صِلَةُcloseness الهَجرِseparation ليto me وَهَجرُand abandonment الوِصالِunion
صِلَةُ الهَجرِ لي وَهَجرُ الوِصالِ
نَكَسانيboth made me relapse فيinto السُقمِillness نُكسَthe waning of الهِلالِthe crescent
نَكَساني في السُقمِ نُكسَ الهِلالِ
Separation's closeness to me, and union's desertion,
The bond of abandonment holds me, while the bond of union breaks,
have made me relapse into sickness, like the crescent's waning.
Bending me in sickness as the waning crescent curves.
فَغَداso it became الجِسمُthe body ناقِصاًdiminished وَالَّذيand what يَنـdiminishes (start)
فَغَدا الجِسمُ ناقِصاً وَالَّذي يَنـ
ـقُصُdiminishes (end) مِنهُfrom it يَزيدُincreases فيin بَلباليmy turmoil
ـقُصُ مِنهُ يَزيدُ في بَلبالي
So the body grew diminished, and whatever
So my body wastes away, and that which
diminishes in it increases my turmoil.
Diminishes from it only adds to my torment.
قِفstop عَلىat الدِمنَتَينِthe two ruined camps بِالدَوِّin al-Daww مِنof رَيـRayya (start)
قِف عَلى الدِمنَتَينِ بِالدَوِّ مِن رَيـ
ـياRayya (end) كَخالٍlike a mole فيon وَجنَةٍa cheek جَنبَbeside خالِa mole
ـيا كَخالٍ في وَجنَةٍ جَنبَ خالِ
Stop at the two ruined camps in al-Daww, left by
Halt by the two ruins in Rayya's wasteland,
Rayya, like a mole on a cheek beside another mole.
Like a beauty mark upon a cheek beside another mark,
بِطُلولٍwith ruined dwellings كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were نُجومٌstars
بِطُلولٍ كَأَنَّهُنَّ نُجومٌ
فيin عِراصٍopen grounds كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were لَياليnights
في عِراصٍ كَأَنَّهُنَّ لَيالي
With ruined dwellings that seem like stars
Amidst traces that shimmer like stars
in open grounds that seem like nights,
Scattered in courtyards dark as the nights,
وَنُؤِيٍّand encircling trenches كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were عَلَيهِنـupon them (start)
وَنُؤِيٍّ كَأَنَّهُنَّ عَلَيهِنـ
ـنَupon them (end) خِدامٌanklets خُرسٌmute بِسوقٍon shins خِدالِplump
ـنَ خِدامٌ خُرسٌ بِسوقٍ خِدالِ
and encircling trenches, as though upon those grounds they were
And trench-lines appearing as if they were
mute anklets on plump shins.
Mute anklets adorning plump and shapely calves.
لاdo not تَلُمنيblame me فَإِنَّنيfor I أَعشَقُlove passionately العُشـthe lovers (start)
لا تَلُمني فَإِنَّني أَعشَقُ العُشـ
ـشاقَthe lovers (end) فيهاfor her sake ياO أَعذَلَmost reproachful العُذّالِthe reproachers
ـشاقَ فيها يا أَعذَلَ العُذّالِ
Do not blame me, for I love
Do not blame me, for I am enamored with lovers
lovers for her sake, O most reproachful of reproachers.
For her sake, O most persistent of scolds.
ماwhat تُريدُwants النَوىseparation مِنَfrom الحَيَّةِthe serpent الذَوthe habitual taster (start)
ما تُريدُ النَوى مِنَ الحَيَّةِ الذَو
واقِthe habitual taster (end) حَرَّthe heat of الفَلاthe deserts وَبَردَand the coolness of الظِلالِthe shade
واقِ حَرَّ الفَلا وَبَردَ الظِلالِ
What does separation want of the serpent that tastes
What does Distance seek from the serpent that tastes
the heat of deserts and the coolness of shade?
The scorching desert heat and the chill of the shade?
فَهوَfor he أَمضىmore deadly فيamid الرَوعِterror مِنthan مَلَكِthe Angel of المَوDeath (start)
فَهوَ أَمضى في الرَوعِ مِن مَلَكِ المَو
تِDeath (end) وَأَسرىand more adept at night travel فيthrough ظُلمَةٍdarkness مِنthan خَيالِa phantom
تِ وَأَسرى في ظُلمَةٍ مِن خَيالِ
For he is deadlier amid terror than the Angel of
He is sharper in battle than the Angel of Death,
Death, and more adept at night travel through darkness than a phantom.
And travels more stealthily in darkness than a phantom.
وَلِحِتفٍand of a death فيin العِزِّhonor يَدنوdraws near مُحِبٌّloving
وَلِحِتفٍ في العِزِّ يَدنو مُحِبٌّ
وَلِعُمرٍand of a life يَطولُis prolonged فيin الذُلِّhumiliation قاليhating
وَلِعُمرٍ يَطولُ في الذُلِّ قالي
And he loves a death that draws near in honor,
To a death in honor, the lover draws near,
and hates a life prolonged in humiliation.
While loathing a life prolonged in disgrace.
نَحنُwe رَكبٌa band of riders مِلجِنِّof the jinn فيin زَيِّthe guise of ناسٍhumans
نَحنُ رَكبٌ مِلجِنِّ في زَيِّ ناسٍ
فَوقَupon طَيرٍbirds لَهاwhich have شُخوصِthe bodily forms of الجِمالِcamels
فَوقَ طَيرٍ لَها شُخوصِ الجِمالِ
We are a band of jinn riders in human guise,
We are a cavalcade of Jinn in the guise of men,
upon birds with the bodily forms of camels.
Mounted on birds that bear the shape of camels,
مِنfrom بَناتِdaughters of الجَديلِal-Jadil تَمشيtravel بِناwith us فيthrough الـthe
مِن بَناتِ الجَديلِ تَمشي بِنا في الـ
ـبيدِdeserts مَشيَthe passage of الأَيّامِdays فيthrough الآجالِlifespans
ـبيدِ مَشيَ الأَيّامِ في الآجالِ
Daughters of al-Jadil, they carry us through
Daughters of noble stock, pacing with us through the
the deserts as days pass through lifespans.
Wastelands like the march of days toward our doom.
كُلُّevery هَوجاءَheadlong she-camel لِلدَياميمِof the vast deserts فيهاin her
كُلُّ هَوجاءَ لِلدَياميمِ فيها
أَثَرُthe effect of النارِfire فيon سَليطِthe oil of الذَبالِwicks
أَثَرُ النارِ في سَليطِ الذَبالِ
On each headlong she-camel, the vast deserts have
On every swift mount, the vast deserts leave
the effect of fire on the oil of wicks.
A mark like fire consuming the lamp's oil wick,
عامِداتٍheading لِلبَدرِtoward the full moon وَالبَحرِand the sea وَالضِرand the lion (start)
عامِداتٍ لِلبَدرِ وَالبَحرِ وَالضِر
غامَةِthe lion (end) اِبنِson of المُبارَكِal-Mubarak المِفضالِthe exceedingly generous
غامَةِ اِبنِ المُبارَكِ المِفضالِ
They head for the full moon, the sea, and the
Seeking the Full Moon, the Sea, and the Lion,
lion, the bountiful son of al-Mubarak.
The fearless Ibn al-Mubarak, the most gracious.
مَنwhoever يَزُرهُvisits him يَزُرvisits سُلَيمانَSolomon فيin المُلـkingship (start)
مَن يَزُرهُ يَزُر سُلَيمانَ في المُلـ
ـكِkingship (end) جَلالاًin majesty وَيوسُفاًand Joseph فيin الجَمالِbeauty
ـكِ جَلالاً وَيوسُفاً في الجَمالِ
Whoever visits him visits Solomon in
He who visits him visits Solomon in his majesty,
kingly majesty, and Joseph in beauty,
And Joseph in the splendor of his beauty,
وَرَبيعاًand a springtime يُضاحِكُexchanges smiles with الغَيثُthe rain فيهِin it
وَرَبيعاً يُضاحِكُ الغَيثُ فيهِ
زَهَرَthe blossoms of الشُكرِgratitude مِنfrom رِياضِthe gardens of المَعاليnoble deeds
زَهَرَ الشُكرِ مِن رِياضِ المَعالي
and a springtime in which rain exchanges smiles with
And a spring season where the rain laughs
gratitude's blossoms from the gardens of noble deeds.
Bringing forth flowers of thanks from gardens of glory.
نَفَحَتناbreathed upon us مِنهُfrom him الصَباthe east wind بِنَسيمٍwith a breeze
نَفَحَتنا مِنهُ الصَبا بِنَسيمٍ
رَدَّrestored روحاًlife فيinto مَيِّتِdead الآمالِhopes
رَدَّ روحاً في مَيِّتِ الآمالِ
The east wind breathed upon us a breeze from him
The east wind wafted a breeze from him to us,
that restored life to dead hopes.
Restoring the spirit to hopes long dead.
هَمُّthe concern of عَبدِAbd ('servant of') الرَحمانِal-Rahman ('the All-Merciful') نَفعُbenefiting المَواليretainers
هَمُّ عَبدِ الرَحمانِ نَفعُ المَوالي
وَبَوارُand the ruin of الأَعداءِenemies وَالأَموالِand wealth
وَبَوارُ الأَعداءِ وَالأَموالِ
Abd al-Rahman's concern is the welfare of his retainers,
Abd al-Rahman's sole concern is to aid his kin,
and the ruin of enemies and wealth.
And the ruin of his enemies and his wealth alike.
أَكبَرُthe greatest العَيبِfault عِندَهُin his view البُخلُstinginess وَالطَعـand disparagement (start)
أَكبَرُ العَيبِ عِندَهُ البُخلُ وَالطَعـ
ـنُdisparagement (end) عَلَيهِagainst him التَشبيهُcomparison بِالرِئبالِwith a lion
ـنُ عَلَيهِ التَشبيهُ بِالرِئبالِ
The greatest fault to him is stinginess; and to malign
To him, the gravest flaw is miserliness,
him is to liken him to a lion.
And an insult it is to liken him to a lion.
وَالجِراحاتُand wounds عِندَهُto him نَغَماتٌmelodies
وَالجِراحاتُ عِندَهُ نَغَماتٌ
سَبَقَتcame beforehand قَبلَbefore سَيبِهِhis bounty بِسُؤالِwith a request
سَبَقَت قَبلَ سَيبِهِ بِسُؤالِ
And wounds, to him, are melodies
For wounds, in his eyes, are but melodies
that came before his bounty with a request.
Preceding his bounty like a plea for grace.
ذاthis السِراجُthe lamp المُنيرُshining هَذاthis النَقِيُّthe unstained الـthe
ذا السِراجُ المُنيرُ هَذا النَقِيُّ الـ
ـجَيبِbosom هَذاthis بَقِيَّةُa remnant of الأَبدالِthe abdal saints
ـجَيبِ هَذا بَقِيَّةُ الأَبدالِ
This is the shining lamp, this the man of unstained
This is the illuminating lamp, the pure
bosom, this a remnant of the abdal saints.
Of heart, the last of the holy saints.
فَخُذاso take, you two ماءَthe water of رِجلِهِhis foot وَاِنضَحاand sprinkle, you two فيin الـthe
فَخُذا ماءَ رِجلِهِ وَاِنضَحا في الـ
ـمُدنِcities تَأمَنwill be safe بَوائِقَthe calamities of الزَلزالِearthquakes
ـمُدنِ تَأمَن بَوائِقَ الزَلزالِ
So take his foot-washing water, you two, and sprinkle it in
So take the wash-water of his feet and sprinkle it
the cities; they will be safe from earthquakes' calamities.
Through the cities, to ward off the earthquake's calamity,
وَاِمسَحاand rub, you two ثَوبَهُhis robe البَقيرَsleeveless عَلىover داailment (start)
وَاِمسَحا ثَوبَهُ البَقيرَ عَلى دا
ئِكُماyour ailment, you two (end) تُشفَياyou two will be cured مِنَof الإِعلالِsickness
ئِكُما تُشفَيا مِنَ الإِعلالِ
And rub his sleeveless robe, you two, over
And rub his torn garment upon your
your ailment, and you will be cured of sickness.
Malady, that you may be healed of illness.
مالِئاًfilling مِنwith نَوالِهِhis bounty الشَرقَthe east وَالغَرand the west (start)
مالِئاً مِن نَوالِهِ الشَرقَ وَالغَر
بَthe west (end) وَمِنand with خَوفِهِfear of him قُلوبَthe hearts of الرِجالِmen
بَ وَمِن خَوفِهِ قُلوبَ الرِجالِ
Filling with his bounty the east and the
Filling the East and the West with his bounty,
west, and with fear of him the hearts of men,
And the hearts of men with the dread of his might.
قابِضاًclasping كَفَّهُhis hand اليَمينَthe right عَلىaround الدُنـthe world (start)
قابِضاً كَفَّهُ اليَمينَ عَلى الدُنـ
ـياthe world (end) وَلَوand if شاءَhe wished حازَهاhe possessed it بِالشِمالِwith the left hand
ـيا وَلَو شاءَ حازَها بِالشِمالِ
clasping his right hand around the
Clasping his right hand over the entire world,
world, though if he wished he could possess it with his left.
Though he could seize it with his left were he to choose.
نَفسُهُhis own self جَيشُهُhis army وَتَدبيرُهُand his strategy النَصـvictory (start)
نَفسُهُ جَيشُهُ وَتَدبيرُهُ النَصـ
ـرُvictory (end) وَأَلحاظُهُand his glances الظُبىsword-edges وَالعَواليand spearpoints
ـرُ وَأَلحاظُهُ الظُبى وَالعَوالي
His own self is his army, his strategy is
His own soul is his army, his strategy is victory,
victory, and his glances are sword-edges and spearpoints.
And his glances are the swords and the spears.
وَلَهُand he has فيagainst جَماجِمِthe skulls of المالِwealth ضَربٌa blow
وَلَهُ في جَماجِمِ المالِ ضَربٌ
وَقعُهُits impact فيon جَماجِمِthe skulls of الأَبطالِchampions
وَقعُهُ في جَماجِمِ الأَبطالِ
And his blow against the skulls of wealth
He deals blows to the skulls of hoarded wealth
lands upon the skulls of champions.
Just as he strikes the skulls of champions.
فَهُبواso rise, you all لِاِتِّقائِهِto guard against him الدَهرَforever فيon يَوday (start)
فَهُبوا لِاِتِّقائِهِ الدَهرَ في يَو
مِday (end) نِزالٍbattle وَلَيسَand it is not يَومَa day of نِزالِbattle
مِ نِزالٍ وَلَيسَ يَومَ نِزالِ
So be ever alert to guard against him, on a
So beware of him always, on the day
day of battle and on a day without battle.
Of battle, and when no battle is waged.
رَجُلٌa man طينُهُhis clay مِنَof العَنبَرِambergris الوَرrose-hued (start)
رَجُلٌ طينُهُ مِنَ العَنبَرِ الوَر
دِrose-hued (end) وَطينُand the clay of العِبادِmankind مِنof صَلصالِdry, ringing clay
دِ وَطينُ العِبادِ مِن صَلصالِ
A man whose clay is made of ambergris,
A man whose clay is kneaded from amber and roses,
rose-hued, while mankind's clay is dry, ringing clay.
While the clay of mankind is but common pottery.
فَبَقِيّاتُso the remnants of طينِهِhis clay لاقَتِmet الماwater (start)
فَبَقِيّاتُ طينِهِ لاقَتِ الما
ءَwater (end) فَصارَتand became عُذوبَةًsweetness فيin الزُلالِpure water
ءَ فَصارَت عُذوبَةً في الزُلالِ
So the remnants of his clay met
The remnants of his clay mingled with water
water, and became sweetness in pure water.
And became the sweetness in the purest springs,
وَبَقاياand the remnants of وَقارِهِhis dignity عافَتِshunned الناmankind (start)
وَبَقايا وَقارِهِ عافَتِ النا
سَmankind (end) فَصارَتand became رَكانَةًsteadfastness فيin الجِبالِmountains
سَ فَصارَت رَكانَةً في الجِبالِ
And the remnants of his dignity shunned
And the overflow of his dignity disdained mankind
mankind, and became steadfastness in the mountains.
And became the immovable weight of the mountains.
لَستُI am not مِمَّنamong those whom يَغُرُّهُdeceives him حُبُّكَyour love of السِلـpeace (start)
لَستُ مِمَّن يَغُرُّهُ حُبُّكَ السِلـ
ـمَpeace (end) وَأَنand that لاnot تَرىyou deem fitting شُهودَattending القِتالِbattle
ـمَ وَأَن لا تَرى شُهودَ القِتالِ
I am not one deceived by your love of
I am not one deceived by your love of peace
peace, nor by your declining to attend battle.
Into thinking you seek not the witnessing of war;
ذاكَthat شَيءٌsomething كَفاكَهُspared you from it عَيشُthe living of شانيhater (start)
ذاكَ شَيءٌ كَفاكَهُ عَيشُ شاني
كَyour (end of 'your hater') ذَليلاًabased وَقِلَّةُand the scarcity of الأَشكالِequals
كَ ذَليلاً وَقِلَّةُ الأَشكالِ
You are spared that by your hater's living
That is a task sufficed by the lowly life
in humiliation, and by the scarcity of your equals,
Of your hater, and the scarcity of your peers.
وَاِغتِفارٌand forgiveness لَوif غَيَّرَchanged السُخطُanger مِنهُsome of it
وَاِغتِفارٌ لَو غَيَّرَ السُخطُ مِنهُ
جُعِلَتwould be made هامُهُمtheir heads نِعالَsoles for النِعالِthe soles
جُعِلَت هامُهُم نِعالَ النِعالِ
and by a pardon: if anger altered any of it,
And a forbearance, which, were anger to alter it,
their heads would be made soles beneath soles
Would turn their skulls into soles for your shoes.
لِجِيادٍfor noble steeds يَدخُلنَenter فيinto الحَربِbattle أَعراbare (start)
لِجِيادٍ يَدخُلنَ في الحَربِ أَعرا
ءًbare (end) وَيَخرُجنَand emerge مِنof دَمٍblood فيin جَلالِcaparisons
ءً وَيَخرُجنَ مِن دَمٍ في جَلالِ
for noble steeds that enter battle bare
For horses that plunge into battle unprotected,
and emerge in caparisons of blood.
And emerge clothed in a caparison of blood.
وَاِستَعارَand borrowed الحَديدُiron لَوناًa color وَأَلقىand cast
وَاِستَعارَ الحَديدُ لَوناً وَأَلقى
لَونَهُits color فيinto ذَوائِبِthe locks of الأَطفالِchildren
لَونَهُ في ذَوائِبِ الأَطفالِ
And iron would borrow a color and cast
The iron blade borrowed a hue, and cast
its own color into children's locks.
Its pale sheen into the locks of children.
أَنتَyou طَوراًat times أَمَرُّmore bitter مِنthan ناقِعِpotent السُمـpoison (start)
أَنتَ طَوراً أَمَرُّ مِن ناقِعِ السُمـ
ـمِpoison (end) وَطَوراًand at times أَحلىsweeter مِنَthan السَلسالِlimpid water
ـمِ وَطَوراً أَحلى مِنَ السَلسالِ
At times you are more bitter than potent
At times you are more bitter than potent poison,
poison, and at times sweeter than limpid water.
And at others, sweeter than the coolest spring.
إِنَّماonly الناسُpeople حَيثُwhere أَنتَyou are وَماand not الناpeople (start)
إِنَّما الناسُ حَيثُ أَنتَ وَما النا
سُpeople (end) بِناسٍtruly people فيin مَوضِعٍa place مِنكَof you خاليempty
سُ بِناسٍ في مَوضِعٍ مِنكَ خالي
People are truly people only where you are; and
Mankind exists only where you reside,
people are not people in a place devoid of you.
For they are not men in a land devoid of you.
Sol 6.1