طَيفَO phantom الخَيالِof the dream-vision حَمِدناwe were grateful مِنكَfrom you إِلماماa fleeting visit
طَيفَ الخَيالِ حَمِدنا مِنكَ إِلماما
داوَيتَyou healed سُقماًan ailment وَقَدand indeed هَيَّجتَyou stirred up أَسقاماailments
داوَيتَ سُقماً وَقَد هَيَّجتَ أَسقاما
O phantom of dreams, we were grateful for your fleeting visit.
The phantom of dreams we praised you as an imam
You healed an ailment while stirring up others.
You cured illness and you also caused maladies
لِلَّهِhow wondrous, by God واشٍa tale-bearer رَعىwatched زَوراًa visitor أَلَمَّwho came بِناto us
لِلَّهِ واشٍ رَعى زَوراً أَلَمَّ بِنا
لَوif كانَhe were يَمنَعُناto deny us فيin النَومِsleep أَحلاماdreams
لَو كانَ يَمنَعُنا في النَومِ أَحلاما
How wondrous, by God, the tale-bearer who watched a visitor come to us—
For Allah’s sake, an ignorant shepherd who wronged us
if he could deny us dreams in sleep!
If only he could prevent dreams for us in sleep
بِتناwe spent the night هُجوداًasleep وَباتَand spent the night اللَيلُthe night حارِسُناour guardian
بِتنا هُجوداً وَباتَ اللَيلُ حارِسُنا
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen الفَلَقُdaybreak اِستَعلىrose high لَهُbefore it ناماit slept
حَتّى إِذا الفَلَقُ اِستَعلى لَهُ ناما
We spent the night asleep, and night kept watch over us,
We spent the night sleepless while the night guarded us
until, when dawn rose before it, it fell asleep.
Until dawn rose high and fell asleep
قَدindeed قُلتُI said وَالصُبحُwhile dawn عِنديto me غَيرَnot مُغتَبِطٍa source of joy
قَد قُلتُ وَالصُبحُ عِندي غَيرَ مُغتَبِطٍ
ماhow كانَwas أَطيَبَsweet هَذاthis اللَيلُnight لَوif only داماit had lasted
ما كانَ أَطيَبَ هَذا اللَيلُ لَو داما
I said, with dawn bringing me no delight:
I said at dawn while still not happy
How sweet this night was—if only it had lasted!
How lovely this night would have been had it lasted
وَلائِمٍand a reproacher فيover هَوىlove for أَروىArwa وَصَلتُI joined لَهُfor him
وَلائِمٍ في هَوى أَروى وَصَلتُ لَهُ
حَبلَthe cord الخَليعِof the libertine بِحَبلِto the cord اللَهوِof pleasure إِذwhen لاماhe reproached
حَبلَ الخَليعِ بِحَبلِ اللَهوِ إِذ لاما
And for a reproacher of my love for Arwa, I joined
Blaming the one I passionately love, I reconciled with him
the libertine's cord to pleasure's cord when he reproached me.
I tied the rope of frivolity with the rope of passion when he blamed me
عِنديwithin me سَرائِرُsecrets حُبٍّof love ماnot يَزالُceases لَهاfor them
عِندي سَرائِرُ حُبٍّ ما يَزالُ لَها
تَذكارُremembrance عَهدٍof a pledge وَماand not يَقرِفنَthey commit آثاماsins
تَذكارُ عَهدٍ وَما يَقرِفنَ آثاما
Within me are secrets of love that still hold
I have secret loves that still
the memory of a pledge, and they commit no sins.
Recall the past and do not gather sins
لَولاwere it not for يَزيدُYazid وَأَيّامٌand days لَهُof his سَلَفَتthat have passed
لَولا يَزيدُ وَأَيّامٌ لَهُ سَلَفَت
عاشَwould have lived الوَليدُal-Walid مَعَamong الغاوينَthe wayward أَعواماfor years
عاشَ الوَليدُ مَعَ الغاوينَ أَعواما
Were it not for Yazid and his bygone days,
If not for Yazid and days of the past
al-Walid would have lived among the wayward for years.
Al-Walid would have lived with the misguided for years
سَلَّdrew الخَليفَةُthe caliph سَيفاًa sword مِنfrom بَنيthe sons مَطَرٍof Matar
سَلَّ الخَليفَةُ سَيفاً مِن بَني مَطَرٍ
يَمضيit advances فَيَختَرِقُso it pierces الأَجسادَthe bodies وَالهاماand the heads
يَمضي فَيَختَرِقُ الأَجسادَ وَالهاما
The caliph drew a sword from Banu Matar,
The Caliph asked for a sword from the Bani Matar
which advances, piercing bodies and heads.
To go forth and pierce through bodies and skulls
كَالدَهرِlike Time لاnot يَنثَنيhe turns aside عَمَّنfrom whoever يَهُمُّhe is intent بِهِupon him
كَالدَهرِ لا يَنثَني عَمَّن يَهُمُّ بِهِ
قَدindeed أَوسَعَhe lavished on الناسَthe people إِنعاماًfavor وَإِرغاماand humiliation
قَد أَوسَعَ الناسَ إِنعاماً وَإِرغاما
Like Time, he never turns aside from whomever he targets;
Like fate it does not bend for anyone it intends
he has lavished favor and humiliation upon people.
It made people submit to favors and coercion
حَمىhe defended الخِلافَةَthe caliphate وَالإِسلامَand Islam فَاِمتَنَعاso both became impregnable
حَمى الخِلافَةَ وَالإِسلامَ فَاِمتَنَعا
كَاللَيثِlike a lion يَحميguarding مَعَwith الأَشبالِthe cubs آجاماthickets
كَاللَيثِ يَحمي مَعَ الأَشبالِ آجاما
He defended the caliphate and Islam, making both impregnable,
It protected the Caliphate and Islam so it refused
like a lion guarding thickets with its cubs.
Like a lion protecting its cubs and uniting them
أَكرِمhow noble بِهِhe is وَبِآباءٍand forefathers لَهُof his سَلَفواwho came before
أَكرِم بِهِ وَبِآباءٍ لَهُ سَلَفوا
أَبقَواthey left behind مِنَof المَجدِglory أَيّاماًdays وَأَيّاماand days
أَبقَوا مِنَ المَجدِ أَيّاماً وَأَيّاما
How noble he is, and his forefathers who went before,
Honor it and its forefathers who preceded it
leaving behind days upon days of glory.
They left behind days and days of glory
تَرىyou see العُفاةَthe petitioners عُكوفاًحَولَgathered around حُجرَتِهِhis chamber
تَرى العُفاةَ عُكوفاًحَولَ حُجرَتِهِ
يَرجونَthey put their hopes in أَروَعَan imposing man رَحبَwide الباعِof reach بَسّاماever smiling
يَرجونَ أَروَعَ رَحبَ الباعِ بَسّاما
You see petitioners gathered around his chamber,
You see the chiefs gathered around his room
placing their hopes in an imposing man, broad of reach and ever smiling.
Seeking the most splendid smile of the generous
يَقولُhe says لاno وَنَعَمand yes فيin وَجهِthe manner حَمدِهِماof praising them both
يَقولُ لا وَنَعَم في وَجهِ حَمدِهِما
كِلتاهُماboth of them مِنهُfrom him قَدindeed تَمضيtake effect لِماfor what راماhe intends
كِلتاهُما مِنهُ قَد تَمضي لِما راما
He says 'no' and 'yes' in ways that earn each praise;
He says no and yes to both their praises
both, from him, accomplish what he intends.
Both mean the same to him when he intends to do something
مَنِيَّةٌdeath فيin يَدَيthe two hands هارونَof Harun يَبعَثُهاhe sends it forth
مَنِيَّةٌ في يَدَي هارونَ يَبعَثُها
عَلىupon أَعاديهِhis enemies إِنif سامىhe vies for supremacy وَإِنand if حاماhe defends
عَلى أَعاديهِ إِن سامى وَإِن حاما
Death lies in Harun's hands; he sends it forth
A victory at Harun's hands that he sends
against his enemies, whether vying for supremacy or defending.
Against his enemies whether they rebel or submit
خَيرُthe best البَرِيَّةِof creation آباءًin fathers إِذاwhen ذُكِرواthey are named
خَيرُ البَرِيَّةِ آباءً إِذا ذُكِروا
وَأَكرَمُand the noblest الناسِof people أَخوالاًin maternal uncles وَأَعماماًand paternal uncles
وَأَكرَمُ الناسِ أَخوالاً وَأَعماماً
Best of all creation in ancestry, when his fathers are named,
The best of creation are the forefathers when remembered
and noblest of people in maternal and paternal uncles.
And the most dignified people are the uncles and paternal uncles
تَظَلَّمَcomplained of injustice المالُwealth وَالأَعداءُand the enemies مِنfrom يَدِهِhis hand
تَظَلَّمَ المالُ وَالأَعداءُ مِن يَدِهِ
لاmay he not زالَcease لِلمالِtoward wealth وَالأَعداءِand the enemies ظَلّاماa relentless oppressor
لا زالَ لِلمالِ وَالأَعداءِ ظَلّاما
Wealth and enemies have complained of his hand;
Money and enemies complained of his hand
may he never cease oppressing wealth and enemies!
He still sheds darkness on money and enemies
أَردىbrought down الوَليدَal-Walid هُمامٌa valiant man مِنfrom بَنيthe sons مَطَرٍof Matar
أَردى الوَليدَ هُمامٌ مِن بَني مَطَرٍ
يَزيدُهُincreases him الرَوعُterror يَومَon the day الرَوعِof terror إِقداماin boldness
يَزيدُهُ الرَوعُ يَومَ الرَوعِ إِقداما
A valiant man of Banu Matar brought al-Walid down;
Matar's ambitions that ruined Al-Walid
terror makes him bolder on the day of terror.
Yazid's courage intensifies his bravery
صَمصامَةٌa keen sword ذَكَرٌa stalwart man يَعدوgallops بِهِwith him ذَكَرٌa stallion
صَمصامَةٌ ذَكَرٌ يَعدو بِهِ ذَكَرٌ
فيin كَفِّهِhis palm ذَكَرٌa tempered blade يَفريhe cleaves بِهِwith it الهاماthe heads
في كَفِّهِ ذَكَرٌ يَفري بِهِ الهاما
A keen sword of a man, borne at a gallop by a stallion,
A firm male whose fame a male fame pursues
a tempered blade in his palm, with which he cleaves heads.
In his palm a male fame with which he pierces the mind
تَمضيadvance المَناياdeaths كَماjust as تَمضيadvance أَسِنَّتُهُhis spearpoints
تَمضي المَنايا كَما تَمضي أَسِنَّتُهُ
كَأَنَّas though فيin سِرجِهِhis saddle بَدراًa full moon وَضِرغاماand a lion
كَأَنَّ في سِرجِهِ بَدراً وَضِرغاما
Deaths advance as his spearpoints advance,
Deaths pass as his tongue passes
as though a full moon and a lion were in his saddle.
As if his saddle carries a full moon and darkness
أَروىhe quenched بِجَدواهُwith his bounty ظَمَأَthe thirst السائِلينَof the petitioners كَماjust as
أَروى بِجَدواهُ ظَمَأَ السائِلينَ كَما
أَروىhe slaked نَجيعَthe fresh gore دَمٍof blood رُمحاًa spear وَصَمصاماand a keen sword
أَروى نَجيعَ دَمٍ رُمحاً وَصَمصاما
With his bounty he quenched the petitioners' thirst, just as
His sword quenched the thirst of the questioning as it did
he slaked a spear and a keen sword with fresh blood.
Quench the thirst of spilt blood, a spear and a sword
لاnot يَستَطيعُcan يَزيدٌYazid مِنbecause of طَبيعَتِهِhis nature
لا يَستَطيعُ يَزيدٌ مِن طَبيعَتِهِ
عَنِfrom المَنِيَّةِdeath وَالمَعروفِand kindness إِحجاماrecoiling
عَنِ المَنِيَّةِ وَالمَعروفِ إِحجاما
Yazid cannot, by his nature,
Yazid by his nature cannot refrain
shrink from death or acts of kindness.
From fate and kindness no matter what
خَيلٌhorses لَهُof his ماnot يَزالُceases الدَهرُTime يُقحِمُهاit plunges them
خَيلٌ لَهُ ما يَزالُ الدَهرُ يُقحِمُها
فيinto غَمرَةِthe depths المَوتِof death يَومَon the day الرَوعِof terror إِقحاماheadlong
في غَمرَةِ المَوتِ يَومَ الرَوعِ إِقحاما
He has horses that Time keeps plunging
Horses that time always drives
headlong into death's depths on the day of terror.
Into the depths of death on the day of battle
إِذاwhen بَداhe appears رُفِعَare lifted الأَستارُthe curtains عَنfrom مَلِكٍa king
إِذا بَدا رُفِعَ الأَستارُ عَن مَلِكٍ
تُكسىare clothed الشُهودُthose present بِهِthrough him نُوراًin light وَإِظلاماand darkness
تُكسى الشُهودُ بِهِ نُوراً وَإِظلاما
When he appears, the curtains are lifted from a king;
When a King surfaces, curtains are lifted
the onlookers are clothed through him in light and darkness.
Light and darkness dress witnesses
أَقسَمتُI swear مانِمتَyou have not slept عَنheedless of قَهرِsubduing المُلوكِthe kings وَلاand not
أَقسَمتُ مانِمتَ عَن قَهرِ المُلوكِ وَلا
كانَhas been الخَليفَةُthe caliph عَنheedless of نُعماكَyour favors نَوّاماa heavy sleeper
كانَ الخَليفَةُ عَن نُعماكَ نَوّاما
I swear, you have not slept heedless of subduing kings, nor
I swear you did not sleep from conquering Kings
has the caliph slumbered heedless of your favors.
The Caliph did not stop granting you favors
أَذكَرتَyou reminded سَيفَthe sword رَسولِof the Messenger اللَهِof God سُنَّتَهُof its customary way
أَذكَرتَ سَيفَ رَسولِ اللَهِ سُنَّتَهُ
وَبَأسَand the might أَوَّلَof the first مَنwho صَلّىprayed وَمَنand who صاماfasted
وَبَأسَ أَوَّلَ مَن صَلّى وَمَن صاما
You reminded the sword of God's Messenger of its old ways,
You recalled the sword of Allah's Messenger and his Sunnah
and of the might of the first to pray and to fast.
And the might of the first who prayed and fasted
إِنif يَشكُرgive thanks الناسُpeople ماwhat أَولَيتَyou bestowed مِنof حَسَنٍgoodness
إِن يَشكُر الناسُ ما أَولَيتَ مِن حَسَنٍ
فَقَدthen indeed وَسَعتَyou encompassed بَنيthe children حَوّاءَof Eve إِنعاماwith bounty
فَقَد وَسَعتَ بَني حَوّاءَ إِنعاما
If people give thanks for the good you have bestowed,
If people thank your good deeds
you have indeed encompassed Eve's children with bounty.
You have provided the children of Eve with much favor
قَطَعتَyou severed فيfor اللَهِGod أَرحامَthe kinship ties القَريبِof near kin كَماjust as
قَطَعتَ في اللَهِ أَرحامَ القَريبِ كَما
وَصَلتَyou joined فيfor اللَهِGod أَرحاماًkinship ties وَأَرحاماand kinship ties
وَصَلتَ في اللَهِ أَرحاماً وَأَرحاما
In God's cause you severed the ties of near kin, just as
You severed ties of kinship for Allah as you did join ties of kinship
you joined bond upon bond of kinship in God's cause.
Ties of kinships and more ties of kinships
إِذاwhen الخِلافَةُthe caliphate عُدَّتis reckoned كُنتَyou are أَنتَyou yourself لَهاfor it
إِذا الخِلافَةُ عُدَّت كُنتَ أَنتَ لَها
عِزّاًmight وَكانَand were بَنوthe sons العَبّاسِof al-Abbas حُكّاماrulers
عِزّاً وَكانَ بَنو العَبّاسِ حُكّاما
When the caliphate is reckoned, you yourself are its
When the Caliphate was counted, you were its
might, while Banu al-Abbas are its rulers.
Glory, and the Abbasids were rulers
ماthere is no مِنany عَظيمٍgreat man قَدِindeed أَنقادَhave submitted المُلوكُthe kings لَهُto him
ما مِن عَظيمٍ قَدِ أَنقادَ المُلوكُ لَهُ
إِلّاexcept that يَرىhe holds لَكَfor you إِجلالاًreverence وَإِعظاماand high esteem
إِلّا يَرى لَكَ إِجلالاً وَإِعظاما
No great man to whom kings have submitted
No dignitary whom Kings submitted to
fails to hold you in reverence and high esteem.
Except sees you with veneration and prestige
يُصيبُobtains مِنكَfrom you مَعَalong with الآمالِthe hopes صاحِبُهاtheir possessor
يُصيبُ مِنكَ مَعَ الآمالِ صاحِبُها
حِلماًforbearance وَعِلماًand knowledge وَمَعروفاًand kindness وَإِسلاماand Islam
حِلماً وَعِلماً وَمَعروفاً وَإِسلاما
The hopeful man gains from you, along with what he hopes for,
Whoever hopes from you, attains with hopes
forbearance, knowledge, kindness, and Islam.
Wisdom, knowledge, goodness and Islam
كَمmany a بَلدَةٍplace بِكَbecause of you حَلَّhalted الرَكبُthe caravan جانِبَهاbeside it
كَم بَلدَةٍ بِكَ حَلَّ الرَكبُ جانِبَها
وَماthough not يُلِمُّvisits briefly بِهاat it الرُكبانُthe riders إِلماماa brief visit
وَما يُلِمُّ بِها الرُكبانُ إِلماما
How many a place has a caravan halted beside because of you,
How many cities where you arrived
though riders never make even a brief visit there.
And the traveling company found no guide
إِذاwhen عَلَواthey ride over مَهمَهاًa trackless waste كانَis النَجاءُswift travel لَهُمfor them
إِذا عَلَوا مَهمَهاً كانَ النَجاءُ لَهُم
إِنشادَreciting مَدحِكَyour praise إِفصاهاًclear utterance وَتَرناماand singing
إِنشادَ مَدحِكَ إِفصاهاً وَتَرناما
When they ride over a trackless waste, their swift progress comes
When they face a problem, salvaging them
from reciting your praise, clearly and in song.
Is reciting your praise fluently and with melody
لَوif كانَwere able يَفقَهُto understand القَولَspeech طائِرُهاits birds
لَو كانَ يَفقَهُ القَولَ طائِرُها
غَنّىwould sing بِمَدحِكَwith your praise فيهاtherein بومُهاits owls الهاماthe night-owls
غَنّى بِمَدحِكَ فيها بومُها الهاما
If its birds could understand speech,
If its bird understood speech
its owls would sing your praises there to the night-owls.
It would sing your praises there making its mind busy
لَوif لَمdid not تُجِبكَanswer you جُنودُthe troops الشامِof al-Sham طائِعَةًobediently
لَو لَم تُجِبكَ جُنودُ الشامِ طائِعَةً
أَضرَمتَyou ignited فيهاamong them شِهابَthe meteor المَوتِof death إِضراماfiercely
أَضرَمتَ فيها شِهابَ المَوتِ إِضراما
Had the troops of al-Sham not answered you obediently,
If the Sham armies did not obey you willingly
you would have set death's meteor fiercely ablaze among them.
You would ignite in it the flames of death
وَوَقعَةٍand many a battle لَكَof yours ظَلَّremained المُلكُsovereignty مُبتَهِجاًrejoicing
وَوَقعَةٍ لَكَ ظَلَّ المُلكُ مُبتَهِجاً
فيهاwithin it وَماتَand died لَهاbecause of it الحُسّادُthe envious إِرغاماin humiliation
فيها وَماتَ لَها الحُسّادُ إِرغاما
And many a battle of yours left sovereignty rejoicing
And a battle where the kingdom remained joyous
within it, while the envious died of humiliation at it.
While the envious died in it by force
رَدَدتَyou restored فيهاin it إِلىto الإِسلامِIslam مظلَمَةًa wrongfully denied right
رَدَدتَ فيها إِلى الإِسلامِ مظلَمَةً
سَوّىmade equal الإِلَهُGod بِهاthrough it فِهراًFihr وَهَمّاماand Hammam
سَوّى الإِلَهُ بِها فِهراً وَهَمّاما
In it you restored to Islam a right unjustly denied;
You returned in it an oppressed right to Islam
through it, God put Fihr and Hammam on equal footing.
Allah made it even between the deceitful and protector
لَوif لَمnot تَكونواyou were بَنيO sons شَيبانَof Shayban مِنof بَشَرٍhumanity
لَو لَم تَكونوا بَني شَيبانَ مِن بَشَرٍ
كُنتُمyou would be رَواسيَfirmly rooted أَطوادٍgreat mountains وَأَعلاماand lofty peaks
كُنتُم رَواسيَ أَطوادٍ وَأَعلاما
Were you, Banu Shayban, not human beings,
If you were not humans, O Bani Shayban
you would be firmly rooted mountains and towering peaks.
You would be pillars of heights and flags
Sol 6.1