we delighted, bountifully intoxicated
تقَمَّصَclothed itself in رُوحَيْناour two souls فكُنَّاso we became كَتوْأَمٍlike twins
تقَمَّصَ رُوحَيْنا فكُنَّا كَتوْأَمٍ
يَراهsees him الورىpeople فَرْداًas one .. فماso how أكْرَمَnoble الشّجواyearning!
يَراه الورى فَرْداً .. فما أكْرَمَ الشّجوا!
It clothed itself in both our souls, and we became like twins
It wore both our souls so we were like twins
Whom the world saw as one—how noble that yearning was!
Seen by people as one .. How noble is sadness!
فكيفso how هَوىfell النَّجْمُthe star الوَضيءُradiant إلىto الثَّرىthe dust؟!
فكيف هَوى النَّجْمُ الوَضيءُ إلى الثَّرى؟!
وكيفand how غَداbecame العِملاقُthe giant ياO حُلْوتيmy sweet one شِلْواa torn remnant؟!
وكيف غَدا العِملاقُ يا حُلْوتي شِلْوا؟!
How, then, did the radiant star fall to the dust?
So how did the shining star fall to the ground?
And how, my sweet one, did the giant become a torn remnant?
And how did the giant become, my sweetness, withered?
قدِرْتِyou managed علىto هذاthis المُحالimpossible thing فَرُعْتِنيso you terrified me
قدِرْتِ على هذا المُحال فَرُعْتِني
بِهَوْلِwith the horror of فِراقٍparting كانwas أَنْكىmore wounding منthan البّلْوىaffliction!
بِهَوْلِ فِراقٍ كان أَنْكى من البّلْوى!
You achieved this impossible thing and terrified me
You had the power for this impossible thing, and terrified me
With the horror of a parting more wounding than affliction!
With the horror of a separation more painful than affliction
فجِعْتُI was stricken بهby it كالرُّزْءِlike calamity يَحْطِمُshatters.. كالرَّدىlike death
فجِعْتُ به كالرُّزْءِ يَحْطِمُ.. كالرَّدى
يُمِيتُkills. فلمso I did not أَمْلِكْfind سُلُوّاًconsolation. ولمand I did not أَقْوىhave strength!
يُمِيتُ. فلم أَمْلِكْ سُلُوّاً. ولم أَقْوى!
It struck me like calamity that shatters, like death
I grieved it like one crushed .. or killed by debris
That kills; I found no solace and had no strength!
I could not master composure or strength
فللَّهso to God belongs أَمْسٌa yesterday كانَwas حُبّاًlove مُدَلَّلاًpampered
فللَّه أَمْسٌ كانَ حُبّاً مُدَلَّلاً
يُناغِيcoos . فَيُغْرِينيso it tempts me بأنْto آكُلَI eat الحَلْوىsweets!
يُناغِي . فَيُغْرِيني بأنْ آكُلَ الحَلْوى!
To God belongs a yesterday that was a pampered love,
By God, yesterday there was a pampered love
Cooing, tempting me to eat sweets!
That cajoled me, tempting me to eat something sweet
وللهand to God belongs يَوْمٌa day دامسٌpitch-dark مُفْزعٌterrifying الحَشاthe heart
ولله يَوْمٌ دامسٌ مُفْزعٌ الحَشا
رُؤاهُits visions .. غداbecame اللَّيْثٌthe lion الهَصُورُmighty بهthrough it نِضْواwasted!
رُؤاهُ .. غدا اللَّيْثٌ الهَصُورُ به نِضْوا!
And to God belongs a pitch-dark day that terrifies the heart
By God, there is a terrible day, dreadful to behold
With its visions; through it the mighty lion became a wasted wreck!
The affectionate lion has become in it, alas, hostile
وكانَand it was لهfor him الصِّنْوَthe twin الحَبِيبَbeloved فخانَهُyet it betrayed him
وكانَ له الصِّنْوَ الحَبِيبَ فخانَهُ
وعَذَّبَهُand tormented him.. ماhow كانَwas أَشْأَمَهُill-omened it was صِنْواas a twin!
وعَذَّبَهُ.. ما كانَ أَشْأَمَهُ صِنْوا!
It was his beloved twin, yet it betrayed him
It had a loving companion but betrayed him
And tormented him—how ill-omened a twin it was!
And tortured him - no companion was more inauspicious
وأوْرَدَهُand led him to المِلْحًsalt water الأُجاجbitterly briny تَجَنِّياًunjustly
وأوْرَدَهُ المِلْحً الأُجاج تَجَنِّياً
وقدthough it had كانَbeen يَسْقِيهgiving him drink النَّمِيرَfresh water الذيthat أَرْوىquenched thirst!
وقد كانَ يَسْقِيه النَّمِيرَ الذي أَرْوى!
And wrongfully led him to bitter salt water,
And made him drink bitter, burning water
Though it had once given him fresh water that quenched his thirst!
When it once gave him the purest drink
تمَنَّيْتُI wished أَنَّthat الحُبَّlove لمnot يَكُbe جَذْوةًan ember
تمَنَّيْتُ أَنَّ الحُبَّ لم يَكُ جَذْوةً
بِصَدْريin my breast. فقدfor it has أَوْدىdestroyed بِصَبْريwith my patience . وقدand it has أَلْوىswept away !
بِصَدْري. فقد أَوْدى بِصَبْري . وقد أَلْوى !
I wished love had not been an ember
I wish love had not been an ember
In my breast; it ruined my patience and swept it away!
In my heart, for it has destroyed my patience and twisted me
وأنِّيand that I رأّيتُsaw النَّخْلَthe palms تُغْرِيentices ثِمارُهُits fruit
وأنِّي رأّيتُ النَّخْلَ تُغْرِي ثِمارُهُ
بِقَطْفٍto pluck . فَلَمْyet I did not أَقْطِفْpluck بهfrom it أبَداًever قِنواa date cluster!
بِقَطْفٍ . فَلَمْ أَقْطِفْ به أبَداً قِنوا!
And that I had seen the palms, their fruit inviting me
I wish I had not seen the date palm tempt
To pluck it, yet never picked a date cluster there!
With its fruit, for I never plucked from it a cluster
لقدindeed كادَنيschemed against me حتىuntil كَرِهتُI hated رِحابَهُits precincts
لقد كادَني حتى كَرِهتُ رِحابَهُ
ولُمْتُand I reproached بِماbecause of what قدalready ذُقْتُهُI tasted it كُلَّevery مَنone who يَهْوىloves !
ولُمْتُ بِما قد ذُقْتُهُ كُلَّ مَن يَهْوى !
It schemed against me until I hated its precincts,
It nearly made me hate even its sanctuary
And, for what I had tasted, reproached everyone who loves!
And I blamed myself for what I tasted, like all who passionately love
فَمَنso whoever كانis مَزْهُوّاًproud بِحُبِّof love فَقُلْthen say لهto him
فَمَن كان مَزْهُوّاً بِحُبِّ فَقُلْ له
تَمَهَّلْslow down. فماfor how أحْراكَfitting for you أَنْto تَتَركَabandon الزَّهْواpride!
تَمَهَّلْ. فما أحْراكَ أَنْ تَتَركَ الزَّهْوا!
So tell whoever is proud of love:
So whoever prides himself on love, tell him
Slow down—how fitting for you to abandon pride!
Go slowly - what makes you leave self glory?
فقدfor سَوْفَwill تَلْقىencounter فيin غِدٍtomorrow منهfrom it شِقْوَةًmisery
فقد سَوْفَ تَلْقى في غِدٍ منه شِقْوَةً
فَتَعْرِفَهُthen you will know it جِدّاًin earnest . وتَعْرِفَهُand you will know it لَغْواas idle talk!
فَتَعْرِفَهُ جِدّاً . وتَعْرِفَهُ لَغْوا!
For tomorrow you will meet with misery from it,
For soon you will find in it one day misery
And know it in earnest, and know it as idle talk!
And truly know it, and know its nonsense
لقدindeed كنتI used to أمشيwalk فيin مغانيهits haunts ناعماًat ease
لقد كنت أمشي في مغانيه ناعماً
إلىuntil أنthat غَداbecame مَشْييmy walking البَطِيءُslow بعunclear (likely 'in it') عَدْواrunning!
إلى أن غَدا مَشْيي البَطِيءُ بع عَدْوا!
I used to walk in its haunts at ease,
I used to walk slowly in its pleasures
Until my slow walk there became a run!
Until my walking became hurried flight
نَجَوْتُI escaped بِجِلْديwith my skin مِنfrom مآسِيهِits tragedies زاهداًrenouncing
نَجَوْتُ بِجِلْدي مِن مآسِيهِ زاهداً
بِنُعْمىthe bliss of غَدورٍa betrayer لاnot أرىI see بَعْدهاafter it الصَّفْواserenity!
بِنُعْمى غَدورٍ لا أرى بَعْدها الصَّفْوا!
I saved my skin from its tragedies, renouncing
I escaped its woes with my skin
A betrayer's bliss, after which I see no serenity!
No longer seeing after it any purity
ولمand I did not أَجِدِfind الحُسْنىgoodness بهin it غَيْرَexcept فَتْرةٍa brief spell
ولم أَجِدِ الحُسْنى به غَيْرَ فَتْرةٍ
تَولَّتْpassed away. فماso how أوْهىfeeble جَداهُits bounty. وماand how أغْوىbeguiling!
تَولَّتْ. فما أوْهى جَداهُ. وما أغْوى!
I found good in it only for a brief spell
And I found no goodness in it but a period
That passed—how feeble its bounty, how beguiling!
That passed - how weak its principles and how deviant!
فلاso do not تَلْتَمِسْseek جَدْواهُits benefit إنَّيindeed I اخْتَبَرتُهُtested it
فلا تَلْتَمِسْ جَدْواهُ إنَّي اخْتَبَرتُهُ
طَويلاًfor a long time. فلمyet I did not أَلْقَfind السَّلامَpeace ولاnor الجَدوىbenefit!
طَويلاً. فلم أَلْقَ السَّلامَ ولا الجَدوى!
Do not seek its benefit; I have tested it
So do not seek its principles, I have tested it
For a long time, and found neither peace nor benefit!
For long without finding peace or usefulness from it
ففيso in القَلَمِthe pen الشَّاديsinging . وفيand in الكُتْبِbooks مُتْعَةٌpleasure
ففي القَلَمِ الشَّادي . وفي الكُتْبِ مُتْعَةٌ
تمُنَّbestows favors ولاand does not تُشْقِيcause misery لمنfor whoever يَطْلُبُseeks اللَّذْوىdelight!
تمُنَّ ولا تُشْقِي لمن يَطْلُبُ اللَّذْوى!
In the singing pen and in books there is pleasure
But in the pen there is pleasure and in books
That grants favors, not misery, to whoever seeks delight!
There is joy without misery for those who seek pleasure
رَضِيتُI was content بهاwith them عنinstead of عالَمِthe world of الحُسْنِbeauty والهوىand passion
رَضِيتُ بها عن عالَمِ الحُسْنِ والهوى
فألْهَمْنَنيso they inspired me فَوْزيmy triumph . واكْسَبْنَنِيand they earned me الدَّعْوىthe claim!
فألْهَمْنَني فَوْزي . واكْسَبْنَنِي الدَّعْوى!
I chose them in contentment over the world of beauty and passion;
I was satisfied with it instead of the world of beauty and passion
They inspired my triumph and earned me a claim!
And it inspired my success and granted my claim
وأغْنَيْنَنيand they freed me from need عنfor حُبِّthe love of هِنْدٍHind وزَيْنَبٍand Zaynab
وأغْنَيْنَني عن حُبِّ هِنْدٍ وزَيْنَبٍ
وعنand from حُبِّthe love of لَيْلىLayla المُسْتَطيلَةِhaughty أوْor فَدْوىFadwa!
وعن حُبِّ لَيْلى المُسْتَطيلَةِ أوْ فَدْوى!
And freed me from needing the love of Hind and Zaynab,
It spared me love of Hind and Zainab
And the love of haughty Layla, or Fadwa!
And love of the tall Layla or little Fadwa
فماso not عُدْوتُI returned (likely intended) أَحْبُوcrawl كَيso that أَفُوزَI attain بِصَبْوَتيmy heart's desire
فما عُدْوتُ أَحْبُو كَي أَفُوزَ بِصَبْوَتي
لدىamong الغِيدِgraceful women. إنَّindeed الحُرَّthe free man يَسْتَنْكِفُdisdains الحَبْواcrawling!
لدى الغِيدِ. إنَّ الحُرَّ يَسْتَنْكِفُ الحَبْوا!
So I no longer crawl to fulfill my heart's desire
I have not courted so I win the loyalty
Among graceful women—a free man disdains crawling!
Of the arrogant - the noble disdain simpering
أسالِكَةًO you who travel قَصْدَthe straight course of السَّبِيلthe path بِناشِدٍwith one seeking
أسالِكَةً قَصْدَ السَّبِيل بِناشِدٍ
هُداهُhis guidance.. لقدindeed عَلَّمْتِنيyou taught me اللَّحْنَmelody والشَّدْواand song!
هُداهُ.. لقد عَلَّمْتِني اللَّحْنَ والشَّدْوا!
O you who travel the straight path with one seeking
So by your tune and chant
His guidance: you have taught me melody and song!
You taught me the melody and power of song
وعَلَّمْتنيand you taught me أَنْto أَتْرُكَabandon الهَجْرَharsh speech كُلَّماwhenever..
وعَلَّمْتني أَنْ أَتْرُكَ الهَجْرَ كُلَّما..
دُعِيتُI was called إلىto قَوْلٍspeech. وأَنْand to أتْركَabandon اللَّغواidle talk!
دُعِيتُ إلى قَوْلٍ. وأَنْ أتْركَ اللَّغوا!
And you taught me to abandon harsh speech whenever
And you taught me to leave estrangement whenever
I was called to speak, and to abandon idle talk!
I am called to speak and leave nonsense
فَلِلْمَجْدِfor glory has دُنْياهits nearer realm وقُصْواهُand its farthest realm. والمُنَىand hopes
فَلِلْمَجْدِ دُنْياه وقُصْواهُ. والمُنَى
أَقَلَّfewer بِدُنْياهُin its nearer realm.. وأَكْثَرُand more بالقُصْوىin the farthest!
أَقَلَّ بِدُنْياهُ.. وأَكْثَرُ بالقُصْوى!
For glory has its near realm and its farthest, and hopes
Glory has its worldly life and triumphs, and death
Are fewer in the near, and more abundant in the farthest!
Has less of the worldly existence but more of the final rewards
وماand how أَجْدَبَbarren الفَتْوىcounsel علىfor كُلِّevery قاِعِدٍone sitting idle
وما أَجْدَبَ الفَتْوى على كُلِّ قاِعِدٍ
وأمَّاbut as for علىfor السَّارِيthe night-traveler. فماhow أَخْصَبَfertile الفَتْوىcounsel!
وأمَّا على السَّارِي. فما أَخْصَبَ الفَتْوى!
How barren counsel is for everyone who sits idle,
And yearning is not infertile to the persevering
But for the night-traveler, how fertile counsel is!
Rather, to the active it is most fertile
تبارَكَblessed is منHe who سَوَّىfashioned. تَبارَكَblessed is منHe who رَعىcared
تبارَكَ من سَوَّى. تَبارَكَ من رَعى
فَأَغْنىso He enriched الذيthe one who ماnot كانَhad يَمْتِلِكُpossessed الشَّرْوىthe like!
فَأَغْنى الذي ما كانَ يَمْتِلِكُ الشَّرْوى!
Blessed is He who fashioned; blessed is He who cared,
Blessed is the One who leveled, blessed is the One who nurtured
And enriched the one who had possessed nothing comparable!
And enriched those who did not possess any assets
لقدindeed كانَwas بَحْريmy sea هائِجاًraging فَركِبْتُهُso I sailed it
لقد كانَ بَحْري هائِجاً فَركِبْتُهُ
بِعَزْمٍwith resolve. فأمْسىand so became البَحرُthe sea مِنfrom بَعْدِهِafter it رَهْواcalm!
بِعَزْمٍ. فأمْسى البَحرُ مِن بَعْدِهِ رَهْوا!
My sea was raging, yet I sailed it
My sea was raging so I sailed it
With resolve, and afterward the sea grew calm!
With resolve - and after it the sea became gentle
فماso not عُدْتُI returned أَطغىtyrannize إنْif قَدِرْتُI have power وسَّولتْand tempted
فما عُدْتُ أَطغى إنْ قَدِرْتُ وسَّولتْ
لِيَfor me النَّفْسُthe soul طُغْياناًtyranny. فماso how أشَأَمَill-omened الطَّغْوىtyranny!
لِيَ النَّفْسُ طُغْياناً. فما أشَأَمَ الطَّغْوى!
I no longer tyrannize, even if I have power and am tempted
So I no longer tyrannize if I have the power
By my soul to tyranny—how ill-omened tyranny is!
And self urges me to oppression - how inauspicious is tyranny!
فقدfor it may يُوُبِقُbring ruin السَّطْوُassault الظَّلومُunjust علىupon امْرِىءa person
فقد يُوُبِقُ السَّطْوُ الظَّلومُ على امْرِىء
ضَعِيفٍweak فَيُرْدِيهِand destroy him إنif اسْتَمْرأَhe relishes السَّطْواassault!
ضَعِيفٍ فَيُرْدِيهِ إن اسْتَمْرأَ السَّطْوا!
For wrongful assault may ruin whoever attacks a person
For unjust power may destroy a weak man
Who is weak, and destroy him if he relishes assault!
If he takes liberties with power
بَرِئْتُI recovered فماso I do not أُعْدِيinfect امْرَءاًa person مُتَخوَّفاًfearful
بَرِئْتُ فما أُعْدِي امْرَءاً مُتَخوَّفاً
ولاnor أناI ذوpossessing قَلْبٍa heart خَؤُوفٍafraid منof العَدْوىcontagion!
ولا أنا ذو قَلْبٍ خَؤُوفٍ من العَدْوى!
I am cured, and do not infect a fearful man,
I am innocent - I do not oppress a frightened man
Nor have I a heart afraid of contagion!
Nor am I one with a fearful heart of contagion
فَماso whatever كانَthere was منof فَضْلٍbounty فَلِلَّهthen belongs to God وحْدَهHim alone
فَما كانَ من فَضْلٍ فَلِلَّه وحْدَه
تَمَجَّدَglorified is He واسْتَعْلىand exalted is He .. والتمسand seek العفواpardon!
تَمَجَّدَ واسْتَعْلى .. والتمس العفوا!
Whatever bounty there is belongs to God alone,
And whatever grace there was, is for God alone
Glorified and exalted is He; seek pardon!
He is glorified and most high - and seek forgiveness!
Sol 6.1