وَفىkept faith لِيَwith me فيكَfor you الدَمعُtears إِذwhen خانَنيbetrayed me الصَبرُpatience
وَفى لِيَ فيكَ الدَمعُ إِذ خانَني الصَبرُ
وَأَنجَدَand came to aid فيكَfor you النَظمُverse إِذwhen خُذِلَwas denied النَصرُsuccor
وَأَنجَدَ فيكَ النَظمُ إِذ خُذِلَ النَصرُ
Tears kept faith with me for you when patience betrayed me.
My tears were true to me when patience betrayed me,
And verse came to my aid for you when succor was denied.
And poetry supported me when victory was lost.
وَأَضحَتand came to تَقولُsay الناسُthe people وَالدِستُand the seat of state وَالعُلىand glory
وَأَضحَت تَقولُ الناسُ وَالدِستُ وَالعُلى
كَذاthus فَليَجَلُّso let it be great الخَطبُthe calamity وَليَفدَحِand let it be grievous الأَمرُthe matter
كَذا فَليَجَلُّ الخَطبُ وَليَفدَحِ الأَمرُ
And people, the seat of state, and glory came to say:
The elite and the common now say,
Thus let the calamity be great, and the matter grievous!
"Let this be so! Let matters unfold and the affair explode!"
تُوُفِّيَتِdied الآمالُhopes بَعدَafter مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
تُوُفِّيَتِ الآمالُ بَعدَ مُحَمَّدٍ
وَأَصبَحَand became فيin شُغلٍpreoccupation عَنِaway from السَفَرِtravel السَفرُthe travelers
وَأَصبَحَ في شُغلٍ عَنِ السَفَرِ السَفرُ
Hopes died after Muhammad,
Hopes were fulfilled after Muhammad,
And travelers became too preoccupied to travel.
And travel now busies itself from travel.
وَزالَتand shifted حَصاةُthe pebble الحِلمِof reason عَنfrom مُستَقَرِّهاits resting place
وَزالَت حَصاةُ الحِلمِ عَن مُستَقَرِّها
وَأَصبَحَand became كَالخَنساءِlike al-Khansa فيin قَلبِهِhis heart صَخرُSakhr (also: rock)
وَأَصبَحَ كَالخَنساءِ في قَلبِهِ صَخرُ
And the pebble of reason shifted from its resting place,
The rocks of patience have left their resting place,
And he became like al-Khansa, with Sakhr in his heart.
And their hearts became like Al-Khansa’s - solid stone.
وَساوىand made equal قُلوبَthe hearts الناسِof people فيin الحُزنِgrief رُزؤُهُthe loss of him
وَساوى قُلوبَ الناسِ في الحُزنِ رُزؤُهُ
كَأَنَّas though صُدورَthe breasts الناسِof people فيin حُزنِهاtheir sorrow صَدرُone breast
كَأَنَّ صُدورَ الناسِ في حُزنِها صَدرُ
His loss made people's hearts equal in grief,
His sadness has made all hearts equal.
As though people's breasts were one breast in sorrow.
It's as if all chests in their sadness are one chest.
فَإِنso if أَظلَمَتgrew dark أَرضُthe land الشَآمِof al-Sham لِحُزنِهِfrom grief for him
فَإِن أَظلَمَت أَرضُ الشَآمِ لِحُزنِهِ
فَلَمthen not يَخلُwas free مِنof ذاكَthat الصَعيدُUpper Egypt وَلاnor مِصرُEgypt
فَلَم يَخلُ مِن ذاكَ الصَعيدُ وَلا مِصرُ
If the land of al-Sham grew dark with grief for him,
If the land of Syria darkens in sadness,
Neither Upper Egypt nor Egypt was free of it.
Neither that plain nor Egypt remains unaffected.
قَضىdied الناصِرُal-Nasir السُلطانُthe sultan مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat قَضىfulfilled
قَضى الناصِرُ السُلطانُ مِن بَعدِ ما قَضى
فُروضَthe duties العُلىof greatness طُرّاًall وَسالَمَهُand made peace with him الدَهرُTime
فُروضَ العُلى طُرّاً وَسالَمَهُ الدَهرُ
Sultan al-Nasir died after he had fulfilled
The victorious Sultan fulfilled, after fulfilling,
All the duties of greatness, and Time had made peace with him.
The duties of the High in a pure and wholesome manner.
وَلَمand not يُغنِavailed عَنهُfor him الجَأشُcourage وَالجَيشُand the army وَاللُهىand gifts
وَلَم يُغنِ عَنهُ الجَأشُ وَالجَيشُ وَاللُهى
وَفَرطُand abundance النُهىof wisdom وَالحُكمُand dominion وَالنَهيُand prohibition وَالأَمرُand command
وَفَرطُ النُهى وَالحُكمُ وَالنَهيُ وَالأَمرُ
Courage, the army, and gifts did not avail him,
Neither the army, the troops, the revelry,
Nor abundant wisdom, dominion, prohibition, and command.
Nor the excess of prohibitions, ruling, forbidding, and commanding helped him.
وَلاnor الخَيلُthe horses تَجريcourse بَينَbetween آذانِهاtheir ears القَناthe lances
وَلا الخَيلُ تَجري بَينَ آذانِها القَنا
لِحَربِfor fighting العِدىthe foes وَالدُهمُand the black steeds مِنfrom دَمِهِمtheir blood حُمرُred
لِحَربِ العِدى وَالدُهمُ مِن دَمِهِم حُمرُ
Nor the horses, with lances coursing between their ears,
Nor did the horses race between the ears
For war against foes, the black steeds red with their blood.
To the war of enemies while their blood is red.
لَدىat مَعرَكٍa battlefield خاضَتwaded بِهِthrough it الخَيلُthe horses فيin الوَغىthe fray
لَدى مَعرَكٍ خاضَت بِهِ الخَيلُ في الوَغى
مِنَthrough الدَمِblood فيماinto what خاضَتِplunged البيضُthe bright swords وَالسُمرُand the dusky spears
مِنَ الدَمِ فيما خاضَتِ البيضُ وَالسُمرُ
On a battlefield where the horses waded amid the fray,
In a battle in which the horses plunged into the fray
Through blood into which bright swords and dusky spears had plunged.
Amist blood while the white and red mud mixed.
كَأَنas though لَمnot يَقُدهاhe had led them فيin الهِياجِthe battle عَوابِساًscowling
كَأَن لَم يَقُدها في الهِياجِ عَوابِساً
بِكُلِّwith every كَميٍّarmored warrior ضَمَّenfolded فيwithin قَلبِهِhis heart الصَدرُthe breast
بِكُلِّ كَميٍّ ضَمَّ في قَلبِهِ الصَدرُ
As though he had never led them, scowling, into battle,
As if he did not lead them ferociously in excitement,
With every armored warrior whose breast was enfolded within his heart.
Each resolute one whose heart contained his chest.
وَلَمand not تَرجِعِreturned البيضُthe bright الصِفاحُbroad blades مِنَfrom العِدىthe foes
وَلَم تَرجِعِ البيضُ الصِفاحُ مِنَ العِدى
مُخَضَّبَةًstained red وَالبَرُّand the land مِنfrom دَمِهِمtheir blood بَحرُa sea
مُخَضَّبَةً وَالبَرُّ مِن دَمِهِم بَحرُ
And the bright broad blades had never returned from the foes
Nor did the white swords return from the enemy
Stained red, while the land was a sea of their blood.
Blood-stained, while the innocent blood was a sea.
وَلَمand not يَترُكِhe left الأَبطالَthe champions صَرعىfallen dead وَغِسلُهاand their washing
وَلَم يَترُكِ الأَبطالَ صَرعى وَغِسلُها
دَماهاtheir blood وَأَحشاءُand the entrails النُسورِof vultures لَهاfor them قَبرُa grave
دَماها وَأَحشاءُ النُسورِ لَها قَبرُ
And he had never left champions fallen, their washing
Nor did he leave the heroes slain with their blood washing them,
Their own blood, and vultures' entrails their grave.
While the innards of eagles were their graves.
وَلاnor صَنَعَتprepared فيهاtherein ظُباهُhis blade-edges مَآدِباًfeasts
وَلا صَنَعَت فيها ظُباهُ مَآدِباً
فَأَصبَحَso became مِنamong أَضيافِهِhis guests الذِئبُthe wolf وَالنَسرُand the vulture
فَأَصبَحَ مِن أَضيافِهِ الذِئبُ وَالنَسرُ
Nor had his blade-edges prepared feasts there,
Nor did the hyenas make feasts of them,
So that the wolf and the vulture became his guests.
So that the wolves and eagles became their guests.
وَلاnor أَخَذَتtook مِنهُfrom him المُلوكُthe kings لِسِلمِهِthrough peace with him
وَلا أَخَذَت مِنهُ المُلوكُ لِسِلمِهِ
زِمامَthe reins الرِضىof contentment مِمّاfrom what يُقَلقِلُهاunsettled them الذُعرُterror
زِمامَ الرِضى مِمّا يُقَلقِلُها الذُعرُ
Nor had kings taken from him, through peace with him,
Nor did the kings take the reins of satisfaction from him
The reins of contentment against the terror that unsettled them.
To calm them for what sets their nerves on edge.
وَلاnor مُهِّدَwas made secure الإِسلامُIslam عِندَduring اِضطِرابِهِits turmoil
وَلا مُهِّدَ الإِسلامُ عِندَ اِضطِرابِهِ
فَأَصبَحَso became مَشدوداًbraced بِهِthrough him ذَلِكَthat الأَزرُstrength
فَأَصبَحَ مَشدوداً بِهِ ذَلِكَ الأَزرُ
Nor had Islam been made secure amid its turmoil,
Nor did his palms heal in every city
So that its strength became firmly braced through him.
Great generosity that their breaking cannot mend.
وَلاnor قَلَّدَhe adorned الأَعناقَthe necks مِنfrom فَيضِthe overflow جودِهِof his bounty
وَلا قَلَّدَ الأَعناقَ مِن فَيضِ جودِهِ
قَلائِدَnecklaces بِرٍّof kindness لاnot يَقومُcould suffice بِهاfor them الشُكرُgratitude
قَلائِدَ بِرٍّ لا يَقومُ بِها الشُكرُ
Nor had he hung about necks, from his overflowing bounty,
Verily, in the path of glory lies the struggle of the glorious one,
Necklaces of kindness that gratitude could never repay.
Glory and pride share our sadness with him.
وَلاnor جَبَرَتmended كَفّاهُhis two hands فيin كُلِّevery بَلدَةٍtown
وَلا جَبَرَت كَفّاهُ في كُلِّ بَلدَةٍ
كَبيرَthe foremost كِرامٍof noble men ماno لِكَسرِهِمُfor their brokenness جَبرُmending
كَبيرَ كِرامٍ ما لِكَسرِهِمُ جَبرُ
Nor had his two hands mended, in every town,
A generous one from whom time gained morals,
The foremost of noble men whose broken fortunes none could mend.
So his days were adorned and distinguished from him.
أَلاah! فيin سَبيلِthe cause المَجدِof glory مُهجَةُthe soul ماجِدٍof a noble man
أَلا في سَبيلِ المَجدِ مُهجَةُ ماجِدٍ
يُشارِكُناshares with us فيin حُزنِهِgrief for him المَجدُglory وَالفَخرُand pride
يُشارِكُنا في حُزنِهِ المَجدُ وَالفَخرُ
Ah, for glory's sake, the soul of a noble man!
He awes the armies of tribulations; remembering him terrifies them.
Glory and pride share with us the grief for him.
And eliminates the enemies before his swords do.
كَريمٌa generous man أَفادَacquired الدَهرُTime مِنهُfrom him خَلائِقاًvirtues
كَريمٌ أَفادَ الدَهرُ مِنهُ خَلائِقاً
فَأَيّامُهُso his days مِنهُthrough him مُحَجَّلَةٌwhite-stockinged غُرُّwhite-blazed
فَأَيّامُهُ مِنهُ مُحَجَّلَةٌ غُرُّ
A generous man from whom Time learned virtues,
The kings hasten to his door, but if they transgress,
So his days, through him, were white-stockinged and white-blazed.
Slaughter, plunder, and captivity befall them.
يَروعُterrifies جُيوشَthe armies الحادِثاتِof calamities يَراعُهُhis pen
يَروعُ جُيوشَ الحادِثاتِ يَراعُهُ
وَيُفنيand annihilates الأَعاديthe enemies قَبلَbefore أَسيافِهِhis swords الذِكرُrenown
وَيُفني الأَعادي قَبلَ أَسيافِهِ الذِكرُ
His pen terrifies the armies of calamity,
The people of the kingdoms have witnessed
And his renown destroys enemies before his swords.
That he is a king with a decree higher than theirs.
إِلىto بابِهِhis gate تَسعىhasten المُلوكُthe kings فَإِنbut if عَدَتturned aside
إِلى بابِهِ تَسعى المُلوكُ فَإِن عَدَت
تَعَدّىreached إِلَيهاto them القَتلُslaughter وَالنَهبُand plunder وَالأَسرُand captivity
تَعَدّى إِلَيها القَتلُ وَالنَهبُ وَالأَسرُ
Kings hasten to his gate; but if they turn aside,
Powerful when they weaken, swift when they crawl,
Slaughter, plunder, and captivity reach them.
Resolute when they attack, steadfast when they flee.
لَقَدindeed شَهِدَتbore witness أَهلُthe people المَمالِكِof kingdoms أَنَّهُthat he
لَقَد شَهِدَت أَهلُ المَمالِكِ أَنَّهُ
مَليكٌa king لَهُfor him مِنfrom فَوقِabove قَدرِهِمُtheir stature قَدرُa stature
مَليكٌ لَهُ مِن فَوقِ قَدرِهِمُ قَدرُ
The people of kingdoms have indeed borne witness that he
It is as if the vast earth was tailored to his name,
Is a king whose stature rises above theirs.
For in every direction the mention of him is sprinkled.
قَوِيٌّstrong إِذاwhen لانواthey grew soft سَريعٌswift إِذاwhen وَنواthey faltered
قَوِيٌّ إِذا لانوا سَريعٌ إِذا وَنوا
صَؤولٌfierce in attack إِذاwhen كَرّواthey charged ثَبوتٌsteadfast إِذاwhen فَرّواthey fled
صَؤولٌ إِذا كَرّوا ثَبوتٌ إِذا فَرّوا
Strong when they soften, swift when they falter,
His wrap circles the countries as if
Fierce in attack when they charge, steadfast when they flee.
It were a belt and the regions were his waist.
كَأَنَّas though أَديمَthe surface الأَرضِof the earth قُدَّwas cut مِنِfrom اِسمِهِhis name
كَأَنَّ أَديمَ الأَرضِ قُدَّ مِنِ اِسمِهِ
فَماso not وُجِدَتwas found إِلّاexcept وَفيهاand in it لَهُfor him ذِكرُmention
فَما وُجِدَت إِلّا وَفيها لَهُ ذِكرُ
As though the earth's surface were cut from his name,
None who sought his generosity knew
For it is found nowhere without mention of him.
Which was the sea, his generosity or the sea itself?
يَجولُroams ثَناهُhis praise فيin البِلادِthe lands كَأَنَّهُas though it were
يَجولُ ثَناهُ في البِلادِ كَأَنَّهُ
وِشاحٌa sash وَمَجموعُand the entirety البِقاعِof regions لَهُfor it خَصرُa waist
وِشاحٌ وَمَجموعُ البِقاعِ لَهُ خَصرُ
His praise roams through the lands, as though it were
The keys to the sustenance of the servants are in his palm,
A sash, with all the regions together as its waist.
So he gestures good fortune with it and ill fortune.
وَماand not كانَwas يَدريaware مَنwhoever تَيَمَّمَsought جودَهُhis bounty
وَما كانَ يَدري مَن تَيَمَّمَ جودَهُ
وَنَكَّبَand turned away from لُجَّthe depths البَحرِof the sea أَيَّهُماwhich of the two البَحرُthe sea
وَنَكَّبَ لُجَّ البَحرِ أَيَّهُما البَحرُ
Whoever sought his bounty could not tell,
A young man whose might and munificence were like time’s -
Turning aside from the sea's depths, which of the two was the sea.
From him benefit and harm were hoped for and feared.
مَفاتِحُthe keys أَرزاقِto the livelihoods العِبادِof the people بِكَفِّهِin his palm
مَفاتِحُ أَرزاقِ العِبادِ بِكَفِّهِ
فَيُمنىso a right hand بِهاin it يُمنٌgood fortune وَيُسرىand a left hand بِهاin it يُسرُease
فَيُمنى بِها يُمنٌ وَيُسرى بِها يُسرُ
The keys to people's livelihoods lie in his palm:
A young man whose generosity covered the vast earth,
A right hand bearing good fortune, and a left hand bearing ease.
So in every drop of his clouds lies a droplet.
فَتىًa young man كانَwas مِثلَlike الدَهرِTime بَطشاًin might وَبَسطَةًand munificence
فَتىً كانَ مِثلَ الدَهرِ بَطشاً وَبَسطَةً
يُرَجّىis hoped for وَيُخشىand is feared عِندَهُwith him النَفعُbenefit وَالضُرُّand harm
يُرَجّى وَيُخشى عِندَهُ النَفعُ وَالضُرُّ
A young man like Time in might and munificence,
A young man whose words and opinion and grant
With him benefit is hoped for and harm is feared.
Came extemporaneously without troubling the mind.
فَتىًa young man طَبَّقَcovered الأَرضَthe earth البَسيطَةَthe broad جودُهُhis bounty
فَتىً طَبَّقَ الأَرضَ البَسيطَةَ جودُهُ
فَفيso in كُلِّevery قُطرٍregion مِنfrom نَداهُhis generosity بِهاupon it قَطرُrain
فَفي كُلِّ قُطرٍ مِن نَداهُ بِها قَطرُ
A young man whose bounty covered the broad earth;
A young man whose compassion loftiness did not stiffen,
In every region of it, rain falls from his bounty.
And from some of what he attained comes loftiness.
فَتىًa young man لَفظُهُhis utterance مَعalong with رَأيِهِhis counsel وَنَوالِهِand his gifts
فَتىً لَفظُهُ مَع رَأيِهِ وَنَوالِهِ
يَجيءُcomes اِرتِجالاًspontaneously لاnot يُغَلغِلُهُprobes its depths الفِكرُthought
يَجيءُ اِرتِجالاً لا يُغَلغِلُهُ الفِكرُ
A young man whose utterance, counsel, and gifts
A young man who disliked falling short such that you'd think
Come spontaneously, without thought probing their depths.
Shortcoming was prohibited to him, and so was aggregation.
فَتىًa young man لَمnot تُرَنِّحmade sway نَشوَةُthe intoxication الكِبرِof pride عِطفَهُhis side
فَتىً لَم تُرَنِّح نَشوَةُ الكِبرِ عِطفَهُ
وَمِنand from بَعضِsome ماwhat قَدindeed نالَهُhe attained it يَحدُثُarises الكِبرُpride
وَمِن بَعضِ ما قَد نالَهُ يَحدُثُ الكِبرُ
A young man whose bearing pride's intoxication never made sway,
A young man who left no regret in the struggle of glory,
Though even a fraction of what he attained would breed pride.
Throughout time except that his life be prolonged.
فَتىًa young man يَكرَهُabhors التَقصيرَfalling short حَتّىso that تَظُنَّهُyou think him
فَتىً يَكرَهُ التَقصيرَ حَتّى تَظُنَّهُ
يَكونُwould be حَراماًforbidden عِندَهُto him الجَمعُcombining prayers وَالقَصرُand shortening prayers
يَكونُ حَراماً عِندَهُ الجَمعُ وَالقَصرُ
A young man who so abhors falling short that you would think
A young man who hoarded good deeds so his actions resulted
Combining and shortening prayers were forbidden to him.
In good consequences, for hoarding benefits.
فَتىًa young man لَمnot يَدَعleft فيin مُهجَةِthe heart المَجدِof glory حَسرَةًa longing
فَتىً لَم يَدَع في مُهجَةِ المَجدِ حَسرَةً
مَدىthroughout الدَهرِtime إِلّاexcept أَنthat يَطولَbe long لَهُfor him العُمرُlife
مَدى الدَهرِ إِلّا أَن يَطولَ لَهُ العُمرُ
A young man who left no longing in the heart of glory
Poetry falls short of describing his calamity.
For all time, except the wish that his life might be long.
He is so majestic that describing him exhausts poetry.
فَتىًa young man ذَخَرَstored up الحُسنىgoodness فَأَعقَبَso brought about فِعلُهُhis deed
فَتىً ذَخَرَ الحُسنى فَأَعقَبَ فِعلُهُ
عَواقِبَهُits consequences الحُسنىthe finest فَقَدso indeed نَفَعَproved useful الذُخرُthe treasure
عَواقِبَهُ الحُسنى فَقَد نَفَعَ الذُخرُ
A young man who stored up goodness; his deed yielded
The earth covered him after he ennobled
Its fairest consequences: the treasure had indeed proved useful.
The earth with his steps, and the carpets, the court, and the palaces.
تَقاصَرَتِfell short الأَشعارُpoems عَنof وَصفِdescribing رُزئِهِthe loss of him
تَقاصَرَتِ الأَشعارُ عَن وَصفِ رُزئِهِ
لَقَدindeed جَلَّit grew great حَتّىso that دَقَّbecame slight عَنfor وَصفِهِdescribing it الشِعرُpoetry
لَقَد جَلَّ حَتّى دَقَّ عَن وَصفِهِ الشِعرُ
Poems fell short of describing the loss of him;
We have not seen a full moon set in the earth before him,
So great was it that poetry became too slight to describe it.
Nor a towering mountain the grave embraced before him.
طَواهُenfolded him الثَرىthe earth مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat شَرُفَwas ennobled الثَرىthe earth
طَواهُ الثَرى مِن بَعدِ ما شَرُفَ الثَرى
بِوَطأَتِهِby his tread وَالتَختُand the throne وَالدِستُand the seat of state وَالقَصرُand the palace
بِوَطأَتِهِ وَالتَختُ وَالدِستُ وَالقَصرُ
The earth enfolded him after the earth had been ennobled
The belly of the earth used to envy its surface that it was over him,
By his tread—as had the throne, the seat of state, and the palace.
So the belly came to envy the back.
وَلَمand not نَرَwe saw بَدراًa full moon قَبلَهُbefore him غابَvanished فيinto الثَرىthe dust
وَلَم نَرَ بَدراً قَبلَهُ غابَ في الثَرى
وَلَمand not نَرَwe saw طَوداًa mountain قَبلَهُbefore him ضَمَّهُenfolded him القَبرُthe grave
وَلَم نَرَ طَوداً قَبلَهُ ضَمَّهُ القَبرُ
Never before him had we seen a full moon vanish into the dust,
The physicians crowded around him seeking his cure,
Nor before him a mountain embraced by the grave.
And minds were confused and secrets preoccupied.
وَقَدand indeed كانَused to بَطنُthe belly الأَرضِof the earth يَغبِطُenvy ظَهرَهاits back
وَقَد كانَ بَطنُ الأَرضِ يَغبِطُ ظَهرَها
عَلَيهِfor him فَأَمسىso now became البَطنُthe belly يَحسُدُهُenvies it الظَهرُthe back
عَلَيهِ فَأَمسى البَطنُ يَحسُدُهُ الظَهرُ
The earth's belly once envied its back
They tried all sorts of medicines to cure him,
For bearing him; now its back envies its belly.
But can the perfumer mend what time has corrupted?
أَحاطَsurrounded بِهِaround him الآسونَthe physicians يَبغونَseeking طِبَّهُhis cure
أَحاطَ بِهِ الآسونَ يَبغونَ طِبَّهُ
وَقَدand already حارَتِwere bewildered الأَفهامُminds وَاِشتَغَلَand was engrossed السِرُّinward thought
وَقَد حارَتِ الأَفهامُ وَاِشتَغَلَ السِرُّ
Physicians surrounded him, seeking his cure,
And how can medicine repeal a predetermined decree
While minds were bewildered and inward thought engrossed.
When that decree is from He who decrees?
وَرامواand they sought بِأَنواعِwith kinds العَقاقيرِof medicines بُرأَهُhis recovery
وَراموا بِأَنواعِ العَقاقيرِ بُرأَهُ
وَهَلand does يُصلِحُmend العَطّارُthe apothecary ماwhat أَفسَدَruined الدَهرُTime
وَهَل يُصلِحُ العَطّارُ ما أَفسَدَ الدَهرُ
They sought his recovery with many kinds of medicines;
Of that which brings consolation to the soul is the propriety of his passage -
But can the apothecary mend what Time has ruined?
In a modest shroud no burdens can be tied to.
وَكَيفَand how يَرُدُّavert الطِبُّmedicine أَمراًan event مُقَدَّراًdecreed
وَكَيفَ يَرُدُّ الطِبُّ أَمراً مُقَدَّراً
إِذاwhen كانَwas ذاكَthat الأَمرُevent مِمَّنfrom Him who لَهُto Him الأَمرُcommand
إِذا كانَ ذاكَ الأَمرُ مِمَّن لَهُ الأَمرُ
And how can medicine avert a decreed event,
And we have after him, from his progeny,
When that event comes from Him who holds command?
A king with whom patience over his loss is seemly.
وَمِمّاand among what يُسَلّيconsoles النَفسَthe soul حُسنُthe goodness اِنتِقالِهِof his passing
وَمِمّا يُسَلّي النَفسَ حُسنُ اِنتِقالِهِ
عَفيفَchaste إِزارٍof loincloth لاno يُناطُis attached بِهِto him وِزرُsin
عَفيفَ إِزارٍ لا يُناطُ بِهِ وِزرُ
Among the things that console the soul is the goodness of his passing:
So if that full moon disappeared from the horizon of his realm,
Chaste of loincloth, with no sin laid upon him.
Radiant stars have risen from his heir.
وَإِنَّand indeed لَناfor us مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter him مِنfrom سَليلِهِhis offspring
وَإِنَّ لَنا مِن بَعدِهِ مِن سَليلِهِ
مَليكاًa king بِهِthrough him عَنover فَقدِهِhis loss يَحسُنُbecomes easier الصَبرُpatience
مَليكاً بِهِ عَن فَقدِهِ يَحسُنُ الصَبرُ
And after him we have, from his offspring,
And the Most High was pleased with what the people heard of them,
A king through whom patience over his loss becomes easier.
And the creation said the reports have proven true.
فَإِنso if غابَvanished ذاكَthat البَدرُfull moon عَنfrom أُفقِthe horizon مُلكِهِof his kingdom
فَإِن غابَ ذاكَ البَدرُ عَن أُفقِ مُلكِهِ
فَقَدthen indeed أَشرَقَتshone forth مِنfrom نَجلِهِhis offspring أَنجُمٌstars زُهرُbright
فَقَد أَشرَقَت مِن نَجلِهِ أَنجُمٌ زُهرُ
If that full moon has vanished from the horizon of his kingdom,
So if time brandished its blade after Muhammad,
Bright stars have shone forth from his offspring.
It has unsheathed a sword through which the outstanding one can be reached.
وَسَرَّand delighted العُلىglory ماwhat أَسمَعَhe made hear الناسَthe people عَنهُمُabout them
وَسَرَّ العُلى ما أَسمَعَ الناسَ عَنهُمُ
وَقالَand said الوَرىmankind قَدindeed صَدَّقَconfirmed الخَبَرَthe report الخُبرُexperience
وَقالَ الوَرى قَد صَدَّقَ الخَبَرَ الخُبرُ
And glory rejoiced at what he made people hear about them,
And if it brought about a slip with the victorious king,
And mankind said: experience has confirmed the report.
The excusing king rose to defend it.
فَإِنso if فَلَّتِblunted الأَيّامُthe days حَدَّthe edge مُحَمَّدٍof Muhammad
فَإِن فَلَّتِ الأَيّامُ حَدَّ مُحَمَّدٍ
فَقَدthen indeed جَرَّدَتdrew سَيفاًa sword بِهِwith it يُدرَكُis achieved الوِترُvengeance
فَقَد جَرَّدَت سَيفاً بِهِ يُدرَكُ الوِترُ
If the days have blunted Muhammad's edge,
O palm tree of glory that when it flourished and grew,
They have drawn a sword by which vengeance is won.
Its branches flourished and turned green in glory!
وَإِنand if أَحدَثَتcommitted بِالناصِرِagainst al-Nasir المَلكِthe king زَلَّةًa lapse
وَإِن أَحدَثَت بِالناصِرِ المَلكِ زَلَّةً
فَبِالمَلِكِthen through King المَنصورِal-Mansur قامَwas established لَهاfor them العُذرُthe excuse
فَبِالمَلِكِ المَنصورِ قامَ لَها العُذرُ
And if they committed a lapse against King al-Nasir,
May God reward you for how you adorned us with necklaces of favor -
Through King al-Mansur their excuse has been established.
They are like drops of rain, endless.
فَياso O دَوحَةَgreat tree المَجدِof glory الَّذيwhich عِندَماwhen ذَوَتwithered
فَيا دَوحَةَ المَجدِ الَّذي عِندَما ذَوَت
سَمَتrose وَنَمَتand grew فيin المَجدِglory أَغصانُهاits branches الخُضرُgreen
سَمَت وَنَمَت في المَجدِ أَغصانُها الخُضرُ
O great tree of glory, which, when it withered,
Affluence became dear to us after finding you,
Had its green branches rise and grow in glory!
Just as poverty was abased to us before losing you.
لَكَfor you اللَهُGod كَمhow many قَلَّدتَناyou hung upon us طَوقَa collar مِنَّةِof favor
لَكَ اللَهُ كَم قَلَّدتَنا طَوقَ مِنَّةِ
فَتِلكَso those كَعَدَّlike the count القَطرِof raindrops لَيسَthere is no لَهُfor it حَصرُlimit
فَتِلكَ كَعَدَّ القَطرِ لَيسَ لَهُ حَصرُ
God be with you! How many a collar of favor you hung upon us!
Sorrows became layered within you in degrees,
Those are like the count of raindrops, beyond reckoning.
While the number of my patience lies between them, zero.
لَقَدindeed عَزَّrose to honor فيناamong us بَعدَafter وُجدانِكَfinding you الغِنىwealth
لَقَد عَزَّ فينا بَعدَ وُجدانِكَ الغِنى
كَماjust as ذَلَّwas humbled فيناamong us قَبلَbefore فِقدانِكَlosing you الفَقرُpoverty
كَما ذَلَّ فينا قَبلَ فِقدانِكَ الفَقرُ
Wealth rose to honor among us after we found you,
And when I strung poetry for you into necklaces,
Just as poverty was humbled among us before we lost you.
The stars of night wished they were that poetry!
تَرَتَّبَتِwere arranged الأَحزانُgriefs فيكَfor you مَراتِباًin ranks
تَرَتَّبَتِ الأَحزانُ فيكَ مَراتِباً
بِقَلبيin my heart وَرَقمُand the number الصَبرِof patience مِنfrom بَينِهاamong them صِفرُzero
بِقَلبي وَرَقمُ الصَبرِ مِن بَينِها صِفرُ
Griefs for you arrayed themselves in ranks
I will lament you in poetry until when withering,
Within my heart, and patience's number among them is zero.
The threading of verse pearls aids me with prose.
وَلَمّاand when نَظَمتُI strung الشِعرَpoetry فيكَfor you قَلائِداًas necklaces
وَلَمّا نَظَمتُ الشِعرَ فيكَ قَلائِداً
تَمَنَّتwished نُجومُthe stars اللَيلِof night لَوif only أَنَّهاthey were شِعرُpoetry
تَمَنَّت نُجومُ اللَيلِ لَو أَنَّها شِعرُ
When I strung poetry for you as necklaces,
Upon you is God’s peace for as long as your name is mentioned,
The stars of night wished they were poetry.
And that is between people until the final resurrection.
سَأَبكيكَI shall weep for you بِالأَشعارِin poems حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen وَهَتgrew weak
سَأَبكيكَ بِالأَشعارِ حَتّى إِذا وَهَت
سُلوكُthe threads عُقودِof necklaces النَظمِof verse أَنجَدَنيcame to my aid النَثرُprose
سُلوكُ عُقودِ النَظمِ أَنجَدَني النَثرُ
I shall weep for you in poems until, when they weaken—
The threads of verse's necklaces—prose comes to my aid.
عَليكَupon you سَلامُthe peace اللَهِof God ماwhenever ذُكِرَis mentioned اِسمُكُمyour name
عَليكَ سَلامُ اللَهِ ما ذُكِرَ اِسمُكُم
وَذَلِكَand that بَينَamong الناسِpeople آخِرُهُits end الحَشرُthe Resurrection
وَذَلِكَ بَينَ الناسِ آخِرُهُ الحَشرُ
God's peace be upon you whenever your name is mentioned,
And among mankind, that will end only at the Resurrection.
Partial English translation: 106 of 110 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1