مَنْ كان مِنكِ أميراً أيُّها الرِّمَمُ

مَنْ كان مِنكِ أميراً أيُّها الرِّمَمُ

ومَن هُمُ الجُندُ والأتباعُ والخَدَمُ

ومَن هُمُ الجُندُ والأتباعُ والخَدَمُ

Who among you was a prince, O mouldering remains?

Who among you was a prince, O ruins?

And who were the soldiers, the followers, and the servants?

And who were the soldiers, followers and servants?

ومَن هُوَ البَطلُ الحامي الدِّيارِ ومن

ومَن هُوَ البَطلُ الحامي الدِّيارِ ومن

كانت لهُ الخُطَبُ الغرَّاءُ والحِكَمُ

كانت لهُ الخُطَبُ الغرَّاءُ والحِكَمُ

And who was the hero who guarded the dwellings, and who

Who was the hero protecting the homes? And who

Had the splendid orations and wise sayings?

Had the eloquent sermons and wisdom?

أينَ الذي كانتِ الدُنيا تَضِجُّ بهِ

أينَ الذي كانتِ الدُنيا تَضِجُّ بهِ

رُعباً وكان عليهِ الجيشُ يَزدَحمُ

رُعباً وكان عليهِ الجيشُ يَزدَحمُ

Where is he who made the world cry out

Where is the one whom the world shuddered of

In terror, while the army pressed upon him?

Fearfully, and for whom the army was crowded?

مَن كانَ يَهزِمُ أبطالَ الرِّجالِ تُرَى

مَن كانَ يَهزِمُ أبطالَ الرِّجالِ تُرَى

هل كانَ من وَجهِ ذاكَ الدُّودِ يَنهزِمُ

هل كانَ من وَجهِ ذاكَ الدُّودِ يَنهزِمُ

He who defeated the champions of men—I wonder,

Who used to defeat the heroes of men, I wonder

Was he routed before those worms?

Was he defeated by that worm's face?

الكُلُّ صاروا تُراباً لا قِوامَ لهُ

الكُلُّ صاروا تُراباً لا قِوامَ لهُ

يَدُوسُهُ في الطَّريقِ الخُفُّ والقَدَمُ

يَدُوسُهُ في الطَّريقِ الخُفُّ والقَدَمُ

All have become dust with no solidity,

They all became dust without coherence

Hooves and feet trample it on the road.

Stepped on in the road by the barefoot and the shod

قَدِ استَوَى العَبدُ والمَولى على نَسَقٍ

قَدِ استَوَى العَبدُ والمَولى على نَسَقٍ

وضاعَ بين التُرابِ السَّيفُ والقَلَمُ

وضاعَ بين التُرابِ السَّيفُ والقَلَمُ

Slave and master have become equal in rank,

The servant and the master became equal in level

And sword and pen are lost amid the dust.

And the sword and the pen were lost among the dust

بئسَ الحَياةُ التي مَوجودُها عَدَمٌ

بئسَ الحَياةُ التي مَوجودُها عَدَمٌ

يا لَيتَ لا كانَ موجودٌ ولا عَدَمُ

يا لَيتَ لا كانَ موجودٌ ولا عَدَمُ

How wretched is life, whose existence is nothingness!

Miserable is the life whose existence is nonexistence

Oh, would that neither being nor nothingness had ever been!

I wish there was no existence nor nonexistence

حُلمٌ رآهُ الفتى في طَيِّ رَقدتهِ

حُلمٌ رآهُ الفتى في طَيِّ رَقدتهِ

لَيلاً فأصبحَ لا نَومٌ ولا حُلُمُ

لَيلاً فأصبحَ لا نَومٌ ولا حُلُمُ

A dream the young man saw in the folds of his sleep

A dream the young man saw during his slumber

At night; by morning, neither sleep nor dream remained.

That became in the morning no sleep and no dream

كم غَرَّتِ النَّاسَ واستَهوتْ أفاضِلَهُمْ

كم غَرَّتِ النَّاسَ واستَهوتْ أفاضِلَهُمْ

فَتاهَ في قَفْرِها العَلاّمة العَلَمُ

فَتاهَ في قَفْرِها العَلاّمة العَلَمُ

How often life has deceived people and beguiled their best,

How many virtuous were fooled and tempted by it

So the eminent scholar wandered lost in its wilderness.

Its emptyness fooled the scholar and the learned

زاغت عن الرُّشدِ فيها كلُّ باصرةٍ

زاغت عن الرُّشدِ فيها كلُّ باصرةٍ

واستهلَكَت في هواها العُرْبُ والعَجَمُ

واستهلَكَت في هواها العُرْبُ والعَجَمُ

Within it, every seeing eye has strayed from right guidance,

Every insightful eye went astray in it

And Arabs and non-Arabs have perished in their passion for it.

And in its passions perished the Arabs and non-Arabs

لا أوحَشَ اللهُ داراً مِن أحبَّتنا

لا أوحَشَ اللهُ داراً مِن أحبَّتنا

كانت معَاهِدُها بالأُنس تَبتَسِمُ

كانت معَاهِدُها بالأُنس تَبتَسِمُ

May God never leave a home bereft of our loved ones,

May God not make a home deserted of our loved ones

Whose familiar haunts once smiled with companionship.

Whose company made it smile with warmth

بَلى قد استَوحَشَتْ منهم ونحن على

بَلى قد استَوحَشَتْ منهم ونحن على

آثارهِم نُؤْنسُ الأجداثَ حَيثُ هُمُ

آثارهِم نُؤْنسُ الأجداثَ حَيثُ هُمُ

Yet it has grown desolate without them; and we, following

Yes, it became deserted of them while we

Their footsteps, keep the graves company where they lie.

Console its ruins where they are

هيهاتِ ما للمَنايا هُدنةٌ أبَداً

هيهاتِ ما للمَنايا هُدنةٌ أبَداً

كَلاّ ولا عِندَهُنَّ الأشهُرُ الحُرُمُ

كَلاّ ولا عِندَهُنَّ الأشهُرُ الحُرُمُ

Far from it! The fates of death never grant a truce,

Alas, death has no truce ever

No, nor do they recognize the sacred months.

No, it has no sacred months

هُنَّ الأبِيَّاتُ لا يَطمعَنَ في سَلَبٍ

هُنَّ الأبِيَّاتُ لا يَطمعَنَ في سَلَبٍ

فما لَهُنَّ سِوى الأرواحَ مُغتَنَمُ

فما لَهُنَّ سِوى الأرواحَ مُغتَنَمُ

They are the proud ones, coveting no plunder,

They are the firm ones, they do not hope to rob

For they have no spoils but souls.

Except the souls a gain they suppose

وَيلاهُ قد هُدِّمَتْ أركانُنا عَبثاً

وَيلاهُ قد هُدِّمَتْ أركانُنا عَبثاً

وهل على الأرضِ رُكنٌ ليسَ يَنهدِمُ

وهل على الأرضِ رُكنٌ ليسَ يَنهدِمُ

Alas! Our pillars have been senselessly demolished;

Woe to it, our pillars were destroyed vainly

And is there any pillar on earth that does not crumble?

Is there on earth a pillar not made to crumble?

نرجو من الدَّهرِ أنْ يَرعَى لنا ذِمماً

نرجو من الدَّهرِ أنْ يَرعَى لنا ذِمماً

يا وَيحَنا ومَتَى كانت لهُ ذِمَمُ

يا وَيحَنا ومَتَى كانت لهُ ذِمَمُ

We hope that Time will honor its pledges to us;

We hope time will keep pacts for us

Oh, woe to us! And when did it ever have pledges?

Woe to us, when were pacts made by it?

ماتَ الحبيبُ الذي ماتَ السُرورُ بهِ

ماتَ الحبيبُ الذي ماتَ السُرورُ بهِ

منَ القُلوبِ وعاشَ الحُزنُ والضَرَمُ

منَ القُلوبِ وعاشَ الحُزنُ والضَرَمُ

The beloved has died, and with him joy has died away

The beloved died, with whom died happiness

From hearts, while sorrow and burning anguish live on.

From the hearts, and grief and agony lived

من بعدِهِ صارَ صَوتُ النَّوحِ يُطرِبُنا

من بعدِهِ صارَ صَوتُ النَّوحِ يُطرِبُنا

وَجداً وتُزعِجُنا الأوتارُ والنَغَمُ

وَجداً وتُزعِجُنا الأوتارُ والنَغَمُ

After him, the sound of mourning enraptures us

After him, the voice of wailing disturbs us

With longing, while strings and melodies distress us.

And the strings and tunes bother us

مَضَى وفي كلِّ قلبٍ بعدَهُ كَمَدٌ

مَضَى وفي كلِّ قلبٍ بعدَهُ كَمَدٌ

يَبقَى وفي كل جِسمٍ بَعدَهُ سَقَمُ

يَبقَى وفي كل جِسمٍ بَعدَهُ سَقَمُ

He has gone, and after him every heart bears grief

He passed away, and after him remains in each heart a wound

That remains, and after him every body bears sickness.

That stays, and in each body after him an illness

كأنَّهُ من قُلوبِ الناسِ مُقتَطَعٌ

كأنَّهُ من قُلوبِ الناسِ مُقتَطَعٌ

فكلُّ قلبٍ بهِ من فَقْدهِ ألَمُ

فكلُّ قلبٍ بهِ من فَقْدهِ ألَمُ

As though he had been torn from people's hearts,

As if he was ripped out of people's hearts

So every heart carries the pain of losing him.

So each heart aches of his loss

لم تخلُ من صَوبِ دمعٍ بَعدَ مَصرَعِهِ

لم تخلُ من صَوبِ دمعٍ بَعدَ مَصرَعِهِ

عَينٌ ولم يَخلُ من ذِكراهُ قَطُّ فَمُ

عَينٌ ولم يَخلُ من ذِكراهُ قَطُّ فَمُ

Since his death, tears have never ceased to pour from

No eye was devoid of tears after his death

Any eye; nor has any mouth ever ceased to mention him.

And no mouth ceased mentioning him

ولم نجِدْ قبلَهُ من أُمَّةٍ رَجُلاً

ولم نجِدْ قبلَهُ من أُمَّةٍ رَجُلاً

بَكَتْ عليهِ شُعوبُ الناسِ والأُمَمُ

بَكَتْ عليهِ شُعوبُ الناسِ والأُمَمُ

And before him, we had never found a man of any nation

We did not find before him in any nation a man

For whom the peoples and nations of humankind wept.

Whose death made the peoples and nations weep

قد كنتُ أشكو بِعادَ الدَّارِ من قِدَمٍ

قد كنتُ أشكو بِعادَ الدَّارِ من قِدَمٍ

فَحبَّذا اليومَ ذاك البُعدُ والقِدَمُ

فَحبَّذا اليومَ ذاك البُعدُ والقِدَمُ

I had long complained of the distance from home;

I used to complain of the home from afar

How welcome today are that distance and that remoteness in time!

So blessed be today that distance and farness

وكانت الدَّارُ ترجو أن تَراهُ غَداً

وكانت الدَّارُ ترجو أن تَراهُ غَداً

أنتَ الغَريبُ إذا ما عُدَّتِ الشِيَمُ

أنتَ الغَريبُ إذا ما عُدَّتِ الشِيَمُ

And home had hoped to see him tomorrow.

While the home was hoping to see him tomorrow

You are exceptional when noble traits are counted.

You are the stranger if qualities were counted

ما أنصَفتْكَ جُفوني وَهْيَ باكيةٌ

ما أنصَفتْكَ جُفوني وَهْيَ باكيةٌ

دَمعاً فمثِلُكَ مَن يُبكَى عليهِ دَمُ

دَمعاً فمثِلُكَ مَن يُبكَى عليهِ دَمُ

My eyelids have not done you justice, though they weep

My eyelids were not fair crying

Tears; for one like you should be mourned with tears of blood.

Tears, for the like of you should be cried over in blood

أيُّ الفضائلِ ليستْ فيكَ كاملةً

أيُّ الفضائلِ ليستْ فيكَ كاملةً

وأيُّ عيبٍ نراهُ فيكَ يُتَّهَمُ

وأيُّ عيبٍ نراهُ فيكَ يُتَّهَمُ

Which virtue is not perfect in you?

Which virtue is not perfect in you?

And what fault can we see in you to accuse you of?

And which flaw do we see in you to blame?

فيكَ التُّقَى والنَقا والعِلمُ مجتمعٌ

فيكَ التُّقَى والنَقا والعِلمُ مجتمعٌ

والحِلمُ والحَزْمُ والإحسانُ والكَرَمُ

والحِلمُ والحَزْمُ والإحسانُ والكَرَمُ

In you, piety, purity, and knowledge are gathered,

In you is combined piety, virtue, knowledge

And forbearance, resolve, benevolence, and generosity.

And forbearance, wisdom, kindness and generosity

نَرثيكَ بالشِّعرِ يا نَقَّاشَ بُردتِهِ

نَرثيكَ بالشِّعرِ يا نَقَّاشَ بُردتِهِ

والشِّعرُ يرثيكَ حتى تَنفْدَ الكَلِمُ

والشِّعرُ يرثيكَ حتى تَنفْدَ الكَلِمُ

We mourn you in poetry, O embroiderer of its mantle,

We eulogize you, O critic of poetry's cloak

And poetry mourns you until words run out.

And poetry eulogizes you until words run out

تبكي عليك القوافي والمَحابرُ وال

تبكي عليك القوافي والمَحابرُ وال

أقلامُ والصُحْفُ والآراءُ والهِمَمُ

أقلامُ والصُحْفُ والآراءُ والهِمَمُ

The rhymes weep for you, and the inkwells, and the

The rhymes, pens and opinions cry for you

Pens, and the pages, and the thoughts, and the aspirations.

And the pages and minds and resolves

وكلُّ دِيوانِ شِعرٍ كُنتَ تَنظِمُهُ

وكلُّ دِيوانِ شِعرٍ كُنتَ تَنظِمُهُ

وكلُّ ديوانِ قومٍ فيكَ ينتظِمُ

وكلُّ ديوانِ قومٍ فيكَ ينتظِمُ

And every collection of verse you composed,

And every book of poetry you used to compile

And every assembly of people brought into order through you,

And every people's book you used to organize

وكلُّ طالبِ عِلمٍ فاتَهُ مَدَدٌ

وكلُّ طالبِ عِلمٍ فاتَهُ مَدَدٌ

وكلُّ طالبِ رفدٍ فاتَهُ نِعَمُ

وكلُّ طالبِ رفدٍ فاتَهُ نِعَمُ

And every seeker of knowledge deprived of support,

And every knowledge seeker whose support ran out

And every seeker of bounty deprived of favors.

And every aspirant whose bounty ran out

حَقٌّ علينا رِثاءٌ فيك نُنشِدهُ

حَقٌّ علينا رِثاءٌ فيك نُنشِدهُ

لكن أحَبُّ إلى أسماعِنا الصَّمَمُ

لكن أحَبُّ إلى أسماعِنا الصَّمَمُ

It is our duty to recite an elegy for you,

It is right upon us to chant an elegy for you

But deafness is dearer to our ears.

But silence is more beloved to our ears

أكادُ من فَرْطِ لَهْفي حينَ اكتُبهُ

أكادُ من فَرْطِ لَهْفي حينَ اكتُبهُ

أمحو المِدادَ بدَمعِي وَهْوَ يَنْسَجِمُ

أمحو المِدادَ بدَمعِي وَهْوَ يَنْسَجِمُ

In my overwhelming anguish, as I write it, I almost

I almost erase the ink with my tear, as it blends

Wipe away the ink with my tears as they stream.

When I write it, overwhelmed by my ardour

قُصِفتَ يا غُصنَ بانٍ في الصِّبَى أسَفاً

قُصِفتَ يا غُصنَ بانٍ في الصِّبَى أسَفاً

لمَّا انثَنيَتَ وقد مالَتْ بكَ النَّسَمُ

لمَّا انثَنيَتَ وقد مالَتْ بكَ النَّسَمُ

You were snapped, O bough of bān, in youth—alas—

You were cut off, O sprig of lusciousness in youth, alas

When you bent, while the breezes swayed you.

When you bent, and the breeze tilted you

كُنَّا نُرَجّي ثِماراً منك يانعةً

كُنَّا نُرَجّي ثِماراً منك يانعةً

فسابَقتْنا المنايا وهْيَ تَقْتَحِمُ

فسابَقتْنا المنايا وهْيَ تَقْتَحِمُ

We were hoping for ripe fruits from you,

We were hoping for ripe fruits from you

But the fates of death outpaced us as they stormed in.

But death outstripped us, storming

ويَحي تُرى هل لنا في الأرضِ مُجتَمعٌ

ويَحي تُرى هل لنا في الأرضِ مُجتَمعٌ

وهل تُرَى شَمْلُنا في الدَّهرِ يَلتئِمُ

وهل تُرَى شَمْلُنا في الدَّهرِ يَلتئِمُ

Woe to me! I wonder, can we meet on earth?

I wonder, do we have a gathering on earth?

And, I wonder, will our company ever reunite in the course of time?

And will our unity in life be mended?

وهل نَرَى ذلكَ الوجهَ الذي نَسَخَتْ

وهل نَرَى ذلكَ الوجهَ الذي نَسَخَتْ

أنوارَهُ تحتَ أطباقِ البِلَى الظُلَمُ

أنوارَهُ تحتَ أطباقِ البِلَى الظُلَمُ

And will we see that face, deprived of

Will we see that face whose lights

Its radiance by darkness beneath the layers of decay?

The darkness of wear erased under its lids?

إن كُنتَ قد سِرتَ عن دار الفَناءِ فقد

إن كُنتَ قد سِرتَ عن دار الفَناءِ فقد

نِلتَ البقا حيثُ لا شَيبٌ ولا هَرَمُ

نِلتَ البقا حيثُ لا شَيبٌ ولا هَرَمُ

If you have journeyed from the abode of mortality, then

If you have departed the home of demise, you gained

You have attained eternity, where there is neither gray hair nor decrepitude.

Eternity, where there is no greying or aging

إن السَّعيدَ الذي كانت عواقبُهُ

إن السَّعيدَ الذي كانت عواقبُهُ

بالخيرِ في طاعةِ الرحمنِ تُختَتَمُ

بالخيرِ في طاعةِ الرحمنِ تُختَتَمُ

Truly happy is he whose end

The fortunate one whose outcome

Is sealed with goodness in obedience to the Most Merciful.

In good deeds, obeying the Merciful, was sealed