ماwhat بالُis the matter with عَلوىAlwa لاnot تردُّdoes she return جَوابيmy reply
ما بالُ عَلوى لا تردُّ جَوابي
هذاthis وَماthough not وَدَّعتُhave I bidden farewell to شَرخَthe prime of شَبابيmy youth
هذا وَما وَدَّعتُ شَرخَ شَبابي
What ails Alwa, that she will not answer me?
Why does Alwa not answer my call
And this, though I have not bidden farewell to the prime of my youth!
Even though I bid farewell to the prime of my youth?
أَتَظُنُّdoes she think أَثوابَthe robes of الشَبابِyouth بِلَمَّتيupon my locks
أَتَظُنُّ أَثوابَ الشَبابِ بِلَمَّتي
دَورَthe work of الخضابِhair-dye فَماyet not عَرَفتُhave I known خضابيmy hair-dye
دَورَ الخضابِ فَما عَرَفتُ خضابي
Does she think the robes of youth upon my locks
Do you think the rewards of youth are obtained through my determination?
the work of dye? Yet I have never dyed my hair.
The days of dyeing have passed and I do not know my dye
أَوَلَمhas she not تَرَseen الدُنياthe world تطيعُobey أَوامريmy commands
أَوَلَم تَرَ الدُنيا تطيعُ أَوامري
وَالدَهرُand time يَلزمُkeeps to كيفَhowever شِئتُI wish جنابيmy side
وَالدَهرُ يَلزمُ كيفَ شِئتُ جنابي
Has she not seen the world obey my commands,
Have you not seen that the world obeys my commands
and time keep at my side however I wish?
And fate sticks to however I want its side?
وَالعيشand life غَضfresh وَالمَسارِحand the roaming grounds جمَّةplentiful
وَالعيش غَض وَالمَسارِح جمَّة
وَالهَمُّand sorrow أَقسَمَhas sworn لاnot يَطورُto circle بِبابيaround my door
وَالهَمُّ أَقسَمَ لا يَطورُ بِبابي
And life is fresh, and the fields for roaming plentiful,
Life is still plentiful and the theaters still crowded
and sorrow has sworn never to circle my door.
And worries have sworn not to leave my door
وَوَلاءُand allegiance to آلِthe family of محمدٍMuhammad قَدindeed خيرَhas been chosen ليfor me
وَوَلاءُ آلِ محمدٍ قَد خيرَ لي
وَالعَدلand justice وَالتَوحيدُand divine oneness قَدindeed سَعداhave both prospered بيthrough me
وَالعَدل وَالتَوحيدُ قَد سَعدا بي
And allegiance to Muhammad's family has been chosen for me,
The loyalty of Muhammad's family chose me
and justice and divine oneness have prospered through me.
And justice and monotheism have been blessed through me
منfrom بَعدِafter ماwhen اِستَدَّتwere set aright مَطالِبُthe quests of طالِبٍa seeker of
من بَعدِ ما اِستَدَّت مَطالِبُ طالِبٍ
بابَthe gate of الرشادِright guidance إِلىtoward هُدىًguidance وَصَوابِand sound judgment
بابَ الرشادِ إِلى هُدىً وَصَوابِ
After a seeker's quests had found their proper course
After the demands of the seeker were fulfilled
to the gate of righteousness, toward guidance and sound judgment,
The door of guidance to the right path was opened
عاوَدتُI returned to عرصَةَthe grounds of أَصبَهانَIsfahan وَجَهلُهاand its ignorance
عاوَدتُ عرصَةَ أَصبَهانَ وَجَهلُها
ثَبتُfirm in القَواعِدِfoundations مُحكمُtightly secured in الاِطنابِtent-ropes
ثَبتُ القَواعِدِ مُحكمُ الاِطنابِ
I returned to the grounds of Isfahan, its ignorance
I returned to the land of Isfahan and its ignorance
firm in its foundations, its tent-ropes tightly secured.
With firm principles and eloquent speech
وَالجَبرand determinism وَالتَشبيهand anthropomorphism قَدindeed جثماhad both crouched بِهاtherein
وَالجَبر وَالتَشبيه قَد جثما بِها
وَالدينُand religion فيهاthere مَذهَبُthe creed of النُصّابthe anti-Alid partisans
وَالدينُ فيها مَذهَبُ النُصّاب
And determinism and anthropomorphism had crouched there,
Constraint and analogy have persisted there
and religion there was the creed of the Nasibis.
And religion is the doctrine of idolators
فَكَفَفتُهُمso I restrained them دهراًfor an age وَقدand indeed نَفَّقتُهُمI gave them currency
فَكَفَفتُهُم دهراً وَقد نَفَّقتُهُم
إِلّاexcept أَراذِلَthe vilest منamong ذَويthose with الأَذنابtails
إِلّا أَراذِلَ من ذَوي الأَذناب
So I held them in check for an age, and gave them currency,
I held them back for a time and almost finished them
except the vilest among those with tails.
Except the riffraff among the tail-carriers
وَرَوَيتُand I related منof فَضلِthe merit of النَبِيِّthe Prophet وَآلِهِand his family
وَرَوَيتُ من فَضلِ النَبِيِّ وَآلِهِ
مالاwhat does not يُبَقّيleave شَبهةَany doubt for المُرتابِthe doubter
مالا يُبَقّي شَبهةَ المُرتابِ
And I related, of the virtues of the Prophet and his family,
And I narrated from the excellence of the Prophet and his family
what leaves no doubter any doubt.
What dispels all doubts
وَذَكرتُand I recounted ماthat with which خُصَّwas singled out النَبِيُّthe Prophet بِفَضلِهِthrough its excellence
وَذَكرتُ ما خُصَّ النَبِيُّ بِفَضلِهِ
منamong مَفخرthe glories of الأَعمالِdeeds وَالأَنسابِand lineages
من مَفخر الأَعمالِ وَالأَنسابِ
And I recounted the excellence that distinguished the Prophet
And I mentioned what the Prophet was distinguished with
in glorious deeds and ancestry.
Of the pride of deeds and ancestry
وَذَرِand leave الَّذيthe one كانَتshe used to تَعَرَّفُrecognize داءَهُhis ailment
وَذَرِ الَّذي كانَت تَعَرَّفُ داءَهُ
اِنَّindeed الشِفاءَthe cure لهُfor him اِستِماعُlistening to خِطابيmy discourse
اِنَّ الشِفاءَ لهُ اِستِماعُ خِطابي
And leave the one whose ailment she used to recognize:
Leave those whose sickness was known through
his cure, indeed, is listening to my discourse.
Listening to my sermon is their cure
ياO آلَfamily of أَحمدَAhmad أَنتُمُyou حِرزيmy refuge الَّذيwhich
يا آلَ أَحمدَ أَنتُمُ حِرزي الَّذي
أَمنَتfound safety بِهِthrough it نَفسيmy soul منfrom الأَوصابِafflictions
أَمنَت بِهِ نَفسي من الأَوصابِ
O family of Ahmad, you are my refuge, through which
O Muhammad’s family, you are my refuge
my soul has found safety from afflictions.
Through which I protected my soul from afflictions
أُسعِدتُI was made fortunate بِالدُنياin this world وَقدand indeed والَيتكُمI pledged you loyalty
أُسعِدتُ بِالدُنيا وَقد والَيتكُم
وَكَذاand thus يَكونُwill be مَعwith السعودgood fortune مَأبيmy final return
وَكَذا يَكونُ مَع السعود مَأبي
I have been made fortunate in this world, having pledged you loyalty,
I was blessed with worldly joys and loyal to you
and thus my final return shall be attended by good fortune.
And so it will always be with good fortune
أَنتُمyou سراجُthe lamp of اللَهِGod فيin ظُلَمِthe darkness of الدُجىnight
أَنتُم سراجُ اللَهِ في ظُلَمِ الدُجى
وَحسامهُand His cutting sword فيin كُلِّevery يومِday of ضرابcombat
وَحسامهُ في كُلِّ يومِ ضراب
You are God's lamp in the darkness of night,
You are God's lanterns in the darkness of night
and His cutting sword on every day of battle;
And His unsheathed sword in every battle
وَنجومُهُand His stars الزُهرُthe radiant الَّتيthat تهديguide الوَرىhumankind
وَنجومُهُ الزُهرُ الَّتي تهدي الوَرى
وَليوثُهُand His lions اِنif غابَis absent لَيثُthe lion of الغابِthe thicket
وَليوثُهُ اِن غابَ لَيثُ الغابِ
and His radiant stars that guide humankind,
And His bright stars that guide creation
and His lions when the lion of the thicket is absent.
And His lions if the beasts of the forest are absent
لاnot يُرتَجيis hoped for دينٌa faith خَلاdevoid منof حُبِّكُمlove for you
لا يُرتَجي دينٌ خَلا من حُبِّكُم
هَلcan يُرتَجىbe hoped for مَطَرrain بِغَيرِwithout سَحابclouds
هَل يُرتَجى مَطَر بِغَيرِ سَحاب
No hope is placed in a faith devoid of love for you:
No religion is hoped for without love of you
can rain be hoped for without clouds?
Can rain be expected without clouds?
أَنتُمyou يَمينُthe right hand of اللَهِGod فيin أَمصارِهِHis cities
أَنتُم يَمينُ اللَهِ في أَمصارِهِ
لَوif only يعرفُunderstood النصّابُthe anti-Alid partisans رجعَthe return of جَوابa reply
لَو يعرفُ النصّابُ رجعَ جَواب
You are God's right hand in His cities,
You are God's right hand in His lands
if only the Nasibis understood an answering word.
If the idolators recognize, their answer will return
تَرَكواthey forsook الشَرابdrink وَقَدthough already شَكواthey complained of غُلَلthe burning of الصَدىthirst
تَرَكوا الشَراب وَقَد شَكوا غُلَل الصَدى
وَتَعَلَّلواand consoled themselves جَهلاignorantly بِلمعwith the gleam of سرابa mirage
وَتَعَلَّلوا جَهلا بِلمع سراب
They forsook drink, though they complained of thirst's burning,
They left wine and complained of handcuffs from exhaustion
and ignorantly consoled themselves with a mirage's gleam.
And falsely blamed it on a mirage
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الهَوىpassion يَهوىplunges down بِمَنwith whoever
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الهَوى يَهوى بِمَن
تَركَabandons العَقيدَةَbelief رنةthe ringing of الأَنسابِpedigrees
تَركَ العَقيدَةَ رنة الأَنسابِ
They did not know that passion casts down whoever
They did not know that passions pursue whoever
abandons belief for the ringing of pedigrees.
Abandons doctrine, pride of ancestry
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
غَلَبَovercame الخضارِمَmighty champions كلَّevery يومِday of غلابِcontest
غَلَبَ الخضارِمَ كلَّ يومِ غلابِ
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one who
They did not know that the Trustee is the one who
overcame mighty champions on every day of contest.
Vanquished fierce warriors every victorious day
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
آخىbecame brother to النَبِيَّthe Prophet اخوَّةَin a brotherhood of الاِنجابnobility
آخى النَبِيَّ اخوَّةَ الاِنجاب
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one who
They did not know the Trustee is the one
became the Prophet's brother in a brotherhood of nobility.
To whom the Prophet showed brotherly affection
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
سَبَقَsurpassed الجَميعَall بِسُنَّةٍby tradition وَكتابand scripture
سَبَقَ الجَميعَ بِسُنَّةٍ وَكتاب
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one who
They did not know the Trustee is the one
surpassed all by tradition and scripture.
Who preceded everyone in the Way and Scripture
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
لَمdid not يَرضَbe content بِالأَصنامِwith idols وَالأَنصابand altar-stones
لَم يَرضَ بِالأَصنامِ وَالأَنصاب
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one who
They did not know the Trustee is the one
never accepted idols or altar-stones.
Who did not accept idols and statues
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
آتىgave الزَكاةَthe alms وَكانَwhile he was فيin المِحرابthe prayer niche
آتى الزَكاةَ وَكانَ في المِحراب
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one who
They did not know the Trustee is the one
gave the alms while he was in the prayer niche.
Who gave alms while bowing in prayer
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
حَكَمَgave judgment الغَديرُGhadir لَهُin his favor عَلىagainst الأَصحابthe Companions
حَكَمَ الغَديرُ لَهُ عَلى الأَصحاب
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one
They did not know the Trustee is the one
for whom Ghadir ruled against the Companions.
To whom Ghadeer ruled over the Companions
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
قَدindeed سامَsubjected أَهلَthe people of الشِركِpolytheism سَومto an infliction of عَذابtorment
قَد سامَ أَهلَ الشِركِ سَوم عَذاب
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one who
They did not know the Trustee is the one
subjected the people of polytheism to grievous torment.
Who took terrible vengeance on the polytheists
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
أَزرىbrought low بِبَدرٍat Badr كُلَّevery أَصيَدَhaughty lord آبيdefiant
أَزرى بِبَدرٍ كُلَّ أَصيَدَ آبي
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one who
They did not know the Trustee is the one
at Badr brought low every haughty, defiant lord.
Who at Badr hunted every intended prey
لَمdid not يَعلَمواthey know أَنَّthat الوَصِيَّthe appointed successor هوَhe الَّذيthe one who
لَم يَعلَموا أَنَّ الوَصِيَّ هوَ الَّذي
تَرَكَleft الضَلالَerror مُفَلَّلَwith shattered الأَنيابfangs
تَرَكَ الضَلالَ مُفَلَّلَ الأَنياب
They did not know that the appointed successor was the one who
They did not know the Trustee is the one
left error with its fangs shattered.
Who abandoned misguidance, restrained from violence
ماليwhy do I أَقصُّrecount فَضائِلَthe virtues of البَحرِthe sea الَّذيwhose
مالي أَقصُّ فَضائِلَ البَحرِ الَّذي
عَلياهhis lofty excellence تَسبِقُoutstrips عدَّthe counting of كُلِّevery حسابreckoning
عَلياه تَسبِقُ عدَّ كُلِّ حساب
Why do I recount the virtues of that sea
Why should I recount the virtues of the ocean
whose lofty excellence outstrips the sum of every reckoning?
That infinitely surpasses all counts?
لكِنَّنيyet I مُتَرَوِّحٌfind refreshment بِيَسيرin the little of ماwhat
لكِنَّني مُتَرَوِّحٌ بِيَسير ما
أُبديهِI disclose it أَرجوI hope أَنthat يَزيدَit may increase ثَوابيmy reward
أُبديهِ أَرجو أَن يَزيدَ ثَوابي
Yet I find refreshment in the little that
But I casually mention some of what
I disclose, hoping it may increase my reward.
I state, hoping it will increase my reward
وَأُريدُand I wish اكمادَto grieve النَواصِبِthe anti-Alid partisans كُلَّماwhenever
وَأُريدُ اكمادَ النَواصِبِ كُلَّما
سَمعواthey hear كَلاميmy words وَهوand it is صوتُthe sound of رَبابِa rabab
سَمعوا كَلامي وَهو صوتُ رَبابِ
And I wish to grieve the Nasibis whenever
And I want to silence the hostility of the Haters
they hear my words, which are the sound of a rabab.
Whenever they hear my words, the sound of the rebab
أَيَحلوdoes it taste sweet اِذاwhen الشيعيُّthe Shi'i رَدَّدrepeats ذكرَهُhis remembrance
أَيَحلو اِذا الشيعيُّ رَدَّد ذكرَهُ
لكِنbut عَلىto النُصابِthe anti-Alid partisans مثلlike الصابbitter sap
لكِن عَلى النُصابِ مثل الصاب
Does it taste sweet when the Shi'i repeats his name,
Is it not sweet when a Shia recites his mention
yet taste like bitter sap to the Nasibis?
But it is like a slap in the face of the Haters
مِدَحpraises كَأَيّامِlike the days of الشَبابِyouth جَعَلتُهاI have made them
مِدَح كَأَيّامِ الشَبابِ جَعَلتُها
دابيmy constant practice وَهُنَّand they are عَقائِدُthe necklaces of الادآبliterature
دابي وَهُنَّ عَقائِدُ الادآب
Praises, like the days of youth, I have made
In praise like the days of youth I made them
my constant practice; they are the necklaces of literature.
My doctrine, and they are the pillars of ethics
حُبّيmy love for أَميرَthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful دِيانَةٌreligious devotion
حُبّي أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ دِيانَةٌ
ظَهَرتhave appeared عَلَيهِupon it سَرائِريmy inmost secrets وَثِيابيand my garments
ظَهَرت عَلَيهِ سَرائِري وَثِيابي
My love for the Commander of the Faithful is my religion;
My love for the Commander of the Faithful is a creed
my inmost thoughts and my garments have made it plain.
Through which my innermost thoughts and clothes appeared
أَدَّتled اِلَيهِto him بَصائِرinsights أَعمَلتُهاI put them to work
أَدَّت اِلَيهِ بَصائِر أَعمَلتُها
اِعمالَas the employing by مَرضِيِّone sound in اليَقينِcertainty عُقابيmy eagle
اِعمالَ مَرضِيِّ اليَقينِ عُقابي
Insights I put to work have led me to him,
It led the insights I actualized
as one of sound conviction puts my eagle to work.
To the work of the confident conscience
لَمnot يَعبَثhas toyed التَقليدُblind imitation بيwith me وَمَحَبَّتيnor my love
لَم يَعبَث التَقليدُ بي وَمَحَبَّتي
لعمارَةfor exalting الأَسلافِforebears وَالأَحسابِand noble pedigrees
لعمارَة الأَسلافِ وَالأَحسابِ
Blind imitation has not toyed with me, nor has my love
Neither conformity nor affection misguided me
of exalting forebears and noble pedigrees.
To follow the exemplars and the accounts
ياO كُفؤَworthy match for بِنتِthe daughter of محمدٍMuhammad لَولاكَbut for you ماnot
يا كُفؤَ بِنتِ محمدٍ لَولاكَ ما
زُفَّتwould she have been led as a bride اِلىto بَشرٍany mortal مَدىthroughout الأَحقابthe ages
زُفَّت اِلى بَشرٍ مَدى الأَحقاب
O worthy match for Muhammad's daughter, but for you she would not
O daughter of Muhammad, without you
have been led as a bride to any mortal through all the ages.
None would be matched to a human for eternities
ياO أَصلَroot of عترةِthe progeny of أَحمدٍAhmad لَولاكَbut for you لَمnot
يا أَصلَ عترةِ أَحمدٍ لَولاكَ لَم
يكُwould have been أَحمدُAhmad المَبعوثُthe one sent forth ذاpossessed of أَعقابِdescendants
يكُ أَحمدُ المَبعوثُ ذا أَعقابِ
O root of Ahmad's progeny, but for you
O root of Ahmad's family, without you
Ahmad, the one sent forth, would have had no descendants.
Ahmad would not have descendants
وَأُفِئتَand you were endowed بِالحَسَنَينِwith Hasan and Husayn خيرthe finest وِلادَةٍoffspring
وَأُفِئتَ بِالحَسَنَينِ خير وِلادَةٍ
قَدindeed ضُمِّنَتwas contained بِحَقائِبِwithin the saddlebags of الاِنجابnoble begetting
قَد ضُمِّنَت بِحَقائِبِ الاِنجاب
And you were endowed with Hasan and Husayn, the finest offspring,
You were blessed with the two grandsons, the best
enclosed within the saddlebags of noble begetting.
Of births, incorporated in the folds of lineage
كانَwas النَبِيُّthe Prophet مَدينَةَthe city of العِلمِknowledge الَّتيwhich
كانَ النَبِيُّ مَدينَةَ العِلمِ الَّتي
حَوَتcontained الكَمالperfection وَكنتَand you were أَفضلَthe finest بابgate
حَوَت الكَمال وَكنتَ أَفضلَ باب
The Prophet was the city of knowledge, which
The Prophet was the city of knowledge
contained perfection, and you were its finest gate.
Containing all perfection, and you were its greatest gate
رُدَّتwas brought back عَلَيكَfor you الشَمسُthe sun وَهيَand it is فَضيلَةa distinction
رُدَّت عَلَيكَ الشَمسُ وَهيَ فَضيلَة
بَهرتdazzled فَلَمand so was not تُستَرhidden بلفِّby the wrapping of نقابa veil
بَهرت فَلَم تُستَر بلفِّ نقاب
The sun was brought back for you—a distinction
The sun was restored to you, a merit
so dazzling that no veil's folds could conceal it.
That dazzled, so it was not veiled by a cloak
لمnot أَحكِI related الاexcept ماwhat رَوَتهُtransmitted it نَواصِبanti-Alid partisans
لم أَحكِ الا ما رَوَتهُ نَواصِب
عادتكwere hostile to you وَهيَand they are مُباحَةlawful for the taking الأَسلابspoils
عادتك وَهيَ مُباحَة الأَسلاب
I have related only what Nasibis transmitted,
I do not speak except what the Haters themselves narrated
who were your enemies, their spoils free for the taking.
Of your virtue, which reveals ancestry
عومِلتَyou were treated ياO صَنوَpeer of النَبِيِّthe Prophet وَتلوَهُand the one next after him
عومِلتَ يا صَنوَ النَبِيِّ وَتلوَهُ
بِأَوابِدٍwith monstrous deeds جاءَتcame بكُلِّwith every عُجابastonishing thing
بِأَوابِدٍ جاءَت بكُلِّ عُجاب
You were treated, O the Prophet's peer and the one next after him,
You were betrayed, O grandson of the Prophet
with monstrous deeds of every astonishing kind.
With such marvels that came with great wonders
عوهِدتَa covenant was made with you ثُمَّthen نُكِثتَyou were betrayed وَاِنفَرَدَand stood apart الأُلىthose who
عوهِدتَ ثُمَّ نُكِثتَ وَاِنفَرَدَ الأُلى
نَكَصواturned back بِحَربِهِمُwith their warfare عَلىupon الأَعقابthe heels
نَكَصوا بِحَربِهِمُ عَلى الأَعقاب
You were pledged loyalty, then betrayed; and apart stood those
You were promised then betrayed and the band
who turned back on their heels, waging their war.
Turned back, fleeing the battle in defeat
حورِبتَyou were fought ثُمَّthen قُتِلتَyou were killed ثُمَّthen لُعِنتَyou were cursed ياoh
حورِبتَ ثُمَّ قُتِلتَ ثُمَّ لُعِنتَ يا
بُعداًbanishment لأَجمَعَهمfor them all وَطولَand long duration of تبابruin
بُعداً لأَجمَعَهم وَطولَ تباب
You were fought, then killed, then cursed—oh,
You were warred against, then killed, then cursed, O
away with them all, and long may their ruin endure!
May they be distantly damned for eternity!
Sol 6.1