أَيُنعَىshall he be mourned? قتيلٌone slain قدindeed قَضَىdied مستشهداًas a martyr
أَيُنعَى قتيلٌ قد قَضَى مستشهداً
أًيٌبكًيshall he be wept for? شهيدٌa martyr صارًbecame للحقِّto the truth مَشهَداa testimony
أًيٌبكًي شهيدٌ صارً للحقِّ مَشهَدا
Shall a slain man be mourned, who died a martyr?
Shall one slain as a martyr be mourned?
Shall a martyr be wept for, who became a testimony to truth?
Shall a witness who attained the Truth be wept?
أَيُرثَىshall he be lamented? الذيthe one who لمdid not يَرثِpity يوماًever لنفسهِfor himself
أَيُرثَى الذي لم يَرثِ يوماً لنفسهِ
وَلمand did not يُغوِهِseduce him وَعدٌa promise ووَغدٌand a scoundrel تَوعَّداthreatened
وَلم يُغوِهِ وَعدٌ ووَغدٌ تَوعَّدا
Shall he be lamented, who never once pitied himself,
Shall he who never cared for himself be eulogized,
whom neither a promise nor a threatening scoundrel seduced?
One not tempted by promises or threats of the morrow?
ايندبshall he be lamented? مندوبone commissioned منby اللَهGod قدindeed رأَىregarded
ايندب مندوب من اللَه قد رأَى
مَناهُhis death بحُبِّthrough love of اللَهِGod فرضاًa duty مؤَكَّداbinding
مَناهُ بحُبِّ اللَهِ فرضاً مؤَكَّدا
Shall one sent by God be lamented, who regarded
Why should people mourn one whom God saw
his death, through love of God, as a binding duty?
Meet his end through love of God, a duty confirmed?
لئنthough كانَhe was فيماin what لاnot يَعِيhe understood أَمسِyesterday قدindeed هَذَىhe raved
لئن كانَ فيما لا يَعِي أَمسِ قد هَذَى
ففيthen on اليومthis day إِذاwhen أَفضَىhe returned إلىto وعيهِhis senses اهتدَىhe found guidance
ففي اليوم إِذا أَفضَى إلى وعيهِ اهتدَى
Though yesterday he raved without knowing what he said,
If yesterday, delirious, he went astray,
today, once he returned to his senses, he found the right way.
Today, returned to consciousness, he found guidance.
وإِنand if فاهَhe spoke مشدوهاًbewildered بديهاًimpulsively وماand did not دَرَىknow
وإِن فاهَ مشدوهاً بديهاً وما دَرَى
فماfor not تُحسَبُare reckoned الأَوزارُsins إِلَّاexcept تَعَمُّداdeliberately
فما تُحسَبُ الأَوزارُ إِلَّا تَعَمُّدا
And if, bewildered, he spoke impulsively, without knowing,
With his confession of Truth he erased the lapse
sins are reckoned only when committed deliberately.
That yesterday in his affair had occurred,
فلاso no جُرمَoffense إلاexcept ماwhat بهِconcerning it العقلُreason حاكمٌcan judge
فلا جُرمَ إلا ما بهِ العقلُ حاكمٌ
ولاand no غَروَwonder أَنَّthat الجُرمَthe offense منin دونهِits absence سُدَىcounts for nothing
ولا غَروَ أَنَّ الجُرمَ من دونهِ سُدَى
There is no offense except where reason can judge,
With the dawn of reason he removed the stigma of heedlessness,
and no wonder an offense without it counts for nothing.
And donned the raiment of vigilance, long accustomed.
لقدindeed زلَّhe stumbled لكنbut حينماwhen العقلُreason زائلٌwas absent
لقد زلَّ لكن حينما العقلُ زائلٌ
وباءَand he returned فأَجلىthen dispelled كلَّevery شِكٍّdoubt وفنَّداand refuted
وباءَ فأَجلى كلَّ شِكٍّ وفنَّدا
He did indeed stumble, but when reason had departed;
Such was his cleansing, the purest cleansing,
then he returned, dispelled every doubt, and refuted it.
And by martyrdom he whitened what was blackened.
محاhe erased باعتِرافِby confessing الحقِّthe truth زَلَّتَهُhis lapse التيwhich
محا باعتِرافِ الحقِّ زَلَّتَهُ التي
بدتappeared أمسِyesterday فيماin what كانَwas منof أمرهِhis conduct غداthe next day
بدت أمسِ فيما كانَ من أمرهِ غدا
By confessing the truth, he erased his lapse, which
He repaired a rift, forbidding what was forbidden,
had appeared yesterday in his conduct, by the next morning.
So wise the one who went astray, and then was guided!
أَزالَhe removed بصحوِwith the restoration of العقلِreason وَصمةَthe stain of غَفلةٍheedlessness
أَزالَ بصحوِ العقلِ وَصمةَ غَفلةٍ
وثَقَّفَand straightened غِبَّafter الصحوِawakening ماwhat قدindeed تَأَوَّداhad bent
وثَقَّفَ غِبَّ الصحوِ ما قد تَأَوَّدا
With reason restored, he removed the stain of heedlessness,
He returned from his going astray, the completest return,
and after awakening straightened what had bent.
Through piety displaying accustomed firmness.
جلاhe cleared away تِلكُمُthat الجلَّىgreat calamity أَجلَّthe noblest جلاءَةٍcleansing
جلا تِلكُمُ الجلَّى أَجلَّ جلاءَةٍ
وبيَّضَand whitened بالإِشهادby bearing witness ماwhat كانhad been سوداblack
وبيَّضَ بالإِشهاد ما كان سودا
He cleared that great calamity away with the noblest cleansing,
He let fall a tear, nay blood, for intense grief
and by bearing witness whitened what had been black.
Thereby extinguishing the fire of vengeance.
وأَرأَبَand mended صَدعاًa breach صدَّshied away عنfrom صدِّهِclosing it النُهَىreason
وأَرأَبَ صَدعاً صدَّ عن صدِّهِ النُهَى
فياO! لِحكيمٍwhat a sage تاهَhe strayed لكنَّهُbut he اهتَدىfound guidance
فيا لِحكيمٍ تاهَ لكنَّهُ اهتَدى
He mended a breach that reason had shied away from closing:
By God's praise he returned like one remorseful;
what a sage, who strayed yet found the right way!
He saw relapse, then sought refuge in God the Most Praised.
لقدindeed فاءَhe turned back عمَّاfrom what فاهَhe uttered أَوفَىthe fullest تَفِيئَةٍreturn
لقد فاءَ عمَّا فاهَ أَوفَى تَفِيئَةٍ
أَبانَhe revealed بهاthrough it التقوَىthe piety التيwhich قدindeed تعوَّداhe had practiced
أَبانَ بها التقوَى التي قد تعوَّدا
He turned back most fully from what he had uttered,
He attacked unbelief with belief, a victorious raid,
revealing thereby the piety he had long practiced.
And the grace of guidance assailed him with an incursion.
وقطَّرَand shed دمعاًtears بلrather دَماًblood عنfrom لَظَىthe blaze of أَسىًgrief
وقطَّرَ دمعاً بل دَماً عن لَظَى أَسىً
اباخَhe quenched بهِwith it نارَthe fire of القِصاصِretribution وأَخمَداand extinguished
اباخَ بهِ نارَ القِصاصِ وأَخمَدا
He shed tears—rather, blood—from the blaze of grief,
So neither the warbling of doves made him yearn,
with which he quenched the fire of retribution and extinguished it.
Nor the prime of youth and its vigour tempted him.
وعادَand returned بحمدِwith praise of اللَهِGod عودةَthe return of سادمٍone remorseful
وعادَ بحمدِ اللَهِ عودةَ سادمٍ
رأَىhe deemed العَودَreturning ثُمَّthen العَوذَseeking refuge باللَهِin God أَحمَداmore praiseworthy
رأَى العَودَ ثُمَّ العَوذَ باللَهِ أَحمَدا
Praising God, he returned as one remorseful,
Though the tongue of the case says he feared death
who found returning, then seeking refuge in God, more praiseworthy.
Or dreaded mishap, such was not the import.
غزاhe attacked الجحدَdenial بالإِقرارِwith confession غزوةَthe assault of فاتكٍa ruthless warrior
غزا الجحدَ بالإِقرارِ غزوةَ فاتكٍ
وشَنَّتand launched عليهِupon it غارةًa raid نِعمةُthe grace of الهُدَىguidance
وشَنَّت عليهِ غارةً نِعمةُ الهُدَى
He attacked denial with confession, like a ruthless warrior,
Another desires longevity in life,
and the grace of guidance launched a raid upon it.
And yet another craves to live forever immortalized.
فماso not راعَهُfrightened him رَوعُthe terror of الحِمامdeath ولاnor رعىdid he preserve
فما راعَهُ رَوعُ الحِمام ولا رعى
برائعةٍout of dread ريعَthe bloom of الشبيبةِyouth والجَدَىand bounty
برائعةٍ ريعَ الشبيبةِ والجَدَى
Death's terror did not frighten him, nor did he preserve,
When asked which of two paths he sought—
out of dread, the bloom of youth and bounty.
Torture and death, or life luxurious and coddled:
وإِنَّand indeed لِسانَthe tongue of الحالِhis condition منهُfrom him لَقائلٌsurely says
وإِنَّ لِسانَ الحالِ منهُ لَقائلٌ
سوايَsomeone other than me يهابُfears الموتَdeath أوor يَرهَبُdreads الرَدَىdestruction
سوايَ يهابُ الموتَ أو يَرهَبُ الرَدَى
Indeed, his very condition seemed to say:
With optimism he answered that dying for the faith
'Others fear death or dread destruction;
Was the most felicitous and coddled end for him.
والَّايَand another, not I يبغيseeks فيin الحيوةِlife تطاولاًprolongation
والَّايَ يبغي في الحيوةِ تطاولاً
وغيريَand someone other than me يَهوَىdesires انto يعيشَlive مخلَّداforever
وغيريَ يَهوَى ان يعيشَ مخلَّدا
another, not I, seeks to prolong life,
Neither the deception of aspirations seized him with a tryst,
and others wish to live forever.'
Nor was he cowed by threats from those who terrorized.
وقيلand it was said لهُto him أيُّwhich of الطريقينِthe two paths تبتغيdo you seek
وقيل لهُ أيُّ الطريقينِ تبتغي
عَذاباًtorment وقتلاًand killing امor تعيشَyou live مرغَّداin comfort
عَذاباً وقتلاً ام تعيشَ مرغَّدا
He was asked, 'Which of the two paths do you choose:
He feared not the frustration of deterrence, nor was made to dread,
torment and killing, or a life of ease?'
Nor shaken when the minatory one brandished his sword.
أجابَhe answered المَناdeath باللَهِby God ليfor me غايةُthe utmost of المُنَىwishes
أجابَ المَنا باللَهِ لي غايةُ المُنَى
أَراهُI find it عنfor the sake of الإيمانِfaith أَشهَىmore desirable وأَرغَداand more pleasant
أَراهُ عن الإيمانِ أَشهَى وأَرغَدا
He answered, 'Death, by God, is my utmost wish;
A stalwart whose skin the executioner tore with the lash
for faith's sake, I find it sweeter and more pleasant.'
Because he dazzled skins by his steadfast endurance.
فماso not اغتالَهُensnared him شِصُّthe fishhook of الأمانيwishes بمَوعِدٍwith a promise
فما اغتالَهُ شِصُّ الأماني بمَوعِدٍ
ولاand did not رَهِبَfear التهديدَthe threat ممَّنfrom whoever تهدَّداthreatened
ولا رَهِبَ التهديدَ ممَّن تهدَّدا
The fishhook of wishes did not ensnare him with a promise,
Though torment racked his body and his soul
nor did he fear the threats of those who threatened.
Steamed within it, he saw the torture as delightful, not refusing
ولاand did not هابَfear تبضيعَcutting to pieces الإِهابِthe skin ولاnor اختَشَىfeel dread
ولا هابَ تبضيعَ الإِهابِ ولا اختَشَى
ولاand did not اهتزَّtremble إذwhen هزَّbrandished المَرِيدُthe defiant one المهنَّداthe Indian-steel sword
ولا اهتزَّ إذ هزَّ المَرِيدُ المهنَّدا
He neither feared his skin being cut to pieces nor felt dread,
What he gained from the cruelty of injustice.
nor trembled when the defiant one brandished the Indian-steel sword.
So excellent the integrity of one pained by a speck of dust,
فَتىa young man مزَّقtore apart الجلَّادُthe executioner بالجَلدِwith flogging جِلدَهُhis skin
فَتى مزَّق الجلَّادُ بالجَلدِ جِلدَهُ
لِأَنbecause بَهَرَastonished الأجلادَthe stout-hearted ماhow قدindeed تجلَّداhe endured steadfastly
لِأَن بَهَرَ الأجلادَ ما قد تجلَّدا
A young man whose skin the executioner tore with lashes,
Who tomorrow feared not grey hairs or runny nosed senility,
because his endurance astonished the stout-hearted.
And whom the softness of luxury prevented nothing,
وقدand indeed سحقَcrushed التعذيبُtorture جسماًa body تقطَّرَتwas distilled
وقد سحقَ التعذيبُ جسماً تقطَّرَت
بهِwithin it روحهُhis soul فيin نارهِits fire فتصعَّداthen rose aloft
بهِ روحهُ في نارهِ فتصعَّدا
Torture crushed a body within which was distilled
So he willingly undertook severe and gruelling travail.
his soul, in its fire, and he rose aloft.
What but God's favour strengthened and aided him,
رأَىhe deemed ذلكَthat التعذيبَtorment عَذباًsweet ولمand did not يكنbe
رأَى ذلكَ التعذيبَ عَذباً ولم يكن
لِيَأنَفَto shrink away ممَّاfrom what نالَhe suffered منof قَسوةِthe cruelty of العِدَىthe enemies
لِيَأنَفَ ممَّا نالَ من قَسوةِ العِدَى
He found that torment sweet, and would not
Banishing him while stirring his heart so he was strengthened?
shrink from the cruelty he suffered at his enemies' hands.
He bared his neck sincerely to the sword, evidencing
فياO! لِلُنهَىfor reason منhe who كانَonce was يُؤلِمهُpained him القَذَىa speck
فيا لِلُنهَى من كانَ يُؤلِمهُ القَذَى
غداbecame غيرَnot خاشٍfearful منof شَباthe edges of البِيضِgleaming swords والمُدَىand knives
غدا غيرَ خاشٍ من شَبا البِيضِ والمُدَى
O reason, marvel! He whom a speck once pained
A true faith with which he had adorned himself.
became unafraid of the edges of gleaming swords and knives.
It graced him with a noble necklace, its regulate
ومنand he who كانonce was لمعُthe flash of البرقِlightning يُرعِدُmade quake قلبَهُhis heart
ومن كان لمعُ البرقِ يُرعِدُ قلبَهُ
أبىhe refused الخوفfear منof برقthe lightning of الرَدَىdeath حينَwhen أَرعَداit thundered
أبى الخوف من برق الرَدَى حينَ أَرعَدا
He whose heart once quaked at lightning's flash
Pearls of blood surpassing wish and ruby in preciousness.
refused to fear death's lightning when it thundered.
The blade of the sword clothed him in a dyed garment
ومَنand he who كانَonce was لِينُthe softness of العِهنِwool يمنعهُdenied him الكَرَىsleep
ومَن كانَ لِينُ العِهنِ يمنعهُ الكَرَى
تكبَّدَhe endured ضَرّاًsuffering قاسياًharsh فتَّshattered أَكبُداlivers
تكبَّدَ ضَرّاً قاسياً فتَّ أَكبُدا
He whom even soft wool once kept from sleep
The day after disaster, finer raiment than which he did not wear.
endured harsh suffering that shattered livers.
Nor was this garb Joseph's shirt,
وماand not تلكَthat الَّاexcept نعمةُthe grace of اللَهِGod أَيَّدَتstrengthened
وما تلكَ الَّا نعمةُ اللَهِ أَيَّدَت
نُهاهُhis reason ومسَّتand touched قلبَهُhis heart فتأَيَّداso he was strengthened
نُهاهُ ومسَّت قلبَهُ فتأَيَّدا
That was nothing but God's grace, which strengthened
Nor dyed with the dye of Jacob who was so afflicted.
his reason and touched his heart, so he grew strong.
Rather it was Abraham, namesake of his ancestor,
وأَتلَعَand stretched out للسيَّافِto the swordsman جِيداًa neck مُبرهناًdemonstrating
وأَتلَعَ للسيَّافِ جِيداً مُبرهناً
علىof حقِّthe truth of إِيمانٍfaith بهِwith which قدindeed تقلَّداhe adorned himself
على حقِّ إِيمانٍ بهِ قد تقلَّدا
He stretched out his neck to the swordsman, proving
Who offered not Isaac, but himself, as ransom.
the truth of the faith with which he had adorned himself.
That was his son whom for God he brought nigh intending,
فطوَّقَهُso he encircled it عِقداًwith a necklace كريماًprecious نِظامُهُits string of beads
فطوَّقَهُ عِقداً كريماً نِظامُهُ
جُمانُpearls of دمٍblood فاقsurpassed المَهَىcrystal والزَبَرجَداand chrysolite
جُمانُ دمٍ فاق المَهَى والزَبَرجَدا
So he encircled it with a precious necklace, strung with
While this was himself—the difference like dawn when it rises.
pearls of blood surpassing crystal and chrysolite.
That one a ram redeemed, returning him safe,
كَساهُclothed him غِرارُthe edge of السيفِthe sword ثوباًin a garment مُصبَّغاًdyed
كَساهُ غِرارُ السيفِ ثوباً مُصبَّغاً
غداةَon the morning of الرَدَىdeath أَسنَىthe most radiant رِداءٍrobe بهِin which ارتَدَىhe dressed
غداةَ الرَدَى أَسنَى رِداءٍ بهِ ارتَدَى
The sword's edge clothed him in a dyed garment,
While none can redeem this one, so he is redeemed.
on the morning of death, the brightest robe he ever wore.
If in this world he met with instant wretchedness,
ولمand not يكُwas هذاthis الثوبُgarment حُلَّةَthe robe of يوسُفٍJoseph
ولم يكُ هذا الثوبُ حُلَّةَ يوسُفٍ
وليسَand was not بيعقوبَJacob الذيthe one who صَبَغَdyed الرِداthe cloak
وليسَ بيعقوبَ الذي صَبَغَ الرِدا
This garment was not Joseph's robe,
In the next he attained bliss everlasting.
nor was the one who dyed the cloak Jacob.
Though the burning of torment kindled him,
ولكنَّbut ابرهيمَAbraham نِدَّthe equal of سميِّهِhis namesake
ولكنَّ ابرهيمَ نِدَّ سميِّهِ
وقدَّمَand offered لاnot إِسحقَIsaac بلbut نفسَهُhimself فِدَىas a ransom
وقدَّمَ لا إِسحقَ بل نفسَهُ فِدَى
But Abraham was the equal of his namesake,
The hand of favour gave him a cooling drink tempered.
and offered not Isaac, but himself as a ransom.
You see him lifeless on the ground, yet he
فذلكfor that one ابنَهُhis son لِلّهto God قرَّبَoffered عازماًresolutely
فذلك ابنَهُ لِلّه قرَّبَ عازماً
وذاand this one نفسَهُhimself والفرقُand the difference كالصبحlike dawn إذwhen بداit appeared
وذا نفسَهُ والفرقُ كالصبح إذ بدا
The former resolutely offered his son to God,
Is on the mount of the abstinent, having climbed its ascent.
this one, himself—and the difference is like breaking dawn.
The greatest sign—blood on earth,
وذاكand that one فَداهُransomed him الكَبشُthe ram فارتدَّso he returned سالماًunharmed
وذاك فَداهُ الكَبشُ فارتدَّ سالماً
وهذاand this one فماso not يفديهِransoms him شيءٌanything فيُفتَدىso that he is redeemed
وهذا فما يفديهِ شيءٌ فيُفتَدى
The former was ransomed by the ram and returned unharmed,
Debased, while most high in heaven glorified.
but nothing could ransom this one, that he might be redeemed.
The Merciful ennobled his grave with the sign
لئنthough حازَhe gained فيin الدُنياthis world شَقاءًmisery معجَّلاًimmediate
لئن حازَ في الدُنيا شَقاءً معجَّلاً
فقدyet indeed حازَhe gained فيin الأُخرَىthe next life نعيماًbliss مخلَّداeverlasting
فقد حازَ في الأُخرَى نعيماً مخلَّدا
Though he gained immediate misery in this world,
And made it lustrous with miracles and support.
he gained everlasting bliss in the next.
How many paralyzed hands it stirred from stillness,
وانand if حَرَقُthe burning of الإِيلامُtorment اوهجَهُset him ablaze فقدthen indeed
وان حَرَقُ الإِيلامُ اوهجَهُ فقد
سَقَتهُgave him drink يدُthe hand of النُعمَىbliss رحيقاًnectar مبرَّداcooled
سَقَتهُ يدُ النُعمَى رحيقاً مبرَّدا
Though the burning of torment set him aflame,
How many hands gained good fortune through its hand.
the hand of bliss gave him cooled nectar to drink.
How many rigid palms it healed of palsy,
تراهُyou see him لَقىًcast lifeless فوقَupon الصعيدِthe ground وإِنَّهyet he
تراهُ لَقىً فوقَ الصعيدِ وإِنَّه
لَفِيis indeed on جَبَلِthe mountain of الأَبكارthe firstborn قدindeed فاقَsurpassed مَصعَداin ascent
لَفِي جَبَلِ الأَبكار قد فاقَ مَصعَدا
You see him cast lifeless upon the ground, yet he
And freed from confinement's bondage the fettered.
is on the mountain of the firstborn, surpassing others in ascent.
How many of little means but abundant grace
هيit is الآيةُthe sign الكُبرَىthe greatest دمٌblood منof one who علىupon الثَرَىthe earth
هي الآيةُ الكُبرَى دمٌ من على الثَرَى
مُهاناًdishonored وفيand in أَوجِthe zenith of السماءِheaven ممجَّداglorified
مُهاناً وفي أَوجِ السماءِ ممجَّدا
This is the greatest sign: the blood of one upon the earth,
Whose wealth it made whole, the abased and the spurned.
dishonored, yet glorified in the zenith of heaven.
The confined to a wheelchair because of feebleness
فقدfor indeed شرَّفhonored الرحمنُthe Merciful بالآيِwith signs قبرَهُhis tomb
فقد شرَّف الرحمنُ بالآيِ قبرَهُ
وأَتأَرَهُand vindicated him بالمُعجِزاتthrough miracles وأَيَّداand upheld him
وأَتأَرَهُ بالمُعجِزات وأَيَّدا
The Merciful has honored his tomb with signs,
Freed from the fetters of incapacity to walk around.
vindicated him through miracles, and upheld him.
Good fortune to you, O Abraham, you became
فكمhow many منof أَيادٍhands حَرَّكَتstirred سَكَناتِهاtheir immobility
فكم من أَيادٍ حَرَّكَت سَكَناتِها
وكمand how many منthrough اياديهِhis favors يداًa hand حازتِgained اليَداstrength
وكم من اياديهِ يداً حازتِ اليَدا
How many hands have stirred from their stillness!
For mankind in adversity an example to emulate.
And how many a hand, through his favors, has gained strength!
Good fortune to you, O child, and to your fathers
وكمand how many منof أَكفٍpalms كفَّhe checked بالبُرءِthrough healing شلَّهاtheir paralysis
وكم من أَكفٍ كفَّ بالبُرءِ شلَّها
وأَطلقَand freed منfrom أَسرِthe captivity of المَقامِimmobility مقيَّداone bound
وأَطلقَ من أَسرِ المَقامِ مقيَّدا
How many palms had their paralysis checked through healing!
Who cradled in you tremendous glory lasting undimmed.
He freed the bound from immobility's captivity.
Good fortune to noble ancestors the ages erased
وكمand how many ذيa sufferer from ضَنىًwasting illness أَبرَىhealed ثراهُhis earth ومُدنَفٍand one gravely ill
وكم ذي ضَنىً أَبرَى ثراهُ ومُدنَفٍ
ومنand from رِبَقَاتthe fetters of العجزincapacity قدindeed حلَّfreed مُقعَداa crippled person
ومن رِبَقَات العجز قد حلَّ مُقعَدا
How many wasted sufferers and gravely sick men his earth has healed!
Whose memory is restored, renewed and emboldened.
And he freed a crippled man from incapacity's fetters.
Good fortune to the church's children—they inherited
فطُوباكَblessed are you ابرهيمُAbraham إذfor صِرتَyou became للوَرَىfor mankind
فطُوباكَ ابرهيمُ إذ صِرتَ للوَرَى
مثالاًan example بهِby which عندduring النوائبِcalamities يُقتدَىone is guided
مثالاً بهِ عند النوائبِ يُقتدَى
Blessed are you, Abraham, for you have become for mankind
A most august and firmly rooted principle.
an example to follow in times of calamity.
Good fortune to us should you ennoble our stock,
وطوبىand blessedness لآباءِto fathers وأنتَand you are وَليدُهمtheir child
وطوبى لآباءِ وأنتَ وَليدُهم
بكthrough you احتَضَنواthey embraced مجداًglory خطيراًgreat علىthroughout المَدَىall time
بك احتَضَنوا مجداً خطيراً على المَدَى
Blessed are the fathers whose child you are:
Cloaking us in a mantle of splendid honour.
through you they embraced great glory for all time.
You revived the ways of sanctity, faded,
وطوبىand blessedness لأَسلافٍto ancestors محاerased الدهرُtime ذكرَهمtheir remembrance
وطوبى لأَسلافٍ محا الدهرُ ذكرَهم
أُعيدَwas restored لهمto them ذِكرٌa remembrance خلاhad vanished فتجدَّداand was renewed
أُعيدَ لهم ذِكرٌ خلا فتجدَّدا
Blessed are the ancestors whose memory time erased:
And built with piety an edifice solidified.
their vanished remembrance was restored and renewed.
You ignited a flame equalling your flame, so it raged
وطوبىand blessedness لأَبناءِto the children of الكنيسةِthe Church انَّهمfor they
وطوبى لأَبناءِ الكنيسةِ انَّهم
قدindeed استلمواthey received رُكناًa pillar شريفاًnoble موطَّداfirmly founded
قد استلموا رُكناً شريفاً موطَّدا
Blessed are the children of the Church, for they
On the pages of time with ample, buttressed dominion.
have received a noble, firmly founded pillar.
A refined sin adorned your soul, like a mole
وطوبىand blessedness لناto us إذاsince انتَyou شرَّفتَhonored جِنسَناour kind
وطوبى لنا إذا انتَ شرَّفتَ جِنسَنا
وأَلبستَناand clothed us بُرداًin a mantle منof الفخرِpride أمجداmost glorious
وأَلبستَنا بُرداً من الفخرِ أمجدا
Blessed are we, since you have honored our kind,
Beautifying a cheek, staining one with a roseate blush.
and clothed us in a most glorious mantle of pride.
The lights of martyrdom you explained openly,
واحييتَand revived منof رسمِthe traces of القَداسةِholiness ماwhat عفاhad faded
واحييتَ من رسمِ القَداسةِ ما عفا
وشيَّدتَand built بالتقوىthrough piety بِناءًan edifice ممرَّداsmoothly finished
وشيَّدتَ بالتقوى بِناءً ممرَّدا
You revived the faded traces of holiness,
So its lantern's sun blazed, enkindled.
and built with piety a smoothly finished edifice.
By it I imbibed the Messiah's cup, deliberately,
واشنيتَand spurned شأناًan affair شانmarred شأنَكَyour standing فاغتدَىso it became
واشنيتَ شأناً شان شأنَكَ فاغتدَى
علىupon صَفَحاتthe pages of الدهرِtime عِزّاًglory مؤَيَّداfirmly upheld
على صَفَحات الدهرِ عِزّاً مؤَيَّدا
You spurned an affair that marred your standing, and it became
You steeped it and reddened it, deliberately imbued.
firmly upheld glory upon the pages of time.
With love of God you trampled the vintage of disaster,
وقدand indeed زانَadorned منكَof yours النفسَthe soul ذَنبٌa sin مُمحِّصٌpurifying
وقد زانَ منكَ النفسَ ذَنبٌ مُمحِّصٌ
كشافعِlike an advocate of حُسنٍbeauty زانَadorned خدّاًa cheek مورَّداrose-red
كشافعِ حُسنٍ زانَ خدّاً مورَّدا
A purifying sin of yours adorned your soul,
Alone, no partners ascribing, so were unifier.
like an advocate of beauty adorning a rose-red cheek.
Therefore you deserved to sit in glory at His right,
وبيَّنتَand revealed أَضواءَthe lights of الشَهادةmartyrdom جَهرةًopenly
وبيَّنتَ أَضواءَ الشَهادة جَهرةً
فشِيمَso was beheld سَنَىthe radiance of مِصباحِهاits lamp مُتَوقِّداblazing
فشِيمَ سَنَى مِصباحِها مُتَوقِّدا
You openly revealed the lights of martyrdom,
Sublime, on the throne of glory enthroned.
and the radiance of its blazing lamp was beheld.
So grant me happiness with God, for I
شربتُI drank بهاthrough it كأسَthe cup of المسيحِChrist تَعمُّداdeliberately
شربتُ بها كأسَ المسيحِ تَعمُّدا
وصَبغَتَهُand his dye استَورَدتَهاyou sought to receive it مُتَعمِّداdeliberately
وصَبغَتَهُ استَورَدتَها مُتَعمِّدا
Through it I deliberately drank Christ's cup,
Am wretched, and my lot is that you be seen blissful.
and you deliberately sought to receive his dye.
When I come to God hesitant on Judgment Day,
ودُستَand trod بحُبِّthrough love of اللَهِGod مَعصَرةthe winepress of الرَدَىdeath
ودُستَ بحُبِّ اللَهِ مَعصَرة الرَدَى
وحيداًalone ولمand did not تُشرِكassociate partners فكُنتَso you were مُوَحِّداa worshiper of one God
وحيداً ولم تُشرِك فكُنتَ مُوَحِّدا
Through love of God you trod the winepress of death,
Make my case your concern—intercede and help me!
alone, associating no partner with God, thus a worshiper of the One.
O best beloved, who died bearing witness to love,
لذاكَfor that استحقيتَyou deserved الجلوسَto sit بمجدهِin his glory
لذاكَ استحقيتَ الجلوسَ بمجدهِ
يميناًon the right وساميand lofty سُدَّةِthe throne of المجدِglory مَقعَداin seat
يميناً وسامي سُدَّةِ المجدِ مَقعَدا
For that you deserved to sit in his glory,
O love, what a date you passed away in martyrdom!
on the right, in a lofty seat upon the throne of glory.
فكُنso be مُسعدِيmy helper عندَbefore الالهِGod لأَنَّنيfor I
فكُن مُسعدِي عندَ الالهِ لأَنَّني
شقيٌّwretched وحَسبيand it suffices me أَنthat تُرَىyou be seen ليfor me مُسعِداa helper
شقيٌّ وحَسبي أَن تُرَى لي مُسعِدا
Be my helper before God, for I
am wretched; it is enough that you appear as my helper.
إذاwhen ماever اتيتُI come to اللَهGod فيat الحشرِthe resurrection راهباًfearing
إذا ما اتيتُ اللَه في الحشرِ راهباً
قَضاهُhis judgment اسعِفَنِّيaid me بالشفاعةِwith intercession وارفِداand support me
قَضاهُ اسعِفَنِّي بالشفاعةِ وارفِدا
When I come to God at the resurrection, fearing
his judgment, aid me with intercession and support me.
أَياO خيرَbest حِبٍbeloved ماتdied بالحُبِّthrough love شاهداًas a witness
أَيا خيرَ حِبٍ مات بالحُبِّ شاهداً
بتاريخin a chronogram ياO حِبّاًbeloved قضىdied مستشهداas a martyr
بتاريخ يا حِبّاً قضى مستشهدا
O best beloved, who died through love as a witness,
with the chronogram: 'O beloved who died a martyr!'
Partial English translation: 111 of 118 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1