يتناهىcome to an end الأنامhumankind والأيّامُand the days
يتناهى الأنام والأيّامُ
ولكand yours is الخلدimmortality دولةa realm ومقامand an abode
ولك الخلد دولة ومقام
Humankind and the days come to an end,
The days and people pass away,
and immortality is yours—a realm and an abode.
Yet you remain, your rule and status eternal.
يجثمcrouches الفكرthought خاشعاreverently حولaround مثواresting place (split word)
يجثم الفكر خاشعا حول مثوا
كyour (suffix) وتروىand recount أمجادكyour glories الأقلامthe pens
ك وتروى أمجادك الأقلام
Thought crouches reverently around your resting place,
Thought kneels reverently around your tomb,
and pens recount your glories.
As your glories are narrated by pens,
ويقولونand they say عنكof you متّyou died وآثاand your legacy (split word)
ويقولون عنك متّ وآثا
ركyour legacy (word ending) نورٌa light لاnot يعتريهovertakes it ظلامdarkness
رك نورٌ لا يعتريه ظلام
They say of you, 'You died,' yet your legacy
And they say you have died, yet by your deeds,
is a light no darkness overtakes.
You are a light untouched by darkness.
أيهاO الميتdead one كمhow many منamong الناسpeople حيalive
أيها الميت كم من الناس حي
هوhe ميتdead لولاwere it not for الخطاfootsteps والكلامand speech
هو ميت لولا الخطا والكلام
O dead one, how many a living person
O deceased! How many living men,
is dead, but for footsteps and speech!
Are dead, if not for speech and writing.
عبقبريّa genius لهto him علىupon الشعرpoetry حقa rightful claim
عبقبريّ له على الشعر حق
فمراقىfor the heights نبوغهhis genius لاnot ترامare attained
فمراقى نبوغه لا ترام
A genius to whom poetry owes its due,
A genius you are, who has a right,
for the heights of his genius cannot be reached.
To poetry, so high are the horizons of your talent.
الزعاماتforms of leadership كالحياةlike life فنونarts; varieties
الزعامات كالحياة فنون
فهيfor it is بعثrevival أوor ثورةrevolution أوor سلامpeace
فهي بعث أو ثورة أو سلام
Leadership, like life, takes many forms:
Leaderships are arts like life itself,
revival, or revolution, or peace.
A revival, or revolution, or peace.
وهوand he is فنّan art منof الزعامةleadership مختاchosen (split word)
وهو فنّ من الزعامة مختا
رٌchosen (word ending) وخلقand qualities منof الزعيمthe leader جسامmighty
رٌ وخلق من الزعيم جسام
He is a chosen art of leadership,
It is a refined art of leadership,
and a leader's mighty qualities.
And creation of a monumental leader.
جاءhe came فيamong أمةٍa nation منof الشرقthe East حيرىbewildered
جاء في أمةٍ من الشرق حيرى
مزّقتهاtore it apart الأغراضinterests; motives والالامand sorrows
مزّقتها الأغراض والالام
He came among a bewildered nation of the East,
You came in a confused eastern nation,
torn apart by interests and sorrows,
Torn by purposes and pains.
باعثاrousing فيin الوجودexistence وثبةa leap روحa spirit
باعثا في الوجود وثبة روح
آبدeverlasting لاnot تحدّهconfine it الآطامthe strongholds
آبد لا تحدّه الآطام
rousing in existence the leap of a spirit,
In life arousing a spirit's leap,
everlasting, which no strongholds can confine,
Immortal, unlimited by epochs.
خافقاpulsing كالحياةlike life يقظانwakeful كالنوlike light (split word)
خافقا كالحياة يقظان كالنو
رlight (word ending) طليقاunfettered كأنهas though it were الأنسامthe breezes
ر طليقا كأنه الأنسام
pulsing like life, wakeful like light,
Throbbing like life, awake like light,
unfettered, as though it were the breezes.
Unrestrained like the breeze.
السياساتpolitics; policies حولهaround him عصبةa faction
السياسات حوله عصبة
تبنىbuilds وأخرىand another رجاؤُهاits hope الأنهدامcollapse
تبنى وأخرى رجاؤُها الأنهدام
Political factions surround him: one band
Around you, politics is a league
builds, while another hopes for collapse.
That builds, and another whose hope is destruction.
وهوand he is ماضpressing onward كأنهas though he were آيةa sign الفجdawn (split word)
وهو ماض كأنه آية الفج
رdawn (word ending) إذاwhen حفsurrounded جانبيهits two sides القتامdusty gloom
ر إذا حف جانبيه القتام
Yet he presses on, like a sign of dawn
You go on as if an icon of dawn,
when dusty gloom envelops it on either side,
When darkness flanks its sides.
حاملاbearing ملءthe fullness of ذاتهhis being فكرةthe idea of البعrevival (split word)
حاملا ملء ذاته فكرة البع
ثrevival (word ending) لشعبfor a people تقودهlead it الأوهامdelusions
ث لشعب تقوده الأوهام
bearing throughout his being the idea of revival
Bearing your being’s purpose of revival,
for a people led by delusions,
For a people led by fantasies.
جاهليّbenighted يحياlives وقدthough already نقدhas worn away الدهtime (split word)
جاهليّ يحيا وقد نقد الده
رtime (word ending) كماas عاشlived فيin المتاهاتthe labyrinths سامSam
ر كما عاش في المتاهات سام
benighted, living on though time has worn away,
A pre-Islamic you live, having shed,
as Sam lived in the labyrinths.
Ancient ignorance, like the towering Sam.
ويروحونand they go on يبحثونsearching وخلفand behind الليلthe night
ويروحون يبحثون وخلف الليل
دوحgreat trees بهاwith them البناءthe edifice يقامis raised
دوح بها البناء يقام
And they go searching, while beyond the night
And they go searching, while behind the veil,
are great trees with which the edifice is built.
The edifice you built stands erect.
جهلواthey did not know أمرهاits nature وحجبهاand concealed it عنهمfrom them ضبابmist
جهلوا أمرها وحجبها عنهم ضباب
منof صنعهمtheir making وغمامand clouds
من صنعهم وغمام
They knew not its nature; it was hidden from them by mist
They knew not its secret and it was obscured,
of their own making, and clouds.
By their own fog and clouds.
وانتهىand reached سرهاits secret إليهto him فماso not أغفىhe dozed
وانتهى سرها إليه فما أغفى
ومنand from حولهaround him الكسالىthe idlers نيامasleep
ومن حوله الكسالى نيام
Its secret reached him, and he did not doze,
Its mystery was revealed to you, so you did not slumber,
while the idlers around him lay asleep.
While the lazy around you slept.
شاءهاhe willed it صيحةa cry ففكّتso were undone قيودfetters
شاءها صيحة ففكّت قيود
وارتقتand rose أمّةa nation وتمand was completed نظامan order
وارتقت أمّة وتم نظام
He willed it a cry, and fetters were undone;
You willed it a cry that burst restraints,
a nation rose, and an order was completed.
A nation arose and order was established.
أيهاO الثائرrevolutionary المحررliberator ماذاwhat
أيها الثائر المحرر ماذا
منof معانيكyour meanings تدركgrasp الأفهامminds
من معانيك تدرك الأفهام
O revolutionary liberator, what
O rebel liberator, what
of your meanings can minds grasp?
Of your meanings can minds grasp?
لمnot يزلcease صوتكyour voice الندىsweet-toned كماas كاwas (split word)
لم يزل صوتك الندى كما كا
نwas (word ending) وإنeven though غابvanished وجهكyour face البسامever-smiling
ن وإن غاب وجهك البسام
Your sweet voice remains as it was,
Your dewy voice remains as it was,
though your ever-smiling face is gone.
Even if your radiant face is gone.
آهah لوif only تستطاعwere possible رجعةthe return of ميتa dead person
آه لو تستطاع رجعة ميت
قبلماbefore يؤذنgives notice to الحياةlife الختامthe end
قبلما يؤذن الحياة الختام
Ah, if only the dead could return
Ah, if only the deceased could return,
before the end gives notice to life!
Before the end of life is announced.
لرأيتyou would surely see الذيwhat غرستyou planted وقدآand has already yielded (split word)
لرأيت الذي غرست وقدآ
تىyielded (word ending) ثماراfruits كأنهاas though they were الأحلامdreams
تى ثمارا كأنها الأحلام
You would see what you planted, now yielding
You'd see what you planted has borne,
fruits that seem like dreams.
Fruits like dreams.
بلغتshe reached مرفأthe harbor of الأمانيّhopes ياO قاQasim (split name)
بلغت مرفأ الأمانيّ يا قا
سمQasim (name ending) حواءEve والرياحwhile the winds جهامrainless clouds
سم حواء والرياح جهام
The harbor of hopes has been reached, O Qasim,
You reached the harbor of hopes, o pillar of Eve,
by Eve, though the winds are rainless clouds.
As winds raged.
بلغتهshe reached it وحقّقتand achieved ماwhat أرادتshe desired
بلغته وحقّقت ما أرادت
رغمdespite ماwhat أرصدتreadied لهاfor her الأيامthe days
رغم ما أرصدت لها الأيام
She reached it and achieved what she desired,
You reached it and fulfilled what you intended,
despite what the days had readied for her.
Despite what epochs conspired against it.
إنهاindeed she is أيهاO الحبيبbeloved كماas شئwished (split word)
إنها أيها الحبيب كما شئ
تyou (suffix) كفاحstruggle ويقظةand awakening واعتزامand resolve
ت كفاح ويقظة واعتزام
She is, beloved, as you wished:
It now, o beloved, is as you willed,
struggle, awakening, and resolve.
Struggle, awakening, determination.
باركتهاblessed her هدىHuda العظيمةthe great حتىuntil
باركتها هدى العظيمة حتى
لقيتshe met ربهاher Lord عليهاupon her السلامpeace
لقيت ربها عليها السلام
Great Huda blessed her until
Blessed by the Guidance of The Greatest,
she met her Lord—peace be upon her.
Until she met her Lord in peace.
ولديناand we have منfrom روحهاher spirit نفحاتbreaths
ولدينا من روحها نفحات
هنthey للنّيلfor the Nile صبوةyearning وغرامand passionate love
هن للنّيل صبوة وغرام
And we have breaths of her spirit:
Of her spirit we have scents,
they are yearning and passion for the Nile.
To the Nile, passion and ardour.
لمnot يزلcease سيرهاher progress علىon وجههاher course الأهbest-guided (split word)
لم يزل سيرها على وجهها الأه
دىbest-guided (word ending) ومنand from حولهاaround her الصخورthe rocks فئامthrongs
دى ومن حولها الصخور فئام
Her progress still follows its best-guided course,
Her course remains guided,
while rocks crowd around her in throngs.
While around her stand crags and dissension.
حاربوهاthey fought her وماand not يزالونthey cease والموand the procession (split word)
حاربوها وما يزالون والمو
كبprocession (word ending) يجرىmoves on وروحهand its spirit الإقدامdaring
كب يجرى وروحه الإقدام
They fought her, and still do, while the procession
They fight her and still do, while the ship,
moves on, its spirit daring.
Sails on, its spirit resolute.
لستI do not أدرىknow وليسand is not غيريanyone besides me أدرىbetter informed
لست أدرى وليس غيري أدرى
ماwhat مدىextent ماwhat يريدهwant it الأقوامthe peoples
ما مدى ما يريده الأقوام
I do not know, and none other knows better,
I know not, and none but me knows,
how far the peoples' desires extend.
How far the people want to go.
أقيوداfetters? والكائناتwhile all beings انطلاقfreedom; release
أقيودا والكائنات انطلاق
أمor ركوداstagnation والعالمونwhile the worlds اضطرامblazing
أم ركودا والعالمون اضطرام
Fetters, while all beings break free?
Shackles? And the universe bursting free?
Or stagnation, while the worlds blaze?
Or stillness, and the world aflame?
أمor يقولونthey say إنthat للدينreligion has حدّاًa boundary
أم يقولون إن للدين حدّاً
تحمدare praised الحربwar دونهin its defense والخصامand strife
تحمد الحرب دونه والخصام
Or do they say religion has a boundary
Or they say, religion has a limit,
in whose defense war and strife are praised?
Beyond which war and discord are praised?
وهوand it is الدينreligion حجةthe plea of الجهلignorance إنif خاfalters (split word)
وهو الدين حجة الجهل إن خا
رfalters (word ending) وأعياand thwarted بيانهits expression الإفحامsilencing refutation
ر وأعيا بيانه الإفحام
And religion is ignorance's plea when it falters
Yet it is the religion, the argument of ignorance,
and refutation leaves it at a loss for words.
Defeated by its clear proof.
أيهاO المرجفونfearmongers قدalready ذهبhas gone الأمyesterday (split word)
أيها المرجفون قد ذهب الأم
سyesterday (word ending) وهلand dawned الضحىmorning light وماتand died الظلامdarkness
س وهل الضحى ومات الظلام
O fearmongers, yesterday has passed,
O alarmists, the day has gone and the dusk arrived,
the morning has dawned, and darkness died.
So did the dawn, and darkness died.
ولهاand she has حقّهاher right الذيwhich يدفعdefends التاhistory (split word)
ولها حقّها الذي يدفع التا
ريخhistory (word ending) عنهon its behalf والعقلand reason والإسلامand Islam
ريخ عنه والعقل والإسلام
And she has her right, which history defends,
She has a right, which history will relate,
along with reason and Islam.
As will the mind and Islam.
وغدٌand tomorrow بينناbetween us ومنهand from it سندرىwe shall know
وغدٌ بيننا ومنه سندرى
أحلالis it lawful? تحريرهاher liberation أمor حرامforbidden
أحلال تحريرها أم حرام
And tomorrow stands between us; from it we shall learn
And tomorrow is among us, and from it we will know,
whether her liberation is lawful or forbidden.
Whether her liberation is legitimate or forbidden.
والأتيّand the oncoming torrent العاليtowering منof السيلthe flood لاnot يمstops (split word)
والأتيّ العالي من السيل لا يم
نعstops (word ending) تهدارهits roaring حصىpebbles أوor رجامgreat stones
نع تهداره حصى أو رجام
And the towering, oncoming flood—neither
The most high flood cannot be stopped,
pebbles nor great stones can stop its roar.
By pebbles or dams.
Sol 6.1