سَلاَمٌpeace كأَزهارlike blossoms الرُّبَىthe hills يُتَنَسّمُis breathed in
سَلاَمٌ كأَزهار الرُّبَى يُتَنَسّمُ
عَلَىupon مَنزِلٍan abode منهُfrom it الهُدَىguidance يُتَعَلّمُis learned
عَلَى مَنزِلٍ منهُ الهُدَى يُتَعَلّمُ
Peace, breathed in like the blossoms of the hills,
Peace like the flowers of meadows exudes
upon an abode from which guidance is learned.
From a dwelling where guidance is taught and imbued
عَلىupon مَصرَعٍa slaughter-ground لِلفاطِمِيِّينَfor Fatimah's descendants غُيِّبَتwere buried
عَلى مَصرَعٍ لِلفاطِمِيِّينَ غُيِّبَت
لأوجُهِهِمfor their faces فِيهِwithin it بُدُورٌfull moons وَأَنجُمُand stars
لأوجُهِهِم فِيهِ بُدُورٌ وَأَنجُمُ
Upon a slaughter-ground of Fatimah's descendants, where lie buried
At the Egyptians' sanctuary engulfed in gloom
the full moons and stars of their faces.
Their faces in it like full moons consumed
عَلَىupon مَشهَدٍa scene لَوif كُنتyou had been حَاضِرَpresent among أَهلِهِits people
عَلَى مَشهَدٍ لَو كُنت حَاضِرَ أَهلِهِ
لَعَايَنتyou would have seen أعضَاءَthe limbs النَّبِيِّthe Prophet تُقَسَّمُbeing divided
لَعَايَنت أعضَاءَ النَّبِيِّ تُقَسَّمُ
Upon a scene where, had you been present among its people,
At the shrine, had you seen the Prophet's kin
you would have seen the Prophet's limbs being cut apart.
You'd have witnessed his limbs severed limb from limb
عَلَىupon كَربَلاKarbala لاmay not أَخلَفَfail الغَيثُthe rain كَربَلاKarbala
عَلَى كَربَلا لا أَخلَفَ الغَيثُ كَربَلا
وَإِلاand if not فَإِنَّthen indeed الدَّمعَtears أندَىmore copious وَأكرَمُand more generous
وَإِلا فَإِنَّ الدَّمعَ أندَى وَأكرَمُ
Upon Karbala—may the rain never fail Karbala!
At Karbala, neither rain nor drink availed
And if it does, tears are more plentiful and more generous.
Only tears and blood that freely flowed and wailed
مَصَارِعُslaughter-fields ضجَّتcried aloud يَثرِبٌYathrib لِمُصَابِهَاat their calamity
مَصَارِعُ ضجَّت يَثرِبٌ لِمُصَابِهَا
وَنَاحَand wailed عَلَيهِنَّover them الحَطِيمُal-Hatim وَزَمزَمُand Zamzam
وَنَاحَ عَلَيهِنَّ الحَطِيمُ وَزَمزَمُ
Slaughter-fields at whose tragedy Yathrib cried aloud,
The dwellings of Yathrib roared at their fate
and al-Hatim and Zamzam wailed over them,
Ruins and Zamzam cried at their devastated state
وَمَكَّةُand Mecca وَالأَستَارُand the veils والرُّكنُand the Corner والصَّفَاand al-Safa
وَمَكَّةُ وَالأَستَارُ والرُّكنُ والصَّفَا
وَمَوقِفُand the station at جَمعJamʿ الحَطِيمal-Hatim وَزَمزَمُand Zamzam
وَمَوقِفُ جَمع الحَطِيم وَزَمزَمُ
and Mecca, the veils, the Corner, and al-Safa,
Mecca, the Black Stone, the Maqam and Safa
and the station at Jamʿ, al-Hatim, and Zamzam.
The Station of the Ruins and Zamzam, voices of woe
وَبِالحَجَرِand on the Stone المَلثُومِthe kissed عُنوَانُa sign حَسرَةٍsorrow
وَبِالحَجَرِ المَلثُومِ عُنوَانُ حَسرَةٍ
أَلستَare you not تَرَاهُseeing it وَهوَwhile it is أَسوَدُblack أَسحَمُpitch-black
أَلستَ تَرَاهُ وَهوَ أَسوَدُ أَسحَمُ
And the kissed Stone bears a mark of sorrow;
The Black Stone a symbol of utter remorse
do you not see it, black, pitch-black?
Can't you see how dark and battered it is, of course?
وَرَوضَةُand the garden of مَولانَاour master النَّبِيّthe Prophet مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
وَرَوضَةُ مَولانَا النَّبِيّ مُحَمَّدٍ
تَبَدَّىappeared عَلَيهَاupon it الثُّكلُbereavement يَومَthe day تُخُرّمُwere taken by death
تَبَدَّى عَلَيهَا الثُّكلُ يَومَ تُخُرّمُ
And the garden of our master, the Prophet Muhammad,
The garden of our Master Muhammad now bereft
showed its bereavement the day they were taken by death.
Since they were gone, only sorrow that day was left
وَمِنبرهand his pulpit العُلويthe lofty وَالجِدعُand the tree-trunk أَعوَلاboth wailed
وَمِنبره العُلوي وَالجِدعُ أَعوَلا
عَلَيهِمover them عَوِيلاًa lament بِالضَّمَائِرِby the hearts يُفهَمُis understood
عَلَيهِم عَوِيلاً بِالضَّمَائِرِ يُفهَمُ
And his lofty pulpit and the tree-trunk both wailed
His lofty pulpit and palm trunk cry their fill
over them—a lament understood by the heart.
With hearts that understand their lament shrill
وَلَوand if قَدرتrecognized تِلكَthose الجَمَادَاتlifeless things قدرهمtheir worth
وَلَو قَدرت تِلكَ الجَمَادَات قدرهم
لَدُكَّwould have been crushed حِرَاءٌHira وَاستُطِيرَand was sent flying يلَملَمُYalamlam
لَدُكَّ حِرَاءٌ وَاستُطِيرَ يلَملَمُ
And had those lifeless things recognized their worth,
If those inanimate objects could feel their pain
Hira would have been crushed, and Yalamlam sent flying.
Stones would have wailed and birds fallen in vain
وَمَاand what قَدرُthe worth مَاwhat تَبكِيweep البلادُthe lands وَأهلُهَاand their people
وَمَا قَدرُ مَا تَبكِي البلادُ وَأهلُهَا
لآلِfor the family of رَسُولِthe Messenger of اللَّهِGod وَالرُّزءُwhile the loss أَعظَمُis greater
لآلِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ وَالرُّزءُ أَعظَمُ
Yet what do the tears of the lands and their people amount to
No limit to the sorrow of the land and its people
for the family of God's Messenger, when the loss is greater still?
For the Prophet's family, a tragedy ample
لَوَif انَّthat رَسُولَthe Messenger of اللَّهِGod يَحيَىwere alive بُعَيدَهُمshortly after them
لَوَ انَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ يَحيَى بُعَيدَهُم
رَأىwould have seen ابنُthe son of زِيَادٍZiyad أمّهhis mother كَيفَhow تَعقمُbecame barren
رَأى ابنُ زِيَادٍ أمّه كَيفَ تَعقمُ
Had God's Messenger been alive shortly after them,
If the Prophet alive when they were killed
Ibn Ziyad would have seen how his mother became barren.
Ibn Ziyad's mother her womb would have sealed
وَأَقبَلَتِand she came الزَّهراءُal-Zahra قُدسَmay be sanctified تُربُهَاher dust
وَأَقبَلَتِ الزَّهراءُ قُدسَ تُربُهَا
تُنَادِيcalling أَبَاهَاher father وَالمَدَامِعَand the tearful eyes تَسجُمُstream tears
تُنَادِي أَبَاهَا وَالمَدَامِعَ تَسجُمُ
And al-Zahra would have come—hallowed be her dust—
Zahra came, blessings on her soul pure
calling to her father, while her eyes streamed tears,
Calling to her father as tears she did pour
تَقُولُsaying أَبِيmy father هُمthey غَادَرُواleft ابنَيَّmy two sons نُهبَةًprey
تَقُولُ أَبِي هُم غَادَرُوا ابنَيَّ نُهبَةً
لِمَاto what صَاغَهُforged it قَينٌa smith وَمَاand what مَجَّspat out أرقَمُa speckled serpent
لِمَا صَاغَهُ قَينٌ وَمَا مَجَّ أرقَمُ
saying, “My father, they left my two sons as prey
She said: My father, my son they took as spoils
to what a smith forged and what a speckled serpent spat.
Molded by Qayn, destiny's changing coils
سَقَواgave to drink حسناًHasan بِالسُّمِّwith poison كَأساًa cup رَوِيَّةًthirst-quenching
سَقَوا حسناً بِالسُّمِّ كَأساً رَوِيَّةً
وَلَمand did not يَقرَعُواstrike سِنّاًa tooth وَلَمand did not يَتَنَدَّمواrepent
وَلَم يَقرَعُوا سِنّاً وَلَم يَتَنَدَّموا
They made Hasan drink a thirst-quenching cup of poison,
To Hassan poison in a deadly cup they gave
and they neither struck their teeth in regret nor repented.
No mercy, no qualms, no remorse they craved
وَهُمand they قَطَعُواcut off رَأسَthe head of الحُسَينِHusayn بِكَربَلاat Karbala
وَهُم قَطَعُوا رَأسَ الحُسَينِ بِكَربَلا
كَأَنَّهُمُas though they قَدindeed أَحسَنُواdid good حِينَwhen أُجرِمُcommitted a crime
كَأَنَّهُمُ قَد أَحسَنُوا حِينَ أُجرِمُ
And they cut off Husayn's head at Karbala,
Cut off Husayn's head they did in Karbala
as though they had done good when they committed their crime.
As if they had done what is virtuous and proper
فَخُذso exact مِنهُمُfrom them ثَارِيmy vengeance وَسَكِّنand calm جَوَانِحاًhearts within the ribs
فَخُذ مِنهُمُ ثَارِي وَسَكِّن جَوَانِحاً
وَأجفَانَand the eyelids of عَينٍan eye تَستَطِيرُflutters wildly وَتَسجُمُand streams tears
وَأجفَانَ عَينٍ تَستَطِيرُ وَتَسجُمُ
So exact my vengeance from them, and calm the hearts
Take my revenge, bring peace to my heart and eyes
and the lids of an eye that flutters and streams with tears.
That overflow with tears and agonizing cries
أَبِيmy father وَانتَصِرand avenge لِلسِّبطِfor the grandson وَاذكُرand remember مُصَابَهُhis suffering
أَبِي وَانتَصِر لِلسِّبطِ وَاذكُر مُصَابَهُ
وَغُلَّتَهُand his burning thirst والنَّهرُwhile the river رَيَّانُfull of water مُفعَمُbrimming
وَغُلَّتَهُ والنَّهرُ رَيَّانُ مُفعَمُ
My father, avenge your grandson, and remember his suffering,
My father, avenge the grandson, recall his plight
and his burning thirst, while the river was full to overflowing;
His anguish as his blood colored waters bright
وَأَسْرَand the captivity of بَنِيهِhis sons بَعدَهُafter him وَاحتِمَالَهُمand their being carried away
وَأَسْرَ بَنِيهِ بَعدَهُ وَاحتِمَالَهُم
كَأنَّهُمُas though they مِنfrom نسلِthe offspring of كِسرَىKisra تُغُنَّمُtaken as booty
كَأنَّهُمُ مِن نسلِ كِسرَى تُغُنَّمُ
and the captivity of his sons after him, and their being carried away
His kin imprisoned after him, their sacrifice
as though they were Kisra's offspring, taken as booty;
Like the Sassanids' breed, all looted as price
وَنَقرَand the tapping of يَزيدٍYazid فيupon الثَّنَايَاthe front teeth التيwhich اغتَدَتonce were
وَنَقرَ يَزيدٍ في الثَّنَايَا التي اغتَدَت
ثَنَايَاكَyour front teeth فِيهَاamong them أَيُّهَاO النُّورُthe Light تَلثِمُkiss
ثَنَايَاكَ فِيهَا أَيُّهَا النُّورُ تَلثِمُ
and Yazid's tapping upon the front teeth that once were
Yazid's spite bore into the lips that did kiss
kissed by your own front teeth, O Light.”
Yours, O Light, now gone into dark abyss
إِذَنthen صَدَقَacted in earnest الصِّدِّيقُal-Siddiq حَملَةَa charge مُقدِمٍa bold attacker
إِذَن صَدَقَ الصِّدِّيقُ حَملَةَ مُقدِمٍ
وَمَاand not فَارَقَleft الفَارُوقَal-Faruq مَاضٍa keen sword وَلَهذَمُand a sharp spear
وَمَا فَارَقَ الفَارُوقَ مَاضٍ وَلَهذَمُ
Then al-Siddiq would have charged in earnest like a fearless warrior,
Thus the truthful one was right, heralds of doom
and neither keen sword nor sharp spear would have left al-Faruq.
Nothing left by the Farouk except empty room
وَعَاثَand wreaked havoc بِهِمupon them عُثمَانُUthman عَيثَthe ravaging of ابنِa son of حُرَّةٍa freeborn woman
وَعَاثَ بِهِم عُثمَانُ عَيثَ ابنِ حُرَّةٍ
وَأَعلَىand raised عَليٌّAli كَعبَthe standing of مَنwhoever كَانَwas يُهضَمُbeing oppressed
وَأَعلَى عَليٌّ كَعبَ مَن كَانَ يُهضَمُ
And Uthman would have ravaged them like a freeborn woman's son,
On them Othman the wrath of Hurrah's son brought
and Ali would have raised the standing of whoever was oppressed.
While Ali exalted raised high what they wrought
وَجَبّand cut down لَهُمfor them جِبرِيلُGabriel أَتمَكَthe loftiest غَارِبٍcrest
وَجَبّ لَهُم جِبرِيلُ أَتمَكَ غَارِبٍ
مِنَof الغَيّerror لاnot يُعلَىsurmounted وَلاand not يُتَسَنّمُascended
مِنَ الغَيّ لا يُعلَى وَلا يُتَسَنّمُ
And Gabriel would have cut down for them the loftiest crest
For them Jibreel called the prayer at nightfall
of error, which none could overtop or mount.
Veiled by darkness like a thief, no shine at all
وَلَكِنَّهَاbut they are أَقدَارُthe decrees of رَبيmy Lord بِهَاby them قَضَىHe ruled
وَلَكِنَّهَا أَقدَارُ رَبي بِهَا قَضَى
فَلاso not يَتَخَطَّىoverstep النَّقضُundoing مَاwhat هُوَHe يُبرِمُbinds firmly
فَلا يَتَخَطَّى النَّقضُ مَا هُوَ يُبرِمُ
Yet these are my Lord's decrees, by which He has ruled;
But it is the will of my Lord that's come to pass
so no undoing can prevail over what He binds fast.
No change can repeal what He has brought to amass
قَضَىdecreed اللَّهُGod أَنthat يَقضِيbring destruction عَلَيهِمupon them عَبِيدهمtheir slaves
قَضَى اللَّهُ أَن يَقضِي عَلَيهِم عَبِيدهم
لِتَشقَىso as to become wretched بِهِمthrough them تِلكَthose العَبِيدُslaves وَتُنقَمُand be punished
لِتَشقَى بِهِم تِلكَ العَبِيدُ وَتُنقَمُ
God decreed that their own slaves should destroy them,
Allah willed that on them their slaves would prevail
so that those slaves would become wretched through them and be punished.
So those slaves may suffer in torment and flail
هُمُthey القَومُthe people أَمَّاas for سَعيُهُمtheir striving فَمُخَيَّبٌthen thwarted
هُمُ القَومُ أَمَّا سَعيُهُم فَمُخَيَّبٌ
مضَاعٌwasted وَأَمَّاand as for دَارُهُمtheir dwelling فَجَهَنَّمُthen Hell
مضَاعٌ وَأَمَّا دَارُهُم فَجَهَنَّمُ
They are those people: as for their striving, it is thwarted,
Those people failed, their efforts came to naught
wasted; and as for their dwelling, it is Hell.
Their abode is Hell, that's the justice they sought
فَيَاso, O أَيُّهَاyou المَغرُورُthe deluded one وَاللَّهُwhile God غَاضِبٌis angry
فَيَا أَيُّهَا المَغرُورُ وَاللَّهُ غَاضِبٌ
لِبنتِfor the daughter of رَسُولِthe Messenger of اللَّهِGod أَينَwhere تُيَمِّمُare you heading
لِبنتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أَينَ تُيَمِّمُ
So, O deluded one—while God is angry
You who were fooled, Allah's wrath on you weighs
on behalf of the daughter of God's Messenger—where are you heading?
What will you say to the Prophet's daughter and your deeds?
أَلاwill not طَرَبٌjoy يُقلَىbe detested أَلاwill not حُزنsorrow يُصطَفَىbe chosen
أَلا طَرَبٌ يُقلَى أَلا حُزن يُصطَفَى
أَلاwill not أَدمُعٌtears تُجرَىbe shed أَلاwill not قَلبٌa heart يُضرَمُbe set ablaze
أَلا أَدمُعٌ تُجرَى أَلا قَلبٌ يُضرَمُ
Will joy not be shunned? Will sorrow not be chosen?
Oh what sorrow and grief to relate and imbue
Will tears not be shed? Will a heart not be set aflame?
What tears flow, what burning hearts crack in two
قِفُواstop سَاعِدُونَاhelp us بِالدُّمُوعِwith tears فَإِنَّهَاfor indeed they
قِفُوا سَاعِدُونَا بِالدُّمُوعِ فَإِنَّهَا
لَتَصغُرُare indeed small فِيin regard to حَقِّthe rightful honor of الحُسَينِHusayn وَيَعظُمُand he grows greater
لَتَصغُرُ فِي حَقِّ الحُسَينِ وَيَعظُمُ
Stop, help us with your tears, for they
Help us with tears, though they trivial may seem
are indeed slight beside Husayn's worth, while his greatness grows.
For Husayn, they are fitting and utterly beseem
وَمَهمَاand whenever سَمِعتُمyou hear فِيabout الحُسَينِHusayn مَرَاثِياًelegies
وَمَهمَا سَمِعتُم فِي الحُسَينِ مَرَاثِياً
تُعَبِّرُexpress عَنabout مَحضِpure الأَسَىgrief وَتُتَرجِمُand give it voice
تُعَبِّرُ عَن مَحضِ الأَسَى وَتُتَرجِمُ
And whenever you hear elegies for Husayn
However many elegies of Husayn you hear
expressing pure sorrow and giving it voice,
That express only sorrow and make meaning clear
فَمُدُّواthen extend أَكُفَّthe palms of المُسعدينَfellow mourners بِدَعوَةٍwith a prayer
فَمُدُّوا أَكُفَّ المُسعدينَ بِدَعوَةٍ
وَصَلُّواand invoke blessings عَلَىupon جَدِّthe grandfather of الحُسَينِHusayn وَسَلَّمُand offer peace
وَصَلُّوا عَلَى جَدِّ الحُسَينِ وَسَلَّمُ
then stretch out your palms as fellow mourners in prayer,
Stretch out your palms, pray that blessings may flow
and send blessings and peace upon Husayn's grandfather.
On Husayn's grandfather, blessings we owe
Sol 6.1