ياO وَصلُunion مالَكَwhat ails you لاnot تُعاوِدreturn
يا وَصلُ مالَكَ لا تُعاوِد
ياO هَجرُestrangement مالَكَwhat ails you لاnot تُباعِدgo far away
يا هَجرُ مالَكَ لا تُباعِد
O union, why do you not return?
O connection, what is yours that you do not repeat
O estrangement, why do you not depart?
O estrangement, what is yours that you distance
أَينَwhere التَصافُحُhandclasping وَالتَعاand embracing (partial)
أَينَ التَصافُحُ وَالتَعا
نُقُembracing (completion) وَالقَلائِدُand necklaces وَالوَلائِدand maidens
نُقُ وَالقَلائِدُ وَالوَلائِد
Where are the handclasps and the
Where is the clasping of hands and intimacy
embraces, the necklaces, and the maidens?
The kissing and necklaces and babies
لِمwhy لاnot يَعودُreturns العَذلُreproach يُرhurls at me (partial)
لِم لا يَعودُ العَذلُ يُر
مينيhurls at me (completion) حَواصِبَهُits pelting stones صَوارِدpiercing
ميني حَواصِبَهُ صَوارِد
Why does reproach not return, hurling
Why does censure not water its channels
its piercing hailstones at me?
With pouring reproaches
أَينَwhere الطَرازُthe embroidery عَلىupon الوُجوthe faces (partial)
أَينَ الطَرازُ عَلى الوُجو
هِfaces (completion) صَدَدنَthey turned away عَنfrom تِلكَthose العَناقِدgrape-clusters
هِ صَدَدنَ عَن تِلكَ العَناقِد
Where is the embroidery upon the faces
Where is the beauty on the cheeks
that turned away from those grape-clusters?
That warded off those necklaces
لِمwhy غابَتvanished الخيلانُthe beauty spots عَنfrom
لِم غابَت الخيلانُ عَن
بيضِwhite الوُجوهِfaces وَلمand not تُعاوِدreturn
بيضِ الوُجوهِ وَلم تُعاوِد
Why have the beauty spots vanished from
Why are the cheeks absent
fair faces, and not returned?
From the whiteness of faces, and did not repeat
لِمwhy لاnot أَرىdo I see ظَبياًa gazelle تَخَطstrutting (partial)
لِم لا أَرى ظَبياً تَخَط
طَرَstrutting (completion) فيamong الربايبthe young beauties وَالمهاددand [unclear term]
طَرَ في الربايب وَالمهادد
Why do I see no gazelle
Why do I not see a gazelle treading
strutting among the young beauties and the [unclear]?
Among the thickets and the pillows
لَهفيmy grief عَلىfor عيشيmy life الرَقيtender (partial)
لَهفي عَلى عيشي الرَقي
قِtender (completion) وَطيبand sweetness هاتيكَthose المَوارِدwatering places
قِ وَطيب هاتيكَ المَوارِد
Alas for my tender life
I yearn for my plentiful life
and the sweetness of those watering places!
And goodly those outpourings
لَهفيmy grief عَلىfor شَمليmy company الجَميunited (partial)
لَهفي عَلى شَملي الجَمي
عِunited (completion) وَعَهدِناand our time بَينَamong المَعاهِدthe familiar haunts
عِ وَعَهدِنا بَينَ المَعاهِد
Alas for my united company
I yearn for my perfect unity
and our time among those familiar haunts!
And our pact among the pacts
أَيّامَthe days when كانَwas زَمانُناour time
أَيّامَ كانَ زَمانُنا
لَدنَsupple الأَخادِعِneck-veins وَالمَقاوِدand reins
لَدنَ الأَخادِعِ وَالمَقاوِد
In the days when our time
Days when our time
was supple in neck and rein.
Was gentle with the deceits and the cushions
وَإِذاand when مَلَلتُI wearied منof القَلاthe necklaces (partial)
وَإِذا مَلَلتُ من القَلا
ئِدِnecklaces (completion) وَالمَعاهِدِand haunts وَالوَلائِدand maidens
ئِدِ وَالمَعاهِدِ وَالوَلائِد
And when I wearied of the
And when I was weary of
necklaces, the haunts, and the maidens,
The necklaces, the pacts and the babies
أَلجَمتُI bridled أَشهَبَa gray steed طائِراًflying
أَلجَمتُ أَشهَبَ طائِراً
أَلفَيتُهُI found him قَيدَa fetter الأَوابِدfor wild beasts
أَلفَيتُهُ قَيدَ الأَوابِد
I bridled a flying gray steed,
I held back a gray-haired bird
and found him a fetter for wild beasts.
I had tamed it bound by obligations
لَفَّhe swept together الأَجارِدَthe sleek steeds بِالأَجاwith sleek steeds (partial)
لَفَّ الأَجارِدَ بِالأَجا
رِدِsleek steeds (completion) وَالفَدافِدَand wastelands بِالفَدافِدupon wastelands
رِدِ وَالفَدافِدَ بِالفَدافِد
He swept sleek steeds together,
It clasped the beasts with the beasts
and folded wasteland upon wasteland.
And the ransoms with the ransoms
وَالتُربُand the earth يُعبَطُis torn شِدَّةًby a fierce rush
وَالتُربُ يُعبَطُ شِدَّةً
اِنif لَجَّhe persisted فيin طَلَبِpursuing المَعانِدthe defiant one
اِن لَجَّ في طَلَبِ المَعانِد
The earth was torn by his fierce rush
And the dust writhing intensely
when he pressed in pursuit of a defiant quarry.
If it settled in pursuit of the opponents
وَمَعيand with me شَجيُّgrieving القَلبِat heart هِنIndian (partial)
وَمَعي شَجيُّ القَلبِ هِن
ديُّIndian (completion) المَناصِلَِthe blades وَالمَجارِدand bared steel
ديُّ المَناصِلَِ وَالمَجارِد
With me was one heartsick, Indian
And with me is a heart breaking Hindi
in its blades and bared steel.
My friend and my defender
لَوif كانَit were يَعمَلُto work فيupon الجَلاthe rocks (partial)
لَو كانَ يَعمَلُ في الجَلا
مِدِrocks (completion) قَدَّit would cleave أَجوازَthe cores الجَلامِدof hard rocks
مِدِ قَدَّ أَجوازَ الجَلامِد
Were it brought to bear upon hard rocks,
If it worked in words
it would cleave the very cores of the boulders.
It would have surpassed the most eloquent words
أَهُوَis it ذائِبٌmelting مِمّاfrom what بِهِis in it
أَهُوَ ذائِبٌ مِمّا بِهِ
لكِنَّهُbut it فيin الكفِّthe palm جامِدis solid
لكِنَّهُ في الكفِّ جامِد
Is it melting from what ails it?
Is it melting from that
Yet in the palm it is solid.
But in the palm it is frozen
لَمnot يخلُhas been free قطُّever غِرارُهُits cutting edge
لَم يخلُ قطُّ غِرارُهُ
منof قَطِّcutting down مجتهدٍa striver وَجاهِدand a struggler
من قَطِّ مجتهدٍ وَجاهِد
Never has its cutting edge been free
Its deceit never lacked
of cutting down those who strive and struggle.
A striving and struggling cat
ياO لَيتَنيwould that I أَمضَيتُهُhad wielded it
يا لَيتَني أَمضَيتُهُ
فيagainst الناصِبينَthose hostile to Ali أَوليpossessors of المَكائِدplots
في الناصِبينَ أَولي المَكائِد
Would that I had wielded it
Oh, if only I had spent it
against the Nawasib, masters of plots,
On the critics, the first of the plotters
أَهلِpeople of الضَلالَةِerror وَالجهاand ignorance (partial)
أَهلِ الضَلالَةِ وَالجها
لَةِignorance (completion) فيin الدَفائِنِhidden thoughts وَالعَقائِدand beliefs
لَةِ في الدَفائِنِ وَالعَقائِد
people of error and
The people of misguidance and ignorance
ignorance in hidden thoughts and creeds,
In the provisions and the beliefs
منfrom أَهلthe people of هِندٍHind وَزياand Ziyad (partial)
من أَهل هِندٍ وَزيا
دٍZiyad (completion) انَّهُمtruly they قُرَضُare morsels الحَدائِدfor iron blades
دٍ انَّهُم قُرَضُ الحَدائِد
from the people of Hind and
From the people of India and excess
Ziyad—mere morsels for iron blades.
They are truly the fodder of the flames
هذاthis وَلوand even if تركhe relinquished الاماthe imamate (partial)
هذا وَلو ترك الاما
مَةَimamate (completion) فيamong kinsmen الاِقارِبِand strangers وَالأَباعِدline_43␜: [
مَةَ في الاِقارِبِ وَالأَباعِد
Yet even had he relinquished the imamate
This—and if he had left the Imamate
among kinsmen and strangers,
Among the relatives and the distant
لَمnot تَجتَريwould dare عُصَبُthe factions of الهبوlowliness (partial)
لَم تَجتَري عُصَبُ الهبو
طِlowliness (completion) عَلىto مُناوَأَةِcontend against الفَراقِدthe pole-stars
طِ عَلى مُناوَأَةِ الفَراقِد
the lowly factions would not have dared
The pact of allegiance would not have flowed
to contend against the pole-stars.
To opposing the tombs
وَالبَيتُand a house لاnot يَبقىendures عَلىupon
وَالبَيتُ لا يَبقى عَلى
عَمَدٍpillars إِذاif وَهَتweaken القَواعِدthe foundations
عَمَدٍ إِذا وَهَت القَواعِد
A house cannot stand upon
And a house does not remain
pillars if its foundations fail.
On pillars when the foundations weaken
روحيmy soul فِداءُa ransom for أَبيAbu تراTurab (partial)
روحي فِداءُ أَبي ترا
بٍTurab (completion) اِنَّهُtruly he بَحرُan ocean of الفَوائِدbenefits
بٍ اِنَّهُ بَحرُ الفَوائِد
My soul be a ransom for Abu
My soul is ransom for my father Turab
Turab: he is an ocean of benefits,
He is truly an ocean of benefits
بَحرُan ocean of الفَوائِدbenefits وَالعَواand bounties (partial)
بَحرُ الفَوائِد وَالعَوا
ئِدِbounties (completion) وَالمَناصِبِand high stations وَالمراشِدand guidance
ئِدِ وَالمَناصِبِ وَالمراشِد
an ocean of benefits and
An ocean of benefits, needs
bounties, high stations, and guidance;
Appointments and guidance
فَلَكُthe celestial sphere of المَجامِعِassemblies وَالمَحاand gatherings (partial)
فَلَكُ المَجامِعِ وَالمَحا
فِلِgatherings (completion) وَالمقاوِلand orators وَالمقاصِدand aims
فِلِ وَالمقاوِل وَالمقاصِد
the celestial sphere of assemblies and
Yours are the assemblies, the conventions
gatherings, orators, and noble aims.
And the contracts and the purposes
نالَhe attained الفَراقِدَthe pole-stars وَالَّذيand the one whom
نالَ الفَراقِدَ وَالَّذي
قَدindeed قَدَّموهُthey put him first بَعدُstill راقِدis asleep
قَد قَدَّموهُ بَعدُ راقِد
He reached the pole-stars, while the one
He attained leadership, and those
they put first is still asleep.
Who had preceded him were asleep
وَاللَهِby God ماnot جَحدوهُthey denied him عنconcerning
وَاللَهِ ما جَحدوهُ عن
حَقٍّa right عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe ages خالِدeverlasting
حَقٍّ عَلى الأَيّامِ خالِد
By God, their denial of his
By God, they did not deny him
right, enduring through the ages,
Any right to the days remaining
إِلّاexcept لثاراتٍfor vendettas تَقاgrew ancient (partial)
إِلّا لثاراتٍ تَقا
دَمَgrew ancient (completion) عَهدُهاtheir memory فيin قَلبِa heart حاقِدspiteful
دَمَ عَهدُها في قَلبِ حاقِد
was only for vendettas whose
If not for some grievances
memory had grown ancient in a spiteful heart.
Whose period advanced in the heart of a resentful one
وَمحلُّهُand his station فَوقَabove الاِماthe imamate (partial)
وَمحلُّهُ فَوقَ الاِما
مَةِimamate (completion) لَوif يُرىwere found لِلفَضلِof merit ناقِدa discerning judge
مَةِ لَو يُرى لِلفَضلِ ناقِد
His station is above the imamate,
And his position is above the Imamate
were there a discerning judge of merit.
If discernment of merit were seen by a critic
لَولاwere it not for فَتاويهِhis legal judgments لكاwould be (partial)
لَولا فَتاويهِ لكا
نَwould be (completion) أَجَلُّهُمtheir greatest يَقظانَawake راقِدasleep
نَ أَجَلُّهُم يَقظانَ راقِد
Were it not for his legal judgments,
If not for his verdicts, the best
their greatest would be a waking sleeper.
Of them would be wakeful, asleep
هُوَhe أَوحدٌunrivaled بَعدَafter النَبِيthe Prophet (partial)
هُوَ أَوحدٌ بَعدَ النَبِي
يِProphet (completion) المُصطَفىthe Chosen One وَالحَقُّand the truth واحِدis one
يِ المُصطَفى وَالحَقُّ واحِد
He is unrivaled after the Prophet,
He is unique after the Chosen Prophet
the Chosen One—and truth is one.
And the truth is one
وَفخارُهُand his glory يَتَناوَلُreaches الزthe bright stars (partial)
وَفخارُهُ يَتَناوَلُ الز
زُهرَbright stars (completion) الثَواقِبَpiercing وَهوwhile he قاعِدis seated
زُهرَ الثَواقِبَ وَهو قاعِد
His glory reaches the
His pride attains the highest
radiant, piercing stars while he sits.
Stars while he is sitting
نَصَرَhe supported النَبِيَّthe Prophet المُصطَفىthe Chosen One
نَصَرَ النَبِيَّ المُصطَفى
عِندَamid العَظائِمِgreat perils وَالشَدائِدand hardships
عِندَ العَظائِمِ وَالشَدائِد
He aided the chosen Prophet
He gave victory to the Chosen Prophet
amid great perils and hardships,
In times of great tribulations
حَيثُwhere الكماةُthe warriors الدّارِعوthe armored ones (partial)
حَيثُ الكماةُ الدّارِعو
نَarmored ones (completion) ضَراغمٌare lions تَحتَbeneath المَطارِدthe lances
نَ ضَراغمٌ تَحتَ المَطارِد
where the armored warriors
Where the helmeted warriors
were lions beneath the lances,
Clanging battalions beneath pursuit
وَالمَوتُand death يَحكُمُjudges قاضِياًas a judge
وَالمَوتُ يَحكُمُ قاضِياً
بَينَbetween المُحارِبِthe combatant وَالمُحاردand the one holding back
بَينَ المُحارِبِ وَالمُحارد
and Death passed judgment as a judge
And death judged as a judge
between the fighter and the one who held back.
Between the warrior and the pursued
حَتّىuntil اِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الدينُthe faith حَطlowered (partial)
حَتّى اِذا ما الدينُ حَط
طَlowered (completion) جِرانَهُits neck ثَبتَfirm المَعابِدthe sanctuaries
طَ جِرانَهُ ثَبتَ المَعابِد
Until religion lowered
Until when the religion donned
its neck, its sanctuaries standing firm,
Its breastplate, the places of worship were affirmed
وَقَضىand decreed الغَديرُGhadir بِماaccording to what قَضىit decreed
وَقَضى الغَديرُ بِما قَضى
وَالصُبحُand dawn لِلظُلماءِof darkness طارِدis a banisher
وَالصُبحُ لِلظُلماءِ طارِد
and Ghadir decreed what it decreed,
And Ghadir declared what it declared
while dawn drove darkness away.
And the dawn was chasing away the dark
كانَتthere were امروٌevents (unclear spelling) حَصرُهاtheir tally
كانَت امروٌ حَصرُها
بِالعَدُوِّby the enemy (perhaps 'by counting') يُعجِزُdefeats كلَّevery عاقِدreckoner
بِالعَدُوِّ يُعجِزُ كلَّ عاقِد
There were [events] whose full tally
There were matters whose limit
[by counting] would defeat every reckoner.
Was the enemy, incapacitating every binder
وَأَتَتand came مَعَwith الجَمَلِthe camel الخِدبhuge (partial)
وَأَتَت مَعَ الجَمَلِ الخِدب
بِhuge (completion) لِحىًbeards تَنَفِّشُbristle لِلأَوابِدfor monstrous deeds
بِ لِحىً تَنَفِّشُ لِلأَوابِد
With the mighty camel came
And with the camel came the Khadib
beards bristling for monstrous deeds.
With a beard scattering the obligations
وَمَضَتand passed عَجائِبُwonders قَدindeed رُبِيhad multiplied (partial)
وَمَضَت عَجائِبُ قَد رُبِي
نَhad multiplied (completion) وَكمand how many أَعُدُّshall I count وَكَمand how often أُعاوِدshall I repeat
نَ وَكم أَعُدُّ وَكَم أُعاوِد
And wonders passed that had multiplied—
And wonders passed already cultivated
how many shall I count, how often return?
How many I count and repeat
وَالنَكثُand oath-breaking بَعدafter البيعَةِthe pledge of allegiance الthe (partial)
وَالنَكثُ بَعد البيعَةِ ال
غَرّاءِradiant منof فِعلِthe deed of المُعانِدthe defiant one
غَرّاءِ من فِعلِ المُعانِد
Oath-breaking after the
And violation after the shining pledge
radiant pledge is the act of the defiant.
Is the action of an opponent
أَلِلَّهُGod عَونُكَyour helper ياO عَلِيAli (partial)
أَلِلَّهُ عَونُكَ يا عَلِي
يAli (completion) وَحَربُand the enemy of خوّانٍa habitual traitor وَجاحِدand a denier
ي وَحَربُ خوّانٍ وَجاحِد
God is your helper, O Ali,
Oh God, your support oh Ali
and the foe of traitors and deniers.
And the war of betrayers and resentful ones
لَولاwere it not for جَرائِرُthe crimes of ذلِكَthat الthe (partial)
لَولا جَرائِرُ ذلِكَ ال
جَمَلِcamel الَّذيwhich قَدindeed قيلَwas called مارِدrebellious
جَمَلِ الَّذي قَد قيلَ مارِد
Were it not for the crimes of that
If not for the crimes of that
camel, which was called rebellious,
Camel which was said to be a demon
وَعَمىand the blindness of رجالٍmen كُلُّهُمall of them
وَعَمى رجالٍ كُلُّهُم
أَعمىblind يَجىءُcomes بِغَيرِwithout قائِدa guide
أَعمى يَجىءُ بِغَيرِ قائِد
and the blindness of men, every one
And the blindness of men, all of them
blind, coming without a guide,
Blind, coming without a guide
ماnot كانَwas يَشتَغِلُbusying himself اِبنُthe son of هِنHind (partial)
ما كانَ يَشتَغِلُ اِبنُ هِن
دٍHind (completion) لِلخِلافَةِfor the caliphate وَهوَwhile he خامِدwas dormant
دٍ لِلخِلافَةِ وَهوَ خامِد
the son of Hind would never have busied himself
The son of Hind would not have busied
with the caliphate, while lying dormant.
Himself with the caliphate, and he is frozen
لَكَfor you مِنّيَfrom me المِدَحُpraises الَّتيwhich
لَكَ مِنّيَ المِدَحُ الَّتي
يُعنىis concerned بِأَدناهاwith the least of them عُطارِدMercury
يُعنى بِأَدناها عُطارِد
For you I have praises whose
From me is the praise
least would occupy Mercury.
That is meant by the lowest planet
أَنتَyou الفَريدُthe peerless one وَهذِهِand these
أَنتَ الفَريدُ وَهذِهِ
فيin وَصفِdescribing عَياكyour glory (unclear spelling) الفَرائِدpeerless pearls
في وَصفِ عَياك الفَرائِد
You are peerless, and these
You are the unique one, and this is
are peerless pearls describing your [glory].
In describing your outstanding traits
وَولايَتيand my allegiance مَشهورَةٌis renowned
وَولايَتي مَشهورَةٌ
مَشهودَةٌattested وَاللَهُand God شاهِدis witness
مَشهودَةٌ وَاللَهُ شاهِد
My allegiance is renowned,
And my loyalty is renowned
attested—and God is witness.
Witnessed, and God is witness
لكِنَّنيbut I مُتَحَرِّقٌam burning
لكِنَّني مُتَحَرِّقٌ
لَلبُعدِbecause of distance عَنfrom تِلكَthose المَشاهِدshrines
لَلبُعدِ عَن تِلكَ المَشاهِد
Yet I burn with longing
But I am aflame
at my distance from those shrines.
For remoteness from those sights
ياO رَبّLord جَنِّبنيspare me العَواthe obstacles (partial)
يا رَبّ جَنِّبني العَوا
ئِقَobstacles (completion) مُجزِلَO lavish giver of النِعمِblessings العَوائِدrecurring
ئِقَ مُجزِلَ النِعمِ العَوائِد
O Lord, spare me the
Oh Lord, spare me the obstacles
obstacles, O lavish giver of recurring blessings,
Destructive of repeated favors
كيماso that أُباشِرَهاI may touch them بِروwith my soul (partial)
كيما أُباشِرَها بِرو
حِيَmy soul (completion) انَّtruly بَرحَthe anguish of الشَوقِlonging زائِدis increasing
حِيَ انَّ بَرحَ الشَوقِ زائِد
that I may touch them with my
So that I may engage them
soul; for longing's anguish grows.
With my soul—the longing has increased
ياO أَيُّهاyou الكوفيُّman of Kufa هذيthis
يا أَيُّها الكوفيُّ هذي
غُرَّةٌa radiant blaze بَينَamong القَصائِدthe odes
غُرَّةٌ بَينَ القَصائِد
O man of Kufa, this is
O you of Kufa, this is
a blaze of light among the odes.
A dive among the poems
أَورَدتُهاI brought it forth تَرميit strikes النَواthe Nawasib (partial)
أَورَدتُها تَرمي النَوا
صِبَNawasib (completion) بِالصَوائِبِwith unerring shafts وَالصَوارِدand far-flying shafts
صِبَ بِالصَوائِبِ وَالصَوارِد
I brought it forth to strike the
I presented it to throw
Nawasib with unerring, far-flying shafts.
The critics with missiles and spears
ضَحَّتit sacrificed بِهِمthem as victims فيat عيدِthe feast of أَضAdha (partial)
ضَحَّت بِهِم في عيدِ أَض
حىAdha (completion) اِنَّهُمtruly they نَعَمare livestock شَوارِدstraying
حى اِنَّهُم نَعَم شَوارِد
It sacrificed them at Eid al-
It exposed them during the feast of lights
Adha: they are straying livestock.
They are excellent teasers
وَحَذَفتُand I omitted أُختَthe sister of الشينِthe letter shin مِنfrom
وَحَذَفتُ أُختَ الشينِ مِن
هاit عَنat طلابِthe request of أَخٍa brother معانِدstubborn
ها عَن طلابِ أَخٍ معانِد
I omitted shin's sister-letter from
And I omitted the “sh” sister
it, at a stubborn brother's request.
From it, from seekers of an opponent
أَنشِدrecite وردِّدand repeat إِنَّهاtruly it
أَنشِد وردِّد إِنَّها
زادُprovision القِيامَةِResurrection لِلمَعابِدfor the worshipper
زادُ القِيامَةِ لِلمَعابِد
Recite and repeat it: it is
Recite and repeat, it is
provision for the worshipper on Resurrection Day.
Provisions for the Resurrection of the worshipers
أَجرُthe reward of اِبنِson of عَبّادٍAbbad بِهاfor it
أَجرُ اِبنِ عَبّادٍ بِها
يوفيsurpasses عَلىbeyond عِشرينtwenty عابِدworshippers
يوفي عَلى عِشرين عابِد
Ibn Abbad's reward for it
The reward of the son of ‘Abbad with it
surpasses that of twenty worshippers.
Settles twenty worshipers
Sol 6.1