حَدقُthe eyes of الحِسانِbeautiful women رَمَينَنيthey struck me بِتَمَلمُلِwith restlessness
حَدقُ الحِسانِ رَمَينَني بِتَمَلمُلِ
وَأَخذنَand they seized قَلبيmy heart فيin الرَعيلِthe vanguard الأَوَّلِthe first
وَأَخذنَ قَلبي في الرَعيلِ الأَوَّلِ
The eyes of beautiful women struck me with restlessness,
and seized my heart in their first assault.
غادَرنَنيthey left me وَإِلىand to التَفَزُّعِpanic مَفزَعيmy refuge
غادَرنَني وَإِلى التَفَزُّعِ مَفزَعي
وَتَرَكنَنيand they abandoned me وَعلىand upon العويلwailing مُعَوَّليmy reliance
وَتَرَكنَني وَعلى العويل مُعَوَّلي
They left me with panic as my refuge,
and abandoned me with wailing as my sole reliance.
لَوif أَنَّindeed ماwhat أَلقاهُI endure حُمِّلَwere laid upon يَذبُلاًYadhbul
لَو أَنَّ ما أَلقاهُ حُمِّلَ يَذبُلاً
قَدsurely كانَwould have يَذبُلُwithered مِنهُfrom it رُكناthe two flanks of يَذبُلYadhbul
قَد كانَ يَذبُلُ مِنهُ رُكنا يَذبُل
Had what I endure been laid upon Yadhbul,
Yadhbul's two flanks would surely have withered beneath it.
ماnot زِلتُI ceased أَرعىwatching اللَيلَthe night رَعيَthe watching of مُوَكَّلٍan appointed guardian
ما زِلتُ أَرعى اللَيلَ رَعيَ مُوَكَّلٍ
حَتّىuntil رَأَيتُI saw نُجومَهُits stars يَبكينَweeping ليfor me
حَتّى رَأَيتُ نُجومَهُ يَبكينَ لي
I kept watching the night like an appointed guardian,
until I saw its stars weeping for me.
فَحَسِبتُهاso I imagined them زَهَراتِflowers of روضٍa garden ضاحِكٍlaughing
فَحَسِبتُها زَهَراتِ روضٍ ضاحِكٍ
متبسِّمٍsmiling قدalready أَلقِيَتhad been cast فيinto جَدوَلa stream
متبسِّمٍ قد أَلقِيَت في جَدوَل
I imagined them flowers from a laughing garden,
a smiling garden, cast into a stream.
يَنقَضُّshoots down لامِعُهاits shining star فَتَحسَبso you imagine كاتِباًa scribe
يَنقَضُّ لامِعُها فَتَحسَب كاتِباً
قَدalready مَدَّhas drawn سَطراًa line مُذهَباًgilded بِتَعَجُّلِin haste
قَد مَدَّ سَطراً مُذهَباً بِتَعَجُّلِ
A shining star shoots down, and you imagine a scribe
hastily drawing out a gilded line.
وَيَغيبُand disappears طالِعُهاits risen star كَدُرٍlike pearls قَدalready وَهىcome loose
وَيَغيبُ طالِعُها كَدُرٍ قَد وَهى
مِنfrom سِلكِthe necklace-thread of غانيةٍa beautiful woman مَشَتwho walked بِتَدَلُّلcoquettishly
مِن سِلكِ غانيةٍ مَشَت بِتَدَلُّل
A risen star disappears like pearls coming loose
from the necklace of a beauty walking coquettishly.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle الصُبحُmorning أَنفذَsent forth رَسلَهُits messengers
حَتّى إِذا ما الصُبحُ أَنفذَ رَسلَهُ
أَبدَتthey revealed شُجونَthe sorrows of تفرُّقٍparting وَترحُّلand departure
أَبدَت شُجونَ تفرُّقٍ وَترحُّل
Until, when morning sent forth its messengers,
the stars revealed the sorrows of parting and departure.
وَالفَجرُand dawn منfrom رَأدِthe first gleam of الضِياءِlight كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَالفَجرُ من رَأدِ الضِياءِ كَأَنَّهُ
سُعدىSuʿda وَقدwhen she had بَرَزَتappeared لَناbefore us بِتَبَذُّلin casual dress
سُعدى وَقد بَرَزَت لَنا بِتَبَذُّل
And dawn, in the first flush of light, seemed
like Suʿda appearing before us in casual dress.
وَمَضىand departed الظَلامُdarkness يَجُرُّdragging ذَيلthe hem of عُبوسِهِits frown
وَمَضى الظَلامُ يَجُرُّ ذَيل عُبوسِهِ
فَأَتىthen arrived الضِياءُlight بِوَجهِهِwith its face المُتَهَلِّلradiant
فَأَتى الضِياءُ بِوَجهِهِ المُتَهَلِّل
Darkness departed, trailing the hem of its frown,
and light arrived with its radiant face.
وَبَداand appeared لَناto us ترسa shield منof الذَهَبِgold الَّذيwhich
وَبَدا لَنا ترس من الذَهَبِ الَّذي
لَمnot يُنتَزَعwas extracted منfrom مَعدنٍa mine بِتَعَمُّلwith labor
لَم يُنتَزَع من مَعدنٍ بِتَعَمُّل
There appeared to us a shield of gold
never wrested laboriously from a mine:
مِرءآةُa mirror of نورٍlight لَمnot تُشَنwas marred بِصِياغَةٍby metalworking
مِرءآةُ نورٍ لَم تُشَن بِصِياغَةٍ
كَلّاno indeed وَلاnor جُلِيَتwas it polished بكفِّby the hand of الصَيقَلthe burnisher
كَلّا وَلا جُلِيَت بكفِّ الصَيقَل
a mirror of light, unmarred by metalworking—
no indeed, nor polished by a burnisher's hand.
تَسموit rises إِلىtoward كَبِدِthe heart of السَماءِthe sky كَأَنَّهاas though it
تَسمو إِلى كَبِدِ السَماءِ كَأَنَّها
تَبغيseeks هُناكَthere دِفاعَthe warding off of كربٍdistress مُعضِلintractable
تَبغي هُناكَ دِفاعَ كربٍ مُعضِل
It rises toward the heart of heaven, as though
seeking there relief from intractable distress.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen بَلَغتit reached إِلىto حيثُthe point where انتَهَتit reached its limit
حَتّى إِذا بَلَغت إِلى حيثُ انتَهَت
وَقَفتit paused كَوَقفَةِlike the pause of سائِلٍsomeone asking عَنabout مَنزِلِa dwelling
وَقَفت كَوَقفَةِ سائِلٍ عَن مَنزِلِ
Until, when it reached its furthest point,
it paused like someone asking about a dwelling.
ثُمَّthen انثَنَتit turned تَبغيseeking الحُدورَdescent كَأَنَّهاas though it
ثُمَّ انثَنَت تَبغي الحُدورَ كَأَنَّها
طَيرٌa bird أَسَفَّskimmed low مَخافَةًfor fear منof أَجدَلِa falcon
طَيرٌ أَسَفَّ مَخافَةً من أَجدَلِ
Then it turned, seeking its descent, as though
a bird skimming low for fear of a falcon.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle اللَيلُnight كرَّcharged back بِبَأسِهِwith its might
حَتّى إِذا ما اللَيلُ كرَّ بِبَأسِهِ
فيin جَحفَلٍa vast army قَدalready أَتبَعوهُthey followed it بِجَحفَلwith another army
في جَحفَلٍ قَد أَتبَعوهُ بِجَحفَل
Until, when night charged back in its might,
with a vast army followed by another army,
طربyearned الصَديقُthe friend إِلىfor الصَديقِthe friend وَأَبرِزَتand was brought out
طرب الصَديقُ إِلى الصَديقِ وَأَبرِزَت
كَأسُthe cup of الرَحيقpure wine وَلمand not يُخَفwas fear felt منof عُذَّلreproachers
كَأسُ الرَحيق وَلم يُخَف من عُذَّل
friend yearned for friend, and out was brought
the cup of pure wine, with no fear of reproachers.
فَالعودُso the lute يُصلَحُis tuned وَالحَناجِرُand throats تُجتَلىare cleared
فَالعودُ يُصلَحُ وَالحَناجِرُ تُجتَلى
وَالدُرُّand pearls يُخرَزُare strung منfrom صُراحِthe pure wine of المِبزَلِthe spout
وَالدُرُّ يُخرَزُ من صُراحِ المِبزَلِ
The lute is tuned, and throats are cleared,
and pearls are strung from the spout's pure wine.
وَالعَينُand the eye تومىءُsignals وَالحَواجِبُand eyebrows تَنتَجيwhisper secrets
وَالعَينُ تومىءُ وَالحَواجِبُ تَنتَجي
وَالعَتبُand reproach يَظهَرُreveals عطنُهُits dwelling فيin أَنملfingertips
وَالعَتبُ يَظهَرُ عطنُهُ في أَنمل
The eye signals, and eyebrows whisper secrets,
and reproach reveals its dwelling in the fingertips.
وَالأُذنُand the ear تَقضيobtains ماwhat تُريدit desires وَتَشتَهيand craves
وَالأُذنُ تَقضي ما تُريد وَتَشتَهي
مِنfrom طِفلَةٍa tender maiden مَعwith عودِهاher lute كَالمُطفِلlike a mother with young
مِن طِفلَةٍ مَع عودِها كَالمُطفِل
The ear obtains whatever it desires and craves
from a tender maiden with her lute, like a mother with her young.
اِنif شِئتَyou wish مرَّتshe proceeds فيin طَريقَةthe style of مَعبَدٍMaʿbad
اِن شِئتَ مرَّت في طَريقَة مَعبَدٍ
أَوor شِئتَyou wish مَرَّتshe proceeds فيin طَريقَةthe style of زَلزِلِZalzal
أَو شِئتَ مَرَّت في طَريقَة زَلزِلِ
If you wish, she follows Maʿbad's style,
or, if you wish, she follows Zalzal's style.
أَتَغنيكَdoes she spare you عَنfrom اِبداعِcreating بِدعَةِa marvel of حُسنِbeauty ماwhose
أَتَغنيكَ عَن اِبداعِ بِدعَةِ حُسنِ ما
وُصِلَتwere joined طَرائِقُهُits modes بِفنِّto the art of المَوصِليal-Mawsili
وُصِلَت طَرائِقُهُ بِفنِّ المَوصِلي
Does she spare you inventing a marvel of beauty whose
melodic paths are joined to al-Mawsili's art?
فَالرَوضُso the garden بَينَamid مُسَهَّمِarrow-patterned وَمُدَّبَّجٍand brocaded
فَالرَوضُ بَينَ مُسَهَّمِ وَمُدَّبَّجٍ
وَمُفَوَّفٍand white-striped وَمُجَزَّعٍand onyx-banded وَمُهَلَّلand crescent-patterned
وَمُفَوَّفٍ وَمُجَزَّعٍ وَمُهَلَّل
The garden is arrow-patterned and brocaded,
white-striped, onyx-banded, and crescent-patterned.
وَالطَيرُand the birds أَلسِنَةُthe tongues of الغصونthe boughs وَقدand already شَدَتhave sung
وَالطَيرُ أَلسِنَةُ الغصون وَقد شَدَت
لِيَطيبَso that may be pleasant ليfor me شُربُthe drinking of المَدامwine السَلسَلِsmooth-flowing
لِيَطيبَ لي شُربُ المَدام السَلسَلِ
The birds, the tongues of boughs, have sung
to sweeten my drinking of smooth-flowing wine:
منamong حُمَّرٍredbreasts أَوor عَندَليبٍa nightingale مُطرِبٍmelodious
من حُمَّرٍ أَو عَندَليبٍ مُطرِبٍ
أَوor زُرزُرٍa starling أَوor تَدرُجٍa pheasant أَوor بُلبلa bulbul
أَو زُرزُرٍ أَو تَدرُجٍ أَو بُلبل
redbreasts, or a melodious nightingale,
or a starling, a pheasant, or a bulbul.
فَأَخَذتُهاso I took it عادِيَّةًancient as ʿAd غَيلِيَّةًfrom Ghayl
فَأَخَذتُها عادِيَّةً غَيلِيَّةً
تُجلىis unveiled عَلَيَّbefore me كَمِثلِlike عينِthe eye of الأَشهَلِthe gray-eyed one
تُجلى عَلَيَّ كَمِثلِ عينِ الأَشهَلِ
So I took it, ancient wine of Ghayl,
unveiled before me like the eye of a gray-eyed one.
قَدindeed كانَwas ذاكَthat وَفيand in الصِباyouth مُتَنَفَّسbreathing space
قَد كانَ ذاكَ وَفي الصِبا مُتَنَفَّس
وَالدَهرُand Time أَعمىblind لَيسَnot يَعرِفُknowing مَعقَليmy stronghold
وَالدَهرُ أَعمى لَيسَ يَعرِفُ مَعقَلي
That was when youth still offered breathing space,
and Time was blind, not knowing my stronghold.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen خَطَّwrote المَشيبُgray hair بِعارِضيupon my cheek
حَتّى إِذا خَطَّ المَشيبُ بِعارِضي
خَطَّthe script of الاِنابَةِrepentance رُمتُهاI sought it بِتبتُّلwith devout renunciation
خَطَّ الاِنابَةِ رُمتُها بِتبتُّل
Until, when gray hair wrote upon my cheek
the script of repentance, I sought it in devout renunciation.
وَجَعَلتُand I made تَكفيرَatonement for الذُنوبِsins مَدائِحيmy praises
وَجَعَلتُ تَكفيرَ الذُنوبِ مَدائِحي
فيin praise of سادَةٍlords آلِthe family of النَبِيِّthe Prophet المُرسَلِsent as messenger
في سادَةٍ آلِ النَبِيِّ المُرسَلِ
I made my praises an atonement for sins,
praises of lords, the family of the Prophet sent by God:
فيin praise of سادَةٍlords حازواwho won المَفاخِرَglories قادَةٍleaders
في سادَةٍ حازوا المَفاخِرَ قادَةٍ
وَرَقواand ascended الفُخارَglory بمقولٍwith a tongue وَبمنصُلand with a blade
وَرَقوا الفُخارَ بمقولٍ وَبمنصُل
lords who won all glories, leaders
who climbed to glory with tongue and blade,
وَتَشَدُّدٍand firmness يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle وَتَشَرُّرٍand ferocity
وَتَشَدُّدٍ يَومَ الوَغى وَتَشَرُّرٍ
وَتَفَضُّلٍand generosity يَومَon the day of النَدىgiving وَتَسَهُّلٍand gracious ease
وَتَفَضُّلٍ يَومَ النَدى وَتَسَهُّلٍ
with firmness and ferocity on the day of battle,
with generosity and gracious ease on the day of giving,
وَتقدُّمٍand precedence فيin العِلمِknowledge غيرِnot مُحَلَّلأٍheld back
وَتقدُّمٍ في العِلمِ غيرِ مُحَلَّلأٍ
وَتحققٍand sure mastery بِالعِلمِof knowledge غَيرِnot مُحَلحَلshaken
وَتحققٍ بِالعِلمِ غَيرِ مُحَلحَل
with an unimpeded lead in knowledge,
and an unshaken mastery of learning,
وَعِبادَةٍand worship ماnot نالَattained عَبدa worshipper مِثلَهاits like
وَعِبادَةٍ ما نالَ عَبد مِثلَها
لِأَداءِfor fulfilling فرضٍan obligation أَوor أَداءِperforming تَنَفُّلِvoluntary devotion
لِأَداءِ فرضٍ أَو أَداءِ تَنَفُّلِ
and worship whose like no servant has attained,
whether fulfilling obligations or performing voluntary devotion.
هَلis there كَالوَصِيِّlike the appointed heir مَقارِعa contender فيin مَجمَعٍan assembly
هَل كَالوَصِيِّ مَقارِع في مَجمَعٍ
هَلis there كَالوَصِيِّlike the appointed heir مُنازِعa combatant فيin مَجفِلِa massed host
هَل كَالوَصِيِّ مُنازِع في مَجفِلِ
Is there a contender like the appointed heir in an assembly?
Is there a combatant like the appointed heir amid a massed host?
شَهَرَhe unsheathed الحسامَthe cutting sword لِحَسمِto eradicate داءٍa malady مُعضِلٍintractable
شَهَرَ الحسامَ لِحَسمِ داءٍ مُعضِلٍ
وَحَمىand protected الجُيوشَthe armies كَمِثلِlike لَيلٍa night أَليَلpitch-dark
وَحَمى الجُيوشَ كَمِثلِ لَيلٍ أَليَل
He unsheathed his sword to eradicate an intractable malady,
and shielded armies like the darkest night.
لَمّاwhen أَتَواthey came to بَدراًBadr أَتاهُhe came to it مُبادِراًhastening
لَمّا أَتَوا بَدراً أَتاهُ مُبادِراً
يَسخوhe gives freely بمهجَةِwith the lifeblood of محربٍa seasoned warrior متأَصلof deep-rooted stock
يَسخو بمهجَةِ محربٍ متأَصل
When they came to Badr, he hastened there,
freely offering the lifeblood of a warrior born.
كَمhow many باسِلa champion قَدindeed رَدَّهُhe drove him back وَعَلَيهِand upon him منof
كَم باسِل قَد رَدَّهُ وَعَلَيهِ من
دَمِهِhis blood رِداءa cloak أَحمرٌcrimson لَمnot يُصقَلpolished
دَمِهِ رِداء أَحمرٌ لَم يُصقَل
How many a champion he drove back, wearing
a crimson cloak of his own blood, unpolished.
كَمhow many ضَربَةٍa blow منfrom كَفِّهِhis hand فيupon قَرنِهِhis adversary
كَم ضَربَةٍ من كَفِّهِ في قَرنِهِ
قَدindeed خيلَwas imagined جَريُthe flowing of دِمائِهاits blood منfrom جَدوَلِa stream
قَد خيلَ جَريُ دِمائِها من جَدوَلِ
How many a blow from his hand upon his adversary
made its flowing blood seem to come from a stream.
كَمhow many حَملَةٍa charge وَالىhe made successive عَلىagainst أَعدائِهِhis enemies
كَم حَملَةٍ وَالى عَلى أَعدائِهِ
تَرميstrikes الجِبالَthe mountains بِوَقعِهاwith its impact بِتَزَلزُلwith trembling
تَرمي الجِبالَ بِوَقعِها بِتَزَلزُل
How many charges he launched successively against his enemies,
their impact setting mountains trembling.
هذاthis الجِهادُtrue striving وَماand not يُطيقُcan manage بِجهدهwith all his effort
هذا الجِهادُ وَما يُطيقُ بِجهده
خَصمan adversary دِفاعَrepelling وُضوحِهِits plain reality بِتَأَوُّلthrough reinterpretation
خَصم دِفاعَ وُضوحِهِ بِتَأَوُّل
This is true striving; no adversary, however hard he tries,
can explain away its plain reality.
ياO مَرحَباًwelcome اِذwhen ظَلhe went on يَرديfelling مَرحباًMarhab
يا مَرحَباً اِذ ظَل يَردي مَرحباً
وَالجَيشand the army بَينَamong مكبِّرٍone proclaiming God's greatness وَمُهَلِّلand one proclaiming God's oneness
وَالجَيش بَينَ مكبِّرٍ وَمُهَلِّل
What welcome joy, as he went on felling Marhab,
while the army proclaimed God's greatness and oneness!
وَإِذاand when انثَنَيتُI turn إِلىto العُلومthe sciences رَأَيتُهُI see him
وَإِذا انثَنَيتُ إِلى العُلوم رَأَيتُهُ
قَرمَthe stallion of القُرومِstallions يَفوقُsurpassing كلَّall البُزَّلmature camels
قَرمَ القُرومِ يَفوقُ كلَّ البُزَّل
When I turn to the sciences, I see him
the stallion of stallions, surpassing every mature camel.
وَيَقومُand he is versed بِالتَنزيلِin revelation وَالتَأويلِand interpretation لاnot
وَيَقومُ بِالتَنزيلِ وَالتَأويلِ لا
تَعدوهُescapes him نُكتَةa subtle point of واضِحٍthe clear أَوor مشكِلthe obscure
تَعدوهُ نُكتَة واضِحٍ أَو مشكِل
He masters revelation and interpretation; no
subtle point, clear or obscure, escapes him.
لَولاbut for فَتاويهِhis legal rulings الَّتيwhich نَجَّتهُمُsaved them
لَولا فَتاويهِ الَّتي نَجَّتهُمُ
لَتَهالَكواthey would have perished بِتَعَسُّفٍthrough recklessness وَتَجَهُّلِand willful ignorance
لَتَهالَكوا بِتَعَسُّفٍ وَتَجَهُّلِ
But for his legal rulings that saved them,
they would have perished through recklessness and willful ignorance.
لَمnot يَسأَلِhe asked الأَقوامَthe people عَنabout أَمرٍa matter وَكمand how often
لَم يَسأَلِ الأَقوامَ عَن أَمرٍ وَكم
سَأَلوهُthey asked him مُدَّرعينَclad in ثَوبَthe robe of تَذّلُّلhumility
سَأَلوهُ مُدَّرعينَ ثَوبَ تَذّلُّل
He never asked the people about a matter, yet how often
they questioned him, clad in the robe of humility.
كانَwas الرَسولُthe Messenger مَدينَةًa city هوhe بابُهاits gate
كانَ الرَسولُ مَدينَةً هو بابُها
لَوif only أَثبَتَacknowledged النُصّابُthe anti-Ali partisans قَولthe words of المُرسَلthe Messenger
لَو أَثبَتَ النُصّابُ قَول المُرسَل
The Messenger was a city, and he its gate,
if only Ali's foes would acknowledge the Messenger's words.
قَدindeed كانَhe was كَرّاراًever charging فَسُمِّيَso was called غَيرُهُanother besides him
قَد كانَ كَرّاراً فَسُمِّيَ غَيرُهُ
فيat الوَقتِthat time فَرّاراًever fleeing فَهَلso is there منany معدلescape
في الوَقتِ فَرّاراً فَهَل من معدل
He was ever charging; another was called,
at that same time, ever fleeing—is there any escape from that?
هذيthese صُدورُهُمُtheir breasts لِبغضِthrough hatred of المُصطَفىthe Chosen One
هذي صُدورُهُمُ لِبغضِ المُصطَفى
تَغليseethe عَلىagainst الأَهلَيِthe family غَليَlike the boiling of المِرجَلthe cauldron
تَغلي عَلى الأَهلَيِ غَليَ المِرجَل
These breasts of theirs, through hatred of the Chosen One,
seethe against his family like a boiling cauldron.
نَصبتraised حقودُهُمُtheir hatreds حُروباًwars أَدرَجَتthat swept along
نَصبت حقودُهُمُ حُروباً أَدرَجَت
آلَthe family of النَبِيِّthe Prophet عَلىinto الخطوبِcalamities النُزَّلbefalling
آلَ النَبِيِّ عَلى الخطوبِ النُزَّل
Their hatreds raised wars that swept
the Prophet's family into calamities raining down.
حُلّواthey undid وَقدthough they had عَقَدواbound كَماjust as نَكَثواthey broke faith وَقدthough they had
حُلّوا وَقد عَقَدوا كَما نَكَثوا وَقد
عَهَدواpledged فَقُلso speak فيof نَكثِthe treachery of باغٍa rebel مُبطلwrongful
عَهَدوا فَقُل في نَكثِ باغٍ مُبطل
They undid what they had bound, just as they broke what
they had pledged—speak of a wrongful rebel's treachery!
وافواthey came يخبِّرُناtelling us بِضَعفِthrough the weakness of عُقولِهمtheir minds
وافوا يخبِّرُنا بِضَعفِ عُقولِهم
أَنَّthat المُدَبِّرَthe commander ثَمَّthere رَبَّةُthe mistress of مَحمِلِa camel-litter
أَنَّ المُدَبِّرَ ثَمَّ رَبَّةُ مَحمِلِ
They came, revealing to us through their feeble minds
that the commander there was a lady of a camel-litter.
هَلhas صَيَّرَappointed اللَهُGod النِساءَwomen أَئمةًleaders
هَل صَيَّرَ اللَهُ النِساءَ أَئمةً
ياO أُمَّةًcommunity مِثلَlike النَعامِostriches المُهمَلِuntended
يا أُمَّةً مِثلَ النَعامِ المُهمَلِ
Has God appointed women as leaders,
O community like untended ostriches?
دَبَّتcrept عَقارِبُهُمtheir scorpions لِصِنوِagainst the peer of نَبِيِّهمtheir Prophet
دَبَّت عَقارِبُهُم لِصِنوِ نَبِيِّهم
فَاِغتالَهُso assassinated him أَشقىthe most wretched of الوَرىmankind بِتَخَتُّلِby stealth
فَاِغتالَهُ أَشقى الوَرى بِتَخَتُّلِ
Their scorpions crept against their Prophet's peer,
and the most wretched of mankind assassinated him by stealth.
أَجرواthey shed دِماءَthe blood of أَخيthe brother of النَبِيِّthe Prophet محمدٍMuhammad
أَجروا دِماءَ أَخي النَبِيِّ محمدٍ
فَلتُجرِso let it pour غَربَthe torrent of دُموعِهاits tears وَلتَهمِلِand let it stream
فَلتُجرِ غَربَ دُموعِها وَلتَهمِلِ
They shed the blood of Muhammad the Prophet's brother;
so let the eye pour its torrent of tears and stream.
وَلتَصدُرِand let issue اللَعناتُcurses غَيرَnot مزالةٍremoved
وَلتَصدُرِ اللَعناتُ غَيرَ مزالةٍ
لِعِداهُupon his enemies منof ماضٍthose past وَمنand of مُستَقبَلthose yet to come
لِعِداهُ من ماضٍ وَمن مُستَقبَل
Let curses issue without ceasing
upon his enemies, past and yet to come.
لمnot تُشفِهِمsated them منagainst أَحمدٍAhmad أَفعالُهُمtheir deeds
لم تُشفِهِم من أَحمدٍ أَفعالُهُم
بِوَصِيِّهِagainst his appointed heir الطُهرِthe pure الزكيِّthe virtuous المفضلِthe favored
بِوَصِيِّهِ الطُهرِ الزكيِّ المفضلِ
Their deeds did not sate their vengeance against Ahmad,
deeds against his pure, virtuous, favored heir.
فَتجرَّدواso they set themselves لِبَنيهِagainst his sons ثُمَّthen بَناتِهِhis daughters
فَتجرَّدوا لِبَنيهِ ثُمَّ بَناتِهِ
بِعظائِمٍwith atrocities فَاِسمَعso hear حَديثَthe account of المقتلِthe slaughter
بِعظائِمٍ فَاِسمَع حَديثَ المقتلِ
So they set upon his sons, then his daughters,
with atrocities—hear the account of the slaughter.
مَنَعواthey denied حسينَHusayn الماءَwater وَهوwhile he مجاهِدwas fighting
مَنَعوا حسينَ الماءَ وَهو مجاهِد
فيat كَربَلاءَKarbala فَنُحso lament كَنَوحِlike the lament of المُعوِلِa wailing mourner
في كَربَلاءَ فَنُح كَنَوحِ المُعوِلِ
They denied Husayn water while he fought
at Karbala—lament like a wailing mourner.
مَنَعوهُthey denied him أَعذبَthe sweetest مَنهَلٍwatering place وَكَذاand thus غَداًtomorrow
مَنَعوهُ أَعذبَ مَنهَلٍ وَكَذا غَداً
يَرِدونَthey will reach فيamid النيرانِthe fires أَوخَمَthe foulest منهلِwatering place
يَرِدونَ في النيرانِ أَوخَمَ منهلِ
They denied him the sweetest watering place; thus tomorrow
they will reach the foulest watering place amid the fires.
يُسقَونَthey will be given to drink غَسلَيناًputrid discharge وَيُحشَرُand will be gathered جَمعُهُمtheir company
يُسقَونَ غَسلَيناً وَيُحشَرُ جَمعُهُم
حشراًa mustering متيناًrelentless فيinto العِقابِpunishment المُجمِلall-encompassing
حشراً متيناً في العِقابِ المُجمِل
They will be given putrid discharge to drink, and their company herded
in a relentless mustering into all-encompassing punishment.
أَأَيحزُّcan it be severed رَأسُthe head of ابنِthe son of الرَسولِthe Messenger وَفيwhile among الوَرىmankind
أَأَيحزُّ رَأسُ ابنِ الرَسولِ وَفي الوَرى
حيّa living soul أَمامَbefore رِكابِهِhis mounts لمnot يُقتَلِslain
حيّ أَمامَ رِكابِهِ لم يُقتَلِ
Can the Messenger's son's head be severed while among mankind
a living soul before his mount remains unslain?
تُسبيare taken captive بناتُthe daughters of محمدٍMuhammad حَتّىso that كَأَنas though (continued)
تُسبي بناتُ محمدٍ حَتّى كَأَن
نَcompletes 'as though' محمداًMuhammad وافىhad come بملَّةِwith the creed of هرقلِHeraclius
نَ محمداً وافى بملَّةِ هرقلِ
Muhammad's daughters are taken captive, as though
Muhammad had come with Heraclius's creed.
وَبَنوand sons of السِفاحِfornication تَحَكَّمواruled arbitrarily فيover أَهلِthe people of حَيcome! (continued)
وَبَنو السِفاحِ تَحَكَّموا في أَهلِ حَي
يَcompletes 'come!' عَلىto الفَلاحِsalvation بِفُرصَةٍseizing an opportunity وَتَعَجُّلand in haste
يَ عَلى الفَلاحِ بِفُرصَةٍ وَتَعَجُّل
And sons of fornication ruled the people of 'Come
to salvation!'—seizing their chance in haste.
نَكَتَprodded الدعيُّthe bastard ابنُthe son of البَغِيِّthe harlot ضَواحِكاًsmiling teeth
نَكَتَ الدعيُّ ابنُ البَغِيِّ ضَواحِكاً
هِيَthey لِلنَبِيِّfor the Prophet الخَيرِthe noble خَيرُthe best مُقَبَّلِplace to kiss
هِيَ لِلنَبِيِّ الخَيرِ خَيرُ مُقَبَّلِ
The bastard, the harlot's son, prodded smiling teeth
that were the sweetest place for the noble Prophet's kisses.
تُمضيdrive through بَنوthe sons of هندٍHind سُيوفthe swords of الهِندِIndia فيinto
تُمضي بَنو هندٍ سُيوف الهِندِ في
أَوداجِthe jugulars of أَولادِthe children of النَبِيِّthe Prophet وَتَعتَليand gain the upper hand
أَوداجِ أَولادِ النَبِيِّ وَتَعتَلي
The sons of Hind drive Indian swords into
the jugulars of the Prophet's children and gain the upper hand.
ناحَتlamented مَلائِكَةُthe angels of السَماءِheaven عَلَيهُمُover them
ناحَت مَلائِكَةُ السَماءِ عَلَيهُمُ
وَبَكَواand they wept وَقدfor they had سُقّواbeen given to drink كُؤوسَthe cups of الذُبَّلslender spears
وَبَكَوا وَقد سُقّوا كُؤوسَ الذُبَّل
The angels of heaven lamented over them
and wept, for they had been given the cups of slender spears.
فَأَرىso I deem البكاءَweeping مدىthroughout الزَمانِtime مُحَلَّلاًlawful
فَأَرى البكاءَ مدى الزَمانِ مُحَلَّلاً
وَالضحكand laughter بَعدafter السبطthe Prophet's grandson غيرَnot محلَّلlawful
وَالضحك بَعد السبط غيرَ محلَّل
I therefore deem weeping lawful for all time,
and laughter after the Prophet's grandson unlawful.
قَدindeed قلتُI said لِلأَحزانِto sorrows دوميendure هكَذاthus
قَد قلتُ لِلأَحزانِ دومي هكَذا
وَتَنَزَّليand settle بِالقَلبِin the heart لاdo not تَتَرَحّليdepart
وَتَنَزَّلي بِالقَلبِ لا تَتَرَحّلي
I have said to sorrows: remain thus,
settle in the heart, and do not depart.
ياO شيعَةَfollowers of الهادينَthe guiding ones لاdo not تَتَأَسَّفيgrieve
يا شيعَةَ الهادينَ لا تَتَأَسَّفي
وَثِقيand trust بِحَبلِin the rope of اللَهِGod لاdo not تَتَعَجّليbe hasty
وَثِقي بِحَبلِ اللَهِ لا تَتَعَجّلي
O followers of the guiding ones, do not grieve;
trust in God's rope, and do not be hasty.
فَغَداًfor tomorrow تَرونَyou will see الناصِبينَAli's enemies ودارُهُمand their abode
فَغَداً تَرونَ الناصِبينَ ودارُهُم
قَعرُthe bottom of الجَحيمُHell منof الطباقِthe levels الأَسفَلِthe lowest
قَعرُ الجَحيمُ من الطباقِ الأَسفَلِ
Tomorrow you will see Ali's enemies, their abode
the pit of Hell, the lowest of its levels.
وَتُنَعَّمونand you will live in bliss مَعwith النَبِيِّthe Prophet وَآلِهِand his family
وَتُنَعَّمون مَع النَبِيِّ وَآلِهِ
فيin جَنَّةِthe garden of الفردوسFirdaws أَكرَمthe noblest موئلِrefuge
في جَنَّةِ الفردوس أَكرَم موئلِ
And you will live in bliss with the Prophet and his family
in the garden of Firdaws, the noblest refuge.
هذيthese القَلائِدُnecklaces كَالخَرائِدِlike secluded maidens تُجتَلىare unveiled
هذي القَلائِدُ كَالخَرائِدِ تُجتَلى
فيin وَصفِdescribing عَلياءِthe loftiness of النَبِيِّthe Prophet وَفيand of عليAli
في وَصفِ عَلياءِ النَبِيِّ وَفي علي
These necklaces of verse are unveiled like secluded maidens,
describing the Prophet's loftiness, and Ali's,
لقريحةٍfrom a poetic gift عَدلِيَّةٍdevoted to divine justice شيعِيَّةٍShiʿi
لقريحةٍ عَدلِيَّةٍ شيعِيَّةٍ
أَزرَتeclipsed بِشعرِthe poetry of مُزرِّدٍMuzarrid وَمُهَلهلand Muhalhil
أَزرَت بِشعرِ مُزرِّدٍ وَمُهَلهل
from a poetic gift devoted to divine justice and Shiism,
which eclipsed the poetry of Muzarrid and Muhalhil.
ماnot شاقَهاstirred it لماwhen أَقمتI established وِزانَهاits meter
ما شاقَها لما أَقمت وِزانَها
أَنthat لَمnot تَكُنit was لِلأَعشَيينby the two Aʿshas وَجرولand Jarwal
أَن لَم تَكُن لِلأَعشَيين وَجرول
It was not troubled, when I set its meter,
that it was not the work of the two Aʿshas or Jarwal.
رامَsought ابنُthe son of عَبّادٍʿAbbad بِهاthrough it قُربىًcloseness إِلىto
رامَ ابنُ عَبّادٍ بِها قُربىً إِلى
ساداتِهِhis masters فَأَتَتso it came بِحُسنٍwith beauty مُكمَلِperfected
ساداتِهِ فَأَتَت بِحُسنٍ مُكمَلِ
Through it Ibn ʿAbbad sought closeness to
his masters, and it came with perfected beauty.
ماnot يُنكِرdenies المَعنىthe meaning الَّذيwhich قَصدتI intended لَهُfor it
ما يُنكِر المَعنى الَّذي قَصدت لَهُ
إِلّاexcept الَّذيthe one who وافىwas born لعدَّةto several أَفحُلsires
إِلّا الَّذي وافى لعدَّة أَفحُل
None denies the meaning I intended
except one born of several sires.
وَعَلَيكَand incumbent upon you ياO مَكِيُّMakki حسنexcellence of نَشيدِهاits recitation
وَعَلَيكَ يا مَكِيُّ حسن نَشيدِها
حَتّىso that تَحوزَyou attain كَمالَthe fullness of عيشٍa life مُقبِلprosperous
حَتّى تَحوزَ كَمالَ عيشٍ مُقبِل
You, O Makki, must recite it beautifully,
so you may attain the fullness of a prosperous life.
Sol 6.1