مَنْwho مُجيريmy protector مِنْfrom شبيهone resembling القمَرَthe moon
مَنْ مُجيري مِنْ شبيه القمَرَ
مائساًswaying gracefully مثلlike القضِيبthe slender bough النّضِرِfresh and green
مائساً مثل القضِيب النّضِرِ
Who will shelter me from one who resembles the moon,
Who will protect me from one with a moonlike beauty
Swaying like a fresh, green bough?
Walking proudly like a tender sapling?
منwho عذيريmy defender مِنْfrom هَوىlove for ذيone possessing حَوَرِstriking black-and-white eyes
من عذيري مِنْ هَوى ذي حَوَرِ
لحظُهُhis glance يعفَلُacts (apparent typo) فعلَthe action of القَدَرِfate
لحظُهُ يعفَلُ فعلَ القَدَرِ
Who will defend me from love of one with striking black-and-white eyes?
Who will prevent me from passion for one with languorous eyes
His glance does the work of fate.
Whose glance unravels the work of Fate?
لوif رأيتمyou saw خدّهhis cheek مَهْمَاwhenever بدَاit appeared
لو رأيتم خدّه مَهْمَا بدَا
لرأيتمyou would surely see زهراًblossoms فيin نَهَرِa river
لرأيتم زهراً في نَهَرِ
If you saw his cheek whenever it appeared,
If you saw his cheek, no matter how it appeared,
You would see blossoms in a river.
You would see a blossom by the river.
لوif رأيتمyou saw عِطْفَهhis flank فيin رِدّفِهhis hips
لو رأيتم عِطْفَه في رِدّفِه
لشْهدتمyou would surely behold أسْمَراًa brown spear فيin أَعفرِa pale sandhill
لشْهدتم أسْمَراً في أَعفرِ
If you saw his waist amid his hips,
If you saw his buttocks in his pants,
You would behold a brown spear in a pale sandhill.
You would witness a tawny in a dusty-colored.
عَامريٌّan ʿĀmirī أهلُهhis people منfrom عامرٍʿĀmir
عَامريٌّ أهلُه من عامرٍ
دارُهمtheir home بينbetween الغضَاthe ghada shrubs والسَّمَرِand the samar acacias
دارُهم بين الغضَا والسَّمَرِ
An ʿĀmirī, whose people are of ʿĀmir,
My tribe, the Aamiris, their home is Aamir
Their home lies between ghada shrubs and samar acacias.
Their abode between barren land and sheep-grazing land.
سكنواthey settled منيwithin me السوادينthe two dark cores: eye and heart فهمso they
سكنوا مني السوادين فهم
فيin فؤاديmy heart إِنeven if نأواthey grew distant عنfrom بَصريmy sight
في فؤادي إِن نأوا عن بَصري
They settled in the dark of my eye and heart, and so remain
The black-eyed ones dwell in my heart though far from my sight
In my heart, even if far from my sight.
Keeping me awake though I pretend to slumber.
وأعاضونيand they gave me in exchange بنومِيfor my sleep سهراًsleeplessness
وأعاضوني بنومِي سهراً
فإِلىso until كمhow long اشتكىI complain (contextual reading) وآسَهَريalas, my sleeplessness!
فإِلى كم اشتكى وآسَهَري
And they gave me sleeplessness in exchange for my sleep.
My friend, how long will this
So how long shall I complain—alas, my sleeplessness!
Spending my life in vain desires continue?
ياO خليليmy two friends إلىuntil كمhow long ذاوذاthis and that
يا خليلي إلى كم ذاوذا
يتقضّىpasses away فيin الأمانيwishes عُمريmy lifetime
يتقضّى في الأماني عُمري
O my two friends, how long this and that?
Whenever a lightning flash lights the barren tracts
My life passes away amid wishes.
My yearning for the people of barren lands diminishes.
كلماwhenever لاحflashed بَريقٌa gleam بالغَضَاamong the ghada shrubs
كلما لاح بَريقٌ بالغَضَا
قَلّdiminished عنْaway from أهلِthe people of الغَضَاthe ghada shrubs مُصْطَبريmy patience
قَلّ عنْ أهلِ الغَضَا مُصْطَبري
Whenever a gleam flashes among the ghada shrubs,
Whenever a caravan passes by the sand dunes
My patience away from the people of the ghada dwindles.
I say “O caravan, perhaps you bring news of me!”
كلّماwhenever عرّضpassed by ركْبٌa caravan بالحِمَاby the protected pasture
كلّما عرّض ركْبٌ بالحِمَا
قلْتُI said ياO ركبُcaravan عَسَىperhaps مِنْsome of خبريmy news
قلْتُ يا ركبُ عَسَى مِنْ خبري
Whenever a caravan passes by the protected pasture,
Many men claim poetry though
I say, 'O caravan, perhaps some news for me?'
A single drop from my rain drowns them.
يدَّعيclaim الشعرَpoetry رجالٌmen طالمَاmany a time
يدَّعي الشعرَ رجالٌ طالمَا
أغْرقتهُمdrowned them قطرةٌa drop منof مطريmy rain
أغْرقتهُم قطرةٌ من مطري
Men lay claim to poetry; many a time
Neither Zuheir in his rhymes overtakes me
A drop of my rain has drowned them.
Nor does Jarir gallop in my tracks.
لاneither زُهَيْرٌZuhayr فيهin it يقْفونيfollows me ولاnor
لا زُهَيْرٌ فيه يقْفوني ولا
لجريرfor Jarīr مَرْكضٌa galloping-ground فيin أثريmy tracks
لجرير مَرْكضٌ في أثري
Neither Zuhayr follows me in it, nor
None who draws from a rich well
Does Jarīr have a galloping-ground in my tracks.
Is like one who carves verse from stone.
ليسَis not مَنْone who يَغْرِفُهscoops it up منfrom زاخرٍa surging sea
ليسَ مَنْ يَغْرِفُه من زاخرٍ
مثلlike منone who ينحتُهcarves it منfrom حَجَرِstone
مثل من ينحتُه من حَجَرِ
One who scoops it from a surging sea is not
I am the best and the first of the people
Like one who carves it out of stone.
The elite of night at the break of dawn
أناI للقومamong the company أخيرٌlast أولٌfirst
أنا للقوم أخيرٌ أولٌ
وخيارُand the best of اللّيلthe night وقتthe time of السَّحَرِthe pre-dawn hours
وخيارُ اللّيل وقت السَّحَرِ
I am last among the company, yet first;
And when they praise their likes
And the best of night is the hour before dawn.
My praise is in the verdant companion
وإِذاand when ماemphatic particle امتدحواthey praised أمثالهمtheir peers
وإِذا ما امتدحوا أمثالهم
فمديحيthen my praise فيis for رَفيقِthe companion of الخَضَرِal-Khiḍr
فمديحي في رَفيقِ الخَضَرِ
And when they praise their peers,
And on Mount Tur, twisting and winding
My praise is for the companion of al-Khiḍr.
I see the fire of Moses in the folded darkness
وعلىand upon الطُّورthe mountain العواجيّʿAwājī أرىI see
وعلى الطُّور العواجيّ أرى
نارَthe fire of موسىMoses فيin الدَّجاthe darkness المُنْعَكِرِmurky
نارَ موسى في الدَّجا المُنْعَكِرِ
And on the ʿAwājī mountain I see
The Sheikh Hajj's cloak, well done!
The fire of Moses in the murky darkness.
It is from pilgrimage and from struggle
فجنابُso the precinct of الشيخthe sheikh حجيmy pilgrimage حَبّذاhow excellent
فجنابُ الشيخ حجي حَبّذا
هُوَit مِنْas حجٍa pilgrimage ومنand as مُعْتمِرِan ʿumrah pilgrim (context uncertain)
هُوَ مِنْ حجٍ ومن مُعْتمِرِ
So the sheikh's precinct is my pilgrimage—how excellent
That is God's secret and the pole
It is, as pilgrimage and a place of visitation [reading uncertain].
Who is God's shadow above mankind
ذاكthat one سِرَّthe secret of اللهGod والقطبand the spiritual Pole
ذاك سِرَّ الله والقطب
الذيwho هوhe ظلُّthe shadow of اللهGod فوقabove البشرِhumankind
الذي هو ظلُّ الله فوق البشرِ
That is God's secret and the spiritual Pole,
He surpassed the competing saints, indeed left them behind
Who is God's shadow over humankind.
Surpassing the excellent steed in speed
سَبقoutstripped السَّاعينthe strivers بلindeed فاتهمoutdistanced them
سَبق السَّاعين بل فاتهم
سَابقاًracing ahead سبقَwith the speed of الجوادِthe noble steed الضّمرِlean
سَابقاً سبقَ الجوادِ الضّمرِ
He outstripped those striving—indeed, he left them behind,
Not every growth of earth bears sweet fruit
Racing ahead with the speed of a lean, noble steed.
He shows distraction in the world, and how much
منwho كَمثلlike ابنIbn (son of) أبيAbī بكرٍBakr وماand not
من كَمثل ابن أبي بكرٍ وما
كلّevery نبتِplant of الأرضِthe earth حلوُsweet الثمرِin fruit
كلّ نبتِ الأرضِ حلوُ الثمرِ
Who is like Ibn Abī Bakr? And not
Clarity lies beneath that turbidity!
Every plant of the earth has sweet fruit.
And how many in passionate love are fearful
يُظهِرُhe displays الأشغالَoccupations بالدنياwith the world وكمand how much
يُظهِرُ الأشغالَ بالدنيا وكم
منof صفاءٍclarity تحتbeneath ذاكthat الكدرmurk
من صفاءٍ تحت ذاك الكدر
He shows himself busy with the world; yet how much
And the sought-after and cowardly and valiant
Clarity lies beneath that murk!
And how many who gained wealth while asleep
وَلَكمand how great بينthe distance between مُرِيدٍa seeker فيin الهوىlove
وَلَكم بين مُرِيدٍ في الهوى
ومُرادٍand one sought وجَبَانٍand a coward وجريءand a bold man
ومُرادٍ وجَبَانٍ وجريء
And how great the distance between one seeking in love
And strivers who did not attain victory
And one sought, between a coward and a bold man!
With divine aid one has soared who has soared
ولكمand how many منof نائمٍa sleeper حَازattained الغنىwealth
ولكم من نائمٍ حَاز الغنى
ومُجِدٍand one striving diligently لمdid not يَفزْsucceed بالظفرِin gaining victory
ومُجِدٍ لم يَفزْ بالظفرِ
And how many a sleeper has attained wealth,
Lord of profit though no travel occurred
While a diligent man failed to win success!
Dukhan saved him from the rule
بالعناياتthrough providential favors سماrose high مَنْwhoever قدindeed سماrose high
بالعنايات سما مَنْ قد سما
ربmany a ربحgain لمdid not يقعcome about منfrom سفرa journey
رب ربح لم يقع من سفر
By providential favor, those who rose have risen;
Of one who need not fear its return from the east
Many a gain has come without a journey.
O namesake of Mustafa, O sincere devotee
أنجيتهI/you saved him (possibly 'bore him') دوحةa great tree منof حكمḤakam (uncertain name reading)
أنجيته دوحة من حكم
ليسَdoes not يَخشىfear عودهاits wood مِنfrom خَوَرِweakness
ليسَ يَخشى عودها مِن خَوَرِ
A great tree of Ḥakam bore him [conjectural reading],
Faithful in hardship and in ease
Its wood need fear no weakness.
You are solace for the son of Husayn
ياO سميّnamesake of المصطفىthe Chosen One ياO ذاpossessor of الصَّفَاpurity
يا سميّ المصطفى يا ذا الصَّفَا
والوفاand loyalty عندَat المكانِthe situation العَسِرِdifficult
والوفا عندَ المكانِ العَسِرِ
O namesake of the Chosen One, O man of purity,
Comfort in a weakened, embraced arm
And loyalty in a difficult situation,
His uncle, his companion, his confidante
أنتَyou حولَbeside ابنِIbn (son of) الحسينal-Ḥusayn راحةٌa palm
أنتَ حولَ ابنِ الحسين راحةٌ
فيon ذراعٍan arm مُقْلَةٌan eyeball فيin مَحْجَرِan eye socket
في ذراعٍ مُقْلَةٌ في مَحْجَرِ
At Ibn al-Ḥusayn's side, you are a palm
Can an eye tire of the pleasure of seeing him?
On an arm, an eye within its socket.
From your creation the Merciful brought forth
خِلُّهُhis intimate friend صاحبُهhis companion مُؤنِسُهhis comforter
خِلُّهُ صاحبُه مُؤنِسُه
هَلْdoes...? تمِلّtire of العينُthe eye أنسَthe pleasure of النَّظرِseeing
هَلْ تمِلّ العينُ أنسَ النَّظرِ
His intimate friend, his companion, his comforter—
Abundance in abundance in abundance
Does the eye tire of the joy of seeing?
From their light the Merciful forged
أنبعَmade spring forth الرحمنُthe All-Merciful منfrom خلقيكماthe natures of you both
أنبعَ الرحمنُ من خلقيكما
كوثراًa Kawthar (river of plenty) فيwithin كوثرِa Kawthar (river of plenty) فيwithin كوثرِa Kawthar (river of plenty)
كوثراً في كوثرِ في كوثرِ
The All-Merciful made spring from your two natures
A gem in a gem in a gem
A Kawthar within a Kawthar within a Kawthar.
Our power, our chiefs are our armaments
سَبَكَcast الرحمنُthe All-Merciful منfrom نُوْرِهماthe light of them both
سَبَكَ الرحمنُ من نُوْرِهما
جوهراًa jewel فيwithin جوهرٍa jewel فيwithin جوهرٍa jewel
جوهراً في جوهرٍ في جوهرٍ
The All-Merciful cast from the light of them both
You two, our refuge in peril
A jewel within a jewel within a jewel.
So you were granted success and remain
ذخرُناour treasure عُدَّتُناour provision ساداتُناour masters
ذخرُنا عُدَّتُنا ساداتُنا
أنتماyou two معقلناour stronghold فيin الحذرِfear
أنتما معقلنا في الحذرِ
Our treasure, our provision, our masters—
A lightning bolt in a rumbling, pouring cloud
You two are our stronghold in times of fear.
فوُقيتمْso may you be protected وبَقِيْتمand may you endure مَاas long as شرىflashes
فوُقيتمْ وبَقِيْتم مَا شرى
بارقٌlightning فيamid غدَقٍcopious rain مُثْعَنْجِرِpouring in torrents
بارقٌ في غدَقٍ مُثْعَنْجِرِ
So may you be protected and endure, as long as there flashes
Lightning amid abundant, surging rain.
Partial English translation: 61 of 64 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1