وعيشِكمby your lives لاmay not ورَدcome to water الحُوَّمُthe thirsty circlers
وعيشِكم لا ورَد الحُوَّمُ
مناهلاwatering places غُدرانُهاwhose pools تبِسمُsmile
مناهلا غُدرانُها تبِسمُ
By your lives, may the thirsty circlers never reach
Neither the flower blossoms of your life,
watering places whose pools smile.
Nor the smiles of its springs that have turned treacherous,
ولاnor رعتgraze هُمَّلُthe untended flocks أبصارِهمof their eyes
ولا رعت هُمَّلُ أبصارِهم
فيin روضةٍa meadow نُوّارُهاwhose blossoms أسهمُare arrows
في روضةٍ نُوّارُها أسهمُ
Nor may the straying flocks of their eyes graze
Nor have their gazes grazed,
in a meadow whose blossoms are arrows.
In a garden whose radiance arrows have pierced.
رويدكمgently, you all إنindeed الهوىlove مَعَركٌa battlefield
رويدكم إن الهوى مَعَركٌ
يُعدَمis absent فيهin it ألأجرُthe reward والمغنمُand the booty
يُعدَم فيه ألأجرُ والمغنمُ
Gently now: love is a battlefield
Restrain yourselves! For passion is an arena,
where neither reward nor booty is found.
Wherein reward and spoils are forfeited.
وإنماand only تأويلُناour interpretation أنّهthat it
وإنما تأويلُنا أنّه
يحِلُّbecomes lawful للمضطرّfor one in dire need ماwhat يحرُمُis forbidden
يحِلُّ للمضطرّ ما يحرُمُ
Our only interpretation is that
Our interpretation is that,
what is forbidden is lawful for one in dire need.
What is forbidden to the desperate becomes permissible.
إنّindeed أبيّاتِthe proud ones النفوسof soul التيwhose
إنّ أبيّاتِ النفوس التي
أحلَىthe sweetest مناهاof their wishes الحادثُthe calamity الأعظمُthe greatest
أحلَى مناها الحادثُ الأعظمُ
Indeed, those proud souls whose
Indeed the verses of souls,
sweetest wish is the greatest calamity
Whose sweetness the greatest misfortune exceeded,
فخوضُهاso their plunging فيinto غَمراتِthe engulfing depths الهوىof love
فخوضُها في غَمراتِ الهوى
لأنّهbecause it يندُرُis shed without redress فيهاin them الدَّمُblood
لأنّه يندُرُ فيها الدَّمُ
plunge into love's engulfing depths
Their plunge in the depths of passion,
because blood is shed there without redress.
Is because precious blood in them is scarce.
منwho ذاthat one الذيwho أفتَىgave a ruling to عيونَthe eyes المهاof the oryx
من ذا الذي أفتَى عيونَ المها
بأنّto the effect that ماwhat تُتِلفthey destroy لاnot يُغرَمُis compensated for
بأنّ ما تُتِلف لا يُغرَمُ
Who is it that ruled for the eyes of the oryx
Who claimed the eyes of the fascinated,
that no compensation is owed for what they destroy?
That what they covet goes unpunished?
سارواthey departed بقلبيwith my heart دونwithout جسميmy body فماso what use
ساروا بقلبي دون جسمي فما
تنفعنىavail me الجلدةُthe skin والأعظُمُand the bones
تنفعنى الجلدةُ والأعظُمُ
They departed with my heart, but not my body; how
They took my heart without my body, so
can skin and bones avail me?
Neither skin nor bone avails me.
واستعذبواand they found sweet ظلمىthe wrong done to me فمنso for أجلهمtheir sake
واستعذبوا ظلمى فمن أجلهم
أستغفرI ask forgiveness from اللهَGod لمنfor whoever يظلِمُdoes wrong
أستغفر اللهَ لمن يظلِمُ
And they found wronging me sweet; for their sake
They made my injustice sweet, so for them,
I ask God to forgive whoever does wrong.
I seek God's forgiveness for the unjust.
ماwhat ضرّهمwould harm them لوif سفَرواthey unveiled ريثماlong enough for
ما ضرّهم لو سفَروا ريثما
يَقْبَلaccept عُذرىmy excuse فيهمconcerning them اللوّمُthe reproachers
يَقْبَل عُذرى فيهم اللوّمُ
What harm would it do them to unveil, long enough
No harm if they had journeyed until
for the reproachers to accept my excuse concerning them?
My excuse for them blame could parry.
قالsaid ليَto me الأحورُthe wide, dark-eyed one منfrom بينهمamong them
قال ليَ الأحورُ من بينهم
وماand there is no بهupon him ألأجرُthe reward ولاnor المأثمُthe guilt
وما به ألأجرُ ولا المأثمُ
The wide, dark-eyed one among them said to me—
The fairest among them said to me,
with neither reward nor guilt upon him—
“Therein neither wages nor sin lies.”
داؤكyour ailment هذاthis مَنwho جناهcaused it وَمنand who
داؤك هذا مَن جناه وَمن
يُبرئهcures it قلتُI said الذيthe one whom تعلَمُyou know
يُبرئه قلتُ الذي تعلَمُ
‘Who brought on this sickness of yours, and who
I said, “He who inflicted this malady,
can cure it?’ I said, ‘The one you know.’
And He who cures it, knows.”
كمhow many فيin خيامthe tents البدوِof the Bedouins منof ظبيةٍa gazelle
كم في خيام البدوِ من ظبيةٍ
سِوارهاher bracelet يُشبعهfills it المِعصمُthe wrist
سِوارها يُشبعه المِعصمُ
How many a gazelle dwells in the Bedouins' tents,
How many gazelles are in the desert tents,
whose wrist fills out her bracelet.
Whose bracelets a forearm would suffice?
حاذرتshe guarded against العَينَthe eye فماso not إنat all, emphatically تُرَىis she seen
حاذرت العَينَ فما إن تُرَى
وخافتand she feared السمعَbeing heard فماso not تَبغِمُshe gives a gazelle's cry
وخافت السمعَ فما تَبغِمُ
She guards against the eye, and is never seen,
They avoided eyes so they go unseen,
and fears being heard, so utters no gazelle's cry.
And feared hearing so they make no sound.
لوif فاخرتْshe vied in glory with فيin الليلthe night بدرَthe full moon الدجىof darkness
لو فاخرتْ في الليل بدرَ الدجى
لكانthen it would be بالفضلfor superiority لهاin her favor يُحَكمُjudged
لكان بالفضل لها يُحَكمُ
Were she to vie in glory with night's full moon,
Had she contended with the moon at night,
the judgment of excellence would favor her,
Merit would judge in her favor.
لأنهاbecause she قدhas فتنَتْbewitched قومَهاher people
لأنها قد فتنَتْ قومَها
والبدرُand the full moon لمnot تُفتَنwere bewitched بهby it الأنجمُthe stars
والبدرُ لم تُفتَن به الأنجمُ
for she has bewitched her people,
For she had seduced her people,
while the stars are not bewitched by the full moon.
While stars were not infatuated with the moon.
ماhow أصعبَdifficult الإذنَpermission to enter علىat منزلٍa dwelling
ما أصعبَ الإذنَ على منزلٍ
بوّابُهits gatekeeper الخَطّىّthe Khattian lance واللَّهْذَمُand the keen blade
بوّابُه الخَطّىّ واللَّهْذَمُ
How hard it is to gain admittance to a dwelling
How difficult is the ear’s access,
whose gatekeepers are the Khattian lance and the keen blade!
To an abode whose knock is a sword and club!
لاmay not برِحdepart الوسمىّthe autumn rain عنfrom أرضهمtheir land
لا برِح الوسمىّ عن أرضهم
ولاnor نأَىgo far away عنfrom جوّهاits sky المِرزَمُMirzam, a star
ولا نأَى عن جوّها المِرزَمُ
May the autumn rain never leave their land,
The branded one did not cease roaming their land,
nor Mirzam depart from its sky,
Nor did the ostrich flee their air.
أوuntil أُبصرَI see الكُثبانَthe dunes قدalready ظُلِّتْhave been mantled
أو أُبصرَ الكُثبانَ قد ظُلِّتْ
رَقْماpatterned cloth كماjust as يصطنعtakes for use المُحرِمُthe consecrated pilgrim
رَقْما كما يصطنع المُحرِمُ
until I see the dunes already mantled
Or the dunes were seen to have cast
in patterned cloth, such as a consecrated pilgrim uses.
A shadow, as the garment of a pilgrim.
وبلَّغand may grant اللهُGod المنَىthe wishes فتيةًyoung men
وبلَّغ اللهُ المنَى فتيةً
نديمُهمtheir drinking companion فيin الصبحthe morning لاnot يندمُfeels regret
نديمُهم في الصبح لا يندمُ
And may God grant their wishes to young men
And God fulfilled the goal, so some lads
whose drinking companion has no regrets in the morning.
Whose morning companion regrets not.
عاطيتهمI passed cups to them صهباءَtawny wine داريَّةًfrom Darayya
عاطيتهم صهباءَ داريَّةً
قالواthey said واينand where الصابُthe bitter sap والعلقمُand the colocynth
قالوا واين الصابُ والعلقمُ
I passed them cups of tawny wine from Darayya;
I gave them a blond from my home,
they said, ‘And where are the bitter sap and colocynth?’
They said, “Where is the morning draught and dried meat?”
عزُّواthey became mighty فلوso if تفِقدwere to lose أذوادُهمtheir camel herds
عزُّوا فلو تفِقد أذوادُهم
حاميَهاtheir protector خفَّرهاwould protect them المِيسمُthe branding mark
حاميَها خفَّرها المِيسمُ
So mighty are they that, were their camel herds to lose
They excused, had their mounts sought them out,
their guardian, the branding mark would protect them.
Their guard would have stabled and fed them.
وهيand they علىdespite عزّتهاtheir inviolability بينهمamong them
وهي على عزّتها بينهم
يُبغَتُis taken unawares فيهاover them الفدُّthe single-share gaming arrow, Fadd والتوأمُand the double-share gaming arrow, Taw'am
يُبغَتُ فيها الفدُّ والتوأمُ
Yet, despite their inviolability among these men,
Yet she in her dignity amongst them,
the Fadd and Taw'am arrows are taken unawares over them.
The ransom is rejected and the twin refused.
ماnot تبرحcease to be الأكوارُthe camel saddles معمورةًoccupied
ما تبرح الأكوارُ معمورةً
بهمby them ونيرانُand the fires الوغىof battle تُضرَمُare kindled
بهم ونيرانُ الوغى تُضرَمُ
The camel saddles are ever occupied
The cooking pots do not cease, inhabited by them,
by them, while the fires of battle are kindled.
And the fires of turmoil are stoked.
سقياًa blessing of rain لهمupon them لوif only أنّthat أُمّاتِهمtheir mothers
سقياً لهم لو أنّ أُمّاتِهم
لاnot تُطَعمbe made to taste الثُّكلَbereavement ولاnor تعُقَمُbecome barren
لا تُطَعم الثُّكلَ ولا تعُقَمُ
Rain's blessing on them! If only their mothers
A drink for them, if only their mothers
never tasted bereavement or became barren!
Were not fed bitter grief or go barren.
تودُّwishes ذاتُthe bearer of الحملpregnancy لوif only أنهاthat she
تودُّ ذاتُ الحمل لو أنها
يوماone day بأمثالهمwith ones like them تُتئِمُshe bears twins
يوما بأمثالهم تُتئِمُ
Every pregnant woman wishes she might
The pregnant one wishes that one day,
one day bear twins like them.
She would equal them in childbirth.
فلستso I am not أدرىaware أُنجبواwere they bred noble شمسةًby chance, uncertain reading
فلست أدرى أُنجبوا شمسةً
أمor شِنشِنٌan inborn trait ورّثَهمbequeathed to them أخزمُAkhzam
أم شِنشِنٌ ورّثَهم أخزمُ
I do not know: were they bred noble by chance,
So I do not know if a noble line they begot,
or did Akhzam bequeath this inborn trait to them?
Or a combative clan inherited them.
بلrather منfrom زعيمthe chief الرؤساءof the chiefs اقتنوَاthey acquired
بل من زعيم الرؤساء اقتنوَا
مكارمَthe noble qualities الأخلاقof character لاnot منهمُfrom them
مكارمَ الأخلاق لا منهمُ
Rather, from the chief of chiefs they acquired
Nay, from the chieftain of leaders they acquired
noble virtues, not from them.
Virtues, not from their lineage.
إنif تُسئلis asked العلياءُhigh distinction عنabout نفسهاitself
إن تُسئل العلياءُ عن نفسها
نقلْsays, apparently intended أبوAbu, father of القاسمِal-Qasim بىabout me أعلمُknows best
نقلْ أبو القاسمِ بى أعلمُ
If high distinction is asked about itself,
If you ask the sublime ones about themselves,
it says, ‘Abu al-Qasim knows me best.’
Relay what Abul Qasim has taught me.
قدindeed أَنزلتْhas revealed فيهconcerning him العلاhigh glory سُورةًa surah
قد أَنزلتْ فيه العلا سُورةً
دقَتbecame subtle معانيهاits meanings فماso not تُفهمُare understood
دقَت معانيها فما تُفهمُ
High glory has revealed a surah concerning him,
Revelation sent down a chapter about him,
its meanings so subtle that they cannot be understood.
Whose meanings are subtle and not grasped.
كأنّماas though فيat صدرthe head ديوانهof his council
كأنّما في صدر ديوانه
داودُDavid فيin مِحرابهhis sanctuary يحكُمُjudges
داودُ في مِحرابه يحكُمُ
It is as though, at the head of his council,
As if in the heart of his anthology,
David were judging in his sanctuary.
David in his sanctuary decrees.
بلاغةٌeloquence منfrom حسنthe beauty إيضاحهاof its clarity
بلاغةٌ من حسن إيضاحها
لاnot تُشكلadds vowel marks to الخطَّthe script ولاnor تُعِجمُadds distinguishing dots
لا تُشكل الخطَّ ولا تُعِجمُ
Such eloquence, so beautifully clear,
An eloquence whose clarity in explanation,
that it needs neither vowel marks nor letter dots.
Makes verse neither obscure nor foreign.
والفصلُand the decisive proof أنis that يُنشَرَbe unfolded قرطاسُهُhis sheet
والفصلُ أن يُنشَرَ قرطاسُهُ
وتَنْبَهَand awaken المُرِّيَّةُthe doubters النُّوَّمُwho are asleep
وتَنْبَهَ المُرِّيَّةُ النُّوَّمُ
The decisive proof is that his page be unfolded
The summary is that his scroll be circulated,
and the sleeping doubters awaken.
And the slumbering soul awakens.
إذاwhen تحدَّىchallenge الغيبَthe unseen أفكارُهhis thoughts
إذا تحدَّى الغيبَ أفكارُه
فليسso there is no بابٌdoor دونهاin their way مُبهَمclosed
فليس بابٌ دونها مُبهَم
When his thoughts challenge the unseen,
When his thoughts challenge the unknown,
no door confronting them remains shut.
No door to them remains obscured.
كُفيتِyou have been relieved ياO سُحْبُclouds فلاso do not تنصَبىtoil
كُفيتِ يا سُحْبُ فلا تنصَبى
حسْبُsufficient for الثرىthe earth تيّارُهhis torrent الخضِرمُthe boundless one
حسْبُ الثرى تيّارُه الخضِرمُ
Clouds, you have been relieved; toil no more:
Enough O clouds, cease aggregation,
his boundless torrent suffices for the earth.
The flow of the land suffices the aged torrent.
قدindeed علِمknows العُشبُthe grass وضيفُand the guest القِرَىof hospitality
قد علِم العُشبُ وضيفُ القِرَى
أيُّكماwhich of you two فيin الأزمةِhard times الأكرمُis more generous
أيُّكما في الأزمةِ الأكرمُ
The grass and the guest at the feast both know
The herbage and guest of villages have known,
which of you two is more generous in hard times.
Which of them in crisis is most generous.
تطاولىrise high ياO هضَباتِhills المُنَىof aspirations
تطاولى يا هضَباتِ المُنَى
فهوfor he إلىto ذِروتكyour summit السُّلَّمُis the ladder
فهو إلى ذِروتك السُّلَّمُ
Tower high, O hills of aspiration:
Ascend O plateaus of wishes,
for he is the ladder to your summit.
For he is the ladder to your summit.
محسَّدٌmuch envied يغبِطenvies admiringly أقلامَهhis pens
محسَّدٌ يغبِط أقلامَه
علىfor يديهhis two hands الرمحُthe spear والمِخذَمُand the keen sword
على يديه الرمحُ والمِخذَمُ
Much envied is he; his pens are envied
Envied are his pens that in his hands
by spear and keen sword, for their place in his hands.
Are spear and picker.
وماand what الذيis that which بينَهماbetween them both جامعٌjoins
وما الذي بينَهما جامعٌ
هذانthese two بؤسَىmisery وهماwhile those two أنعمُblessings
هذان بؤسَى وهما أنعمُ
And what is there that joins the two?
That which unites them is no unifier,
These two bring misery, while those two bring blessings.
These two are my misery and those two my bliss.
ليسhe is not بمحتاجٍin need إلىof شِكَّةٍarms and armor
ليس بمحتاجٍ إلى شِكَّةٍ
سلاحُهhis weapon منfrom ذاتهhis own self الضيغمُthe lion
سلاحُه من ذاته الضيغمُ
He has no need of arms and armor:
He has no need for a whetstone,
the lion's weapon comes from his own being.
His weapon from himself is sharp.
إنّindeed قِداحthe arrow shafts النَّبعof nabʿ wood مبرّيةًsharpened
إنّ قِداح النَّبع مبرّيةً
لغيرfor someone other than مَنْone whose وَقْصَتُهhis nape, uncertain reading شَيْهَمُa porcupine
لغير مَنْ وَقْصَتُه شَيْهَمُ
Sharpened shafts of nabʿ wood
Verily the kindling of the source is purification,
are for others, not one whose nape is a porcupine.
Not for he whose arrowhead is lead.
وهوand he إذاwhen هزَّbrandishes قنَاthe spears كيدِهِof his stratagem
وهو إذا هزَّ قنَا كيدِهِ
شاطَperishes عليهاupon them البطلُthe champion المعلِمُbearing battle insignia
شاطَ عليها البطلُ المعلِمُ
And when he brandishes the spears of his stratagem,
And when he shook his cunning’s bow,
the battle-marked champion perishes on them.
The learned hero tore into it.
وقالتand said الدرعُthe coat of mail لمُجتابهاto its wearer
وقالت الدرعُ لمُجتابها
ماnot هُزَّwas brandished إلآexcept القدرُfate المبرَمُthe irrevocable
ما هُزَّ إلآ القدرُ المبرَمُ
And the coat of mail says to its wearer,
And the shield said to its polished face,
‘Nothing was brandished but irrevocable fate.’
“Naught shook but predetermined fate.”
وماand not كُلومthe wounds الدهرof time محذورةfeared
وما كُلوم الدهر محذورة
ورأيُهand his judgment الأعلىthe supreme لهاfor them مِرَهمُa salve
ورأيُه الأعلى لها مِرَهمُ
The wounds of time need not be feared
The misfortunes of time are not to be avoided,
while his supreme judgment is their salve.
And its highest view for them a salve.
ولوand if تشاءُthey wished اصطنعتwould prepare خيلُهhis horses
ولو تشاءُ اصطنعت خيلُه
وليمةًa feast يَشهدُهاattends it القَشعمُthe aged eagle
وليمةً يَشهدُها القَشعمُ
And, if they wished, his horses would prepare
If you desire, his horses can prepare
a feast attended by the aged eagle.
A feast witnessed by the night prowler.
قدalready صُبغتْhave been dyed بالنقعwith dust ألوانُهاtheir colors
قد صُبغتْ بالنقع ألوانُها
فاشتبهso looked alike الأشهبُthe gray horse والأدهمُand the black horse
فاشتبه الأشهبُ والأدهمُ
Their colors have been dyed with dust,
Their colors were dyed with indigo,
so gray and black steeds look alike.
The gray and the black confused.
منfrom أُسرةٍa family بيتthe house معاليهمُof their lofty deeds
من أُسرةٍ بيت معاليهمُ
يزورهvisits it الكافرُthe unbeliever والمسلمُand the Muslim
يزوره الكافرُ والمسلمُ
He is from a family whose house of high renown
From a house whose glory,
is visited by unbeliever and Muslim alike.
Infidel and Muslim both visit.
مستلَمُtouched in reverence الأركانthe corners طُوّافُهُthose who circle it
مستلَمُ الأركان طُوّافُهُ
بحمدهمwith praise of them لبَّواthey answered the pilgrimage call كماjust as أنعمواthey bestowed favors
بحمدهم لبَّوا كما أنعموا
Its corners are touched in reverence; those who circle it
Circling its pillars, its guests
cry out in praise of them, just as they have bestowed favors.
Praised them, as they granted bounty.
شُيِّدwas raised بالإحسانwith beneficence بنيانُهُits structure
شُيِّد بالإحسان بنيانُهُ
فكلُّso every بيتٍhouse غيرَهother than it يُهدَمُis demolished
فكلُّ بيتٍ غيرَه يُهدَمُ
Its structure was raised through beneficence,
Built by kindness, its edifice,
so every house but it is torn down.
While all other houses crumble.
يزدحِمcrowd together الوفدُthe delegations بأرجائهin its precincts
يزدحِم الوفدُ بأرجائه
فعامُهمso their year أجمعهall of it مَوسمُis a pilgrimage season
فعامُهم أجمعه مَوسمُ
Delegations throng its precincts,
Delegations throng its corners,
so their entire year is a pilgrimage season.
So its year in full is a season.
لوif نحتَتْcarved صخرتَهits rock آلةٌa tool
لو نحتَتْ صخرتَه آلةٌ
لاستُنبِطتْthen would be drawn forth فيin تُربهِits soil زمزمُZamzam
لاستُنبِطتْ في تُربهِ زمزمُ
Were a tool to carve into its rock,
If apparatus carved its stone,
Zamzam would be drawn forth from its soil.
Zamzam would be extracted from its soil.
ياO خاتمseal الأجوادof the generous قَولىmy speech الذيwhich
يا خاتم الأجواد قَولى الذي
بهwith it الكلامُspeech المصطفَىthe choicest يُختَمُis sealed
به الكلامُ المصطفَى يُختَمُ
O seal of the generous, these words of mine
O seal of the generous, my saying by which
are those with which choice speech is sealed.
The chosen words are concluded.
بدُرِّwith pearls of أوصافكِyour qualities أمددتَنىyou supplied me
بدُرِّ أوصافكِ أمددتَنى
فيهfor it فماso what بالَىِis wrong with me لاnot أنِظمُI string into verse
فيه فما بالَىِ لا أنِظمُ
You furnished me with the pearls of your qualities
By the full moon of your attributes I am sustained,
for it; why, then, do I not string them into verse?
So why can I not compose poetry?
تحيّةa greeting النيروزfor Nowruz مفروضةobligatory
تحيّة النيروز مفروضة
بقدرِin proportion to ماwhat يملِكهhe possesses it المعدِمُthe destitute man
بقدرِ ما يملِكه المعدِمُ
A Nowruz greeting is obligatory,
New Year greetings are obligatory,
in proportion to what a destitute man owns.
By what the destitute possesses.
تُهدَىare offered إلىto مثلكone like you فيon مثلهan occasion like it الthe, continued on the next line
تُهدَى إلى مثلك في مثله ال
أشعَارُpoems لاnot الدينارُthe dinar والدرهمُand the dirham
أشعَارُ لا الدينارُ والدرهمُ
To one like you, on such an occasion, are offered
It is gifted to your like, though neither dinar,
poems—not dinars and dirhams.
Nor dirham, only verse.
Sol 6.1