ماwhat بالُcondition مُوسَىMusa بلاwithout سَمْعٍhearing ولاand without بَصَرِsight
ما بالُ مُوسَى بلا سَمْعٍ ولا بَصَرِ
فلاso not يُجيبُanswers الذيthe one who يَدعُوهُcalls him فيat السَحَرِpredawn
فلا يُجيبُ الذي يَدعُوهُ في السَحَرِ
What ails Musa, bereft of hearing and sight,
What ails Moses, devoid of hearing and sight,
That he does not answer whoever calls him before dawn?
That he answers not him who calls him in the night?
ماwhat بالُهُhis condition مُعرِضاًturning away عَنّاfrom us أمِنْis it from مَلَلٍweariness
ما بالُهُ مُعرِضاً عَنّا أمِنْ مَلَلٍ
عَراهُovertook him أمor شَغَلتْهُoccupied him أُهْبَةُpreparations for السَّفَرِtravel
عَراهُ أم شَغَلتْهُ أُهْبَةُ السَّفَرِ
What ails him, turned away from us—is it weariness
Is it weariness that keeps him from us aloof,
That has overtaken him, or have preparations for travel occupied him?
Or has the dread of travel dulled him, forsooth?
ماwhat بالُهُhis condition اليومَtoday مغلولَfettered اليَدينِboth hands وقدand indeed
ما بالُهُ اليومَ مغلولَ اليَدينِ وقد
كانتْwere يَداهُhis two hands كنَصْلِlike the blade of الصَّارمِthe keen sword الذَكَرِhard-tempered
كانتْ يَداهُ كنَصْلِ الصَّارمِ الذَكَرِ
What ails him today, his hands fettered, when
Why are his hands today bound fast with chain
His hands were once like the blade of a keen, hard-tempered sword?
When erst his hands were like a keen sword's blade?
قدindeed كانَwas بالأمسِyesterday مُوسَىMusa فيin مَجالِسِهِhis gatherings
قد كانَ بالأمسِ مُوسَى في مَجالِسِهِ
يُرويquenches صَدَىthe thirst of السَمْعِhearing أوor يجلوpolishes away صَداthe rust of النظرِsight
يُروي صَدَى السَمْعِ أو يجلو صَدا النظرِ
Only yesterday Musa, in his gatherings,
But yesterday in converse Moses shone,
Slaked hearing's thirst or polished the rust from sight.
Solving our doubts ere they were full displayed.
ويَفصِلُand settles الأمرَthe matter والألبابُand minds فيin دَهَشٍbewilderment
ويَفصِلُ الأمرَ والألبابُ في دَهَشٍ
ويُفصِحُand expresses clearly القولَspeech والأفواهُand mouths فيin حَصَرِspeechlessness
ويُفصِحُ القولَ والأفواهُ في حَصَرِ
He settled matters while minds stood bewildered,
And eloquently would he plead a cause,
And spoke clearly while mouths were tongue-tied.
While all our mouths were opened in amaze.
ويلَتقيand meets الوَفْدَthe delegation بالتَّرْحابِwith welcome مُبتَسِماًsmiling
ويلَتقي الوَفْدَ بالتَّرْحابِ مُبتَسِماً
كأنهمas though they وَفَدُواarrived بالخَيْلِwith horses والبِدَرِand moneybags
كأنهم وَفَدُوا بالخَيْلِ والبِدَرِ
And greeted the delegation warmly, smiling,
His wont it was politely to receive
As though they had arrived with horses and moneybags.
A legate as though he came in goodly rays.
ياO صاحبيmy friend زُرْvisit ثَرَىthe soil of موسىMusa الكريمِthe generous وقلand say
يا صاحبي زُرْ ثَرَى موسى الكريمِ وقل
ياO أكرمَnoblest التُرْبِsoil هذاthis أكرمُnoblest البَشَرِhumankind
يا أكرمَ التُرْبِ هذا أكرمُ البَشَرِ
O my friend, visit the soil of generous Musa's grave and say:
My friend, make thy way to Moses' tomb and say:
O noblest soil, this is the noblest of humankind.
"Thou art the noblest dust beneath the clay."
أظماكَmade you thirsty حَرُّthe heat of دُموعٍtears قدindeed سُقِيتَyou were watered بهاwith them
أظماكَ حَرُّ دُموعٍ قد سُقِيتَ بها
حتىuntil سَقَتْكَwatered you الغَواديmorning rainclouds باردَcool المَطَرِrain
حتى سَقَتْكَ الغَوادي باردَ المَطَرِ
The heat of tears with which you were watered made you thirst,
Hot tears have filled thee that were shed full sore
Until morning rainclouds watered you with cool rain.
Till overflowing they have made thee mud and mire.
هلwhether كانَwas قَبلَكَbefore you منany رَمْسٍgrave برابيةٍon a hill
هل كانَ قَبلَكَ من رَمْسٍ برابيةٍ
أضحَىbecame by day ضَريحاًa tomb فأمسَىthen became by evening مَنزِلَthe dwelling of القمَرِthe moon
أضحَى ضَريحاً فأمسَى مَنزِلَ القمَرِ
Was there, before you, any grave upon a hill
Was ever known a shrine erst clean and pure
That became a tomb by day, then the moon's abode by evening?
To be a drain for showers and rainwater?
أتاكَcame to you تابوتُthe coffin of مُوسىMusa فيamid مَحافلِهِhis gatherings
أتاكَ تابوتُ مُوسى في مَحافلِهِ
يَسعَىmoves along كتابوتlike the Ark of عَهْدِthe Covenant of اللهِGod فاعتبِرِso take heed
يَسعَى كتابوت عَهْدِ اللهِ فاعتبِرِ
Musa's coffin came to you amid his assembled throngs,
To thee came Moses' coffin in his state,
Moving like the Ark of God's Covenant—take heed.
As once God's chest came unto Moses straight.
منhe who كانَwas يعلُوmounts سُروجَthe saddles of الخيلِhorses مُذهَبةًgilded
من كانَ يعلُو سُروجَ الخيلِ مُذهَبةً
قدindeed زاركَvisited you اليومَtoday بالألواحِwith planks والدُسُرِand nails
قد زاركَ اليومَ بالألواحِ والدُسُرِ
He who once mounted the horses' gilded saddles
He who was used to ride the clouds' wave-crests,
Has visited you today in planks and nails.
Comes now to thee in boards and narrow chest.
وباتَand spent the night فيكَin you فَريداًalone مَنhe who مَجالِسُهُhis gatherings
وباتَ فيكَ فَريداً مَن مَجالِسُهُ
كانَتْwere تَضِيقُare cramped عنِfor الأخلاطِmixed crowds والزُّمَرِand groups
كانَتْ تَضِيقُ عنِ الأخلاطِ والزُّمَرِ
And spent the night alone within you, he whose gatherings
He who erst dwelt in sessions of delight
Were too small to hold the mingled crowds and groups.
Lies with thee in a home too strait and tight.
منhe who كانَwas أقرَبَnearest أهلِpeople of الأرضِthe earth مَنفَعةًin helpfulness
من كانَ أقرَبَ أهلِ الأرضِ مَنفَعةً
وكانَand was أبعدَfarthest أهلِpeople of الأرضِthe earth عنfrom ضَرَرِharm
وكانَ أبعدَ أهلِ الأرضِ عن ضَرَرِ
He who, of all on earth, was nearest in offering help,
He who was nearest earth's folk in benefit,
And farthest of all on earth from doing harm,
And farthest earth's folk from all hurt and ill,
وأوسَعَand broadest الناسِpeople صَدراًin heart فيin مَضايِقِهِhis straits
وأوسَعَ الناسِ صَدراً في مَضايِقِهِ
وأجمَلَand finest الناسِpeople صبراًin patience ساعةَat the hour of الضَجَرِvexation
وأجمَلَ الناسِ صبراً ساعةَ الضَجَرِ
And the broadest-hearted of people in his straits,
Broadest of bosom in distress's strait,
And the finest of people in patience at the hour of vexation;
Gentlest of soul in the hour of anger's weight,
القائلُthe speaker of الحقَّtruth فيin سِرٍّprivate وفيand in عَلَنٍpublic
القائلُ الحقَّ في سِرٍّ وفي عَلَنٍ
والفاعلُand the doer of الخيرَgood فيin صَفوٍserenity وفيand in كَدَرِtrouble
والفاعلُ الخيرَ في صَفوٍ وفي كَدَرِ
Speaking truth in private and in public,
He who spoke truth in public and in secret,
And doing good in serenity and in turmoil;
And who did good in earnest and in jest,
والمُستزيدُand seeking to increase بجوُدِthrough the bounty of اللهِGod خَشْيَتَهُfear of Him
والمُستزيدُ بجوُدِ اللهِ خَشْيَتَهُ
فكُلَّماso whenever ازدادَincreased أمناًin security زادَincreased فيin الحَذَرِcaution
فكُلَّما ازدادَ أمناً زادَ في الحَذَرِ
And deepening his awe of God through God's bounty;
Who the more God increased his dignity
For whenever he grew more secure, he grew more cautious.
The more he showed humility and modesty.
وكُلَّماand whenever ازدادَincreased مالاًin wealth زادَincreased مَكرُمةًin generosity
وكُلَّما ازدادَ مالاً زادَ مَكرُمةً
كالدَّوحِlike great trees ماwhenever ازدادَincreased غُصناًby a branch زادَincreased فيin الثَمَرِfruit
كالدَّوحِ ما ازدادَ غُصناً زادَ في الثَمَرِ
And whenever his wealth increased, his generosity increased,
Who the more wealth he gained, more bounty spent.
Like great trees: each added branch brings added fruit.
Like a ripe date-palm higher mounting as more bent.
وكُلَّماand whenever ازدادَincreased منin مَجْدٍglory ومنand in شَرَفٍhonor
وكُلَّما ازدادَ من مَجْدٍ ومن شَرَفٍ
زادَتْincreased وَداعتُهُhis gentleness فيin القَدْرِmeasure والقَدَرِand degree
زادَتْ وَداعتُهُ في القَدْرِ والقَدَرِ
And whenever his glory and honor increased,
Deep in his heart was written what of yore
His gentleness grew in measure and degree.
Was carved on Moses' hand and heart that bore
قدindeed خُطَّwas inscribed فيin قلبهِhis heart ماwhat كانَwas مُنتقِشاًengraved
قد خُطَّ في قلبهِ ما كانَ مُنتقِشاً
فيin كَفِّthe palm of مُوسىMoses علىon لَوْحٍa tablet منَof الحَجَرِstone
في كَفِّ مُوسى على لَوْحٍ منَ الحَجَرِ
Inscribed upon his heart was what had been engraved
The paths of right he trod from early youth
In Moses' palm, upon a tablet of stone.
Till paths of right became his wont forsooth.
مَشَىwalked علىon سَنَنِthe path of الخَيراتِgood deeds منfrom صِغَرٍchildhood
مَشَى على سَنَنِ الخَيراتِ من صِغَرٍ
حتّىuntil استَمرَّhe persevered فكانتْso they became عادةَthe habit of الكِبَرِold age
حتّى استَمرَّ فكانتْ عادةَ الكِبَرِ
He walked the path of good deeds from childhood,
His nature and his acts were never blamed.
Persevering, till they became the habit of old age.
And single-eyed he died and triple-famed.
ماnot ذَمَّcensured قَطُّever ولاnor ذُمَّتْwere censured خَلائقُهُhis character traits
ما ذَمَّ قَطُّ ولا ذُمَّتْ خَلائقُهُ
يوماًon any day فماتَso he died حميدَpraiseworthy العينِperson والأثَرِand legacy
يوماً فماتَ حميدَ العينِ والأثَرِ
He never censured anyone, nor was his character censured
To us he left his deeds for lesson sheer.
On any day; so he died, praiseworthy in person and in legacy.
And now there linger traces of him here.
كانتْwere لناfor us عِبرةًa lesson آدابُthe virtues of سيرتِهِhis conduct
كانتْ لنا عِبرةً آدابُ سيرتِهِ
واليومَand today ماnot زالَceased فيin الدُّنياthe world منamong العِبَرِlessons
واليومَ ما زالَ في الدُّنيا من العِبَرِ
The virtues of his conduct were a lesson to us,
A pillar in Beirut fell down outright
And today he remains one of the world's lessons.
And in its awful crash spread wreck and blight.
رُكنٌa pillar تَهدَّمَcollapsed فيin بيروتَBeirut فاندَفَعَتْso surged forth
رُكنٌ تَهدَّمَ في بيروتَ فاندَفَعَتْ
أهوالُthe terrors of صَعْقَتِهِits thunderous crash فيthrough المُدْنِcities والجُزُرِand islands
أهوالُ صَعْقَتِهِ في المُدْنِ والجُزُرِ
A pillar collapsed in Beirut, and there swept
His death we mourn in this his native land.
The terrors of its thunderous crash through cities and islands.
How many mourn his loss in distant strand!
لَئِنif indeed رَثَيناهُwe mourned him عنfrom خُبْرٍfirsthand knowledge بمَوضِعِهِof his standing
لَئِن رَثَيناهُ عن خُبْرٍ بمَوضِعِهِ
فكمthen how many رَثاهُmourned him بعيدُdistant الدَّارِdwelling عنfrom خَبَرِreport
فكم رَثاهُ بعيدُ الدَّارِ عن خَبَرِ
If we mourned him from firsthand knowledge of his standing,
From heights of glory to the dust he fell.
How many living far away mourned him from what they heard!
Exchanging raiment choice for earthy shell.
هَوَىfell إلىto التُرْبِthe dust منfrom أبراجِthe towers of عِزّتِهِhis glory
هَوَى إلى التُرْبِ من أبراجِ عِزّتِهِ
واعتاضَand exchanged بالكَفَنِfor the shroud الباليworn-out عنinstead of الحِبَرِpatterned robes
واعتاضَ بالكَفَنِ البالي عن الحِبَرِ
He fell to the dust from the towers of his glory,
He used to fill the poor from his rich hoard.
And exchanged patterned robes for a threadbare shroud.
Now the earth fills him, hungering for its lord!
قدindeed كانَused to يَقرِيfeed as guests المَلاَthe throng منfrom مالِهِhis wealth فغداso he became
قد كانَ يَقرِي المَلاَ من مالِهِ فغدا
يَقريfeeds as guests هَوامَthe vermin of البِلَىdecay منfrom جِسمِهِhis body النَضِرِfresh
يَقري هَوامَ البِلَى من جِسمِهِ النَضِرِ
He once fed the throng from his wealth; now
He unto whom the mother points with pride
He feeds the vermin of decay with his fresh body.
Before the infant lisps a word beside,
هذاthis الذيwhat تَعِدُpromises الأُمُّthe mother البَنينَsons بهِwith it
هذا الذي تَعِدُ الأُمُّ البَنينَ بهِ
مُنذُsince الوِلادةِbirth قبلَbefore الرَهْزِstirring فيin السُرُرِbeds
مُنذُ الوِلادةِ قبلَ الرَهْزِ في السُرُرِ
This is what a mother promises her sons
Saying, "Be like this man in word and work."
From birth, before they stir in their beds.
We live for death since death is life's own bourne.
نعيشُwe live للموتِfor death إذsince كانتْwas وِلادتُناour birth
نعيشُ للموتِ إذ كانتْ وِلادتُنا
للموتِfor death فالعَيشُso life فيin أيَّامنِاour days الأُخَرِother
للموتِ فالعَيشُ في أيَّامنِا الأُخَرِ
We live for death, since our birth was
Our first and last day are for death designed.
For death; life lies in our other days.
What comes between is but a breathe of wind.
لاnot يَترُكُleaves البَينُparting عيناًan eye غيرَother than باكيةٍweeping
لا يَترُكُ البَينُ عيناً غيرَ باكيةٍ
وليسَand does not يَترُكُleave قلباًa heart غيرَother than مُنكسرِbroken
وليسَ يَترُكُ قلباً غيرَ مُنكسرِ
Parting leaves no eye that does not weep,
No eyes he leaves unwet with burning tear,
And leaves no heart unbroken.
No heart unsmitten with grief's poignant spear.
إذاwhen وَرَدْناwe come to water حِياضَthe pools of العَيْشِlife صافيةًclear
إذا وَرَدْنا حِياضَ العَيْشِ صافيةً
فأقَصرُthen the shortest الوَقتِtime بينَbetween الوِرْدِcoming to drink والصَدَرِand leaving the water
فأقَصرُ الوَقتِ بينَ الوِرْدِ والصَدَرِ
When we come to life's clear pools,
When to life's lake fresh-flowing we attain,
The briefest span lies between coming to drink and departing.
'Twixt bank and water least is the domain.
Sol 6.1