لهاshe has خفرٌmodesty فيat كلِّevery وَقتٍmoment خَفيرُهاher guardian
لها خفرٌ في كلِّ وَقتٍ خَفيرُها
وكيفَand how ومِنand from أسَدِthe lion of العرينthe lair يُجيرهاprotects her
وكيفَ ومِن أسَدِ العرين يُجيرها
She has modesty, her guardian at every moment.
She has a guard at every time, guarding her
And how could it be otherwise, when it shields her from the lion of the lair?
And how can the lion of the den protect her?
وَمَألوفُهاand her custom جودٌgenerosity وَلَوeven if فيهin it ضَرُّهاher harm
وَمَألوفُها جودٌ وَلَو فيه ضَرُّها
وَلَكِنَّهاbut she ضَنَّتwas stingy بِماwith what لاnot يضيرُهاharms her
وَلَكِنَّها ضَنَّت بِما لا يضيرُها
Generosity is her custom, even if it brings her harm;
She's accustomed to generosity even if it harms her
yet she withheld what would not harm her.
But she was stingy with what does not harm her
وَعادَتُهاand her habit أَنthat لاnot يُداوَىis treated عَليلُهاher ailing one
وَعادَتُها أَن لا يُداوَى عَليلُها
وَأَنand that لاnot يَرىsees الإِطلاقَrelease يَوماًa day أسيرُهاher captive
وَأَن لا يَرى الإِطلاقَ يَوماً أسيرُها
Her habit is that her ailing lover remains uncured,
Her habit is not to heal her sick
and that her captive never sees release.
And not to see her prisoner freed one day
وَسيرَتُهاand her practice أَنthat لاnot تَزورَvisits مُتيَّماًa lovesick man
وَسيرَتُها أَن لا تَزورَ مُتيَّماً
وَأنَّand that أَخاa brother of الأَشواقِlongings لَيسَdoes not يَزورهاvisit her
وَأنَّ أَخا الأَشواقِ لَيسَ يَزورها
Her practice is never to visit a lovesick man,
Her ways are not to visit the aggrieved
and no brother of longing visits her.
And the brother of passions does not visit her
خَريدَةُa maiden of حُسنٍbeauty لاno مَعيبَflaw بِحُسنِهاin her beauty
خَريدَةُ حُسنٍ لا مَعيبَ بِحُسنِها
سِوىexcept أَنّهاthat she لِلشَّمسِto the sun مِنهاfrom it تُعيرهاlends it
سِوى أَنّها لِلشَّمسِ مِنها تُعيرها
A maiden of beauty, with no flaw in her beauty,
A gazelle of beauty with no blemish in her beauty
except that she lends some of it to the sun.
Except that she finds fault with the sun over her
أَميلُI incline إِلىtoward بَدرِthe full moon of السّماءِthe sky لأنَّهُbecause it
أَميلُ إِلى بَدرِ السّماءِ لأنَّهُ
عَلىin حُسنِهِits beauty الحاليcharming البَديعِwondrous نَظيرُهاher equal
عَلى حُسنِهِ الحالي البَديعِ نَظيرُها
I incline toward the full moon of the sky, because
I'm inclined to the full moon of the sky because it
in its charming, wondrous beauty, it is her equal.
Is equal in its present brilliant beauty to her
وَدِدْتُI loved نُجومَthe stars of اللَّيلِthe night مِنfor أَجلِthe sake of أَنّهاthat she
وَدِدْتُ نُجومَ اللَّيلِ مِن أَجلِ أَنّها
عَلىupon هامِهاtheir heads لِلعِزِّfor glory تَبنيbuilds قصورَهاher palaces
عَلى هامِها لِلعِزِّ تَبني قصورَها
I loved the stars of night because she
I loved the stars of the night because they
builds her palaces of glory upon their heads.
On their foreheads for glory build their castles
وَمِنand for أَجلthe sake of أَنthat ودَّتshe wished علىin الحبِّlove أَنّهاthat they
وَمِن أَجل أَن ودَّت على الحبِّ أَنّها
علىupon جِيدهاher neck تبدوappear عُقوداًas necklaces بدورُهاtheir full moons
على جِيدها تبدو عُقوداً بدورُها
And because, out of love, she wished that
And because they placed love's necklaces on their chests
their full moons should appear as necklaces upon her neck.
On their necks appearing like pearls in a row
وَماand not لِيَI have عِلمٌknowledge أَنّهاwhether she البدرُthe full moon أَمor غَدَتbecame
وَما لِيَ عِلمٌ أَنّها البدرُ أَم غَدَت
عَلىin الحُسنِbeauty شَمساًa sun حَيثُwhere قَدindeed لاحَshone نورُهاher light
عَلى الحُسنِ شَمساً حَيثُ قَد لاحَ نورُها
I do not know whether she is the full moon or has become
I don't know if she's the full moon or became
a sun in beauty, whose light has shone forth.
A sun where its light appeared in beauty
عَلىof كَونِهاher being شَمساًa sun دَليليmy proof ضِياؤُهاher brilliance
عَلى كَونِها شَمساً دَليلي ضِياؤُها
عَلىof كَونِهاher being بَدراًa full moon دَليليmy proof غُرورهاher beguilement
عَلى كَونِها بَدراً دَليلي غُرورها
Her brilliance is my proof that she is a sun;
Proof she's the sun is her brilliance
her beguilement is my proof that she is a full moon.
Proof she's the full moon is her pride
وَأَوقَعَنيand cast me فيinto الوهمِuncertainty فيهاabout her طُلوعُهاher rising
وَأَوقَعَني في الوهمِ فيها طُلوعُها
نَهاراًby day وَلَيلاًand by night راجِياًhoping وَظهورُهاand her appearance
نَهاراً وَلَيلاً راجِياً وَظهورُها
Her rising has cast me into uncertainty about her,
And her rising by day and night while I hope
by day and by night, while I hope—and so has her appearance.
For her appearance made me confused
فإنْso if قِسْتُهاI compare her بالبدرto the full moon فالبدرthen the full moon عبدُهاher slave
فإنْ قِسْتُها بالبدر فالبدر عبدُها
وإنand if قِسْتُهاI compare her بالشمسto the sun فهيthen she تنيرهاilluminates it
وإن قِسْتُها بالشمس فهي تنيرها
If I compare her to the full moon, the full moon is her slave;
So if I liken her to the full moon, she's the full moon's mistress
and if I compare her to the sun, she illuminates it.
And if I liken her to the sun, she illuminates it
غَزالةُa gazelle of سِربٍa herd تَألَفُis accustomed to الهَجرَestrangement وَالجَفاand harshness
غَزالةُ سِربٍ تَألَفُ الهَجرَ وَالجَفا
وَفوقَand beyond نفورِthe shyness of الظبيِthe gazelle يَبدوappears نُفورهاher shyness
وَفوقَ نفورِ الظبيِ يَبدو نُفورها
A gazelle of the herd, accustomed to estrangement and harshness,
A gazelle of a herd accustomed to estrangement and aloofness
whose shyness exceeds the gazelle's.
Above the wild deer's skittishness appears her coyness
وَكلُّand all صِعابِthe hardships of المُؤلِماتِpainful things إِذاif قَضَتshe decrees
وَكلُّ صِعابِ المُؤلِماتِ إِذا قَضَت
عَلَيَّupon me بِهاwith them فَالبعدُthen separation عِنديto me عَسيرُهاtheir hardest
عَلَيَّ بِها فَالبعدُ عِندي عَسيرُها
Of all the harsh afflictions, if she decrees
And all the tormenting beauties' cruelties, if she
them upon me, separation is the hardest to me.
Inflicts them on me, then distance from me is her ease
عَلىdespite أَنّthat عِنديto me القتلbeing slain مِنهاby her بِصارِمٍwith a sharp sword
عَلى أَنّ عِندي القتل مِنها بِصارِمٍ
لَدىduring قُربِهاher nearness مِنّيto me اِمتِناناًas a favor يَسيرُهاtheir easiest
لَدى قُربِها مِنّي اِمتِناناً يَسيرُها
Yet, to me, being slain by her with a sharp sword,
Though for me killing her with a sword when she's
with her near me as a favor, is the easiest of them.
Near me is a favor, her approach makes simple
رَقيقَةُslender of خَصرٍwaist لاnot لِضَعفِfrom the weakness of نحولِهِits thinness
رَقيقَةُ خَصرٍ لا لِضَعفِ نحولِهِ
وماand not هوit مِنfrom بَينِamong الخُصورwaists قَصيرُهاtheir shortest
وما هو مِن بَينِ الخُصور قَصيرُها
Slender-waisted, though her slenderness is not from weakness,
Slender waist - not from frail emaciation
nor is hers the shortest among waists.
Nor is it among waists the shortest
وَخاتَمand a ring لِلخصرِfor the waist مِنطقةa girdle علىon
وَخاتَم لِلخصرِ مِنطقة على
خَناصِرِهاher little fingers ضاقَتwas tight وَفيهand around it تُديرُهاshe turns it
خَناصِرِها ضاقَت وَفيه تُديرُها
A ring is a girdle for her waist, though on
And a belt at her waist, a waistband over
her little fingers it is tight; around her waist she turns it.
Her hips, tight, and on it she turns
لَقَدindeed أَسبَلَتshe let fall فَوقَover الخُدودِthe cheeks سَوالِفاًsidelocks
لَقَد أَسبَلَت فَوقَ الخُدودِ سَوالِفاً
وَلَيتَand would that جَزائيmy reward جنّةParadise وَحريرُهاand its silk
وَلَيتَ جَزائي جنّة وَحريرُها
She has let sidelocks fall over her cheeks;
She let down over cheeks flowing tresses -
would that my reward were Paradise and its silk!
Would that my reward were Paradise and its maidens!
إِذاif سَألتنيshe asks me فيconcerning الهَوىlove عَنabout عُلومِهِits sciences
إِذا سَألتني في الهَوى عَن عُلومِهِ
أَقَمتُI established لَهاfor her البُرهانَthe proof أَنّيthat I خَبيرُهاtheir expert
أَقَمتُ لَها البُرهانَ أَنّي خَبيرُها
If she questions me on love, about its sciences,
If she asks me about the sciences of passion
I establish for her the proof that I am their expert.
I'll prove to her that I'm its expert
وَأَنّيand that I بَحرٌa sea لاno قَرارَbottom لِعُمقِهِto its depth
وَأَنّي بَحرٌ لا قَرارَ لِعُمقِهِ
طَويلٌlong عَريضٌbroad مِنهُfrom it مَدَّتhave spread بُحورُهاtheir seas
طَويلٌ عَريضٌ مِنهُ مَدَّت بُحورُها
And that I am a sea whose depth has no bottom,
And that I'm an ocean with no rest in its depth
long and broad, from which their seas have spread.
Vast, expansive - from it oceans drew their waters
وَأَنّيand that I نَبيءُthe prophet of الحبِّlove أَدعوI call إِلىto الهَوىlove
وَأَنّي نَبيءُ الحبِّ أَدعو إِلى الهَوى
وَليand I have مُعجِزاتٌmiracles زيحَwas removed عَنهاfrom them سُتورُهاtheir veils
وَلي مُعجِزاتٌ زيحَ عَنها سُتورُها
And that I am love's prophet, calling people to love,
And that I'm the prophet of love who calls to passion
with miracles whose veils have been removed.
And I have miracles whose curtains were pulled back
فَمِنهاso among them اِنشِقاقُthe splitting of البدرِthe full moon مِنfrom سالِفٍa sidelock بَداappeared
فَمِنها اِنشِقاقُ البدرِ مِن سالِفٍ بَدا
عَلىupon خَدِّهاher cheek القانيcrimson وَهَذاand this كَبيرُهاtheir greatest
عَلى خَدِّها القاني وَهَذا كَبيرُها
Among them is the full moon's splitting by a sidelock that appeared
Among them is the full moon splitting - it appeared
upon her crimson cheek; this is the greatest of them.
On her cheek, and this is the greatest
فَمَنso whoever يَتّبِعنيfollows me يَقتَديtakes guidance بِمَقالَتيfrom my words
فَمَن يَتّبِعني يَقتَدي بِمَقالَتي
فَيَعلوهُso rises over him مِنfrom شَمسِthe sun of المَحبَّةِlove نورُهاits light
فَيَعلوهُ مِن شَمسِ المَحبَّةِ نورُها
Whoever follows me takes my words as his guide,
So whoever follows me and emulates my saying
and the light of love's sun rises over him.
The light of love elevates him
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَhave learned العُشّاقُthe lovers فيin كلِّevery مَوكِبٍprocession
وَقَد عَلِمَ العُشّاقُ في كلِّ مَوكِبٍ
مِنَof الحبِّlove وَالأَشجانِand sorrows أَنّيthat I أَميرُهاtheir prince
مِنَ الحبِّ وَالأَشجانِ أَنّي أَميرُها
Lovers have learned, in every procession
And lovers in every retinue of love and ecstasy knew
of love and sorrows, that I am their prince.
That I'm its prince
وَلَكِنّنيbut I عَبدُa slave of لَذّاتٍdelights مُمجَّدٍan exalted man
وَلَكِنّني عَبدُ لَذّاتٍ مُمجَّدٍ
عَلىat مَطلَعِthe rising of العَلياءِeminence يَبدوappears ظُهورُهاtheir emergence
عَلى مَطلَعِ العَلياءِ يَبدو ظُهورُها
But I am a slave to the delights of an exalted man,
But I'm a slave to a glorious beloved
whose emergence is seen at the dawn of eminence.
At the horizon's rise her appearance shows
لَقَدindeed فاقَhe surpassed أَهلَthe people of الفَضلِexcellence طِفلاًas a child بِفَضلهِthrough his excellence
لَقَد فاقَ أَهلَ الفَضلِ طِفلاً بِفَضلهِ
وَكَمand how often سادَled فيamong الأَشرافِthe nobles فَضلاًin merit صَغيرُهاtheir youngest
وَكَم سادَ في الأَشرافِ فَضلاً صَغيرُها
Even as a child, he surpassed the people of excellence through his excellence;
She surpassed people of merit as a child in her merit
how often has their youngest led the nobles in merit!
And how many nobles her few years outshone
وَسادand surpassed جَماعاتٍgroups عَليهِahead of him تَقدَّمواthey had advanced
وَساد جَماعاتٍ عَليهِ تَقدَّموا
وَلَوand even though أَنَّهُhe فيin ذاthis الزَّمانِage أَخيرُهاtheir latest
وَلَو أَنَّهُ في ذا الزَّمانِ أَخيرُها
He surpassed groups who had preceded him,
She ruled groups who preceded her
although in this age he is the latest of them.
If she were the last of this age
تَجَمَّلَhe adorned himself بِالآدابِwith refinement وَالحِلمِand forbearance وَالنّدىand generosity
تَجَمَّلَ بِالآدابِ وَالحِلمِ وَالنّدى
فَظلَّتso remained بِهِthrough him الأَكوانُthe worlds يَبدوappears سُرورُهاtheir joy
فَظلَّت بِهِ الأَكوانُ يَبدو سُرورُها
He adorned himself with refinement, forbearance, and generosity;
She adorned herself with etiquette, forbearance and dew
so through him the worlds continued to display their joy.
So through her the ages appeared delighted
لَهُhe has مِنof صِفاتِthe attributes of الحُسنِbeauty كُلُّevery حَميدةٍpraiseworthy one
لَهُ مِن صِفاتِ الحُسنِ كُلُّ حَميدةٍ
وَإِنّيand I مَدىthroughout عمريmy lifetime لَعَمْريby my life شَكورُهاgrateful for them
وَإِنّي مَدى عمري لَعَمْري شَكورُها
Every praiseworthy attribute of beauty belongs to him,
She has every praiseworthy trait
and throughout my life—by my life!—I am grateful for them.
And I all my life, by my life, am grateful to her
لَهُhe has فيamong مُلوكِthe kings of الفَضلِexcellence أَرفَعُthe highest رتبةٍrank
لَهُ في مُلوكِ الفَضلِ أَرفَعُ رتبةٍ
عَلىatop رَأسِthe head of شَمسِthe sun of المَجدِglory يَبدوappears سَريرُهاits throne
عَلى رَأسِ شَمسِ المَجدِ يَبدو سَريرُها
He holds the highest rank among the kings of excellence;
Among the kings of merit she has the highest rank
its throne appears atop the sun of glory.
Above the sun of glory her throne appears
وَلَوand if ذُكِرَتwere mentioned أَهلُthe people of المَفاخِرِdistinctions وَالعُلىand eminence
وَلَو ذُكِرَت أَهلُ المَفاخِرِ وَالعُلى
عَلىaccording to مَنهَجِthe method of التّفضيلِranking by merit فَهوَthen he خَطيرُهاtheir illustrious one
عَلى مَنهَجِ التّفضيلِ فَهوَ خَطيرُها
Were the people of distinction and eminence named
If the people of superiority and sublimity were mentioned
in order of merit, he would be their illustrious one.
In the way of preference, she's their best
تَحلَّتwere adorned بِهِwith him بَينَamong الكرامِthe noble مَجالِسٌgatherings
تَحلَّت بِهِ بَينَ الكرامِ مَجالِسٌ
عَلىfor غَيرِهِanyone but him تَأبىrefuse الجُلوسَsitting صُدورُهاtheir seats of honor
عَلى غَيرِهِ تَأبى الجُلوسَ صُدورُها
Gatherings among the noble are adorned with him;
In her gatherings among the noble sittings
their seats of honor refuse to seat anyone else.
To sit with others, breasts refuse
حَوالَيهaround him لَوif دارَتrevolved نُجومُthe stars of أَفاضِلٍvirtuous men
حَوالَيه لَو دارَت نُجومُ أَفاضِلٍ
فَكالشّمسِthen like the sun لَوif دارَتrevolved لَديهاbeside it بُدورُهاtheir full moons
فَكالشّمسِ لَو دارَت لَديها بُدورُها
If the stars of virtuous men revolved around him,
If the stars of the virtuous revolved around her
he would be like the sun with their full moons circling beside it.
Like the sun revolving with its orbits around it
تَضمَّخَhe was steeped فيin طيبِthe perfume of الجَمالِbeauty وَمِسكِهِand its musk
تَضمَّخَ في طيبِ الجَمالِ وَمِسكِهِ
وَفيهِand in him غَواليrich blends of الطيبِperfume يَذكوintensifies عَبيرُهاtheir fragrance
وَفيهِ غَوالي الطيبِ يَذكو عَبيرُها
He is steeped in beauty's perfume and its musk;
She was imbued with the perfume of beauty and musk
within him the fragrance of rich perfumes grows stronger.
And in it the fragrances of perfume are heated by her scent
هوَhe البحرُthe sea فيin كلّall المَعارِفِbranches of knowledge والنّدىand generosity
هوَ البحرُ في كلّ المَعارِفِ والنّدى
فَياso, oh طالَماhow often مِنهُfrom him اِستَمدَّتdrew replenishment بُحورُهاtheir seas
فَيا طالَما مِنهُ اِستَمدَّت بُحورُها
He is the sea in every branch of knowledge and generosity;
She's the ocean in every knowledge and freshness
how often their seas have drawn replenishment from him!
Oh how many oceans drew their waters from it
إِمامٌa leader بِهِafter him كلُّall الأئمّةِthe leaders تَقتَديfollow the example
إِمامٌ بِهِ كلُّ الأئمّةِ تَقتَدي
بِماsince أَنَّهُhe is بَينَamong الأنامhumankind شَهيرُهاtheir renowned one
بِما أَنَّهُ بَينَ الأنام شَهيرُها
A leader whom all leaders emulate,
A leader the leaders all follow
for among humankind he is their renowned one.
As she among people is famous
خَطيبٌan orator مِنthrough التبيانِlucid explanation يبديdisplays بَلاغَةًeloquence
خَطيبٌ مِن التبيانِ يبدي بَلاغَةً
تَقاصَرَfell short عنهاof it قِسُّهاits Quss وَجريرُهاand its Jarir
تَقاصَرَ عنها قِسُّها وَجريرُها
An orator who displays eloquence through lucid explanation,
An orator whose eloquence shows rhetoric
which its Quss and its Jarir cannot equal.
Beside it the eloquent fall short
يَصوغhe fashions أَساليبَthe forms of البَيانِeloquence جَواهِراًinto jewels
يَصوغ أَساليبَ البَيانِ جَواهِراً
يُقوَّمis valued بِالدّنياat the world's worth لَديّin my estimation صغيرُهاtheir smallest
يُقوَّم بِالدّنيا لَديّ صغيرُها
He fashions the forms of eloquence into jewels,
She makes eloquence into jewels
whose smallest, to me, is worth the world.
That the world's paltry goods in my eyes are small
هُمامٌa magnanimous man عَلىin التَّحقيقِtruth نَدْبٌgallant مهذَّبٌrefined
هُمامٌ عَلى التَّحقيقِ نَدْبٌ مهذَّبٌ
بِهِthrough him رَوضَةُthe garden of التحريرِprecise exposition قَدindeed طابَbecame lovely نورُهاits blossoms
بِهِ رَوضَةُ التحريرِ قَد طابَ نورُها
A magnanimous man, truly gallant and refined;
A zealous one seeking the truth, an elegant calling
through him the garden of precise exposition has lovely blossoms.
By which the garden of proof was illuminated by its light
وَرَوضَةُand a garden of فَضلٍexcellence وَالمَكارِمُand noble deeds وَالنَّدىand generosity
وَرَوضَةُ فَضلٍ وَالمَكارِمُ وَالنَّدى
وَلُطفٌand kindness وظرْفٌand refinement وَالكَمالand perfection زُهورُهاits flowers
وَلُطفٌ وظرْفٌ وَالكَمال زُهورُها
And a garden of excellence: noble deeds and generosity,
And a garden of merit, magnanimity and freshness
kindness, refinement, and perfection are its flowers.
And gentleness, etiquette, perfection are its flowers
وَماand not عَنهُfrom him أَسرارُthe secrets of العلومِthe sciences خَفيّةٌhidden
وَما عَنهُ أَسرارُ العلومِ خَفيّةٌ
كَظاهِرِهاlike their outward meaning يُجلىis revealed عَلَيهِto him ضَميرُهاtheir inner meaning
كَظاهِرِها يُجلى عَلَيهِ ضَميرُها
The secrets of the sciences are not hidden from him;
Not hidden from him are the secrets of sciences
their inner meaning is revealed to him like their outward meaning.
Like their apparent which he makes clear
وَزينَةُand the adornment of أَهلِthe people of المَجدِglory فيin كلِّevery مَوكبٍprocession
وَزينَةُ أَهلِ المَجدِ في كلِّ مَوكبٍ
عَلىtoward الشَّرَفِhonor الأَعلىthe highest تَسامَىsoared ظهورُهاits presence
عَلى الشَّرَفِ الأَعلى تَسامَى ظهورُها
And the adornment of the illustrious in every procession,
Adornment of the people of glory in every procession
whose presence soars toward the highest honor.
At the highest nobility their appearance climbs
وَدَوحَةand a spreading tree of عِزٍّglory وَالوقارُand dignity ثِمارُهاits fruits
وَدَوحَة عِزٍّ وَالوقارُ ثِمارُها
لَدَيهاbeside it مِنَof الآسادِthe lions يَخفَىis hushed زَئيرُهاtheir roar
لَدَيها مِنَ الآسادِ يَخفَى زَئيرُها
And a spreading tree of glory, bearing dignity as its fruit;
A stronghold of might and dignity are its fruits
beside it, the roar of lions is hushed.
The lions' roar is hidden from it
فَياso, O أَيُّهاyou الشَّهمُnoble-hearted man الَّذيwhose طابَbecame sweet صيتُهُhis renown
فَيا أَيُّها الشَّهمُ الَّذي طابَ صيتُهُ
وَإِنّيand I indeed بِهِin it بَينَamong الكِرامthe noble فخورُهاtheir proud one
وَإِنّي بِهِ بَينَ الكِرام فخورُها
So, O noble-hearted man whose renown is sweet,
So O noble one whose reputation is pure
among the noble I indeed take pride in it.
And I among the generous through you take pride
نَصَرتَyou defended بِسَيفِwith the sword of الحقِّtruth مِلَّةَthe faith of أَحمَدٍAhmad
نَصَرتَ بِسَيفِ الحقِّ مِلَّةَ أَحمَدٍ
وَأَنتَand you أَخاbrother of الفُرسانِthe knights أَنتَyou نَصيرُهاits champion
وَأَنتَ أَخا الفُرسانِ أَنتَ نَصيرُها
You defended Ahmad's faith with the sword of truth;
You supported Muhammad's religion with the sword of truth
and you, brother of knights—you are its champion.
You, brother of knights, you are its supporter
وَإِنَّand indeed قَضاياthe causes of الحقِّtruth فيكَin you تَحَصَّنَتfortified themselves
وَإِنَّ قَضايا الحقِّ فيكَ تَحَصَّنَت
وَأَنتَand you لَهاfor them بَينَamong البريَّةِhumankind سورُهاtheir rampart
وَأَنتَ لَها بَينَ البريَّةِ سورُها
The causes of truth have fortified themselves in you,
And the causes of truth in you took refuge
and among humankind you are their rampart.
And you between mankind are its wall
وَليand I have فِكرَةٌa thought عَنfrom مَدحِthe praise of غَيرِكَanyone but you قَدindeed سَهَتgrew forgetful
وَلي فِكرَةٌ عَن مَدحِ غَيرِكَ قَد سَهَت
وَفيكَand of you حَميدٌpraiseworthy شِعرُهاits poetry وَشعورُهاand its feeling
وَفيكَ حَميدٌ شِعرُها وَشعورُها
My thought has forgotten the praise of anyone but you;
I have an idea to praise none but you
in you, its poetry and its feeling are praiseworthy.
Praiseworthy, its poetry and feelings are you
وَتيand this فِكرةٌthought لَوif كانَwere مَدحُكَpraise of you فيin السّماthe sky
وَتي فِكرةٌ لَو كانَ مَدحُكَ في السّما
لَطارَwould fly إِلَيهِtoward it بازُهاits falcon وَصفورُهاand its sparrow
لَطارَ إِلَيهِ بازُها وَصفورُها
And this thought—were your praise in the sky,
And I have an idea - if praising you were in the sky
its falcon and its sparrow would fly toward it.
Its falcon and sparrow hawk would fly to it
تُزَخرِفُare adorned صحْفُthe pages of المَدحِpraise فيكَof you بِجَوهَرٍwith jewels
تُزَخرِفُ صحْفُ المَدحِ فيكَ بِجَوهَرٍ
وتُكتَبُand are written بِالمَرجانِin coral فيهاupon them سُطورُهاtheir lines
وتُكتَبُ بِالمَرجانِ فيها سُطورُها
The pages of praise for you are adorned with jewels,
The scrolls of praise you adorn with treasure
and their lines are written upon them in coral.
Written in coral on them its lines
إِلَيكto you لَقَدindeed أَهدَتit offered مِنَof النّظمِverse غادَةًa graceful maiden
إِلَيك لَقَد أَهدَت مِنَ النّظمِ غادَةً
عَروساًa bride عَلىbeyond تِسعٍnine تَزيدُexceed خدورُهاher secluded chambers
عَروساً عَلى تِسعٍ تَزيدُ خدورُها
To you it has offered a graceful maiden of verse,
To you poetry's boughs brought a gift
a bride whose secluded chambers exceed nine.
A bride beyond compare her rooms excel
تَميلُshe leans عَلىover الأَلبابِminds تَسْتَلِبُsteals الحِجىreason
تَميلُ عَلى الأَلبابِ تَسْتَلِبُ الحِجى
وَتَعشَقُهاand adore her مِنfrom جَنَّةِthe garden of الخلدِeternity حورُهاits houris
وَتَعشَقُها مِن جَنَّةِ الخلدِ حورُها
She leans over minds, stealing reason,
She leans on hearts, captures minds
and the houris of the Garden of Eternity adore her.
And the maidens of Paradise fall in love with her
تَحَلَّتwere adorned بِعِقدwith the necklace of المَدحِpraise فيكَof you نُحورُهاher necks
تَحَلَّت بِعِقد المَدحِ فيكَ نُحورُها
وَياand oh حُسنَهhow lovely it is عِقداًas a necklace حَوتهُhave held it نُحورُهاher necks
وَيا حُسنَه عِقداً حَوتهُ نُحورُها
Her necks are adorned with the necklace of praise for you;
She adorned herself with the necklace of your praise
how lovely the necklace her necks have held!
O excellent is that necklace contained in necks
فَخُذهاso take her بِلاwithout أَمرٍa command عَلىin مَنهَجِthe way of الرِّضاacceptance
فَخُذها بِلا أَمرٍ عَلى مَنهَجِ الرِّضا
فَفيكَfor in you بِلاwithout رَيبٍdoubt يَدومُendures حُبورُهاher joy
فَفيكَ بِلا رَيبٍ يَدومُ حُبورُها
So take her, without a command, in a spirit of acceptance;
So take her without objection in consent
for in you, without doubt, her joy endures.
And live in happiness and joy
وَدُمand remain بِصَفاءِin the serenity of العَيشِlife بِالسَّعدِwith good fortune وَالهَناand happiness
وَدُم بِصَفاءِ العَيشِ بِالسَّعدِ وَالهَنا
تُسَرُّrejoice بِكَin you الأعوامُthe years ثمَّthen شُهورُهاtheir months
تُسَرُّ بِكَ الأعوامُ ثمَّ شُهورُها
May you remain in a serene life, with good fortune and happiness;
Through you years and months are delighted
the years rejoice in you, and then their months.
And last - Ibn Fathallah guides you, ceaselessly
وَدامَand may continue اِبنُIbn (son of) فَتحِFath اللَّهِAllah يهديكَoffers you كاعِباًa nubile maiden
وَدامَ اِبنُ فَتحِ اللَّهِ يهديكَ كاعِباً
لَهاshe has خَفَرٌmodesty فيat كلِّevery وَقتٍmoment خفيرُهاher guardian
لَها خَفَرٌ في كلِّ وَقتٍ خفيرُها
May Ibn Fath Allah keep offering you a nubile maiden:
For her a guard at every time, guarding her
She has modesty, her guardian at every moment.
Partial English translation: 109 of 110 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1