لا مِرَيةٌ في الردَى ولا جدَلُ

لا مِرَيةٌ في الردَى ولا جدَلُ

العمر دَيْنٌ قضاؤه ألأجلُ

العمر دَيْنٌ قضاؤه ألأجلُ

There is no doubt about death, nor any dispute.

No doubt in ruin, no dispute,

Life is a debt; its repayment is the appointed end.

Life is a debt, its term is fixed.

للمرء في حتفِ أنِفه شُغُلٌ

للمرء في حتفِ أنِفه شُغُلٌ

فما تريد السيوف والأسلُ

فما تريد السيوف والأسلُ

A man has enough to face in dying a natural death;

Man is preoccupied with his own death,

what, then, do swords and spears seek?

Why long for swords and weapons?

يَفرِى الدجىَ والضّحى بأسلحةٍ

يَفرِى الدجىَ والضّحى بأسلحةٍ

سِيّانِ فيها الدروعُ والحُلَلُ

سِيّانِ فيها الدروعُ والحُلَلُ

It cleaves darkness and daylight with weapons

Darkness and daylight brandish weapons

against which armor and robes are alike.

In which armors and robes are equal.

فأنجمُ الليل كالأسنةِ والصُّ

فأنجمُ الليل كالأسنةِ والصُّ

بحُ حسامٌ له الورى خِلَلُ

بحُ حسامٌ له الورى خِلَلُ

Thus the stars of night are like spearheads, and the

So the stars of night are like unsheathed swords

morning is a sword, with humankind as its scabbards.

And the dawn a sword whose blaze has no scabbard,

يا ليت عمرَ الفتى يُمَدُّ له

يا ليت عمرَ الفتى يُمَدُّ له

ما امتدّ منه الرجاءُ والأملُ

ما امتدّ منه الرجاءُ والأملُ

Would that a young man's life were prolonged for him

If only the life of a young man could be extended

as long as his hopes and aspirations extend.

As long as his hopes and dreams extend!

مواردٌ هذه الحياةُ وما

مواردٌ هذه الحياةُ وما

نصدُرُ عنها إلاّ بنا غُلَلُ

نصدُرُ عنها إلاّ بنا غُلَلُ

This life consists of watering places, and we do not

These are the watering places of life, and we

leave them except with thirst still within us.

Depart from them burdened only with shackles.

نكرَعُ في حَوضها ونحن كما

نكرَعُ في حَوضها ونحن كما

تُذاد من بَعد خمسها الإبلُ

تُذاد من بَعد خمسها الإبلُ

We drink from its pool, yet we are like

We kneel to drink from its basin, and we are like

camels driven away after their five-day watering interval.

Camels driven away after being let loose to graze.

كأسٌ أدرَّت على لذاذتها

كأسٌ أدرَّت على لذاذتها

عُدّل فيها الزُّعافُ والعسلُ

عُدّل فيها الزُّعافُ والعسلُ

A cup that pours freely, for all its sweetness:

A cup that has poured out its pleasures,

deadly poison and honey are balanced equally within it.

In which pure wine and honey mix.

كلٌّ إلى غايةٍ يصير ولا

كلٌّ إلى غايةٍ يصير ولا

تمييزَ إلا الإسراعُ والمَهَلُ

تمييزَ إلا الإسراعُ والمَهَلُ

Everyone comes to an end, and there is no

Each person ends up somewhere, the only difference

distinction except haste and delay.

Is in speed and delays along the way.

والناسُ ركبٌ يَهووْن حثَّهمُ

والناسُ ركبٌ يَهووْن حثَّهمُ

ولا يُسَرُّون أنّهم نزلوا

ولا يُسَرُّون أنّهم نزلوا

People are a caravan who love being urged onward,

People are riders urged onward,

yet are not glad when they have dismounted.

Not happy until they have dismounted.

وسوفَ تُطوَى مسافةٌ ذَمَلتْ

وسوفَ تُطوَى مسافةٌ ذَمَلتْ

بقاطعيها ركائبٌ ذُلُلُ

بقاطعيها ركائبٌ ذُلُلُ

And soon a distance will be folded away, along which have trotted

A journey will be completed, though long,

docile mounts bearing those who traverse it.

By riders made weary and miserable.

كيف يَعُدُّ الدنيا له وطنا

كيف يَعُدُّ الدنيا له وطنا

من هو ينأَى عنها وينتقلُ

من هو ينأَى عنها وينتقلُ

How can he regard this world as his homeland,

How can one count the world his homeland

who draws away from it and departs?

When he shuns it and departs?

نسْخوا بأعمارنا ونبخل بال

نسْخوا بأعمارنا ونبخل بال

مال فتَبَّ السخاءُ والبَخَلُ

مال فتَبَّ السخاءُ والبَخَلُ

We are lavish with our lives, yet miserly with

We copied our lifetimes and were stingy with

wealth—perish both generosity and stinginess!

Wealth, so generosity and stinginess were confused.

ونبتغى البرءَ من يُسرع السُّ

ونبتغى البرءَ من يُسرع السُّ

قمُ إليه وتَصرعَ العِللُ

قمُ إليه وتَصرعَ العِللُ

We seek healing from one toward whom

We seek exoneration from one who quickly

sickness hastens, and whom ailments strike down.

Answers us, and illness is vanquished.

أضاع راقي الداءِ العضالِ كما

أضاع راقي الداءِ العضالِ كما

ضُيِّع في سمعِ عاشقٍ عذَلُ

ضُيِّع في سمعِ عاشقٍ عذَلُ

The incantation-healer of incurable disease wastes his efforts,

But he who carried the grievous, indelible illness lost it

as reproach is wasted on a lover's ear.

Just as a lover's scolding is lost on the lovesick fool.

ولو نجا الهائبُ الجبانُ من ال

ولو نجا الهائبُ الجبانُ من ال

حتف تحامىَ إقدامَه البطلُ

حتف تحامىَ إقدامَه البطلُ

And if the fearful coward could escape

If the coward flees his death,

death, the hero would shun his daring.

The brave man still meets his appointed time.

ما أسلموا هذه النفوسَ إلى ال

ما أسلموا هذه النفوسَ إلى ال

أجداث إلا إذ ضاقت الحيلُ

أجداث إلا إذ ضاقت الحيلُ

They did not surrender these souls to the

Only when free will fails

graves until all stratagems failed.

Are souls surrendered to predestined fates.

ضرورةٌ ذلَّت القُرومُ لها

ضرورةٌ ذلَّت القُرومُ لها

وقد تقودُ المَصاعبَ الجُدُلُ

وقد تقودُ المَصاعبَ الجُدُلُ

An inevitability before which mighty chiefs have bowed;

Necessity has humbled the dejected,

and braided ropes can lead even unruly camels.

And dialogue may lead to the unsolvable.

وخفَّف الخطبَ بعد شدّته

وخفَّف الخطبَ بعد شدّته

أَنْ كُلُّ حىّ لأمِّه الهَبَلُ

أَنْ كُلُّ حىّ لأمِّه الهَبَلُ

What lightened the calamity after its severity

Hardship was eased after becoming severe,

was that every living being's mother faces bereavement.

For each living thing is confused for its mother.

ومن حِذارٍ تبوّأَ الكُديْةَ الض

ومن حِذارٍ تبوّأَ الكُديْةَ الض

بُّ وأوفىَ في الشاهقِ الوَعِلُ

بُّ وأوفىَ في الشاهقِ الوَعِلُ

And from fear, the rocky knoll became home to the

And he who attained lofty glory avoided

lizard, and the ibex climbed the towering height.

Lowlands, while the high peaks submitted.

لا الجوّ يُنجِى الشغواءَ حائمةً

لا الجوّ يُنجِى الشغواءَ حائمةً

ولا سبوحٌ في لُجّةٍ يئلُ

ولا سبوحٌ في لُجّةٍ يئلُ

The sky cannot save the circling, hooked-beaked eagle,

Not even open air relieves the wandering madman,

nor can a strong swimmer find refuge in the deep.

Nor does swimming in deep water save a drowning man.

يُقتادُ في عزِّه الخُبَعْثِنةُ الض

يُقتادُ في عزِّه الخُبَعْثِنةُ الض

ارِى ويُدهَى في ذلّه الجُعَلُ

ارِى ويُدهَى في ذلّه الجُعَلُ

Led away in all its might is the lion, the

The wretched lizard is led in its glory

predator; and the dung beetle is stricken in its lowliness.

And the colt is tamed in its humiliation.

والحافظو عَورِة العشيرةِ للدّ

والحافظو عَورِة العشيرةِ للدّ

هر إذا شنَّ غارةً عُزُلُ

هر إذا شنَّ غارةً عُزُلُ

And the defenders of the clan's vulnerable flank, against

Those who guard the family's dignity are,

Time when it launches a raid, are unarmed.

When fate attacks, secluded.

أيّ ديارٍ تُحمَى وقد راع تا

أيّ ديارٍ تُحمَى وقد راع تا

جَ الدِّين خطبٌ أنيابهُ عُصُلُ

جَ الدِّين خطبٌ أنيابهُ عُصُلُ

What dwelling can be defended, when Taj

What home is protected when the robes

al-Din has been terrified by a calamity with crooked fangs,

Of religion are torn by the fangs of a predator?

مستلِبا من يديه لؤلؤةَ ال

مستلِبا من يديه لؤلؤةَ ال

غوّاصِ أدنَى أصدافِها الكِلَلُ

غوّاصِ أدنَى أصدافِها الكِلَلُ

snatching from his hands the pearl of the

Snatching the pearl from the diver's hand,

diver, whose humblest shells are curtained canopies?

The oysters' shells are split open.

ما كان يُدرَى من قبلِ ما غرَبتْ

ما كان يُدرَى من قبلِ ما غرَبتْ

أنَّ الثريّا إلى الثرى تصِلُ

أنَّ الثريّا إلى الثرى تصِلُ

Before she set, it had not been known

We did not know before the sun set

that the Pleiades could reach the dust.

That the affluent would return to dirt.

يا بؤس للنائبات كيفَ أرت

يا بؤس للنائبات كيفَ أرت

أُخوّة الفرقديْنِ تنفصلُ

أُخوّة الفرقديْنِ تنفصلُ

Woe to calamities! How they have shown

Oh what misery for the disasters! How

the kinship of the two Farqad stars breaking apart!

The Pleiades' companions are separated!

وإن عجِبنا منها فلا عجبٌ

وإن عجِبنا منها فلا عجبٌ

للشمسِ وارَى جبينَها الطَّفَلُ

للشمسِ وارَى جبينَها الطَّفَلُ

And if we marvel at it, there is nothing strange

If it astonishes us, no surprise—

in dusk veiling the brow of the sun.

The scab appears on the infant's forehead.

لم يرتد المجدُ إذ أصيبَ بها

لم يرتد المجدُ إذ أصيبَ بها

ولا مشى العزُّ وهو منتعلُ

ولا مشى العزُّ وهو منتعلُ

Glory wore no cloak when stricken by her loss,

Glory did not recoil when it was hit by this,

nor did honor walk with shoes on.

Nor did honor retreat though it stumbled.

سليلَةٌ من سوابق دَرَجوا

سليلَةٌ من سوابق دَرَجوا

أمامَها فاستخفَّها العجَلُ

أمامَها فاستخفَّها العجَلُ

A descendant of forerunners who passed away

A product of preceding nobility

before her, so haste swept her along,

Who walked ahead while the hasty belittled it.

من الخدورِ التي بها احتجبوا

من الخدورِ التي بها احتجبوا

إلى القبور التي بها نزلوا

إلى القبور التي بها نزلوا

from the curtained chambers where they secluded themselves

From the rooms in which they secluded themselves

to the graves where they came to dwell.

To the graves in which they settled.

تُنحرُ في مكّة العِشارُ ولا

تُنحرُ في مكّة العِشارُ ولا

تُنحرُ إلا عليهم المُقَلُ

تُنحرُ إلا عليهم المُقَلُ

In Mecca the pregnant she-camels are slaughtered, but

In Mecca the sacrificial camels are slaughtered,

eyes are slaughtered only in mourning for them.

But only the worn are slaughtered because of them.

مهلا فما يربح الحزينُ ولا

مهلا فما يربح الحزينُ ولا

يخشرُ إلا غناءَه الجَذِلُ

يخشرُ إلا غناءَه الجَذِلُ

Gently: the grieving one gains nothing, nor

Gently! The grieving profits nothing,

does the joyful one lose anything but his song.

Nor does the desolate gain but by his own singing.

وهل يُردُّ الأحبابَ إن رحلوا

وهل يُردُّ الأحبابَ إن رحلوا

على محبٍّ أن يُندَب الطَلُل

على محبٍّ أن يُندَب الطَلُل

Can loved ones, once they have departed, be brought back

Can loved ones be brought back if they leave,

to a lover by mourning the deserted campsite?

By a lover who is censured for yearning?

حُوشيتَ من جلسةِ العزاءِ وأن

حُوشيتَ من جلسةِ العزاءِ وأن

يُضربَ في أسوةٍ لك المثلُ

يُضربَ في أسوةٍ لك المثلُ

May you be spared the condolence gathering, and

You were forbidden from the condolence gathering and told:

having your case cited as an example to console others.

"He is made an example for you."

كم قد هَوَى من سمائكم قمرٌ

كم قد هَوَى من سمائكم قمرٌ

وغار في الأرضِ منكُمُ جبلُ

وغار في الأرضِ منكُمُ جبلُ

How many a moon has fallen from your sky,

How many moons have set from your sky

and how many a mountain of yours has sunk into the earth!

And how many mountains sunk into your earth?

فما سكبتم له ذنَوبا من الد

فما سكبتم له ذنَوبا من الد

مع ونارُ الأحزان تشتعلُ

مع ونارُ الأحزان تشتعلُ

Yet for him you poured no bucketful of

Yet you shed no remorseful tears,

tears, while the fire of sorrows blazed.

Though the fires of sorrow blaze.

ودّعتُموه كأنكم شُمُتُ

ودّعتُموه كأنكم شُمُتُ

أو العِدَى عنكُمُ قد ارتحلوا

أو العِدَى عنكُمُ قد ارتحلوا

You bade him farewell as though you were gloating,

You bade them farewell as if you perceived

or as though your enemies had departed from you.

That they had recovered and departed from you.

إذا مَراثى أحبابكم تُليتْ

إذا مَراثى أحبابكم تُليتْ

سمعتموها كأنها غَزلُ

سمعتموها كأنها غَزلُ

When elegies for your loved ones are recited,

When elegies for your loved ones are recited

you hear them as though they were love poetry.

You listen as if hearing love poems.

فليس ندرِى من صخرةٍ نُحتتْ

فليس ندرِى من صخرةٍ نُحتتْ

قلوبُكم أم دموعُكم وَشَلُ

قلوبُكم أم دموعُكم وَشَلُ

So we cannot tell whether from a rock were carved

We do not know if your hearts are carved

your hearts, or whether your tears are only a trickle.

From rock or shaped by your tears and sorrows!

وأنتمُ هَجْمَة تقاربتِ ال

وأنتمُ هَجْمَة تقاربتِ ال

أسنانُ فيها فكلُّها بُزُلُ

أسنانُ فيها فكلُّها بُزُلُ

And you are a great herd, close together in

You are a band brought close together,

age, all of them full-grown camels.

All grinding teeth, but with loosened bonds.

فظاعنٌ عنكُمُ له خَلَفٌ

فظاعنٌ عنكُمُ له خَلَفٌ

وذاهبٌ منكُمُ له بدلُ

وذاهبٌ منكُمُ له بدلُ

Thus whoever departs from you has a successor,

One who turns from you will have a successor,

and whoever goes from among you has a replacement.

And one who leaves you will have a replacement.

للدهر نُعمى ومنَّةٌ ويدٌ

للدهر نُعمى ومنَّةٌ ويدٌ

ما قام في الناس منْكُمُ رجلُ

ما قام في الناس منْكُمُ رجلُ

Time grants blessing, favor, and a helping hand,

Time is blind but has blessing and hand

so long as a man of yours stands among the people.

Outstretched, which no man among you became.