شَيبٌgray hair لِغَيرِbefore أَوانِهِits due time يَعتادُrecurs
شَيبٌ لِغَيرِ أَوانِهِ يَعتادُ
داءٌa sickness وَلكِنbut أَبطَأُwere slow to come العُوّادُthe sickbed visitors
داءٌ وَلكِن أَبطَأُ العُوّادُ
Gray hair besets me before its time.
Gray hair untimely appears,
A sickness, yet those who visit the sick are slow to come.
An illness, though the cure be slow.
قَبلbefore (unclear here) البَياضُthe whiteness وَكَمand how many بِقَلبِكَin your heart عِبرَةa lesson
قَبل البَياضُ وَكَم بِقَلبِكَ عِبرَة
هَيهاتfar from it أَنthat يَزَعَrestrain البَياضَthe whiteness سَوادُblackness
هَيهات أَن يَزَعَ البَياضَ سَوادُ
Whiteness has come [reading uncertain]; how many lessons lie in your heart!
Before white hair, how many tears in your heart?
Far from it that blackness should restrain the white!
Alas, blackness cannot be removed by white.
لَوif دامَremained مُعتَرِضُthe encroaching part of القَتيلِthe slain one (unclear here) بِحالِهِin its present state
لَو دامَ مُعتَرِضُ القَتيلِ بِحالِهِ
لَرَضيتُهُI would accept it لكِنَّهُbut it يَزدادُincreases
لَرَضيتُهُ لكِنَّهُ يَزدادُ
If the spreading grayness [reading uncertain] stayed as it was,
Had he who was killed remained as he was,
I would accept it, but it increases.
I would be satisfied, but he progresses.
أَوor كانَwere يَرضىconsenting بِالشَبابِto youth مُرافِقاًas a companion
أَو كانَ يَرضى بِالشَبابِ مُرافِقاً
لَقَنعتُI would be content لكِنbut جُندُهُits troops أَبرادُmantles
لَقَنعتُ لكِن جُندُهُ أَبرادُ
Or if it consented to accompany youth,
Or if he was pleased to have youth with him,
I would be content, but its troops are mantles.
I would be content, but his troops are cold.
أَوor لَمnot يَكُنwere فَقدُthe loss of الشَبابِyouth نَقيصَةًa defect
أَو لَم يَكُن فَقدُ الشَبابِ نَقيصَةً
لَمnot تَشمُتgloat الأَعداءُthe enemies وَالحُسّادُand the enviers
لَم تَشمُت الأَعداءُ وَالحُسّادُ
Or if losing youth were no defect,
Or had not the loss of youth been a deficiency,
enemies and enviers would not gloat.
Enemies and enviers would not gloat.
ماnot شَيَّبَتنيturned me gray أَربَعونَforty years صَحبَتُهاI lived through
ما شَيَّبَتني أَربَعونَ صَحبَتُها
أَنّىhow could that be وَلَمand not يَعلُrise بِهاto them الميلادُage since birth
أَنّى وَلَم يَعلُ بِها الميلادُ
It was not forty years I had lived through that turned me gray.
Forty years of companionship did not make me gray,
How could they, when my age had not yet reached them?
How could it, when birth did not know it?
بَلrather شَيَّبَتنيturned me gray حادِثاتٌcalamities أَخرجَتdrove out
بَل شَيَّبَتني حادِثاتٌ أَخرجَت
آلَthe family of النَبِيِّthe Prophet الأَبطَحِيِّof al-Abtah شِدادُgrievous
آلَ النَبِيِّ الأَبطَحِيِّ شِدادُ
Rather, calamities turned me gray, driving out
Rather, other events made me gray,
the family of the Prophet of al-Abtah—grievous calamities.
Driving out the family of the Prophet Shaddad.
نَوَبٌafflictions تُطَبِّقُenvelop بِالحدادin mourning نِساءهُمtheir women
نَوَبٌ تُطَبِّقُ بِالحداد نِساءهُم
أَبَداًforever لَهُنَّfor them عَلىover الكِرامِthe noble ones حِدادُmourning
أَبَداً لَهُنَّ عَلى الكِرامِ حِدادُ
Afflictions envelop their women in mourning;
Misfortunes clothe their women in mourning,
forever they mourn the noble ones.
Their honor in grief forevermore.
ياO سادَتيmy masters مِنfrom أَهلِthe people of بَيتِthe household of مُحَمَّدٍMuhammad
يا سادَتي مِن أَهلِ بَيتِ مُحَمَّدٍ
أَنتُمyou عتاديmy support يَومَon the day لَيسَthere is no عتادُsupport
أَنتُم عتادي يَومَ لَيسَ عتادُ
O my masters from Muhammad's household,
O my masters of Muhammad’s family,
you are my support on the day when no support remains.
You are my custom though custom has gone.
كُلٌّeach person لَهُhas زادٌprovisions يَدلُّtakes pride بِحملِهِin carrying it
كُلٌّ لَهُ زادٌ يَدلُّ بِحملِهِ
وَولاكُمand devotion to you يَومَon the day of القِيامَةِresurrection زادُprovision
وَولاكُم يَومَ القِيامَةِ زادُ
Each person has provisions he takes pride in carrying,
Each one has provision showing his burden,
and devotion to you is provision on the Day of Resurrection.
While your provision on Judgment Day is generosity.
أَنتُمyou سراجُthe lamp of اللَهِGod فيin ظُلَمِthe darkness of الدُجىdeep night
أَنتُم سراجُ اللَهِ في ظُلَمِ الدُجى
لَوif only كانَwere يَدريknowing القابِسthe seeker of a flame المُرتادُthe roaming seeker
لَو كانَ يَدري القابِس المُرتادُ
You are God's lamp in the darkness of night,
You are God’s lamp in the darkness of night,
if only the roaming seeker of a flame knew.
If only the lost traveler knew.
هاbehold أَنتُمُyou سُفُنُthe ships of النَجاةِsalvation وَرافِعواand raisers of الدthe (fragment)
ها أَنتُمُ سُفُنُ النَجاةِ وَرافِعوا الد
دَرَجاتِranks يَومَon the day تشاهَدbehold one another الأَشهادُthe witnesses
دَرَجاتِ يَومَ تشاهَد الأَشهادُ
Behold, you are ships of deliverance, and raisers of
You are the ships of salvation, raising
ranks on the day when witnesses behold one another.
Degrees on the day witnesses are brought.
بُعِثَwas sent النَبِيُّthe Prophet وَلاand no مَنارَbeacon عَلىupon الهدىguidance
بُعِثَ النَبِيُّ وَلا مَنارَ عَلى الهدى
وَالرشدُand right guidance قَدalready ضُرِبَتwere erected لَهُagainst it الأَسدادُthe barriers
وَالرشدُ قَد ضُرِبَت لَهُ الأَسدادُ
The Prophet was sent when no beacon marked guidance,
The Prophet was sent when no beacon of guidance remained,
and barriers had been erected against right guidance.
And righteousness had been barred.
فَهدىso he guided وَأَدّىand fulfilled his charge لَيسَnot بِفِكرُwith thought فيamong العِدىthe foes
فَهدى وَأَدّى لَيسَ بِفِكرُ في العِدى
وَالكفرُand unbelief دونَbefore جلادِهِhis swordplay أَجلادُhides
وَالكفرُ دونَ جلادِهِ أَجلادُ
So he guided and fulfilled his charge, giving no thought to the foes,
He guided and fulfilled his duty, not thinking of transgression,
and unbelief was mere hides before his swordplay.
While unbelief, without his swords, was but skins.
فَزهاso flourished عَلىupon شَجرِthe trees of الرَشادِright guidance ثِمارُهُits fruits
فَزها عَلى شَجرِ الرَشادِ ثِمارُهُ
وَأَتىand came عَلىupon زَرعِthe crop of الضَلالِerror حصادُa harvest
وَأَتى عَلى زَرعِ الضَلالِ حصادُ
Thus its fruits flourished upon the trees of guidance,
So his teachings blossomed on the tree of guidance,
and a harvest laid waste the crop of error.
While the harvest of misguidance was reaped.
خُسِفَتwere sunk بِهِthrough him الأَصنامُthe idols بَعدafter عُلُوِّهاtheir exaltation
خُسِفَت بِهِ الأَصنامُ بَعد عُلُوِّها
فَكَأَنَّهُso as though he were ريحٌa wind وَهاتاand these عادُ'Ad
فَكَأَنَّهُ ريحٌ وَهاتا عادُ
Through him the idols sank after their exaltation,
Idols were brought down by him after their loftiness,
as though he were a wind, and they were 'Ad.
As if he were wind and they were pegs.
وَوَزيرُهُand his minister وَأَثيرُهُand his favorite وَنَصيرُهُand his champion
وَوَزيرُهُ وَأَثيرُهُ وَنَصيرُهُ
أَسَدٌa lion تَزِلُّstumble لِبَأسِهِbefore his might الآسادُthe lions
أَسَدٌ تَزِلُّ لِبَأسِهِ الآسادُ
His minister, his favorite, and his champion
His vizier, his supporter, his helper,
is a lion before whose might lions stumble.
A lion whose might makes thrones tremble.
ذاكَthat اِبنُthe son of فاطِمَةFatimah الَّذيwhose عَزَماتُهُresolves
ذاكَ اِبنُ فاطِمَة الَّذي عَزَماتُهُ
بيضٌwhite صَوارِمُkeen swords ماno لَهاfor them أَغمادُsheaths
بيضٌ صَوارِمُ ما لَها أَغمادُ
That is the son of Fatimah, whose resolves
That is the son of Fatima whose resolved mind
are white, keen swords without sheaths.
Is white blades whose sheaths are not still.
مَنhe whose سَيفُهُhis sword حوَتa whale وَلاand not يُروىis quenched وَاِنeven if
مَن سَيفُهُ حوَت وَلا يُروى وَاِن
وَرَدَcomes to drink الدِماءَthe blood حياضُهاits watering-pools الأَجسادthe bodies
وَرَدَ الدِماءَ حياضُها الأَجساد
He whose sword is a whale, never quenched, even when
He whose sword's edge is not sated with blood
it drinks from blood whose pools are bodies;
Though bodies pour out their veins.
مَنhe whose عِلمُهُhis knowledge لمnot يُبتَذِلbe debased بَكأscarcity بِهِin it
مَن عِلمُهُ لم يُبتَذِل بَكأ بِهِ
حاشاهُfar be it from him منfrom being بِحرٍa sea لَهُfor it امدادreplenishment
حاشاهُ من بِحرٍ لَهُ امداد
he whose knowledge has never been debased by scarcity—
He whose knowledge is never made common
far be it from him to be a sea needing replenishment!
Far be he from a sea that ebbs.
مَنhe whose بَأسُهُhis might لاno بَأسَharm انif عَظَّمتَهُyou exalt it
مَن بَأسُهُ لا بَأسَ ان عَظَّمتَهُ
عَنbeyond أَنthat تُقاسَbe measured بِقَدرِهِagainst his stature الأَندادُthe rivals
عَن أَن تُقاسَ بِقَدرِهِ الأَندادُ
He whose might you do no wrong to exalt
He whose might cannot be deemed too great
beyond having rivals measured against his stature.
To be matched with any peers.
عَجِبَتmarveled مَلائِكَةُthe angels of السَماءِheaven لِحَربِهِat his warfare
عَجِبَت مَلائِكَةُ السَماءِ لِحَربِهِ
فيon يَومِthe day of بَدرٍBadr وَالجِيادُand the steeds جِهادُspent
في يَومِ بَدرٍ وَالجِيادُ جِهادُ
Heaven's angels marveled at his warfare
The angels of heaven were amazed by his war
on the day of Badr, while the steeds were spent,
On the day of Badr when the steeds charged.
اِذwhen شاهَدَتهُthey beheld him وَالمَنونُand death تطيعُهُobeyed him
اِذ شاهَدَتهُ وَالمَنونُ تطيعُهُ
فيمَنagainst whomever يَهمُّhe intended بِخَطفِهِto snatch him away وَيَكادُand nearly did
فيمَن يَهمُّ بِخَطفِهِ وَيَكادُ
when they beheld him and death obeyed him
When they saw him and fate obeyed him
against whomever he sought and nearly managed to snatch away.
Against those it sought to seize.
أَفَحكاهُdid he then recount it عَنهُمfrom them جِبرئيلُGabriel لأَحمدٍto Ahmad
أَفَحكاهُ عَنهُم جِبرئيلُ لأَحمدٍ
اِسنادُan attestation of مجدٍglory لَيسَnot فيهِin it سِنادُa flaw
اِسنادُ مجدٍ لَيسَ فيهِ سِنادُ
Did Gabriel then recount it from them to Ahmad—
Did Gabriel relate that to Ahmad?
an attestation of glory without a flaw?
A chain of glory without chain links.
صَرَعَfelled الوَليدَal-Walid بِمَوقِفٍat a place شابَturned gray الوَليthe child (fragment)
صَرَعَ الوَليدَ بِمَوقِفٍ شابَ الوَلي
دُcompletion of 'child' لِهَولِهِfrom its terror وَتَهاوَتِand collapsed الأَعضادُthe arms
دُ لِهَولِهِ وَتَهاوَتِ الأَعضادُ
He felled al-Walid where a child turned gray
He felled al-Walid in a stance that horrified al-Walid
from its terror, and arms gave way.
By its terror and the crumbling of bones.
وَأَذاقَand made taste عُتبَةَUtbah بِالحُسامِwith the keen sword عُقوبَةًa punishment
وَأَذاقَ عُتبَةَ بِالحُسامِ عُقوبَةً
حُسِمَتwere cut away بِهاby it الأَدواءُthe ailments وَهيَwhile they were تِلادُlong-standing
حُسِمَت بِها الأَدواءُ وَهيَ تِلادُ
He made Utbah taste punishment with his keen sword,
And he made Utbah taste punishment by the sword,
by which ancient ailments were cut away.
With it the illnesses were decided and multiplied.
وَعَداand attacked عَلىagainst عِشرينَtwenty يَعتَرّونَmade sacrifices بِالto al- (fragment)
وَعَدا عَلى عِشرينَ يَعتَرّونَ بِال
عُزّى'Uzza فَجادواso they surrendered بِالحَياةِtheir lives وَبادواand perished
عُزّى فَجادوا بِالحَياةِ وَبادوا
He attacked twenty who sacrificed to al-
He attacked twenty who prided themselves on glory,
'Uzza; they surrendered their lives and perished.
So they generously gave their lives and perished.
منamong كُلِّevery أَبلَجَbright-browed man منof قُرَيشٍQuraysh سيفُهُhis sword
من كُلِّ أَبلَجَ من قُرَيشٍ سيفُهُ
منfrom فَوقِabove أَكنافِthe reaches of السَماءِheaven نجادُa sword-baldric
من فَوقِ أَكنافِ السَماءِ نجادُ
Each a bright-browed man of Quraysh, his sword's
From every bright star of Quraysh his sword
baldric above the farthest reaches of heaven.
Rose shedding blood from the clouds' edges.
أَحلافُconfederates of حَربٍwar أَرضَعواwere suckled أَخلافَهاher teats
أَحلافُ حَربٍ أَرضَعوا أَخلافَها
فَكَأَنَّهُمso as though they were لِحُروبِهِمof their wars أَولادchildren
فَكَأَنَّهُم لِحُروبِهِم أَولاد
Confederates of war, suckled at her teats,
Sworn tribes nurtured their offspring for wars
as though they were children of their wars.
As if for their wars they had borne them.
قَومa people اِذاwhen رَمَقَlooked upon الزَمانُTime مَكانَهُمtheir place
قَوم اِذا رَمَقَ الزَمانُ مَكانَهُم
أَقعىcrouched وَقالَand said المَوتُdeath وَالمِرصادُand ambush
أَقعى وَقالَ المَوتُ وَالمِرصادُ
A people whose place, when Time looked upon it,
A people, when time aims its blow at their place,
made it crouch and say, 'Death and ambush!'
Fall down, and death with ambushes says:
وَرَأواand they saw أَميرَthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful فَأَيقَنواso they knew for certain
وَرَأوا أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ فَأَيقَنوا
أَنَّthat الوهادَthe lowlands تَطولهاtower over them الأَطوادthe mountains
أَنَّ الوهادَ تَطولها الأَطواد
They saw the Commander of the Faithful and knew
They saw the Commander of the Faithful and were certain
that mountains tower above lowlands.
That even foxholes cannot protect against him.
يَفريperforms الفَرِيَّwondrous deeds وَيَنزِلُand brings down البَطلَthe champion الكَميthe armored warrior (fragment)
يَفري الفَرِيَّ وَيَنزِلُ البَطلَ الكَمي
يَcompletion of 'armored warrior' وَحُلّتاهُand his two robes منwith الدِماءِblood جِسادُdyed red
يَ وَحُلّتاهُ من الدِماءِ جِسادُ
He works wonders and brings down the armored champion,
The knight flees, and the tireless hero descends
his two robes dyed red with blood.
While his garments are bodies pouring blood.
ماnot كانَwas فيamong قَتلاهُthose he slew الّاexcept باسِلٌa valiant man
ما كانَ في قَتلاهُ الّا باسِلٌ
فَكَأَنَّماso as though صَمصامُهُhis keen sword نَقّادُan assayer
فَكَأَنَّما صَمصامُهُ نَقّادُ
Among those he slew there was none but a valiant man,
In his killings was only a champion
as though his keen sword were an assayer.
As if his sword were threshing stalks.
لَكَfor you ياO عَلِيُّAli دَعاcalled النَبِيُّthe Prophet بِخَيبَرٍat Khaybar
لَكَ يا عَلِيُّ دَعا النَبِيُّ بِخَيبَرٍ
وَالقَومُand the others قَدalready كَذَّبواhad shirked القِتالَbattle وَعادواand returned
وَالقَومُ قَد كَذَّبوا القِتالَ وَعادوا
For you, O Ali, the Prophet called at Khaybar,
The Prophet called you at Khaybar, O Ali,
when the others had shirked battle and returned.
And the people had refused to fight and turned away.
فَأَخَذتَso you took رايَتَهُhis banner بكفٍّin a hand عُوِّدَتaccustomed
فَأَخَذتَ رايَتَهُ بكفٍّ عُوِّدَت
عاداتِhabits of نصرٍvictory لمnot تَزلceased تُعتادُbeing practiced
عاداتِ نصرٍ لم تَزل تُعتادُ
You took his banner in a hand accustomed
You took his flag with a hand accustomed
to habits of victory, continually practiced.
To habitual victories unceasing.
فَصَدقتَهُمso you fought them in earnest حَرباًin battle غَدتrose نيرانُهاits flames
فَصَدقتَهُم حَرباً غَدت نيرانُها
ثُمَّthen اِنثَنَتsubsided وَالمُشرِكونَand the idolaters رمادُashes
ثُمَّ اِنثَنَت وَالمُشرِكونَ رمادُ
You gave them battle in earnest; its flames rose,
You made true for them a war whose fires
then subsided, with the idolaters reduced to ashes.
Later subsided, and the polytheists became ashes.
وَثَلَلتَand you demolished مَعقِلَهُمtheir stronghold لحرِّupon the noble part of جَبينِهِits brow
وَثَلَلتَ مَعقِلَهُم لحرِّ جَبينِهِ
كَمhow many قائِمٍa standing one أَزرىwas humbled بِهِthereby الاِقعادbeing made to sit
كَم قائِمٍ أَزرى بِهِ الاِقعاد
You toppled their stronghold upon its noble brow;
You made breaches in their fortress with your fierce forehead,
how many standing proud are humbled by being made to sit!
Like a pillar built by sitting.
وَرَجعتَand you returned مَنصورَvictorious of الجَبينِbrow مُظَفَّراًtriumphant
وَرَجعتَ مَنصورَ الجَبينِ مُظَفَّراً
فيamong المُسلِمينَthe Muslims دَليلُكَyour guide الاِرشادright guidance
في المُسلِمينَ دَليلُكَ الاِرشاد
You returned, victorious of brow and triumphant,
You returned, your brow triumphant and victorious,
among the Muslims, with right guidance as your guide.
A guide for Muslims in guidance.
كَمhow many منof رؤوسِheads لِلضِّلالِof error قَصَدتَهاyou sought them out
كَم من رؤوسِ لِلضِّلالِ قَصَدتَها
فَتَبَرَّأتso disowned منfrom حملهاbearing them الأَجسادthe bodies
فَتَبَرَّأت من حملها الأَجساد
How many heads of error you sought out,
How many heads of misguidance you sought out
and bodies disowned the burden of bearing them!
So their bodies rejected bearing them.
وَاِذكُرand remember لعمرُby the life of اللَهِGod عمراًAmr عِندَماwhen
وَاِذكُر لعمرُ اللَهِ عمراً عِندَما
أَورَدتَهُyou brought him to water اِذwhen أَعوزَproved impossible الايرادbringing to water
أَورَدتَهُ اِذ أَعوزَ الايراد
Remember, by God's life, Amr, when
And remember, by God’s life, Umar, when
you brought him to the watering-place when none could do so.
You succored him when means failed.
جَبنَwere afraid الجَميعُall وَلاand no جموعَarmies تَطيقُهُcould withstand him
جَبنَ الجَميعُ وَلا جموعَ تَطيقُهُ
وَالشرُّand evil منهُfrom him مبدأa beginning وَمَعادُand a return
وَالشرُّ منهُ مبدأ وَمَعادُ
All were afraid; no armies could withstand him,
All were afraid, and no groups could stand him
and evil began with him and returned to him.
While evil from him was source and return.
حَتّىuntil اِنبَرَيتَyou stepped forth لجسمِهِagainst his body فَبَرَيتَهُand pared it down
حَتّى اِنبَرَيتَ لجسمِهِ فَبَرَيتَهُ
كَزنادٍlike a fire-stick الوىcrooked مالَهُhaving no اصلادُfailure to spark
كَزنادٍ الوى مالَهُ اصلادُ
Until you stepped forth against his body and pared it down,
Until you rose against his body, saving him
like a crooked fire-stick that never fails to spark.
Like tinder taking fire though having no flint.
بَدَّدتَyou scattered شَملَthe unity of الكافرونَthe unbelievers بَصارِمٍwith a keen sword
بَدَّدتَ شَملَ الكافرونَ بَصارِمٍ
فيin حَدِّهِits edge الاِشقاءُcausing misery وَالاِسعادُand causing happiness
في حَدِّهِ الاِشقاءُ وَالاِسعادُ
You scattered the unbelievers' ranks with a keen sword,
You scattered the confederates with sharp blades.
whose edge brought misery and felicity.
Among them separation and happiness were limited.
لَوif رُمتَyou sought أَسرَهُمُtheir capture لَهانَit would be easy وَاِنَّماbut rather
لَو رُمتَ أَسرَهُمُ لَهانَ وَاِنَّما
بِكَyour concern was أَنthat يَعُمَّencompass المُشرِكينَthe idolaters نفادُannihilation
بِكَ أَن يَعُمَّ المُشرِكينَ نفادُ
Had you sought to capture them, it would have been easy; but
Had you sought to capture them, they would have despaired, but rather
you sought annihilation encompassing all the idolaters.
Your way is for polytheism to exhaust itself.
مُلكتَهُمyou possessed them يَومَon the day of الوَغىbattle وَبَذَلتَهُمand spent them freely
مُلكتَهُم يَومَ الوَغى وَبَذَلتَهُم
وَكَأَنَّهُمand as though they were مالٌwealth وَأَنتَand you جَوادُa generous giver
وَكَأَنَّهُم مالٌ وَأَنتَ جَوادُ
You possessed them on the day of battle and spent them freely,
You possessed them on the day of battle but pardoned them,
as though they were wealth and you its generous giver.
As if they were wealth and you were generous.
كَرمgenerosity يشارُis pointed اِلَيهِtoward it بِالأَيديwith hands الطواlong (fragment)
كَرم يشارُ اِلَيهِ بِالأَيدي الطوا
لِcompletion of 'long' وَمَفخرand glory بِالمُكرَماتthrough noble deeds يَشادis raised high
لِ وَمَفخر بِالمُكرَمات يَشاد
A generosity pointed out by long-reaching hands,
A nobility pointed to by outstretched hands
and glory raised high through noble deeds.
And a pride in generosity loudly proclaimed.
وَعمومَةٌand paternal uncles وَخؤولَةٌand maternal uncles فيamong هاشِمٍHashim
وَعمومَةٌ وَخؤولَةٌ في هاشِمٍ
لهماfor both بِأَعلىupon the higher of الفرقَدَينِthe two Farqad stars مهادُa resting-place
لهما بِأَعلى الفرقَدَينِ مهادُ
And paternal and maternal uncles among Hashim,
A generality and distinction in Hashim
both with a resting-place upon the higher of the two Farqad stars.
Whose resting place is the highest tombs.
وَعبادةٌand devotion لوif قَسِّمَتwere divided بَينَamong الوَرىhumankind
وَعبادةٌ لو قَسِّمَت بَينَ الوَرى
عادَwould become العِبادُthe people وَكلُّهُمand all of them عُبّادdevout worshippers
عادَ العِبادُ وَكلُّهُم عُبّاد
And devotion which, if divided among humankind,
A worship, if divided among creation,
would make all people devout worshippers.
Would return worshippers, all being worshippers.
وَخطابَةand eloquence جذبlifted القرآنُthe Qur'an بِضبعِهاby its upper arm
وَخطابَة جذب القرآنُ بِضبعِها
لَمnot يُحتَكَمwas sought as judge قَسٌّQuss لَهاfor it وَايادand Iyad
لَم يُحتَكَم قَسٌّ لَها وَاياد
And eloquence the Qur'an lifted by the arm,
An eloquence that attracted the Quran to its bosom,
for which neither Quss nor Iyad was sought as judge.
No judge was ever brought against it.
وَشجاعَةٌand courage لَمّاonce اِستَمَرَّwas twisted firm مَريرُهاits cord
وَشجاعَةٌ لَمّا اِستَمَرَّ مَريرُها
لَمnot يُرضَwas deemed sufficient عَنتَرَةٌAntarah وَلاnor شَدّادShaddad
لَم يُرضَ عَنتَرَةٌ وَلا شَدّاد
And courage, once its cord was twisted firm,
A courage that when its bitterness continued
for which neither Antarah nor Shaddad would suffice.
Antarah would not be pleased with it, nor Dhaddad.
وَتَزَوَّجَand he married الزَهراءَal-Zahra وَهيَand it was فَضيلَةٌa distinction
وَتَزَوَّجَ الزَهراءَ وَهيَ فَضيلَةٌ
غَرّاءُradiant لَيسَnot تَبيدُهاefface it الآبادُthe ages
غَرّاءُ لَيسَ تَبيدُها الآبادُ
He married al-Zahra, a distinction
And he married Fatima, and she is a virtue
radiant, which the ages cannot efface.
Radiant, not annihilated by time.
قَدindeed جاءَbrought forth بِالحَسَنينِHasan and Husayn وَهوand he was موفِقٌfavored with success
قَد جاءَ بِالحَسَنينِ وَهو موفِقٌ
لِلحُسنَيَينِwith the two finest blessings وَنَجمُهُand his star صَعّادُever ascending
لِلحُسنَيَينِ وَنَجمُهُ صَعّادُ
He fathered Hasan and Husayn, favored
He came with the two noble Hassan and Hussain, successful
with the two finest blessings, his star ever ascending.
For the two beauties, his star rising.
غادٍgoing forth at dawn إِلىto الاِسلامِIslam يَحفظُguarding أَيدَهُits strength
غادٍ إِلى الاِسلامِ يَحفظُ أَيدَهُ
لَوif only لَمnot يُحاوِلtried كيدَهُplotting against him أَوbeginning of 'villains' غادُcompletion of 'villains'
لَو لَم يُحاوِل كيدَهُ أَو غادُ
Going forth to Islam, he guarded its strength—
Going to Islam, he protects his hands
if only villains had not tried to plot against him!
Unless schemes or deceivers trouble him.
قَدalready دَبَّتcrept الطَلقاءُthe freed captives نَحوtoward ضِرارِهِharming him
قَد دَبَّت الطَلقاءُ نَحو ضِرارِهِ
تَقتادُهاled them الأَذخالُrancors (unclear form) وَالأَحقادُand hatreds
تَقتادُها الأَذخالُ وَالأَحقادُ
The freed captives crept forward to harm him,
Camels marched toward his harm,
led by rancor and hatred,
Driven by grudges and envy.
مِنfrom بَعدِafter أَنthat فُتِحَwas opened الطَريقُthe way وَضَيِّعَand was squandered الthe (fragment)
مِن بَعدِ أَن فُتِحَ الطَريقُ وَضَيِّعَ ال
عَهدُcovenant الوَثيقُbinding وَأُخلِفَand was broken الميعادُthe promise
عَهدُ الوَثيقُ وَأُخلِفَ الميعادُ
after the way was opened, and squandered was the
After the path was opened and pacts broken
binding covenant, and the promise was broken.
And promised time was breached.
ياO بَصرَةُBasra اِعتَرَفيconfess بِأَنَّthat بَصائِراًclear insights
يا بَصرَةُ اِعتَرَفي بِأَنَّ بَصائِراً
فَقَدتwere lost لَدَيكَin you رمىcast away بِهِنَّthem عنادobstinacy
فَقَدت لَدَيكَ رمى بِهِنَّ عناد
O Basra, confess that clear insights
O Basra, confess that perceptions
were lost in you, cast away by obstinacy.
Were lost with you, shot down by stubbornness.
ياO كَربَلاءُKarbala تَحَدَّثيspeak بِبَلائِناof our affliction
يا كَربَلاءُ تَحَدَّثي بِبَلائِنا
وَبكربناand of our anguish اِنindeed الحَديثَthe tale يعادis told again
وَبكربنا اِن الحَديثَ يعاد
O Karbala, speak of our affliction
O Karbala, speak of our afflictions
and our anguish; indeed, the tale is told again.
And sorrows, if speaking may be repeated.
أَسَدٌa lion نماهُgave him lineage أَحمَدٌAhmad وَوَصِيُّهُand his legatee
أَسَدٌ نماهُ أَحمَدٌ وَوَصِيُّهُ
أَرداهُslew him كلبٌa dog قَدindeed نَماهُgave him lineage زِيادُZiyad
أَرداهُ كلبٌ قَد نَماهُ زِيادُ
A lion descended from Ahmad and his legatee
A lion Ahmad grew, and his successor,
was slain by a dog descended from Ziyad.
Mauled by a dog that Ziyad grew.
لاnot يَشتَفيfinds satisfaction الاexcept بِسَبيby taking captive بَناتِهِhis daughters
لا يَشتَفي الا بِسَبي بَناتِهِ
وَحُداتُهاand their caravan-drivers التَخويفُterror وَالاِيعادُand threats
وَحُداتُها التَخويفُ وَالاِيعادُ
He finds no satisfaction except in taking his daughters captive,
He is not sated but by capturing his daughters,
with terror and threats as their caravan-drivers.
His threats are terror and warnings.
وَالدينُand religion يَبكيweeps وَالمَلائِكُand the angels تَشتَكيlament
وَالدينُ يَبكي وَالمَلائِكُ تَشتَكي
وَالجَوُّand the sky أَكلَفُdarkened وَالسِنونَand the years جَمادُbarren
وَالجَوُّ أَكلَفُ وَالسِنونَ جَمادُ
Religion weeps, and the angels lament;
Religion weeps and angels complain,
the sky is darkened, and the years are barren.
The heavens darker, and years solid.
لاno بَأسَharm اِنَّindeed اللَهَGod بِالمِرصادِlies in wait وَالرand the (fragment)
لا بَأسَ اِنَّ اللَهَ بِالمِرصادِ وَالر
رجسُfilthy one الزَنيمُthe base-born إِلىto الجَحيمِHell يُقادُis driven
رجسُ الزَنيمُ إِلى الجَحيمِ يُقادُ
Take heart: God lies in wait, and the
No matter, God lies in ambush,
filthy, base-born wretch is driven to Hell.
And filthy disgrace is driven to hell.
أَياO آلَfamily of هِندٍHind اِنif عَثَرتُI stumbled بِحُبِّكُمinto loving you
أَيا آلَ هِندٍ اِن عَثَرتُ بِحُبِّكُم
فَرَأَيتُthen I would see جَدّيmy fortune عاثِراًstumbling يَنأَدsagging under a burden
فَرَأَيتُ جَدّي عاثِراً يَنأَد
O family of Hind, if I stumble into loving you,
O family of Hind, if I stumble in loving you
then I would see my fortune stumbling, weighed down.
And see my grandfather stumble, censured,
اِنif لَمnot أَكُنI am حَرباًat war لحربwith Harb كُلِّهاall of it
اِن لَم أَكُن حَرباً لحرب كُلِّها
فَنَفانيَthen may they disown me الآباءُthe fathers وَالأَجدادُand the forefathers
فَنَفانيَ الآباءُ وَالأَجدادُ
If I am not at war with all of Harb's house,
If I am not at war with all wars,
may my fathers and forefathers disown me.
Then my fathers and forefathers are forgotten.
اِنif لَمnot أُتابِعI continue لَعنَهاcursing it فَتَرَكتُthen I have abandoned ديfaith (fragment)
اِن لَم أُتابِع لَعنَها فَتَرَكتُ دي
نَcompletion of 'faith' الاِعتِزالِMu'tazilism وَتَركُهُand abandoning it الحادُheresy
نَ الاِعتِزالِ وَتَركُهُ الحادُ
If I do not persist in cursing it, I have abandoned the faith
If I do not continue its curses, I have left
of Mu'tazilism; abandoning it is heresy.
The religion of isolation and leaving the strayers.
اِنif لَمnot أُفَضِّلI give precedence أَحمَداًAhmad وَوَصِيَّهُand his legatee
اِن لَم أُفَضِّل أَحمَداً وَوَصِيَّهُ
فَهَدَمتُthen I have demolished مَجداًglory شادَهُhe built it عَبّادُAbbad
فَهَدَمتُ مَجداً شادَهُ عَبّادُ
If I do not give Ahmad and his legatee precedence,
If I do not prefer Ahmad and his successor,
then I have demolished the glory Abbad built.
Then I have destroyed a glory built by worshippers.
ياO سادَتيmy masters قَدindeed صارَhas become هذاthis عادَتيmy habit
يا سادَتي قَد صارَ هذا عادَتي
فيin حُبِّكُمloving you ياO حَبَّذاhow excellent المُعتادُthe accustomed practice
في حُبِّكُم يا حَبَّذا المُعتادُ
O my masters, this has become my habit
My masters, this has become my habit
in loving you—how fine this accustomed practice!
In loving you, excellent accustomed.
أَرجوI hope بِهِthrough it حُسنَthe graciousness of الشَفاعَةِintercession عِندَكُمwith you
أَرجو بِهِ حُسنَ الشَفاعَةِ عِندَكُم
فيon يَومِthe day يَنتَظِمُgathers together العبادَthe people معادُresurrection
في يَومِ يَنتَظِمُ العبادَ معادُ
Through it I hope for gracious intercession with you
I hope by it for gracious intercession with you
on the day when resurrection gathers all people.
On a day when servants are herded to their return.
كَمhow many شيعَةٍfollowers تَصغيlisten لِسِحرِto the enchantment of قَصائِديmy poems
كَم شيعَةٍ تَصغي لِسِحرِ قَصائِدي
فَكَأَنَّماso as though أَيّامُهاtheir days أَعيادُfestivals
فَكَأَنَّما أَيّامُها أَعيادُ
How many followers listen to the enchantment of my poems,
How many Shia listen to the magic of my poems
as though their days were festivals!
As if their days are holidays.
وَمناصبينand hostile opponents تَسمَّعواlistened attentively وَقلوبُهُمand their hearts
وَمناصبين تَسمَّعوا وَقلوبُهُم
حَرّىburning تَفَتَّتُshatter دونهاbefore them الأَكبادُthe livers
حَرّى تَفَتَّتُ دونها الأَكبادُ
And hostile opponents listened, their hearts
And loyalists who listen while their hearts
burning, with livers shattering before them.
Burn, and below them livers crumble.
ياO أَيُّهاyou الكوفِيُّthe Kufan هذهthis غُرَّةٌa radiant blaze
يا أَيُّها الكوفِيُّ هذه غُرَّةٌ
فيupon جَبهَةِthe brow of الدُنياthe world لَهاfor it اِفرادُuniqueness
في جَبهَةِ الدُنيا لَها اِفرادُ
O Kufan, this is a radiant blaze
O you of Kufa, this is an unmatched
upon the world's brow, unmatched.
Patch on the cheek of life.
قَدalready أُنشِدَتwas recited مِنfrom حَيّa living person (unclear here) عبادِيَّةًan 'Abbadian ode
قَد أُنشِدَت مِن حَيّ عبادِيَّةً
خَضَعتbowed لَهاbefore it الأَضدادُthe adversaries وَالأَندادُand the peers
خَضَعت لَها الأَضدادُ وَالأَندادُ
An 'Abbadian ode has been recited by a living voice [wording unclear],
It was composed praising my devoted ones,
before which adversaries and peers bowed.
To which opposites and peers submitted.
أَنشدrecite وجوِّدand render it well فهيَfor it is مِفتاحُthe key to التُقىpiety
أَنشد وجوِّد فهيَ مِفتاحُ التُقى
يُزهىtakes pride بِهاin it التَوحيدُGod's oneness وَالاِنشادُand recitation
يُزهى بِها التَوحيدُ وَالاِنشادُ
Recite it, and recite it well: it is the key to piety;
I compose praising, for it is the key to piety,
God's oneness and recitation take pride in it.
By which divine oneness and reciting are adorned.
وَاِذاand if سُئِلتَyou are asked لِقصدِهاabout its destination وَمقرِّهاand its abode
وَاِذا سُئِلتَ لِقصدِها وَمقرِّها
فَالحَيرُthen al-Hayr أَوor كوفانKufan أَوor بَغدادBaghdad
فَالحَيرُ أَو كوفان أَو بَغداد
And if you are asked about its destination and abode,
And if you are asked about its intention and place,
then al-Hayr, or Kufan, or Baghdad.
Then Kufa, Hira, or Baghdad.
Sol 6.1