Claude 2

  1. أكانوا كُلُّهُم دَاءً عَيَاءَ

    فما يَجِدُ الأُساةُ لهم دَواءَ

    Were they all sick, proud,

    so the grieved find no cure for them?

  2. ألاَ إنّ النَّطَاسِيَّ المرجَّى

    أتى يَلقى الأُلى انتظروا اللِّقاءَ

    Lo! The awaited savior has come

    to meet the kinsfolk; await the meeting!

  3. أتى بالحكمةِ الكُبرى رسولاً

    فكانَ لِعلّةِ الدُّنيا شِفَاءَ

    The messenger came with the great wisdom

    and so became the remedy for the woes of this world.

  4. أَتَطمعُ زَينبٌ بذراعِ شاةٍ

    يُسمَّمُ أن يُضَرَّ وأن يُساءَ

    Does Zainab hope for the arm of a lamb

    that refuses to be harmed or mistreated?

  5. أبى المَلِكُ المُهيمِنُ ما أرادتْ

    فَخَيَّبَها وكان لهُ وَقَاءَ

    The Sovereign King denied what she wanted,

    so He disappointed her and protected him.

  6. أتَتْ تمشِي بها وتقولُ هذا

    طعامُكَ فَارْضَهُ وانعمْ مَساءَ

    She came walking with it saying: “This

    is your food, so accept it and have a good evening!”

  7. فقال لصحبِهِ رِزقٌ أتانا

    فباسمِ الله لا نُحْصِي ثَنَاءَ

    So he said to his companions: “A provision has come to us,

    so in God’s name, we cannot count His praises enough.”

  8. فَلَّما ذَاقَها قال اتركوها

    فإنّ اللهَ قد كَشَفَ الغِطاءَ

    But when he tasted it, he said: “Leave it,

    for God has uncovered the veil.”

  9. طَعَامُ السُّوءِ مَسْمُومٌ وهذا

    أخِي جبريلُ بالأنباءِ جَاءَ

    “Evil food is poisoned, and this

    is my brother Gabriel who brought the news.”

  10. فَكَفُّوا غَيْرَ بَادِرَةِ لِبِشْرٍ

    مَضَتْ قَدَراً لِرَبِّكَ أو قَضاءَ

    So they abstained save for one bite

    that was destined by your Lord or ordained.

  11. فَيَا لكِ طَعنَةً لم تُبْقِ منه

    لِحاجَةِ نَفْسِهِ إلا ذماءَ

    What a stab that did not leave him

    anything he needed except his blood!

  12. إذا رامَ التَّحَوُّلَ أمسكته

    ولو قَدرتْ مَفاصِلُهُ لَناءَ

    When he wished to move, she held him back,

    and had his joints been able to bend, they would have.

  13. قَضَاها حِجَّةً من ذاقَ فيها

    مَرَارَةَ عَيشِهِ كَرِهَ البقاءَ

    His decree fulfilled the proof for whoever tastes

    the bitterness of life in it loathes remaining.

  14. وحُمَّ قَضَاؤُهُ فَمَضَى رَضِيَّاً

    يُبَوَّأُ جَنَّةَ المأوى جَزاءَ

    And His decree was carried out, so he passed away content,

    to be granted the paradise of the retreat as reward.

  15. وقال مُحَمَّدٌ يا آلَ بِشرٍ

    كَفَى بِدَمِ التي قُتِلَتْ عَزَاءَ

    And Muhammad said: “O people of the house,

    her blood that was shed is sufficient as consolation.”

  16. فلاقَت زَينبٌ قتلاً بقتلٍ

    وما كانت لصاحبهم كِفَاءَ

    So Zainab met murder with murder,

    for she was not equal to their companion.

  17. أمَنْ حَمَلَ الخِمَارَ من الغواني

    كمن حَمَلَ العِمامَةَ واللِّواءَ

    Is one who carried the wine jug like one

    who carried the turban and the banner?

  18. كَذلِكَ حُكمُ ربِّكَ في كتاب

    أقَامَ السُّبْلَ بَيِّنَةً وِضَاءَ

    Such is your Lord’s judgment in the Book;

    He established the ways radiant and bright.

  19. هُوَ القِسْطَاسُ أُنزلَ مُسْتَقيماً

    لِمن يَزِنُ النُّفوسَ أو الدِّماءَ

    It is the balance, sent down even,

    for the one who weighs souls and blood.

  20. أتى يحمي الحُقُوقَ ويقتضيها

    فلا جَنَفاً يُريدُ ولا عَدَاءَ

    He came to protect rights and carry them out,

    so He intends no aggression or hostility.

  21. بِناءُ العدلِ ليس به خَفاءٌ

    فَسُبحانَ الذي رَفَعَ البِناءَ

    The building of justice has no obscurity,

    so glory to Him who raised up the building!

  22. ألا خَسِرَ اليهودُ ولا أصابوا

    طِوالَ الدَّهرِ خَيراً أو نَماءَ

    Alas, the Jews have lost and gained

    no good or growth throughout the ages.

  23. كَأنَّ الغدرَ عِندَ القومِ دِينٌ

    فَما يَدَعُ الرجالَ ولا النساءَ

    It is as if betrayal is a religion among the people,

    so it leaves neither men nor women.