أَيَداًa hand? تَفيضُoverflows وَخاطِراًand a mind مُتَوَقِّداablaze
أَيَداً تَفيضُ وَخاطِراً مُتَوَقِّدا
دَعهاleave it تَبِتspend the night قَبَساًa firebrand عَلىupon عَلَمِthe mountain of النَدىgenerosity
دَعها تَبِت قَبَساً عَلى عَلَمِ النَدى
A hand that overflows, and a mind ablaze?
Hands overflowing and a blazing conscience,
Leave it to spend the night as a firebrand on generosity's mountain.
Let it spend the night kindling a torch on the flag of dew.
نِعمَexcellent is اليَدُthe hand البَيضاءُwhite آنَسَglimpsed طارِقٌa night traveler
نِعمَ اليَدُ البَيضاءُ آنَسَ طارِقٌ
نارَthe fire of الذَكاءِintelligence عَلىupon مَكارِمِهاits noble deeds هُدىguidance
نارَ الذَكاءِ عَلى مَكارِمِها هُدى
How excellent the white hand! A night traveler has glimpsed
How good is the white hand that brings Tariq comfort,
the fire of brilliance upon its noble deeds, a guide.
The fire of intelligence guiding its virtues.
نعماءُa bounty أَعيانيwearied me اِلتِماسُseeking مَكانِهاits whereabouts
نعماءُ أَعياني اِلتِماسُ مَكانِها
لَوif only قَدalready وجَدتُI had found لَهاfor it وَلِيّاًa guardian مُرشِداguiding
لَو قَد وجَدتُ لَها وَلِيّاً مُرشِدا
A bounty—the search for its whereabouts has wearied me;
The most precious of my wishes is to find its place,
if only I had found a guardian to guide me to it!
If only I could find a guide and patron for it.
وَيَقولُand say قَومٌsome people آيَةٌa sign قُدسِيَّةٌsacred
وَيَقولُ قَومٌ آيَةٌ قُدسِيَّةٌ
وَأَظُنُّهاand I think it لِلقائِدِof the commander الأَعلىsupreme يَداa hand
وَأَظُنُّها لِلقائِدِ الأَعلى يَدا
And some say, 'A sacred sign';
And some people say it is a sacred sign,
and I believe it to be the supreme commander's hand.
And I think it is for the supreme leader a hand.
رَجُلُthe man of الزَمانِthe age حَزامَةًin prudence وَشَهامَةًand gallantry
رَجُلُ الزَمانِ حَزامَةً وَشَهامَةً
وَسَرِيُّهُand its noble lord حَسَباًin family honor أَغَرَّillustrious وَمَحتِداand lineage
وَسَرِيُّهُ حَسَباً أَغَرَّ وَمَحتِدا
The man of the age in prudence and gallantry,
The man of the time, spirited and intrepid,
and its noble lord in illustrious family honor and lineage.
His elite lineage more honorable and resolute.
شَهمٌgallant عَلىabove رَأسِthe summit of الدَهاءِshrewdness مُحَلِّقٌsoaring
شَهمٌ عَلى رَأسِ الدَهاءِ مُحَلِّقٌ
لَوif شاءَhe wished أَفرَدَwould separate مِنfrom أَخيهِits brother الفَرقَداFarqad
لَو شاءَ أَفرَدَ مِن أَخيهِ الفَرقَدا
A gallant man soaring above the summit of shrewdness—
A bold spirit hovering over the summit of brilliance,
if he wished, he could part Farqad from its brother.
If he wished, he could single out even the fluttering moth.
يَستَهدِفُtakes aim at المُستَقبَلاتِfuture events بِظَنِّهِwith his conjecture
يَستَهدِفُ المُستَقبَلاتِ بِظَنِّهِ
فَيَكادُso he nearly يُصميkills outright اليَومَtoday ماwhat يَرميhe shoots at غَداtomorrow
فَيَكادُ يُصمي اليَومَ ما يَرمي غَدا
He takes aim at future events with his intuition,
He targets the future with his insight,
so he nearly kills outright today what he will shoot at tomorrow.
He almost makes the present hit whatever he aims for tomorrow.
وَيُسابِقُand races الرَأيَjudgment المُصيبَunerring بِعَزمِهِwith his resolve
وَيُسابِقُ الرَأيَ المُصيبَ بِعَزمِهِ
كَالسَهمِlike an arrow لاnot كَسِلاًsluggish وَلاand not مُتَبَلِّداdull-witted
كَالسَهمِ لا كَسِلاً وَلا مُتَبَلِّدا
And with his resolve he races unerring judgment,
And he races ahead of sound opinion with his resolve,
like an arrow, neither sluggish nor dull-witted.
Like an arrow, neither sluggish nor procrastinating.
حَزمٌresolve يُريكَshows you المَشرَفِيَّthe Mashrafi sword مُصَمِّماًcutting through
حَزمٌ يُريكَ المَشرَفِيَّ مُصَمِّماً
فيin كَفِّهِhis palm وَالسَمهَرِيَّand the Samhari spear مُسَدَّداaimed true
في كَفِّهِ وَالسَمهَرِيَّ مُسَدَّدا
A man of resolve, he shows you the Mashrafi sword cleaving
Resolute, showing you the ambitious one determined,
in his palm, and the Samhari spear aimed true.
In his grip, and the watchful one steadfast.
وَتَكادُand nearly تَحميهِshields him نَفاسَةُthe preciousness of قَدرِهِhis worth
وَتَكادُ تَحميهِ نَفاسَةُ قَدرِهِ
وَاليَأسُand despair مِنof إِدراكِهِmatching him أَنthat يُحسَداhe be envied
وَاليَأسُ مِن إِدراكِهِ أَن يُحسَدا
And his rare worth almost shields him—
And the refinement of his worth almost protects him,
and despair of matching him—from being envied.
And despair of reaching him, lest he be envied.
وَإِذاand when ذَكَرتَyou mention قَبيلَهُhis tribe عَنساًʿAns فَخُذthen take
وَإِذا ذَكَرتَ قَبيلَهُ عَنساً فَخُذ
ماwhat شِئتَyou wish مِنof شَرَفٍhonor وَعِزٍّand might سَرمَداforever
ما شِئتَ مِن شَرَفٍ وَعِزٍّ سَرمَدا
And when you name his tribe, ʿAns, take
And if you mention his Ansar tribe, then take
what you will of honor and might, forever.
Whatever you wish of honor and eternal glory.
ماتَdied الجُدودُthe forefathers الأَقدَمونَancient وَغادَرواand left
ماتَ الجُدودُ الأَقدَمونَ وَغادَروا
إِرثَa legacy of السَناءِsplendor عَلىupon البَنينَthe sons مُؤَبَّداeverlasting
إِرثَ السَناءِ عَلى البَنينَ مُؤَبَّدا
The ancient forefathers died and left
The oldest ancestors passed away and left
an everlasting legacy of splendor to their sons.
The inheritance of glory upon their descendants forever.
وَكَفاكَand suffices you مِنهُof it اليَومَtoday أَيُّany بَقِيَّةٍremnant
وَكَفاكَ مِنهُ اليَومَ أَيُّ بَقِيَّةٍ
كَرُمواthey were noble لَهاfor it أَصلاًin stock وَطابواand were goodly مَولِداin birth
كَرُموا لَها أَصلاً وَطابوا مَولِدا
And any remnant of it today is enough for you—
And suffice it for you today whatever remnant
its forebears were noble in stock and goodly in birth.
They honored its origin and had a good birth.
إِنَّindeed الكِرامَthe noble ones بَنيthe sons of سَعيدٍSaʿid كُلَّماwhenever
إِنَّ الكِرامَ بَني سَعيدٍ كُلَّما
وَرِثواthey inherited النَدىgenerosity وَالمَجدَand glory أَوحَدَa peerless man أَوحَداa peerless man
وَرِثوا النَدى وَالمَجدَ أَوحَدَ أَوحَدا
Indeed, the noble sons of Saʿid, whenever
Verily, the Bani Sa’id’s noblemen, whenever
they inherited bounty and glory, one peerless man after another,
They inherited softness and glory, became one, one.
قَسَمواthey divided المَعالِيَhigh honors بِالسَواءِequally وَفَضَّلواand favored
قَسَموا المَعالِيَ بِالسَواءِ وَفَضَّلوا
فيهاin them عِمادَهُمُtheir pillar الكَبيرَgreat مُحَمَّداMuhammad
فيها عِمادَهُمُ الكَبيرَ مُحَمَّدا
shared lofty honors equally, and gave preference
They divided the high virtues equally and preferred among them
in them to their great pillar, Muhammad.
Their pillar, the great Muhammed.
ياO واحِدَpeerless one of الدُنياthe world وَسَوفَand shall أُعيدُهاI repeat it
يا واحِدَ الدُنيا وَسَوفَ أُعيدُها
مَثنىtwice وَإِنand though أَغنىwould suffice نِداؤُكَcalling you موحَداonce
مَثنى وَإِن أَغنى نِداؤُكَ موحَدا
O peerless one of the world! I shall repeat it
O unique one of the world, and I will repeat it
twice, though calling you once would suffice.
Twice over, even if your singular call suffices.
أَمّاnow وَقَدand already طُفناwe have roamed البِلادَthe lands فَلَمand did not نَجِدfind
أَمّا وَقَد طُفنا البِلادَ فَلَم نَجِد
لَكَto you ثانِياًa second فَكُنِthen be الكَريمَthe generous one الأَوحَداpeerless
لَكَ ثانِياً فَكُنِ الكَريمَ الأَوحَدا
Now that we have roamed the lands and have not found
As we have toured the countries, we have not found
a second to you, be the peerless man of bounty.
A second to you, so be the singular noble one.
مَهِّدmake ready لَناfor us فَوقَabove السُهىSuha نَحطُطwe may set down بِهِupon it
مَهِّد لَنا فَوقَ السُهى نَحطُط بِهِ
رِجلَthe foot of المخيّمthe camper لاnot بَرِحتَyou cease مُمَهِّداmaking ready
رِجلَ المخيّم لا بَرِحتَ مُمَهِّدا
Make ready for us above Suha a place where we may set down
Prepare for us above the plateau, we descend on it,
the camper's foot; may you never cease making ready.
The foot of the tent that you have not ceased furnishing.
وَاِصرِفand turn لَناto us وَجهَthe face of القَبولِwelcome فَإِنَّماfor it is only
وَاِصرِف لَنا وَجهَ القَبولِ فَإِنَّما
وَصَلَتreached إِلَيكَto you بِناwith us الأَمانيthe hopes وُفَّداas envoys
وَصَلَت إِلَيكَ بِنا الأَماني وُفَّدا
And turn toward us the face of welcome, for it is only
And turn to us the face of acceptance, for only
our hopes that have brought us to you as envoys.
Our wishes have reached you compacted.
نَبغيwe seek لِقاءَكَmeeting you وَهوَand it is أَكرَمُthe noblest حاجَةٍneed
نَبغي لِقاءَكَ وَهوَ أَكرَمُ حاجَةٍ
نَهَبَتplundered لَهاfor it الخَيلُthe steeds السُهىSuha وَالفَرقَداand Farqad
نَهَبَت لَها الخَيلُ السُهى وَالفَرقَدا
We seek to meet you, and that is the noblest quest
We desire to meet you, and it is the most honorable need,
for which the steeds have plundered Suha and Farqad.
For which the horses and the mares raided the plateau.
وَلِذاكَand for that خُضتُI plunged through اللَيلَthe night فَوقَupon مُكَرَّمٍa noble steed
وَلِذاكَ خُضتُ اللَيلَ فَوقَ مُكَرَّمٍ
لَمdid not أَعدُI go beyond بيwith me وَبِهِand with it العُلاeminence وَالسُؤدَداand lordship
لَم أَعدُ بي وَبِهِ العُلا وَالسُؤدَدا
And for that I plunged through the night on a noble steed,
And for that I crossed the night on a generous one,
never taking myself or it outside loftiness and lordship.
I did not count myself and it among the towering and the subjugated.
يَدريknows الأَغَرُّthe white-blazed steed إِذاwhen خَفَضتُI lower عَنانَهُits reins
يَدري الأَغَرُّ إِذا خَفَضتُ عَنانَهُ
أَنّيthat I سَأُبلِغُهُI shall bring it مِنَof الشَرَفِhonor المَدىthe utmost reach
أَنّي سَأُبلِغُهُ مِنَ الشَرَفِ المَدى
The white-blazed steed knows, when I lower its reins,
The proud one knows when I lower his reigns,
that I shall bring it to honor's furthest bounds.
That I will take him to the highest honor.
وَإِلىand toward النُجومِthe stars الزُهرِshining يَرفَعُraises طَرفَهُhis gaze
وَإِلى النُجومِ الزُهرِ يَرفَعُ طَرفَهُ
مَنwhoever لَمhas not يُحاوِلsought غَيرَother than دارِكَyour dwelling مَقصِداa destination
مَن لَم يُحاوِل غَيرَ دارِكَ مَقصِدا
And he raises his gaze toward the shining stars—
And to the stars, the flowers, he lifts his gaze,
whoever has sought no destination but your dwelling.
Whoever’s goal was none other than your abode.
عَجَبيmy wonder وَلكِنbut مِنat سَفاهَةِthe folly of راحِلٍa departing traveler
عَجَبي وَلكِن مِن سَفاهَةِ راحِلٍ
رامَsought الرَشادَright guidance فَراحَthen departed at evening عَنكَfrom you أَوِor اِغتَدىset out in the morning
رامَ الرَشادَ فَراحَ عَنكَ أَوِ اِغتَدى
But my wonder is at the folly of a departing traveler
My wonder! But from the foolishness of a rider,
who sought right guidance, then left you at evening or morning.
Who intended to be guided but went astray from you.
رَكِبَrode into الهَجيرَةَthe midday heat وَالسَرابُand the mirage أَمامَهُahead of him
رَكِبَ الهَجيرَةَ وَالسَرابُ أَمامَهُ
وَنَأىand grew distant الغَديرُthe pool لَهُfor him فَماتَso he died مِنَfrom الصَدىthirst
وَنَأى الغَديرُ لَهُ فَماتَ مِنَ الصَدى
He rode into the midday heat, with the mirage ahead of him,
He rode a mirage while the illusion was before him,
and the pool grew distant from him, so he died of thirst.
And the pond was far from him, so he died of thirst.
وَعَلىand on مَنِwhom اِعتَمَدَتrelied سِواكَbesides you طُنونُهُhis conjectures
وَعَلى مَنِ اِعتَمَدَت سِواكَ طُنونُهُ
فيamong الناسِmankind كُلُّهُمُall of them لِخِنصَرِكَfor your little finger الفِداransom
في الناسِ كُلُّهُمُ لِخِنصَرِكَ الفِدا
And on whom besides you did his conjectures rely
And whoever relied on other than you, all people
among mankind? All are ransom for your little finger.
Are devoted to your sacrifice.
الناسُmankind أَنتَyou وَسِرُّand the secret of ذَلِكَthat أَنَّهُthat the fact is
الناسُ أَنتَ وَسِرُّ ذَلِكَ أَنَّهُ
أَصبَحتَyou have become فيهِمamong them بِالعُلاin eminence مُتَفَرِّداpeerless
أَصبَحتَ فيهِم بِالعُلا مُتَفَرِّدا
You are mankind, and the secret of this is that
People are you, and the secret of that
you have become peerless among them in greatness.
Is that you have become singularly supreme among them.
شِيَمٌvirtues تفُوقُsurpass شَذاthe fragrance of المَديحِpraise وَإِنand even if غَداit becomes
شِيَمٌ تفُوقُ شَذا المَديحِ وَإِن غَدا
مِسكاًmusk بِأَقطارِthrough the regions of البِلادِthe lands مُبَدَّداscattered
مِسكاً بِأَقطارِ البِلادِ مُبَدَّدا
Virtues surpassing the fragrance of praise, even should it become
Character that surpasses the best praise, and if
musk scattered through the quarters of the lands.
It becomes spread out in the regions of the countries.
وَجَميلُand a fair ذِكرٍreputation قَدindeed تَضاعَفhas multiplied ذِكرُهُits mention
وَجَميلُ ذِكرٍ قَد تَضاعَف ذِكرُهُ
مِمّاamong what يُعادُis repeated بِهِwith it الحَديثُconversation وَيُبتَداand is begun
مِمّا يُعادُ بِهِ الحَديثُ وَيُبتَدا
And a fair reputation, whose mention has multiplied,
And a beautiful mention, his mention has multiplied
a theme with which conversation is renewed and begun.
From what is reiterated in speech and initiated.
سَهلُeasy الوُلوجِentry عَلىinto الفُؤادِthe heart كَأَنَّهُas though it were
سَهلُ الوُلوجِ عَلى الفُؤادِ كَأَنَّهُ
نَفَسٌa breath يَمُرُّpasses عَلىover اللِسانِthe tongue مُرَدَّداrepeated
نَفَسٌ يَمُرُّ عَلى اللِسانِ مُرَدَّدا
It enters the heart with ease, as though it were
Easy access into hearts, as if it
a breath passing over the tongue again and again.
Were a breath flowing repeated on the tongue.
فَإِلَيكَso to you شُكريmy thanks تُحفَةًa gift مِنfrom قادِمٍa visitor
فَإِلَيكَ شُكري تُحفَةً مِن قادِمٍ
مَغناكَyour dwelling زارَhe visited وَمِنand from نَداكَyour bounty تَزَوَّداhe took provisions
مَغناكَ زارَ وَمِن نَداكَ تَزَوَّدا
To you, then, my thanks—a gift from a visitor
So to you is my gratitude, a gift from a newcomer
who visited your dwelling and took provisions from your bounty.
Whose praise has enriched you, and from your bounty taken provision.
وَعَلَيَّand upon me تَوفيةُrendering in full الثَناءِpraise مُخَلَّداًmade everlasting
وَعَلَيَّ تَوفيةُ الثَناءِ مُخَلَّداً
إِنif كانَwere يُقنِعُكَto satisfy you الثَناءُpraise مُخَلَّداmade everlasting
إِن كانَ يُقنِعُكَ الثَناءُ مُخَلَّدا
And I owe you praise in full, made everlasting,
And upon me is the obligation of immortal praise,
if praise made everlasting can satisfy you.
If immortal praise satisfies you.
Sol 6.1