بِأَبيwith my father as ransom الشُموسُthe suns الجانِحاتُinclining غَوارِباsetting
بِأَبي الشُموسُ الجانِحاتُ غَوارِبا
اللابِساتُthose wearing مِنَof الحَريرِsilk جَلابِباrobes
اللابِساتُ مِنَ الحَريرِ جَلابِبا
May my father be ransom for the suns inclining toward sunset,
With the suns setting their wings aflutter
I would ransom my father for those suns setting in the west,
wearing robes of silk;
Garbed in silk, their dresses a-flutter,
Those clad in silk, dragging their flowing robes,
المَنهِباتُthose offering as plunder قُلوبَناour hearts وَعُقولَناand our minds
المَنهِباتُ قُلوبَنا وَعُقولَنا
وَجَناتِهِنَّtheir cheeks الناهِباتِthat plunder الناهِباthe plunderer
وَجَناتِهِنَّ الناهِباتِ الناهِبا
who offer to our hearts and minds
Ravishing hearts and minds entire,
Who plunder our hearts and pillage our reason,
their cheeks as plunder—cheeks that plunder the plunderer;
Their bewitching gardens plundering plunderers.
While their cheeks despoil the very spoiler himself.
الناعِماتُthe tender women القاتِلاتُthe killing women المُحيِياthe life-givers (continued)
الناعِماتُ القاتِلاتُ المُحيِيا
تُfeminine-plural ending المُبدِياتُthose displaying مِنَof الدَلالِcoquetry غَرائِباwonders
تُ المُبدِياتُ مِنَ الدَلالِ غَرائِبا
the tender ones, who kill and bring to life,
Delicate, murderous charmers
The soft, the slayers, the givers of life,
revealing wondrous forms of coquetry.
Displaying coquetries strange and wonderful;
Revealing the strange wonders of their coquetry.
حاوَلنَthey attempted تَفدِيَتيoffering ransom for me وَخِفنَand feared مُراقِباًa watcher
حاوَلنَ تَفدِيَتي وَخِفنَ مُراقِباً
فَوَضَعنَso they placed أَيدِيَهُنَّtheir hands فَوقَupon تَرائِباupper chests
فَوَضَعنَ أَيدِيَهُنَّ فَوقَ تَرائِبا
They tried to pledge themselves as my ransom, but feared a watcher,
They try my ransom but espy a guard
They sought to ransom me, yet feared the watcher’s eye,
so they laid their hands upon their upper chests.
So place their hands upon their hips indignant.
And pressed their hands upon their heaving breasts.
وَبَسَمنَand they smiled عَنrevealing بَرَدٍhailstones خَشيتُI feared أُذيبَهُI might melt it
وَبَسَمنَ عَن بَرَدٍ خَشيتُ أُذيبَهُ
مِنfrom حَرِّthe heat أَنفاسيof my breaths فَكُنتُso I was الذائِباthe one melting
مِن حَرِّ أَنفاسي فَكُنتُ الذائِبا
And they smiled, revealing hailstones I feared to melt
They smile through an icy front fearing
They smiled, revealing hailstones I feared I might dissolve
with the heat of my breath—yet I was the one who melted.
I'll melt it with my fiery breath.
With the heat of my sighs—yet it was I who melted away.
ياah حَبَّذاhow lovely المُتَحَمَّلونَthe departing ones وَحَبَّذاand how lovely
يا حَبَّذا المُتَحَمَّلونَ وَحَبَّذا
وادٍa valley لَثَمتُI kissed بِهِin it الغَزالَةَthe gazelle كاعِباa budding-breasted maiden
وادٍ لَثَمتُ بِهِ الغَزالَةَ كاعِبا
Ah, how lovely the departing ones, and how lovely
I yearn for the tolerant; I yearn
Oh, how beloved are those who depart, and how beloved
a valley where I kissed the gazelle, a maiden with budding breasts.
For a valley where I can kiss a fawn indifferent.
The valley where I kissed the gazelle in her youth.
كَيفَhow الرَجاءُhope مِنَfrom الخُطوبِcalamities تَخَلُّصاًescape
كَيفَ الرَجاءُ مِنَ الخُطوبِ تَخَلُّصاً
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthe fact that أَنشَبنَthey embedded فِيَّin me مَخالِباclaws
مِن بَعدِ ما أَنشَبنَ فِيَّ مَخالِبا
How can I hope to escape calamities
How can I hope to escape from distress
How can one hope for escape from calamity,
after they have sunk their claws into me?
Now that it has sunk its claws in me?
Once it has sunk its talons deep into my flesh?
أَوحَدنَنيthey left me alone وَوَجَدنَand they found حُزناًa sorrow واحِداًsingle
أَوحَدنَني وَوَجَدنَ حُزناً واحِداً
مُتَناهِياًextreme فَجَعَلنَهُso they made it ليfor me صاحِباa companion
مُتَناهِياً فَجَعَلنَهُ لي صاحِبا
They left me alone and found a single sorrow,
It has isolated me and found but sadness one,
They singled me out, finding a singular sorrow,
utterly overwhelming, and made it my companion.
Unending, made it my comrade.
Boundless and vast, which they made my sole companion.
وَنَصَبنَنيand they set me up غَرَضَas a target الرُماةِof archers تُصيبُنيstrike me
وَنَصَبنَني غَرَضَ الرُماةِ تُصيبُني
مِحَنٌordeals أَحَدُّsharper مِنَthan السُيوفِswords مَضارِباin cutting edges
مِحَنٌ أَحَدُّ مِنَ السُيوفِ مَضارِبا
And they set me up as the archers' target; I am struck
It set me up as a target for archers;
They set me as a target for the archers, struck by
by ordeals with edges sharper than swords.
Misfortunes sharper than swords assault me.
Trials with edges sharper than the blades of swords.
أَظمَتنِيَmade me thirsty الدُنياthe world فَلَمّاthen when جِئتُهاI came to it
أَظمَتنِيَ الدُنيا فَلَمّا جِئتُها
مُستَسقِياًasking for water مَطَرَتit rained عَلَيَّupon me مَصائِباmisfortunes
مُستَسقِياً مَطَرَت عَلَيَّ مَصائِبا
The world made me thirsty; when I came to it
Life has denied me water so when
The world parched me with thirst, yet when I came
asking for water, it rained misfortunes upon me.
I asked it rained calamities upon me.
Seeking a drink, it rained down disasters upon me.
وَحُبِيتُand I was granted مِنinstead of خوصِthe narrow-eyed ones الرِكابِof riding camels بِأَسوَدٍwith a black one
وَحُبِيتُ مِن خوصِ الرِكابِ بِأَسوَدٍ
مِنof دارِشٍblack leather فَغَدَوتُso I went أَمشيI walk راكِباriding
مِن دارِشٍ فَغَدَوتُ أَمشي راكِبا
And instead of narrow-eyed camels, I was granted a black one,
Of saddlebags' thongs they fashioned me shoes black
In place of fine mounts, I was gifted black leather,
of leather; so I went walking, yet mounted.
And made me amble as though I rode a mount.
Of Darish make—so I journey now, riding my own feet.
حالٌa plight مَتىwhenever عَلِمَlearns اِبنُson of مَنصورٍMansur بِهاof it
حالٌ مَتى عَلِمَ اِبنُ مَنصورٍ بِها
جاءَcomes الزَمانُTime إِلَيَّto me مِنهاfor it تائِباrepentant
جاءَ الزَمانُ إِلَيَّ مِنها تائِبا
Such a plight: when Ibn Mansur learns of it,
When did fortune's vicissitudes make Ibn Mansur aware?
A plight that, once known to the son of Mansour,
Time will come to me repentant for it.
Repenting, time has come to me on bended knee.
Will compel Time itself to come to me in repentance.
مَلِكٌa king سِنانُthe spearhead قَناتِهِof his spear وَبَنانُهُand his fingertips
مَلِكٌ سِنانُ قَناتِهِ وَبَنانُهُ
يَتَبارَيانِthe two compete دَماًblood وَعُرفاًand bounty ساكِباpouring forth
يَتَبارَيانِ دَماً وَعُرفاً ساكِبا
A king whose spearhead and fingertips
A king whose aggression and hostility vie,
A king whose spear-point and fingertips
vie in pouring forth blood and bounty.
Spilling blood competed in noblesse oblige.
Vie to shed blood and pour forth overflowing grace.
يَستَصغِرُdeems small الخَطَرَthe valuable gift الكَبيرَgreat لِوَفدِهِfor his visitors
يَستَصغِرُ الخَطَرَ الكَبيرَ لِوَفدِهِ
وَيَظُنُّand he thinks دِجلَةَthe Tigris لَيسَnot تَكفيsuffices for شارِباa drinker
وَيَظُنُّ دِجلَةَ لَيسَ تَكفي شارِبا
He deems even great gifts too small for his visitors,
He belittles the mighty danger to receive his guests
He deems the greatest reward too small for his guests,
and thinks the Tigris insufficient for a single drinker,
Deeming the Tigris insufficient for all to imbibe!
And thinks the Tigris river insufficient to quench one thirst.
كَرَماًout of generosity فَلَوso if حَدَّثتَهُyou told him عَنabout نَفسِهِhimself
كَرَماً فَلَو حَدَّثتَهُ عَن نَفسِهِ
بِعَظيمِof the greatness ماwhat صَنَعَتit accomplished لَظَنَّكَhe would surely think you كاذِباa liar
بِعَظيمِ ما صَنَعَت لَظَنَّكَ كاذِبا
so generous is he; if you told him of himself,
Were you to tell him of his own magnanimity, thinking you a liar,
Such is his nobility, were you to speak to him of his deeds,
describing his great deeds, he would think you a liar.
Ask of his courage, beware his minister-
And their greatness, he would surely deem you a liar.
سَلask عَنabout شَجاعَتِهِhis courage وَزُرهُand visit him مُسالِماًpeaceably
سَل عَن شَجاعَتِهِ وَزُرهُ مُسالِماً
وَحَذارِand beware ثُمَّthen حَذارِbeware مِنهُof him مُحارِباas an enemy
وَحَذارِ ثُمَّ حَذارِ مِنهُ مُحارِبا
Ask about his courage, and visit him in peace;
Beware and beware again- make your address mild
Ask of his courage, and visit him in peace,
but beware, then beware, of him as an enemy.
For death's nature and disposition are thus defined:
But beware, oh beware, to meet him in war.
فَالمَوتُfor death تُعرَفُis known بِالصِفاتِthrough descriptions طِباعُهُits nature
فَالمَوتُ تُعرَفُ بِالصِفاتِ طِباعُهُ
لَمnot تَلقَyou have met خَلقاًany creature ذاقَwho tasted مَوتاًdeath آيِباreturning
لَم تَلقَ خَلقاً ذاقَ مَوتاً آيِبا
For death's nature is known through descriptions;
None born has met it and lived to describe it as
For though Death’s nature is known by description,
you have never met anyone who tasted death and returned.
Gentle or meek or soft or mild.
You have never met one who tasted it and returned.
إِنif تَلقَهُyou meet him لاnot تَلقَyou meet إِلّاexcept قَسطَلاًbattle dust
إِن تَلقَهُ لا تَلقَ إِلّا قَسطَلاً
أَوor جَحفَلاًa vast army أَوor طاعِناًone thrusting أَوor ضارِباone striking
أَو جَحفَلاً أَو طاعِناً أَو ضارِبا
If you meet him, you meet nothing but battle dust,
Whether you meet it attacking, defending, yearning, desiring,
If you meet him, you meet only the dust of battle,
or a vast army, or one thrusting, or one striking,
Asceticing, dying, mourning or weeping!
Or a vast army, thrusting spears and striking swords,
أَوor هارِباًone fleeing أَوor طالِباًone pursuing أَوor راغِباًone seeking favor
أَو هارِباً أَو طالِباً أَو راغِباً
أَوor راهِباًone fearing أَوor هالِكاًone perishing أَوor نادِباone mourning
أَو راهِباً أَو هالِكاً أَو نادِبا
or one fleeing, or one pursuing, or one seeking favor,
Gaze at mountains and you will espy them
Some fleeing, some pursuing, some beseeching,
or one fearing, or one perishing, or one mourning.
Louring over plains like mares impetuous.
Some terrified, some dying, and some wailing in grief.
وَإِذاand when نَظَرتَyou look إِلىat الجِبالِthe mountains رَأَيتَهاyou see them
وَإِذا نَظَرتَ إِلى الجِبالِ رَأَيتَها
فَوقَabove السُهولِthe plains عَواسِلاًquivering spears وَقَواضِباand cleaving swords
فَوقَ السُهولِ عَواسِلاً وَقَواضِبا
And when you look at the mountains, you see them
Gaze at plains and you will espy them below mountains
If you look to the mountains, you will see them
above the plains—quivering spears and cleaving swords.
Stallions fretting restively in vales.
Riding over the plains as bristling spears and blades.
وَإِذاand when نَظَرتَyou look إِلىat السُهولِthe plains رَأَيتَهاyou see them
وَإِذا نَظَرتَ إِلى السُهولِ رَأَيتَها
تَحتَbeneath الجِبالِthe mountains فَوارِساًhorsemen وَجَنائِباand led steeds
تَحتَ الجِبالِ فَوارِساً وَجَنائِبا
And when you look at the plains, you see them
A crow that has shed from its steel essence
And if you gaze upon the plains, you will see them
beneath the mountains—horsemen and led steeds.
To smile the black of cast iron ancient or freshly wrought.
Beneath the mountains, filled with knights and steeds.
وَعَجاجَةًand a dust cloud تَرَكَleft الحَديدُthe iron سَوادَهاits blackness
وَعَجاجَةً تَرَكَ الحَديدُ سَوادَها
زِنجاًZanj people تَبَسَّمُsmiling أَوor قَذالاًa nape شائِباgray-haired
زِنجاً تَبَسَّمُ أَو قَذالاً شائِبا
And a dust cloud whose blackness the iron has left
So day seems mantled in its gloomy dark
And a cloud of dust whose blackness the iron has turned
like smiling Zanj people, or a gray-haired nape.
And lances twinkle like stars eminent.
Into smiling Zanj, or the graying hair of age.
فَكَأَنَّماso, as though كُسِيَwas clothed النَهارُthe day بِهاby it دُجىdarkness
فَكَأَنَّما كُسِيَ النَهارُ بِها دُجى
لَيلٍof night وَأَطلَعَتِand made rise الرِماحُthe spears كَواكِباstars
لَيلٍ وَأَطلَعَتِ الرِماحُ كَواكِبا
As though the day were clothed by it in the darkness
With it disasters have camped in regiment
As though the day were clothed in the darkness
of night, and the spears had brought forth stars.
And men marshalled to fight in squadrons close.
Of night, wherein the spears rise up like stars.
قَدindeed عَسكَرَتhave mustered مَعَهاwith it الرَزاياcalamities عَسكَراًas an army
قَد عَسكَرَت مَعَها الرَزايا عَسكَراً
وَتَكَتَّبَتand formed up فيهاwithin it الرِجالُthe men كَتائِباinto battalions
وَتَكَتَّبَت فيها الرِجالُ كَتائِبا
Calamities have mustered with it as an army,
A lion leading lions, for him lions scramble prey
Calamities have pitched their camp alongside his,
and men have formed within it into battalions.
While in rank impeding sight or ken.
And within it, men have formed their deadly ranks.
أُسُدٌlions فَرائِسُهاtheir prey الأُسودُthe lions يَقودُهاleads them
أُسُدٌ فَرائِسُها الأُسودُ يَقودُها
أَسَدٌa lion تَصيرُbecome لَهُbefore him الأُسودُthe lions ثَعالِباfoxes
أَسَدٌ تَصيرُ لَهُ الأُسودُ ثَعالِبا
Lions whose prey are lions, led
High they raised him above access by any
Lions whose prey is other lions, led by
by a lion before whom lions become foxes.
And titled him my personal chamberlain!
A Lion before whom all other lions turn to foxes.
فيin رُتبَةٍa rank حَجَبَhe barred الوَرىhumankind عَنfrom نَيلِهاattaining it
في رُتبَةٍ حَجَبَ الوَرى عَن نَيلِها
وَعَلاand rose high فَسَمَّوهُso they named him عَلِيَّAli الحاجِباthe Chamberlain
وَعَلا فَسَمَّوهُ عَلِيَّ الحاجِبا
He holds a rank he has barred mankind from attaining,
For utmost munificence named him 'spendthrift'
In a station he has barred all others from attaining,
and he rose high, so they called him Ali the Chamberlain.
And for wresting souls named him 'usurper'!
Ascending until they named him Ali, the Chamberlain.
وَدَعَوهُand they called him مِنbecause of فَرطِexcess السَخاءِgenerosity مُبَذِّراًa squanderer
وَدَعَوهُ مِن فَرطِ السَخاءِ مُبَذِّراً
وَدَعَوهُand they called him مِنfor غَصبِseizing النُفوسِsouls الغاصِباthe Plunderer
وَدَعَوهُ مِن غَصبِ النُفوسِ الغاصِبا
And for his excessive generosity they called him a squanderer,
He who exhausted the brilliant their plenty
They called him a squanderer for his boundless giving,
and for seizing souls they called him the Plunderer.
And fatally challenged time to try its worst.
And for his seizing of souls, they called him the Usurper.
هَذاthis is الَّذيhe who أَفنىexhausted النُضارَpure gold مَواهِباًin gifts
هَذا الَّذي أَفنى النُضارَ مَواهِباً
وَعِداهُand his enemies قَتلاًby slaughter وَالزَمانَand time تَجارِباexperiences
وَعِداهُ قَتلاً وَالزَمانَ تَجارِبا
This is he who exhausted pure gold in gifts,
Frustrator of hopes however cherished
This is he who annihilated gold through his gifts,
his enemies in slaughter, and time in gathering experience.
Who rarely suffers a palm returned empty!
His foes through slaughter, and Time through experience.
وَمُخَيِّبُand he who disappoints العُذّالِthe reproachers فيماin what أَمَّلواthey hoped for
وَمُخَيِّبُ العُذّالِ فيما أَمَّلوا
مِنهُfrom him وَلَيسَand does not يَرُدُّturn away كَفّاًa hand خائِباdisappointed
مِنهُ وَلَيسَ يَرُدُّ كَفّاً خائِبا
And he frustrates the reproachers in what they hoped
He whom present I saw just as absent I saw
He disappoints the critics in what they hope to find,
of him, yet never sends a hand away empty.
Like the moon- regard it straight and it hits your eye a beam oblique.
Yet never turns away a suppliant hand empty.
هَذاthis الَّذيwhich أَبصَرتُI saw مِنهُfrom him حاضِراًwhile present
هَذا الَّذي أَبصَرتُ مِنهُ حاضِراً
مِثلُis like الَّذيwhat أَبصَرتُI saw مِنهُfrom him غائِباwhile absent
مِثلُ الَّذي أَبصَرتُ مِنهُ غائِبا
What I have seen of him while present
Like the sea casting its pearly essence to nears
This is the one whom I beheld when present,
is like what I have seen of him while absent.
While sending those afar clouds big with rain!
Matching exactly the image I held when he was absent.
كَالبَدرِlike the full moon مِنfrom حَيثُwhere اِلتَفَتَّyou turn رَأَيتَهُyou see him
كَالبَدرِ مِن حَيثُ اِلتَفَتَّ رَأَيتَهُ
يُهديhe bestows إِلىupon عَينَيكَyour two eyes نوراًlight ثاقِباpiercing
يُهدي إِلى عَينَيكَ نوراً ثاقِبا
Like the full moon, wherever you turn you see him
Like the sun blazing in the sphere's heart high, its brilliance
Like the full moon: wherever you turn, you see him
bestowing on your eyes a piercing light.
Illumines realms in east and west aligned!
Sending forth a piercing light into your eyes.
كَالبَحرِlike the sea يَقذِفُhe casts forth لِلقَريبِto one nearby جَواهِراًjewels
كَالبَحرِ يَقذِفُ لِلقَريبِ جَواهِراً
جوداًin generosity وَيَبعَثُand he sends لِلبَعيدِto one far away سَحائِباclouds
جوداً وَيَبعَثُ لِلبَعيدِ سَحائِبا
Like the sea, he casts jewels to those nearby
Sires of nobles it denigrates, the profligate it censures
Like the sea, casting pearls to those who are near,
in generosity, and sends clouds to those far away.
As it reproaches every generous lord.
In bounty, and sending rain-clouds to those afar.
كَالشَمسِlike the sun فيin كَبِدِthe midst السَماءِof the sky وَضَوؤُهاand its light
كَالشَمسِ في كَبِدِ السَماءِ وَضَوؤُها
يَغشىenvelops البِلادَthe lands مَشارِقاًeastern regions وَمَغارِباand western regions
يَغشى البِلادَ مَشارِقاً وَمَغارِبا
Like the sun at the sky's zenith, whose light
They vie in glory, your glory they blame
Like the sun in the zenith of the sky, whose light
envelops the lands, east and west.
And faults in you imaginary they acclaim!
Envelops the lands, from the east to the west.
أَمُهَجِّنَO you who debase الكُرَماءِthe generous وَالمُزريand the disparager بِهِمof them
أَمُهَجِّنَ الكُرَماءِ وَالمُزري بِهِم
وَتَروكَand ever leaving كُلِّevery كَريمِgenerous man قَومٍof a community عاتِباreproachful
وَتَروكَ كُلِّ كَريمِ قَومٍ عاتِبا
O you who debase the generous and put them to shame,
"Here am I!" to haters' rancour I respond
O you who shame the generous and eclipse their fame,
and leave every community's generous man reproachful!
"We shall tell of wonders we see by your side!"
Leaving the noblemen of every tribe in envious complaint,
شادواthey raised مَناقِبَهُمtheir virtues وَشِدتَand you raised مَناقِباًvirtues
شادوا مَناقِبَهُم وَشِدتَ مَناقِباً
وُجِدَتwere found مَناقِبُهُمtheir virtues بِهِنَّbeside them مَثالِباfaults
وُجِدَت مَناقِبُهُم بِهِنَّ مَثالِبا
They raised their virtues high, and you raised virtues
Shrewd forethought for a novel tomorrow
They raised their structures of virtue, but you raised such heights
beside which their virtues proved to be faults.
Fearless attack regardless of consequence.
That beside yours, their virtues appear as mere flaws.
لَبَّيكَat your service غَيظَvexation الحاسِدينَof the envious الراتِباconstant
لَبَّيكَ غَيظَ الحاسِدينَ الراتِبا
إِنّاindeed we لَنَخبُرُsurely experience مِنfrom يَدَيكَyour two hands عَجائِباwonders
إِنّا لَنَخبُرُ مِن يَدَيكَ عَجائِبا
At your service, O constant vexation of the envious!
Largesse of wealth - if seekers vied to exhaust it
I am at your service, O constant torment of the envious,
Indeed, we experience wonders from your hands:
You would spend it ere they could gain audience!
For truly we witness wonders flowing from your hands.
تَدبيرُthe planning ذيof one possessing حُنَكٍexperience يُفَكِّرُwho thinks فيabout غَدٍtomorrow
تَدبيرُ ذي حُنَكٍ يُفَكِّرُ في غَدٍ
وَهُجومُand the charge غِرٍّof a novice لاnot يَخافُfears عَواقِباconsequences
وَهُجومُ غِرٍّ لا يَخافُ عَواقِبا
the planning of a seasoned man who thinks of tomorrow,
Take from these, my praises, what I can manage-
The prudence of a sage who ponders the morrow,
and the charge of a novice who fears no consequences,
Do not oblige me to praises obligated.
And the assault of a youth who fears no consequence.
وَعَطاءُand the giving مالٍof wealth لَوif عَداهُpassed it by طالِبٌa petitioner
وَعَطاءُ مالٍ لَو عَداهُ طالِبٌ
أَنفَقتَهُyou would spend it فيin أَنto تُلاقِيَyou meet طالِباa petitioner
أَنفَقتَهُ في أَن تُلاقِيَ طالِبا
and the giving of wealth: if a petitioner passed it by,
I was stunned by your feats and excepting them
And a bestowal of wealth so vast, that if a seeker missed it,
you would spend it to meet a petitioner.
What would leave the guardian angel shocked and recording!
You would spend that very wealth just to find one who seeks.
خُذtake مِنfrom ثَنايَmy praise عَلَيكَof you ماwhat أَسطيعُهُI can manage it
خُذ مِن ثَنايَ عَلَيكَ ما أَسطيعُهُ
لاdo not تُلزِمَنّيoblige me فيin الثَناءِpraise الواجِباwhat is due
لا تُلزِمَنّي في الثَناءِ الواجِبا
Take from my praise of you what I can offer;
Accept from my praise what little I can offer,
do not demand of me the praise you are due.
And do not hold me to the impossible duty of full praise.
فَلَقَدfor indeed دَهِشتُI was astonished لِماat what فَعَلتَyou did وَدونَهُand less than it
فَلَقَد دَهِشتُ لِما فَعَلتَ وَدونَهُ
ماsomething that يُدهِشُastonishes المَلَكَthe angel الحَفيظَwatchful الكاتِباrecording
ما يُدهِشُ المَلَكَ الحَفيظَ الكاتِبا
For I am astonished at what you have done; even less than that
For I am astounded by your deeds—when even a fraction
would astonish the watchful, recording angel.
Would amaze the recording Angel who guards the scroll.
Partial English translation: 76 of 80 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1