بيضwhite ones وسودand black ones وأخيارand good people وأشرارand wicked people
بيض وسود وأخيار وأشرار
كمhow many تحتوينyou contain علىof الأضدادopposites ياO دارabode!
كم تحتوين على الأضداد يا دار!
White and black, the good and the wicked;
Whites and blacks and good and evil,
Whites and blacks, the virtuous and the wicked,
how many opposites you contain, O abode!
How much contraries you contain, O world!
How many opposites you contain, O world!
العرشthe throne والفرشand the carpet والأحداثand events بينهماbetween them both
العرش والفرش والأحداث بينهما
خيرgood وشرand evil فإقلالthen scarcity وإكثارand abundance
خير وشر فإقلال وإكثار
The throne and the carpet, and the events between them:
The throne and the floor and the events between them,
The Throne and the earth, and the events betwixt them,
good and evil, then scarcity and abundance.
Good and evil, scarcity and abundance.
Good and evil, then scarcity and abundance.
والليلand the night والصبحand the morning والإنسانand the human being عندهماwith them both
والليل والصبح والإنسان عندهما
نعسانdrowsy مستيقظwakeful والماءand water والنارand fire
نعسان مستيقظ والماء والنار
And night and morning, and man in their presence,
And the night and the morning and humankind with them
Night and morning, and man between them,
drowsy, wakeful; and water and fire.
Sleepy, awake, and water and fire.
Drowsy then awake, amidst water and fire.
والأنجمand the stars الزهرradiant: هذاthis النجمstar مرتفعhigh
والأنجم الزهر: هذا النجم مرتفع
زاهيresplendent الضياءradiance وهذاand this النجمstar منهارfallen
زاهي الضياء وهذا النجم منهار
And the radiant stars: this star is high,
And the stars like flowers: this elevated star
And the radiant stars: this one ascending,
resplendent with light, and this star is fallen.
Shining brightly, and this faded star.
Glorious in light, and that one collapsing.
تبدوthey appear علىon الأفقthe horizon أشتاتاscattered ويجمعهاand gathers them
تبدو على الأفق أشتاتا ويجمعها
فيin سيرهاtheir course فلكa celestial sphere فيon الأفقthe horizon دوارrevolving
في سيرها فلك في الأفق دوار
They appear scattered across the horizon, yet they are gathered
They appear scattered on the horizon, united
They appear scattered upon the horizon, yet are gathered
in their course by a sphere revolving on the horizon.
In their orbit by a revolving sphere in the sky.
In their course by an orbit revolving in the sky.
قدindeed قيلit was said فيon كوكبthe planet المريخMars أبنيةbuildings
قد قيل في كوكب المريخ أبنية
مشيداتloftily built وجناتand gardens وأنهارand rivers
مشيدات وجنات وأنهار
It has been said that on the planet Mars are buildings,
It is said that on the planet Mars there are
It is said that upon the planet Mars are edifices,
lofty, and gardens and rivers.
Built structures, gardens, and rivers.
Lofty constructions, gardens, and rivers.
وقيلand it was said فيin البحرthe sea آكامhills وأوديةand valleys
وقيل في البحر آكام وأودية
كماjust as علىon البرland أنجادuplands وأغوارand lowlands
كما على البر أنجاد وأغوار
And it is said that in the sea are hills and valleys,
And it is said that in the sea there are dunes and valleys
And it is said within the sea are hills and valleys,
as on land are uplands and lowlands.
As on land there are waves and depths.
Just as upon the land are highlands and lowlands.
أتىthere came علىupon الميزdistinction حينa time وهوwhile it was منتشرwidespread
أتى على الميز حين وهو منتشر
فاشrife إلىuntil أنthat تأتتcame about منهfrom it اضرارharms
فاش إلى أن تأتت منه اضرار
There came a time when distinction was widespread,
The flood overflowed when it was spreading
A time passed over discrimination while it was widespread,
rife, until harm arose from it.
Until damages came from it.
Rampant until harms arose from it.
كمhow often ذاindeed أرىI see المثلone equal دونinstead of المثلanother equal محتفلاhonored
كم ذا أرى المثل دون المثل محتفلا
بهhim لتقضىso that may be fulfilled بهthrough him حاجneeds وأوطارand desires؟
به لتقضى به حاج وأوطار؟
How often I see one equal, but not his equal, honored
How much do I see the like under the like celebrated
How often do I see one equal celebrated over another,
so that needs and desires may be fulfilled through him!
By it, to fulfill every need and goal?
That through him needs and desires might be fulfilled?
إنif كانthere is للميزfor distinction مقدارa measure يحدis bounded بهby it
إن كان للميز مقدار يحد به
فإنthen indeed أحداثناour experiences للميزfor distinction مقدارa measure
فإن أحداثنا للميز مقدار
If distinction has a measure that sets its bounds,
If the flood has a measure to limit it,
If discrimination has a magnitude by which it is limited,
then our experiences are a measure for distinction.
Then our events have a measure for the flood.
Then our very events are the measure of that discrimination.
ماnot المسكmusk والقارand pitch الاexcept مائعa fluid لزجsticky
ما المسك والقار الا مائع لزج
أحوىdark-hued فكيفso how تنافىare opposed المسكmusk والقارand pitch؟!
أحوى فكيف تنافى المسك والقار؟!
Musk and pitch are nothing but a sticky fluid,
What are musk and amber but viscous liquids
Musk and tar are but viscous fluids,
dark-hued—so how are musk and pitch opposed?
That differ? So how can musk and amber be opposed?
Dark in hue; how then are musk and tar opposed?
وكيفand how صحتwas justified منby الانسانthe human being تفرقةa distinction
وكيف صحت من الانسان تفرقة
بينbetween الحصاpebbles واللئاليand pearls وهيthough they are أحجارstones؟!
بين الحصا واللئالي وهي أحجار؟!
And how can a human distinction be justified
And how can humans distinguish
And how can a distinction made by man be valid
between pebbles and pearls, when both are stones?
Between pebbles, rocks and gems when they are stones?
Between pebbles and pearls, when both are stones?!
ياO دارabode هلis there فيكin you منany هادguide ليرشدنيto guide me
يا دار هل فيك من هاد ليرشدني
فإننيfor I am مستريبdoubtful فيكin you محتارbewildered
فإنني مستريب فيك محتار
O abode, is there any guide within you to lead me?
O world, is there a guide in you to guide me?
O world, is there within you a guide to show me the way?
For in you I am doubtful and bewildered.
For I am doubtful and confused in you.
For I am suspicious of you, bewildered.
هميmy anguish تقسمhas split أشطاراinto portions ولنand will not تجدىavail
همي تقسم أشطارا ولن تجدى
منwhoever همهhis anguish مثلlike هميmy anguish فيكin you أشطارportions
من همه مثل همي فيك أشطار
My anguish has split into portions, and of no avail
My worries divide into parts, and will be of no use.
My anxiety is divided into fragments, and you will not find
to one whose anguish in you is like mine are portions.
No one with worries like mine has parts in you.
Anyone whose care is fragmented like mine within you.
يعروهbeset him خفضlowering ورفعand raising فيin تنقلهhis moving about
يعروه خفض ورفع في تنقله
كأنهas though he were كلاgrass يذروهscatters it إعصارa whirlwind
كأنه كلا يذروه إعصار
He is beset by lows and highs as he moves about,
They toss him down and lift him in his movement
It is afflicted by lows and highs in its shifting,
as though he were grass scattered by a whirlwind.
As if a whirlwind does not stop tossing him about.
As if it were dry herbage scattered by a hurricane.
(أعمىthe blind man of المعرةMaʿarra) أهدىmore rightly guided فيكabout you تبصرةin insight
(أعمى المعرة) أهدى فيك تبصرة
لوif لمnot تشطstrayed far بهwith him فيin الدينreligion أنظارviews
لو لم تشط به في الدين أنظار
The blind man of Maʿarra would have had truer insight into you,
The blind poet would gain insight in you
The Blind One of Ma'arra offered the truest insight into you,
had his views on religion not carried him astray.
If religious opinions did not blind him about you.
Had not his views on religion strayed too far.
قدindeed كانhe was عنكaway from you مشيحاturning aside وجهthe face of همتهhis resolve
قد كان عنك مشيحا وجه همته
حراfree وقدماand long ago تجافتkept their distance عنكfrom you أخرارfree men
حرا وقدما تجافت عنك أخرار
He had turned the face of his resolve away from you,
He turned away his purpose from you
He turned the face of his ambition away from you,
a free man; and long ago free men had shunned you.
Free, though feet turned away from you limping.
A free spirit; and often have free spirits shunned you of old.
كفتهsufficed him شهوةthe craving for أكلeating اللحمmeat أرغفةloaves
كفته شهوة أكل اللحم أرغفة
بسيطةplain وكفتهand sufficed him السترcovering أطمارrags
بسيطة وكفته الستر أطمار
Loaves sufficed to satisfy his craving for meat,
His desire for eating meat satisfied him with
Simple loaves sufficed him against the lust for flesh,
plain ones; and rags sufficed to cover him.
Simple loaves, and his clothing satisfied him with rags.
And tattered rags sufficed to cover him.
وعاشand he lived فيكin you حصوراcelibate غيرnot متخذtaking
وعاش فيك حصورا غير متخذ
زوجاa spouse وبعضand some منof الأزواجspouses اصارburdens
زوجا وبعض من الأزواج اصار
And he lived in you celibate, taking no
He lived in you in isolation, not taking
He lived within you chaste, never taking
spouse; and some spouses are burdens.
A wife, though some take wives.
A wife; and truly, some wives are a heavy burden.
ولمand he did not يزلcease فيكin you للذاتpleasures مجتنباavoiding
ولم يزل فيك للذات مجتنبا
حتىuntil استوىbecame equal منكfrom you إقبالfavor وإدبارand rejection
حتى استوى منك إقبال وإدبار
He never ceased avoiding pleasures in you,
And he did not cease to avoid selfishness in you
He ceased not to shun pleasures within you,
until your favor and rejection were alike to him.
Until he was balanced in coming and going from you.
Until your approach and your retreat became alike to him.
مضىhe passed on بمبدئهwith his principle الساميlofty الغريبuncommon ولمand did not
مضى بمبدئه السامي الغريب ولم
يكنbe لمبدئهfor his principle فيamong الناسthe people أنصارsupporters
يكن لمبدئه في الناس أنصار
He passed on with his lofty, uncommon principle, and
He went on his strange, noble principle but
He passed on with his lofty, alien creed,
his principle had no supporters among the people.
He had no supporters for his principle among people.
And for his creed there were no champions among men.
وعنصرand the substance of الناسhumankind فخارearthenware ألمbefell بهit
وعنصر الناس فخار ألم به
كسرa fracture وماand not التامmended بعدafter الكسرbreaking فخارearthenware
كسر وما التام بعد الكسر فخار
And humankind's substance is earthenware, which has suffered
And people's nature is pottery - it hurts him
The essence of man is pottery afflicted by a fracture,
a fracture; earthenware never mends once broken.
When broken, and what is complete is no longer pottery after being broken.
And pottery never becomes whole again after breaking.
ياكمoh, how many أجادsang beautifully هزارthe nightingale of الصبحmorning منof نغمmelodies
ياكم أجاد هزار الصبح من نغم
ولمand did not يصخlisten لهزارto the nightingale of الصبحmorning ديارa soul
ولم يصخ لهزار الصبح ديار
Oh, how many melodies the morning nightingale sang beautifully,
O how the joking of dawn excelled in melody
How beautifully the morning nightingale trilled his melodies,
yet not a soul listened to the morning nightingale.
But the dwellings did not applaud the joking of dawn!
Yet no dweller listened to the nightingale of the dawn.
وواصلand continued الحزنthe lament بومthe owl of الليلnight ملتزماkeeping to
وواصل الحزن بوم الليل ملتزما
(غاقاa 'ghaq' cry) فحفتهso surrounded it أسماعears وأبصارand eyes
(غاقا) فحفته أسماع وأبصار
And the night owl kept up its lament, repeating
And sadness, adhering by night, went on
While the night-owl persisted in sorrow, clinging
'Ghaq!'—and ears and eyes gathered around it.
Crying, so sights and hearings ignored it.
To its croak, and ears and eyes gathered 'round it.
وجارand a neighbor of سوءevil ثوىsettled أرضيmy land فضايقنيso he harassed me
وجار سوء ثوى أرضي فضايقني
فيهاin it ومنand from دونهin front of him حجبscreens وأستارand curtains!
فيها ومن دونه حجب وأستار!
And an evil neighbor settled on my land and harassed me
And an evil neighbor dwelt in the land, so he bothered me there,
A neighbor of ill will settled on my land and harried me there,
there, though screens and curtains stood between us!
And without him there were veils and curtains!
Even though veils and curtains stood between us!
فماyet not وعىheeded قطever صوتيmy voice وهوthough it was مرتفعraised
فما وعى قط صوتي وهو مرتفع
وماand not رأىsaw قطever دمعيmy tears وهوthough they were مدرارpouring abundantly
وما رأى قط دمعي وهو مدرار
Yet he never heeded my voice, though it was raised,
He never heeded my voice when it was raised
He never heeded my voice, though it was raised high,
nor ever saw my tears, though they poured.
Or saw my flowing tears when they poured.
Nor did he see my tears, though they flowed in torrents.
قلتI said لهto him احفظsafeguard جواريmy neighborly rights وارعand honor منزلتيmy standing
قلت له احفظ جواري وارع منزلتي
أولاor else فبارحthen leave دياريmy home أيهاO الجارneighbor
أولا فبارح دياري أيها الجار
I told him: Respect my neighborly rights and honor my standing,
I said to him, "Guard my neighborhood and respect my status,
I said to him: "Respect my neighbor-rights and honor my station,
or else leave my home, O neighbor!
Or leave my dwellings, O neighbor!"
Or else depart from my dwelling, O neighbor."
وخلand a friend of سوءevil توخانيsought me out لأخلفهso I would replace him
وخل سوء توخاني لأخلفه
فيin ذبحslaughtering شاءsheep عجافlean وهيand they were إيثارselflessness
في ذبح شاء عجاف وهي إيثار
And an evil friend sought me out to take his place
And leave off your evil thinking of me, and I will reward him
"Abandon the ill will you bore me, and I shall exchange it
in slaughtering lean sheep—embodiments of selflessness.
By slaughtering an emaciated sheep, which is generosity.
For the slaughter of lean sheep, a sacrifice of generosity."
قالhe said ابتدرهاhasten to them علىin اسمthe name of اللهGod قلتI said لهto him
قال ابتدرها على اسم الله قلت له
دعنيleave me alone فماfor not أناI ياO ابنson of اللؤمbaseness جزارa butcher
دعني فما أنا يا ابن اللؤم جزار
He said: Hasten to them in God's name. I told him:
He said, "Slaughter it in God's name." I said to him,
He said, "Begin it in God's name!" I replied to him:
Leave me alone; I am no butcher, O son of baseness!
"Leave me, O wicked man, I am no butcher."
"Let me be, for I am no butcher, O son of wickedness."
ومسرفand a transgressor منكرa denier للبعثof resurrection قلتI said لهto him
ومسرف منكر للبعث قلت له
هيهاتfar from it يجديكavails you يومthe day of البعثresurrection إنكارdenial
هيهات يجديك يوم البعث إنكار
And to a transgressor who denied resurrection I said:
And a denier of the resurrection, I said to him,
And to a profligate who denies the Resurrection, I said:
Denial will never avail you on the day of resurrection.
"Far from benefiting you is your denial on the day of resurrection."
"Alas, your denial shall not avail you on the Day of Rising."
أأنتdo you تنكرdeny حالاa state تستحيلtransforms إلىinto
أأنت تنكر حالا تستحيل إلى
حالa state وخلقكand your creation رأيthe sight of العينthe eye أطوارstages
حال وخلقك رأي العين أطوار
Do you deny a state that transforms into
What! Do you now deny a state that will transform
"Do you deny that one state transforms into another,
another, when your creation is visibly in stages?
Into a state, when your creation has seen phases?
When your own creation is visibly formed in stages?"
تباركblessed is اللهGod هذاthis الكونuniverse معترفacknowledges
تبارك الله هذا الكون معترف
بأنthat صانعهits Maker رحمانall-merciful قهارall-subduing
بأن صانعه رحمان قهار
Blessed is God! This universe acknowledges
Blessed is God, this universe acknowledges
Blessed be God! This universe acknowledges
that its Maker is all-merciful, all-subduing.
That its Maker is Merciful and Powerful.
That its Maker is the Merciful, the Compeller.
قامتarose بحكمتهthrough His wisdom الأرواحsouls خاضعةsubmissive
قامت بحكمته الأرواح خاضعة
لهto Him فهلthen is there فيamong ذويthose possessing الأرواحsouls مختارone free to choose؟
له فهل في ذوي الأرواح مختار؟
Souls arose through His wisdom, submissive
By His wisdom spirits stand submissive
By His wisdom spirits stand in submission to Him;
to Him; then is any being with a soul free to choose?
To Him, so is there a choice among the spirited?
Is there, among those with souls, any with free will?
ماتdied الأئمةthe imams أهلpeople of العلمknowledge لاmay not بليتdecay
مات الأئمة أهل العلم لا بليت
أوصالهمtheir limbs ولهمand they have فيin الكونthe universe آثارtraces
أوصالهم ولهم في الكون آثار
The imams, men of learning, died—may decay never touch
The imams, the learned, died but no affliction
The Imams, the men of knowledge, have died, yet their limbs have not decayed,
their limbs—and they have left traces in the universe.
Struck their limbs, and they have traces in the universe.
For they have lasting traces within the universe.
همthey خلفواleft behind العلمknowledge تذكاراa memorial لأنفسهمto themselves
هم خلفوا العلم تذكارا لأنفسهم
وماyet not يؤثرaffects فيupon السالينthe forgetful تذكارa memorial
وما يؤثر في السالين تذكار
They left knowledge behind as a memorial to themselves,
They left knowledge as a memento of themselves,
They left knowledge behind as a remembrance of themselves,
yet no memorial moves the forgetful.
And nothing benefits the questioners like a memento.
Though remembrance moves not the oblivious.
قدindeed أفعمواthey filled الكتبbooks أخباراwith accounts وماand not لبثواthey lingered
قد أفعموا الكتب أخبارا وما لبثوا
أنthat أصبحواthey became وهمand they فيin الكتبbooks أخبارaccounts
أن أصبحوا وهم في الكتب أخبار
Indeed, they filled books with accounts, and it was not long
They filled books with news, and it was not long
They filled the books with accounts, and tarried not long
before they themselves became accounts in books.
Before they became news in books.
Before they themselves became accounts within the books.
Sol 6.1