كَفىit suffices البَدرَthe full moon حُسناًin beauty أَنthat يُقالَbe called نَظيرُهاher equal
كَفى البَدرَ حُسناً أَن يُقالَ نَظيرُها
فَيُزهىso it grows proud وَلَكِنّاbut we بِذاكَby that نَضيرُهاwrong her
فَيُزهى وَلَكِنّا بِذاكَ نَضيرُها
It is beauty enough for the full moon to be called her equal:
it grows proud, yet by that comparison we wrong her.
وَحَسبُand it suffices غُصونِthe branches of البانِthe ban-tree أَنَّthat قَوامَهاher stature
وَحَسبُ غُصونِ البانِ أَنَّ قَوامَها
يُقاسُis measured بِهِagainst it مَيّادُهاtheir swaying ones وَنَضيرُهاand their fresh ones
يُقاسُ بِهِ مَيّادُها وَنَضيرُها
It suffices the branches of the ban-tree that her stature
is the measure of their swaying and freshness.
أَسيرَةُa captive of حِجلٍan anklet مُطلَقاتٌunbound لِحاظُهاher glances
أَسيرَةُ حِجلٍ مُطلَقاتٌ لِحاظُها
قَضىdecreed حُسنُهاher beauty أَنthat لاnot يُفَكَّbe released أَسيرُهاher captive
قَضى حُسنُها أَن لا يُفَكَّ أَسيرُها
A captive of an anklet, her glances roam free;
her beauty decreed that her captive never be released.
تَهيمُpine بِهاfor her العُشّاقُthe lovers خَلفَbehind حِجابِهاher veil
تَهيمُ بِها العُشّاقُ خَلفَ حِجابِها
فَكَيفَhow then إِذاwhen ماever آنَcomes the time مِنهاfrom her سُفورُهاher unveiling
فَكَيفَ إِذا ما آنَ مِنها سُفورُها
Lovers pine for her behind her veil;
how, then, when the time comes for her unveiling?
وَلَيسَand it is not عَجيباًstrange أَنthat غُرِرتُI was deceived بِنَظرَةٍby a glance
وَلَيسَ عَجيباً أَن غُرِرتُ بِنَظرَةٍ
إِلَيهاtoward her فَمِنfor among شَأنِthe ways of البُدورِfull moons غُرورُهاtheir deception
إِلَيها فَمِن شَأنِ البُدورِ غُرورُها
It is no wonder that a glance deceived me
toward her: deception belongs to the nature of full moons.
وَكَمand how many نَظرَةٍa glance قادَتled إِلىinto القَلبِthe heart حَسرَةًa regret
وَكَم نَظرَةٍ قادَت إِلى القَلبِ حَسرَةً
يُقَطَّعُis severed أَنفاسَthe breaths of الحَياةِlife زَفيرُهاits sighing
يُقَطَّعُ أَنفاسَ الحَياةِ زَفيرُها
How many a glance has led regret into the heart,
whose sighing severs the breaths of life!
فَواعَجَباhow astonishing كَمhow often نَسلُبُwe despoil الأُسدَthe lions فيin الوَغىbattle
فَواعَجَبا كَم نَسلُبُ الأُسدَ في الوَغى
وَتَسلُبُناand robs us مِنfrom أَعيُنِthe eyes of الحورِthe dark-eyed beauties حورُهاtheir dark-eyed charm
وَتَسلُبُنا مِن أَعيُنِ الحورِ حورُها
How strange! How often we despoil lions in battle,
yet the dark-eyed charm of lovely eyes despoils us.
فُتورُthe dullness of الظُبىblade-edges عِندَduring القِراعِcombat يُشيبُناturns us gray
فُتورُ الظُبى عِندَ القِراعِ يُشيبُنا
وَماand not يُرهِفُsharpens الأَجفانَthe eyelids إِلّاexcept فُتورُهاtheir languor
وَما يُرهِفُ الأَجفانَ إِلّا فُتورُها
The dullness of blade-edges in combat turns us gray;
yet nothing sharpens eyelids but their languor.
وَجُذوَةُand an ember of حُسنٍbeauty فيat الحُدودِthe contours لَهيبُهاits flame
وَجُذوَةُ حُسنٍ في الحُدودِ لَهيبُها
يَشُبُّflares up وَلَكِنbut فيin القُلوبِthe hearts سَعيرُهاits blaze
يَشُبُّ وَلَكِن في القُلوبِ سَعيرُها
An ember of beauty, its flame along the contours
flares up, yet its blaze is in hearts.
إِذاwhen آنَسَتهاperceives her مُقلَتيmy eye خَرَّfell صاعِقاًthunderstruck
إِذا آنَسَتها مُقلَتي خَرَّ صاعِقاً
جَنانيmy heart وَقالَand said القَلبُthe heart لاmay not دُكَّbe crushed طورُهاher Mount
جَناني وَقالَ القَلبُ لا دُكَّ طورُها
When my eye perceives her, down falls, thunderstruck,
my heart; and the heart says, 'May her Mount never be crushed!'
وَسِربِand a herd of ظِباءٍgazelles مُشرِقاتٍshining شُموسُهُits suns
وَسِربِ ظِباءٍ مُشرِقاتٍ شُموسُهُ
عَلىover جَنَّةٍa garden عَدُّthe number of النُجومِthe stars بُدورُهاits full moons
عَلى جَنَّةٍ عَدُّ النُجومِ بُدورُها
And a herd of gazelles, its suns shining
over a garden whose full moons number the stars.
تُمانِعُdefend عَمّاon behalf of what فيin الكِناسِthe gazelles' retreats أُسودُهاtheir lions
تُمانِعُ عَمّا في الكِناسِ أُسودُها
وَتَحرُسُand guard ماwhat تَحويcontain القُصورُthe palaces صُقورُهاtheir falcons
وَتَحرُسُ ما تَحوي القُصورُ صُقورُها
Their lions defend what lies within the gazelles' retreats;
their falcons guard what the palaces contain.
تَغارُare jealous مِنَof الطَيفِthe dream-phantom المُلِمَّvisiting حُماتُهاtheir guardians
تَغارُ مِنَ الطَيفِ المُلِمَّ حُماتُها
وَيَغضَبُand grows angry مِنat مَرِّthe passing of النَسيمِthe breeze غَيورُهاtheir jealous one
وَيَغضَبُ مِن مَرِّ النَسيمِ غَيورُها
Their guardians are jealous of a visiting dream-phantom;
their jealous one grows angry at the passing breeze.
إِذاif ماever رَأىhe saw فيin النَومِsleep طَيفاًa phantom يَزورُهاvisiting them
إِذا ما رَأى في النَومِ طَيفاً يَزورُها
تَوَهَّمَهُhe imagined it فيin اليَومِdaytime ضَيفاًa guest يَزورُهاvisiting them
تَوَهَّمَهُ في اليَومِ ضَيفاً يَزورُها
If he sees a phantom visiting them in sleep,
he imagines it a guest visiting them by day.
نَظَرناwe looked فَأَعدَتناso infected us with السَقامَsickness عُيونُهاtheir eyes
نَظَرنا فَأَعدَتنا السَقامَ عُيونُها
وَلُذناand we sought refuge فَأَولَتناso bestowed upon us النُحولَwasting خُصورُهاtheir waists
وَلُذنا فَأَولَتنا النُحولَ خُصورُها
We looked, and their eyes infected us with sickness;
we sought refuge, and their waists bestowed wasting upon us.
وَزُرناand we visited فَأُسدُthen the lions of الحَيِّthe tribe تُذكيsharpen لِحاظَهاtheir glances
وَزُرنا فَأُسدُ الحَيِّ تُذكي لِحاظَها
وَيُسمَعُand is heard فيin غابِthe thicket of الرِماحِspears زَئيرُهاtheir roaring
وَيُسمَعُ في غابِ الرِماحِ زَئيرُها
We visited, and the tribe's lions sharpened their glances;
their roaring is heard in the thicket of spears.
فَياO then ساعِدَmay help اللَهُGod المُحِبَّthe lover لِأَنَّهُfor he
فَيا ساعِدَ اللَهُ المُحِبَّ لِأَنَّهُ
يَرَىsees غَمَراتِthe engulfing perils of المَوتِdeath ثُمَّthen يَزورُهاvisits them
يَرَى غَمَراتِ المَوتِ ثُمَّ يَزورُها
May God help the lover, for he
sees the engulfing perils of death, then visits them.
وَلَمّاand when أَلَمَّتshe came لِلزِيارَةِto visit خِلسَةًsecretly
وَلَمّا أَلَمَّت لِلزِيارَةِ خِلسَةً
وَسَجفُand the veil of الدَياجيdark nights مُسبَلاتٌlowered سُتورُهاtheir curtains
وَسَجفُ الدَياجي مُسبَلاتٌ سُتورُها
When she came secretly to visit,
with the curtains of dark nights hanging down,
سَعَتinformed بِناagainst us الواشونَthe informers حَتّىeven حُجولُهاher anklets
سَعَت بِنا الواشونَ حَتّى حُجولُها
وَنَمَّتand whispered بِناagainst us الأَعداءُthe enemies حَتّىeven عَبيرُهاher perfume
وَنَمَّت بِنا الأَعداءُ حَتّى عَبيرُها
informers betrayed us—even her anklets;
enemies whispered against us—even her perfume.
وَهَمَّتand threatened بِناagainst us لَولاbut for غَدائِرُthe locks of شِعرِهاher hair
وَهَمَّت بِنا لَولا غَدائِرُ شِعرِها
خُطىthe steps of الصُبحِdawn لَكِنbut قَيَّدَتهُfettered it ظُفورُهاher nails
خُطى الصُبحِ لَكِن قَيَّدَتهُ ظُفورُها
And, but for the locks of her hair, we would have been threatened by
the steps of dawn; but her nails fettered it.
لَيالِيَnights when يُعدينيaids me زَمانيmy time عَلىagainst العِدىthe foes
لَيالِيَ يُعديني زَماني عَلى العِدى
وَإِنeven though مُلِئَتwere filled حِقداًwith hatred عَلَيَّtoward me صُدورُهاtheir breasts
وَإِن مُلِئَت حِقداً عَلَيَّ صُدورُها
Nights when my time aided me against my foes,
though their breasts were filled with hatred toward me;
وَيُسعِدُنيand makes me fortunate شَرخُthe prime of الشَبيبَةِyouth وَالغِنىand wealth
وَيُسعِدُني شَرخُ الشَبيبَةِ وَالغِنى
إِذاwhen شانَهاmarred them إِقتارُهاtheir poverty وَقَتيرُهاand their gray hairs
إِذا شانَها إِقتارُها وَقَتيرُها
the prime of youth and wealth made me fortunate,
while poverty and gray hairs disfigured them.
وَمُذand since قَلَبَturned الدَهرُfate المِجَنَّthe shield أَصابَنيfound me
وَمُذ قَلَبَ الدَهرُ المِجَنَّ أَصابَني
صَبوراًpatient عَلىin حالٍa condition قَليلٍfew صَبورُهاits patient sufferers
صَبوراً عَلى حالٍ قَليلٍ صَبورُها
Since fate turned its shield against me, it has found me
patient in a condition few endure patiently.
فَلوso if تَحمِلُbore الأَيّامُthe days ماwhat أَناI حامِلٌam bearing
فَلو تَحمِلُ الأَيّامُ ما أَنا حامِلٌ
لَماwould not كادَalmost يَمحوerase صِبغَةَthe dye of اللَيلِnight نورُهاtheir light
لَما كادَ يَمحو صِبغَةَ اللَيلِ نورُها
If the days bore what I am bearing,
their light would scarcely erase the dye of night.
سَأَصبِرُI shall endure إِمّاwhether أَنthat تَدورَturn صُروفُهاtheir reversals
سَأَصبِرُ إِمّا أَن تَدورَ صُروفُها
عَلَيَّagainst me وَإِمّاor whether تَستَقيمُbecome straight أُمورُهاtheir affairs
عَلَيَّ وَإِمّا تَستَقيمُ أُمورُها
I shall endure, whether their reversals turn
against me, or their affairs become straight.
فَإِنso if تَكُنِit is الخَنساءُal-Khansa' إِنِّيَI am صَخرُهاher Sakhr
فَإِن تَكُنِ الخَنساءُ إِنِّيَ صَخرُها
وَإِنand if تَكُنِit is الزَبّاءُal-Zabba' إِنّيI am قَصيرُهاher Qasir
وَإِن تَكُنِ الزَبّاءُ إِنّي قَصيرُها
If it is al-Khansa', I am her Sakhr;
if it is al-Zabba', I am her Qasir.
وَقَدand sometimes أَرتَديI wear ثَوبَthe robe of الظَلامِdarkness بِحَسرَةٍwith sorrow
وَقَد أَرتَدي ثَوبَ الظَلامِ بِحَسرَةٍ
عَلَيهاover it مِنَamong الشوسِthe fierce الحُماةِdefenders جُسورُهاtheir bold one
عَلَيها مِنَ الشوسِ الحُماةِ جُسورُها
At times I wear the robe of darkness, with a sorrow
over it shared by the bold among fierce defenders.
كَأَنّيas though I were بِأَحشاءِwithin the entrails of السَباسِبِthe wastes خاطِرٌa thought
كَأَنّي بِأَحشاءِ السَباسِبِ خاطِرٌ
فَماand not وُجِدَتthey were found إِلّاexcept وَشَخصيand my body ضَميرُهاtheir inward thought
فَما وُجِدَت إِلّا وَشَخصي ضَميرُها
As though I were a thought within the entrails of the wastes:
they are never found without my body as their inward thought.
وِصادِيَةِand a thirsty waste الأَحشاءِin its entrails غَضّيlower your gaze بِآلِهاbefore its mirage
وِصادِيَةِ الأَحشاءِ غَضّي بِآلِها
يَعُزُّis difficult عَلىfor الشِعرىSirius العَبورِal-Abur عُبورُهاcrossing it
يَعُزُّ عَلى الشِعرى العَبورِ عُبورُها
And a thirsty-bellied waste—lower your gaze before its mirage—
whose crossing is difficult even for Sirius al-Abur.
يَنوحُwails بِهاin it الخِرَّيتُthe expert guide نَدباًin lament لِنَفسِهِfor himself
يَنوحُ بِها الخِرَّيتُ نَدباً لِنَفسِهِ
إِذاwhen اِختَلَفَتvaried حَصباؤُهاits pebbles وَصُخورُهاand its rocks
إِذا اِختَلَفَت حَصباؤُها وَصُخورُها
The expert guide wails there, lamenting himself,
when its pebbles and rocks vary bewilderingly.
إِذاwhen وَطِئَتهاtreads upon it الشَمسُthe sun سالَflows لُعابُهاits saliva
إِذا وَطِئَتها الشَمسُ سالَ لُعابُها
وَإِنand if سَلَكَتهاpasses through it الريحُthe wind طالَlengthens هَديرُهاits roaring
وَإِن سَلَكَتها الريحُ طالَ هَديرُها
When the sun treads upon it, its saliva flows;
when the wind passes through it, its roaring lengthens.
وَإِنand if قامَتِstood الحَرباthe chameleon تُوَسِّدُmakes a pillow of شَعرَهاits hair
وَإِن قامَتِ الحَربا تُوَسِّدُ شَعرَها
أَصيلاًat late afternoon أَذابَmelted الطَرفَthe eye مِنهاof it هَجيرُهاits scorching heat
أَصيلاً أَذابَ الطَرفَ مِنها هَجيرُها
And if the chameleon stands, making a pillow of its hair,
at late afternoon its scorching heat melts the creature's eye.
تَجَنَّبُavoids عَنهاit لِلحِذارِout of caution جَنوبُهاits south wind
تَجَنَّبُ عَنها لِلحِذارِ جَنوبُها
وَتَدبِرُand turns away عَنهاfrom it فيduring الهُبوبِblowing دَبورُهاits west wind
وَتَدبِرُ عَنها في الهُبوبِ دَبورُها
Its south wind avoids it out of caution;
its west wind turns away from it as it blows.
خَبَرتُI knew مَراميthe reaches of أَرضِهاits land فَقَتَلتُهاand subdued it
خَبَرتُ مَرامي أَرضِها فَقَتَلتُها
وَماand not يَقتُلُsubdues الأَرضينَthe lands إِلّاexcept خَبيرُهاone who knows them
وَما يَقتُلُ الأَرضينَ إِلّا خَبيرُها
I knew the reaches of its land and subdued it;
none but one who knows lands can subdue them.
بِخُطوَةِwith the stride of مِرقالٍa swift camel أَمونٍsafe عِثارُهاits stumbling
بِخُطوَةِ مِرقالٍ أَمونٍ عِثارُها
كَثيرٍfrequent عَلىin وَفقِaccordance with الصَوابِthe right course عِثورُهاits finding the way
كَثيرٍ عَلى وَفقِ الصَوابِ عِثورُها
With the stride of a swift camel, safe from stumbling,
often finding its way along the proper course.
أَلَذُّsweeter مِنَthan الأَنغامِmelodies رَجعُthe echo of بَغامِهاits lowing
أَلَذُّ مِنَ الأَنغامِ رَجعُ بَغامِها
وَأَطيَبُand sweeter مِنthan سَجعِthe rhythm of الهَديلِthe dove's coo هَديرُهاits bellowing
وَأَطيَبُ مِن سَجعِ الهَديلِ هَديرُها
The echo of its lowing is sweeter than melodies;
its bellowing is sweeter than the rhythm of a dove's coo.
نُساهِمُwe share with شِطرَhalf of العَيشِlife عيساًpale camels سَواهِماًlean
نُساهِمُ شِطرَ العَيشِ عيساً سَواهِماً
لِفَرطِfrom excessive السُرىnight travel لَمnot يَبقَremained إِلّاexcept شُطورُهاtheir halves
لِفَرطِ السُرى لَم يَبقَ إِلّا شُطورُها
We share half our life with lean, pale camels;
from excessive night travel, only their halves remain.
حُروفاًletters كَنَوناتِlike letter nuns الصَحائِفِthe pages أَصبَحَتthey have become
حُروفاً كَنَوناتِ الصَحائِفِ أَصبَحَت
تُخَطُّare inscribed عَلىupon طِرسِthe parchment of الفَيافيthe wastes سُطورُهاtheir lines
تُخَطُّ عَلى طِرسِ الفَيافي سُطورُها
They have become letters, like the nuns upon the pages,
their lines inscribed on the parchment of the wastes.
إِذاwhen نُظِمَتare strung نَظمَlike the stringing of القَلائِدِnecklaces فيin البُرىthe nose-rings
إِذا نُظِمَت نَظمَ القَلائِدِ في البُرى
تَقَلَّدُهاwear them as necklaces خُضرُthe green الرُبىhills وَنُحورُهاand their throats
تَقَلَّدُها خُضرُ الرُبى وَنُحورُها
When strung like necklaces by their nose-rings,
the green hills and their throats wear them as necklaces.
طَواهاfolded them طَواهاtheir hunger فَاِغتَدَتso they became وَبُطونُهاand their bellies
طَواها طَواها فَاِغتَدَت وَبُطونُها
تَجولُmove around عَليهاover them كَالوِشاحِlike a sash ظُفورُهاtheir nails
تَجولُ عَليها كَالوِشاحِ ظُفورُها
Their hunger folded them; they became such that their bellies
have their nails moving over them like sashes.
يُعَبِّرُexpresses عَنabout فَرطِthe extremity of الحَنينِyearning أَنينُهاtheir moaning
يُعَبِّرُ عَن فَرطِ الحَنينِ أَنينُها
وَيُعرِبُand reveals عَمّاwhat is فيwithin الضَميرِthe inner heart ضُمورُهاtheir leanness
وَيُعرِبُ عَمّا في الضَميرِ ضُمورُها
Their moaning expresses their extreme yearning;
their leanness reveals what lies within the heart.
تَسيرُyou journey بِهاwith them نَحوَtoward الحِجازِthe Hijaz وَقَصدُهاand their goal
تَسيرُ بِها نَحوَ الحِجازِ وَقَصدُها
مَلاعِبُthe playgrounds of شِعبَيthe two valleys of بابِلٍBabel وَقُصورُهاand its palaces
مَلاعِبُ شِعبَي بابِلٍ وَقُصورُها
You journey with them toward the Hijaz, though their desire
is for the playgrounds of Babel's two valleys and its palaces.
فَلَمّاso when تَرامَتthey ranged far عَنaway from زَرودَZarud وَرَملِهاand its sands
فَلَمّا تَرامَت عَن زَرودَ وَرَملِها
وَلاحَتand appeared لَهاto them أَعلامُthe landmarks of نَجدٍNajd وُقورُهاits stately ones
وَلاحَت لَها أَعلامُ نَجدٍ وُقورُها
When they ranged far from Zarud and its sands,
and Najd's stately landmarks appeared to them,
وَصَدَّتand they turned يَميناًrightward عَنaway from شُمَيطٍShumayt وَجاوَزَتand passed
وَصَدَّت يَميناً عَن شُمَيطٍ وَجاوَزَت
رُبىthe hills of قَطَنٍQatan وَالشُهبُand the bright stars قَدalready شَفَّhad faded نورُهاtheir light
رُبى قَطَنٍ وَالشُهبُ قَد شَفَّ نورُها
and they turned rightward from Shumayt and passed
the hills of Qatan, while the stars' light had faded,
وَعاجَand turned بِهاwith them عَنaway from رَملِthe sands of عاجٍAj دَليلُهاtheir guide
وَعاجَ بِها عَن رَملِ عاجٍ دَليلُها
فَقامَتso rose لِعِرفانِupon recognizing المُرادِthe destination صُدورُهاtheir breasts
فَقامَت لِعِرفانِ المُرادِ صُدورُها
and their guide turned them away from the sands of Aj,
their breasts rose as they recognized the destination.
غَدَتthey began تَتَقاضاناurging us for المَسيرَonward travel لِأَنَّهاbecause they
غَدَت تَتَقاضانا المَسيرَ لِأَنَّها
إِلىtoward نَحوِthe direction of خَيرِthe best of المُرسَلينَthe messengers مَسيرُهاtheir journey
إِلى نَحوِ خَيرِ المُرسَلينَ مَسيرُها
They began urging us onward, because
their journey was toward the best of messengers.
تَرُضُّcrush الحَصىthe pebbles شَوقاًin longing لِمَنfor him who سَبَّحَuttered praise الحَصىthe pebbles
تَرُضُّ الحَصى شَوقاً لِمَن سَبَّحَ الحَصى
لَدَيهِin his presence وَحَيّاand greeted بِالسَلامِwith peace بَعيرُهاits camel
لَدَيهِ وَحَيّا بِالسَلامِ بَعيرُها
They crush the pebbles, longing for him for whom pebbles uttered praise
in his presence, and its camel greeted him with peace.
إِلىtoward خَيرِthe best مَبعوثٍone sent إِلىto خَيرِthe best أُمَّةٍcommunity
إِلى خَيرِ مَبعوثٍ إِلى خَيرِ أُمَّةٍ
إِلىto خَيرِthe best مَعبودٍOne worshipped دَعاهاcalled it بَشيرُهاits herald
إِلى خَيرِ مَعبودٍ دَعاها بَشيرُها
Toward the best one sent to the best community,
whose herald called it to the best One worshipped.
وَمَنand him who أُخمِدَتwas extinguished مَعwith وَضعِهِhis birth نارُthe fire of فارِسٍPersia
وَمَن أُخمِدَت مَع وَضعِهِ نارُ فارِسٍ
وَزُلزِلَand was shaken مِنهاby it عَرشُهاits throne وَسَريرُهاand its royal couch
وَزُلزِلَ مِنها عَرشُها وَسَريرُها
And him at whose birth the fire of Persia was extinguished,
and its throne and royal couch were shaken thereby.
وَمَنand him whose نَطَقَتproclaimed تَوراةُthe Torah of موسىMoses بِفَضلِهِhis excellence
وَمَن نَطَقَت تَوراةُ موسى بِفَضلِهِ
وَجاءَand brought بِهِword of him إِنجيلُهاits Gospel وَزَبورُهاand its Psalms
وَجاءَ بِهِ إِنجيلُها وَزَبورُها
And him whose excellence the Torah of Moses proclaimed,
and of whom its Gospel and Psalms brought word.
وَمَنand him who بَشَّرَgave glad tidings to اللَهُGod الأَنامَhumankind بِأَنَّهُthat he
وَمَن بَشَّرَ اللَهُ الأَنامَ بِأَنَّهُ
مُبَشِّرُهاits bringer of tidings عَنby إِذنِهِHis permission وَنَذيرُهاand its warner
مُبَشِّرُها عَن إِذنِهِ وَنَذيرُها
And him of whom God gave humankind glad tidings: that he
was, by His permission, its bringer of tidings and its warner.
مُحَمَّدُMuhammad خَيرُthe best of المُرسَلينَthe messengers بِأَسرِهاall of them
مُحَمَّدُ خَيرُ المُرسَلينَ بِأَسرِها
وَأَوَّلُهاand their foremost فيin الفَضلِexcellence وَهوَthough he is أَخيرُهاtheir last
وَأَوَّلُها في الفَضلِ وَهوَ أَخيرُها
Muhammad, the best of all the messengers,
foremost in excellence, though last among them.
أَياO آيَةَsign of اللَهِGod الَّتيwhich مُذsince تَبَلَّجَتdawned
أَيا آيَةَ اللَهِ الَّتي مُذ تَبَلَّجَت
عَلىupon خَلقِهِHis creation أَخفىhid الضَلالَerror ظُهورُهاits appearance
عَلى خَلقِهِ أَخفى الضَلالَ ظُهورُها
O sign of God, which, since it dawned
upon His creation, has hidden error through its appearance!
عَلَيكَupon you سَلامُthe peace of اللَهِGod ياO خَيرَbest مُرسَلٍmessenger
عَلَيكَ سَلامُ اللَهِ يا خَيرَ مُرسَلٍ
إِلىto أُمَّةٍa community لَولاهُbut for him دامَwould endure غُرورُهاits delusion
إِلى أُمَّةٍ لَولاهُ دامَ غُرورُها
God's peace be upon you, O best messenger
to a community whose delusion would have endured but for him.
عَلَيكَupon you سَلامُthe peace of اللَهِGod ياO خَيرَbest شافِعٍintercessor
عَلَيكَ سَلامُ اللَهِ يا خَيرَ شافِعٍ
إِذاwhen النارُthe Fire ضَمَّgathered الكافِرينَthe unbelievers حَصيرُهاits enclosure
إِذا النارُ ضَمَّ الكافِرينَ حَصيرُها
God's peace be upon you, O best intercessor,
when the Fire's enclosure gathers in the unbelievers.
عَلَيكَupon you سَلامُthe peace of اللَهِGod يامَنO you who تَشَرَّفَتwere ennobled
عَلَيكَ سَلامُ اللَهِ يامَن تَشَرَّفَت
بِهِthrough him الإِنسُhumankind طُرّاًentirely وَاِستَتَمَّand was completed سُرورُهاits joy
بِهِ الإِنسُ طُرّاً وَاِستَتَمَّ سُرورُها
God's peace be upon you, O you through whom
all humankind was ennobled and its joy completed.
عَلَيكَupon you سَلامُthe peace of اللَهِGod ياO مَنyou whom تَعَبَّدَتserved devotedly
عَلَيكَ سَلامُ اللَهِ يا مَن تَعَبَّدَت
لَهُfor him الجِنُّthe jinn وَاِنقادَتand submitted إِلَيهِto him أُمورُهاtheir affairs
لَهُ الجِنُّ وَاِنقادَت إِلَيهِ أُمورُها
God's peace be upon you, O you whom
the jinn served devotedly, submitting their affairs to him.
تَشَرَّفَتِwere honored الأَقدامُthe feet لَمّاwhen تَتابَعَتfollowed one another
تَشَرَّفَتِ الأَقدامُ لَمّا تَتابَعَت
إِلَيكَtoward you خُطاهاtheir steps وَاِستَمَرَّand endured مَريرُهاtheir firm resolve
إِلَيكَ خُطاها وَاِستَمَرَّ مَريرُها
Feet were honored when their steps followed one another
toward you, and their firm resolve endured.
وَفاخَرَتِand vied proudly with الأَفواهُthe mouths نورَthe light of عُيونِناour eyes
وَفاخَرَتِ الأَفواهُ نورَ عُيونِنا
بِتُربِكَwith your dust لَمّاwhen قَبَّلَتهُkissed it ثُغورُهاtheir lips
بِتُربِكَ لَمّا قَبَّلَتهُ ثُغورُها
Mouths vied proudly with the light of our eyes
through your dust, when their lips kissed it.
فَضائِلُvirtues رامَتهاsought them الرُؤوسُthe heads فَقَصَّرَتbut fell short
فَضائِلُ رامَتها الرُؤوسُ فَقَصَّرَت
أَلَمdid not تَرَyou see لِلتَقصيرِfor falling short جُزَّتwere shorn شُعورُهاtheir hair
أَلَم تَرَ لِلتَقصيرِ جُزَّت شُعورُها
Virtues that heads sought, but fell short of:
did you not see their hair shorn for that shortcoming?
وَلَوand if وَفَتِgave fully الوُفّادُthe visiting delegations قَدرَكَyour station حَقَّهُits due
وَلَو وَفَتِ الوُفّادُ قَدرَكَ حَقَّهُ
لَكانَthen would be عَلىupon الأَحداقِthe eyeballs مِنهاof them مَسيرُهاtheir journey
لَكانَ عَلى الأَحداقِ مِنها مَسيرُها
Had the visiting delegations given your station its full due,
their journey would have been upon their eyeballs.
لِأَنَّكَbecause you are سِرُّthe mystery of اللَهِGod الأَيَّدِthe mighty الَّتيwhich
لِأَنَّكَ سِرُّ اللَهِ الأَيَّدِ الَّتي
تَجَلَّتrevealed itself فَجَلّىand dispelled ظُلمَةَthe darkness of الشَكِّdoubt نورُهاits light
تَجَلَّت فَجَلّى ظُلمَةَ الشَكِّ نورُها
For you are God's mighty mystery, which
was revealed, its light dispelling the darkness of doubt.
مَدينَةُa city of عِلمٍknowledge وَاِبنُand the son of عَمِّكَyour paternal uncle بِابُهاَits gate
مَدينَةُ عِلمٍ وَاِبنُ عَمِّكَ بِابُهاَ
فَمِنso from غَيرِother than ذاكَthat البابِgate لَمnot يُؤتَwas approached سورُهاits wall
فَمِن غَيرِ ذاكَ البابِ لَم يُؤتَ سورُها
A city of knowledge, with your cousin as its gate;
its wall was never approached except through that gate.
شَموسٌsuns لَكُمfor you فيin الغَربِthe West رُدَّتwere returned شَموسُهاits suns
شَموسٌ لَكُم في الغَربِ رُدَّت شَموسُها
بِدورٌfull moons لَكُمfor you فيin الشَرقِthe East شُقَّتwere split بِدَورُهاits full moons
بِدورٌ لَكُم في الشَرقِ شُقَّت بِدَورُها
Suns, for whom the suns in the West were turned back;
full moons, for whom the full moons in the East were split;
جِبالٌmountains إِذاwhen ماever الهَضبُthe highlands دُكَّتwere crushed جِبالُهاtheir mountains
جِبالٌ إِذا ما الهَضبُ دُكَّت جِبالُها
بِحارٌseas إِذاwhen ماever الأَرضُthe earth غارَتsank away بُحورُهاits seas
بِحارٌ إِذا ما الأَرضُ غارَت بُحورُها
mountains, when the highlands' mountains are crushed;
seas, when the earth's seas sink away.
فَآلُكَso your family خَيرُthe best of الآلِfamilies وَالعِترَةُand the progeny الَّتيwhose
فَآلُكَ خَيرُ الآلِ وَالعِترَةُ الَّتي
مَحَبَّتُهاlove for them نُعمىa blessing قَليلٌfew شَكورُهاthose grateful for it
مَحَبَّتُها نُعمى قَليلٌ شَكورُها
Your family is the best of families, and the progeny
whose love is a blessing for which few are grateful.
إِذاwhen جولِسَتare sat with لِلبَذلِfor bounty ذُلَّare humbled نِظارُهاtheir onlookers
إِذا جولِسَت لِلبَذلِ ذُلَّ نِظارُها
وَإِنand if سوجِلَتare rivaled فيin الفَضلِmerit عَزَّis scarce نَظيرُهاtheir equal
وَإِن سوجِلَت في الفَضلِ عَزَّ نَظيرُها
When sat with for bounty, their onlookers are humbled;
when rivaled in merit, their equal is hard to find.
وَصَحبُكَand your companions خَيرُthe best of الصَحبِcompanions وَالغُرَرُand the bright exemplars الَّتيwho
وَصَحبُكَ خَيرُ الصَحبِ وَالغُرَرُ الَّتي
بِهاthrough them أَمِنَتbecame secure مِنof كُلِّevery أَرضٍland ثُغورُهاits frontiers
بِها أَمِنَت مِن كُلِّ أَرضٍ ثُغورُها
Your companions are the best companions, the bright exemplars
through whom the frontiers of every land became secure.
كُماةٌarmored warriors حُماةٌdefenders فيin القِراعِcombat وَفيand in القِرىhospitality
كُماةٌ حُماةٌ في القِراعِ وَفي القِرى
إِذاwhen شَطَّis far away قاريهاits host وَطاشَand loses composure وَقورُهاits dignified one
إِذا شَطَّ قاريها وَطاشَ وَقورُها
Armored warriors, defenders in battle and hospitality,
when a host is far away and a steady man loses composure.
أَياO صادِقَfaithful to الوَعدِthe promise الأَمينِthe trustworthy وَعَدتَنيyou promised me
أَيا صادِقَ الوَعدِ الأَمينِ وَعَدتَني
بِبُشرىglad tidings فَلاso not أَخشىI fear وَأَنتَand you are بَشيرُهاtheir herald
بِبُشرى فَلا أَخشى وَأَنتَ بَشيرُها
O faithful fulfiller of promises, trustworthy one, you promised me
glad tidings; I do not fear, since you are their herald.
بَعَثتُI sent الأَمانيthe wishes عاطِلاتٍunadorned لِتَبتَغيto seek
بَعَثتُ الأَماني عاطِلاتٍ لِتَبتَغي
نَداكَyour bounty فَجاءَتso returned حالِياتٍadorned نُحورُهاtheir necks
نَداكَ فَجاءَت حالِياتٍ نُحورُها
I sent my wishes unadorned, to seek
your bounty; they returned with their necks adorned.
وَأَرسَلتُand I sent آمالاًhopes خِماصاًempty بُطونُهاtheir bellies
وَأَرسَلتُ آمالاً خِماصاً بُطونُها
إِلَيكَto you فَعادَتso returned مُثقَلاتٍladen ظُهورُهاtheir backs
إِلَيكَ فَعادَت مُثقَلاتٍ ظُهورُها
I sent hopes with empty bellies
to you; they returned with laden backs.
إِلَيكَto you رَسولَMessenger of اللَهِGod أَشكوI complain of جَرائِماًoffenses
إِلَيكَ رَسولَ اللَهِ أَشكو جَرائِماً
يُوازيrivals الجِبالَthe mountains الراسِياتِfirmly rooted صَغيرُهاtheir smallest
يُوازي الجِبالَ الراسِياتِ صَغيرُها
To you, Messenger of God, I complain of offenses
whose smallest rivals the firmly rooted mountains.
كَبائِرُgrave sins لَوif تُبلىwere tested الجِبالُthe mountains بِحَملِهاwith bearing them
كَبائِرُ لَو تُبلى الجِبالُ بِحَملِها
لِدُكَّتwould be crushed وَنادىand would cry بِالثُبورِfor destruction ثَبيرُهاtheir Thabir
لِدُكَّت وَنادى بِالثُبورِ ثَبيرُها
Grave sins: if mountains were tested with bearing them,
they would crumble, and their Thabir would cry for destruction.
وَغالِبُand the prevailing part of ظَنّيmy belief بَلrather يَقينِيَmy certainty أَنَّهاthat they
وَغالِبُ ظَنّي بَل يَقينِيَ أَنَّها
سُتُمحىwill be erased وَإِنeven if جَلَّتwere great وَأَنتَand you are سَفيرُهاtheir intercessor
سُتُمحى وَإِن جَلَّت وَأَنتَ سَفيرُها
My prevailing belief—indeed, my certainty—is that they
will be erased, however great, with you as their intercessor.
لِأَنّيbecause I رَأَيتُhave seen العُربَthe Arabs تَخفُرُgrant protection بِالعَصاwith a staff
لِأَنّي رَأَيتُ العُربَ تَخفُرُ بِالعَصا
وَتَحميand defend إِذاif ماever أَمَّهاapproaches them مُستَجيرُهاtheir asylum-seeker
وَتَحمي إِذا ما أَمَّها مُستَجيرُها
For I have seen Arabs grant protection with a staff,
and defend the asylum-seeker who approaches them.
فَكَيفَhow then بِمَنwith him who فيin كَفِّهِhis palm أَورَقَput forth leaves العَصاthe staff
فَكَيفَ بِمَن في كَفِّهِ أَورَقَ العَصا
تُضامُare wronged بِيَin my case الآمالُthe hopes وَهوَwhile he is خَفيرُهاtheir protector
تُضامُ بِيَ الآمالُ وَهوَ خَفيرُها
How, then, with him in whose palm the staff put forth leaves,
could my hopes be wronged, when he is their protector?
وَبَينَand between يَدَيthe hands of نَجوايَmy private plea قَدَّمتُI presented مَدحَةًa poem of praise
وَبَينَ يَدَي نَجوايَ قَدَّمتُ مَدحَةً
قَضىdecreed خاطِريmy mind أَلّاthat not نُجيبَwe answer خَطيرُهاits weighty claim
قَضى خاطِري أَلّا نُجيبَ خَطيرُها
Before my private plea I offered a poem of praise;
my mind decreed that we should not answer its weighty claim.
يُرَوّيquenches غَليلَthe thirst of السامِعينَthe hearers قُطارُهاits rain-showers
يُرَوّي غَليلَ السامِعينَ قُطارُها
وَيَجلوand brightens عُيونَthe eyes of الناظِرينَthe watchers قَطورُهاits droplets
وَيَجلو عُيونَ الناظِرينَ قَطورُها
Its showers quench the thirst of hearers;
its droplets brighten the eyes of watchers.
هِيَit is الراحُwine لَكِنbut بِالمَسامِعِthrough the ears رَشفُهاits sipping
هِيَ الراحُ لَكِن بِالمَسامِعِ رَشفُها
عَلىalthough أَنَّهُit تَفنىfades away وَيَبقىand remains سُرورُهاits delight
عَلى أَنَّهُ تَفنى وَيَبقى سُرورُها
It is wine, but sipped through the ears,
though it fades, while its delight remains.
وَأَحسَنُand the finest شَيءٍthing أَنَّنيthat I قَدindeed جَلَوتُهاunveiled it
وَأَحسَنُ شَيءٍ أَنَّني قَد جَلَوتُها
عَليكَbefore you وَأَملاكُand the angels of السَماءِheaven حُضورُهاits attendees
عَليكَ وَأَملاكُ السَماءِ حُضورُها
And the finest thing is that I have unveiled it
before you, with heaven's angels attending.
تَرومُseeks بِهاthrough it نَفسيmy soul الجَزاءَreward فَكُنso be لَهاfor it
تَرومُ بِها نَفسي الجَزاءَ فَكُن لَها
مُجيزاًa rewarder بِأَنso that تُمسيit reaches evening وَأَنتَand you are مُجيرُهاits protector
مُجيزاً بِأَن تُمسي وَأَنتَ مُجيرُها
Through it my soul seeks reward; so be
its rewarder, that evening may find you its protector.
فَلِاِبنِfor the son of زُهَيرٍZuhayr قَدindeed أَجَزتَyou rewarded بِبُردَةٍwith a cloak
فَلِاِبنِ زُهَيرٍ قَد أَجَزتَ بِبُردَةٍ
عَلَيكَupon you فَأَثرىso grew rich مِنamong ذَويهِhis kin فَقيرُهاtheir poor one
عَلَيكَ فَأَثرى مِن ذَويهِ فَقيرُها
For you rewarded Ibn Zuhayr with a cloak
that was upon you; the poor among his kin grew rich.
أَجِرنيprotect me أَجِزنيreward me وَاِجزِنيand repay me أَجرَthe wage of مِدحَتيmy praise
أَجِرني أَجِزني وَاِجزِني أَجرَ مِدحَتي
بِبَردٍwith coolness إِذاwhen ماever النارُthe Fire شَبَّflared سَعيرُهاits blaze
بِبَردٍ إِذا ما النارُ شَبَّ سَعيرُها
Protect me, reward me, and repay the wage of my praise
with coolness when the Fire's blaze flares up.
فَقابِلso receive ثَناهاits praise بِالقُبولِwith acceptance فَإِنَّهاfor it is
فَقابِل ثَناها بِالقُبولِ فَإِنَّها
عَرائِسُbrides of فِكرٍthought وَالقَبولُand acceptance مُهورُهاtheir dowries
عَرائِسُ فِكرٍ وَالقَبولُ مُهورُها
Receive its praise with acceptance, for it consists of
brides of thought, and acceptance is their dowry.
وَإِنeven if زانَهاadorned it تَطويلُهاits lengthening وَاِطِّرادُهاand its continuity
وَإِن زانَها تَطويلُها وَاِطِّرادُها
فَقَدyet indeed شانَهاmarred it تَقصيرُهاits falling short وَقُصورُهاand its inadequacy
فَقَد شانَها تَقصيرُها وَقُصورُها
Though its length and flowing continuity adorn it,
its falling short and inadequacy have marred it.
إِذاif ماever القَوافيthe rhymes لَمnot تُحِطencompass بِصِفاتِكُمyour qualities
إِذا ما القَوافي لَم تُحِط بِصِفاتِكُم
فَسِيّانِthen equal are مِنهاof them جَمُّهاtheir abundance وَيَسيرُهاand their fewness
فَسِيّانِ مِنها جَمُّها وَيَسيرُها
If rhymes cannot encompass your qualities,
their abundance and their fewness are alike.
بِمَدحِكَthrough praising you تَمَّتwas completed حِجَّتيmy pilgrimage وَهيَand it is حُجَّتيmy proof
بِمَدحِكَ تَمَّت حِجَّتي وَهيَ حُجَّتي
عَلىagainst عُصبَةٍa faction يَطغىoverwhelms عَلَيَّagainst me فُجورُهاits wickedness
عَلى عُصبَةٍ يَطغى عَلَيَّ فُجورُها
Through praising you my pilgrimage is complete, and it is my proof
against a faction whose wickedness overwhelms me.
أَقُصُّI trace بِشِعريwith my poetry إِثرَthe footsteps of فَضلِكَyour excellence واصِفاًdescribing
أَقُصُّ بِشِعري إِثرَ فَضلِكَ واصِفاً
عُلاكَyour lofty rank إِذاwhen ماever النَاسُthe people قُصَّتwere shorn شُعورُهاtheir hair
عُلاكَ إِذا ما النَاسُ قُصَّت شُعورُها
In my poetry I trace the footsteps of your excellence, describing
your lofty rank when people's hair is shorn.
وَأَسهَرُand I stay awake فيin نَظمِcomposing القَوافيthe rhymes وَلَمand not أَقُلI said
وَأَسهَرُ في نَظمِ القَوافي وَلَم أَقُل
خَليلَيَّmy two friends هَلis there مِنany رَقدَةٍsleep أَستَعيرُهاI might borrow it
خَليلَيَّ هَل مِن رَقدَةٍ أَستَعيرُها
I stay awake composing rhymes, and have not said:
'My two friends, is there some sleep I might borrow?'
Sol 6.1