إِلىto مِثلِthe like of هَذاthis فيamong الخُطوبِcalamities العَظائِمِimmense
إِلى مِثلِ هَذا في الخُطوبِ العَظائِمِ
أَرىI see مُنتَهىthe utmost extent بَطشِthe violence of اللَياليthe nights الغَواشِمِruthless
أَرى مُنتَهى بَطشِ اللَيالي الغَواشِمِ
In immense calamities, at a blow like this
In such great tragedies
I see the utmost violence of ruthless nights.
I see the utmost might of merciless nights.
وَهَلand is there? بَعدَafter هَذاthis الخَطبُthe calamity خَطبٌa calamity نُعِدُّهُwe count it
وَهَل بَعدَ هَذا الخَطبُ خَطبٌ نُعِدُّهُ
مُصاباًa loss بِعِلمٍto learning أَوor بَلاءًan affliction بِعالَمِupon a world
مُصاباً بِعِلمٍ أَو بَلاءً بِعالَمِ
After this calamity, is there any calamity we can count
And is there after this tragedy another we may enumerate
As a loss to learning or an affliction upon a world?
Afflicted with knowledge or an affliction with a sage?
مُصابٌa calamity لِماof what قضدalready (apparently قد) فاتَhad passed أَنسىmade forgotten وَمَأتَمٌand a mourning
مُصابٌ لِما قضد فاتَ أَنسى وَمَأتَمٌ
بِهِwith it خَتَمتَyou sealed آلامَthe sorrows of سودِblack المَآتِمِmourning rites
بِهِ خَتَمتَ آلامَ سودِ المَآتِمِ
A loss that made past losses forgotten, and a mourning
Afflicted for what was decreed has passed, forgotten, expired,
With which you sealed the sorrows of black mourning rites.
With it the sorrows of gloomy calamities ended.
وَلاand no غضروَwonder (apparently غرو) فيهِin it فاجِعاًdevastating عَمَّencompassed all رَزؤُهُits loss
وَلا غضروَ فيهِ فاجِعاً عَمَّ رَزؤُهُ
فَمَوتُfor the death of رِجالِmen of العِلمِlearning مَوتُthe death of العَوالِمِworlds
فَمَوتُ رِجالِ العِلمِ مَوتُ العَوالِمِ
No wonder its devastating loss encompassed everyone,
No anger in it grieving, spreading its sadness,
For the death of men of learning is the death of worlds.
For the death of men of knowledge is the death of sages.
مَصابيحٌlamps فيin الدُنياthe world إِذاwhen هِيَthey أُطفِئَتare extinguished
مَصابيحٌ في الدُنيا إِذا هِيَ أُطفِئَت
دُجىdarkness الناسِof people فيin لَيلٍa night مِنَof الجَهلِignorance قاتِمِpitch-black
دُجى الناسِ في لَيلٍ مِنَ الجَهلِ قاتِمِ
Lamps in the world: when they are extinguished,
Lamps in the world, when extinguished,
People lie in darkness, in a pitch-black night of ignorance.
Are darkness for the people in a night of deep ignorance.
وَأَعلامُand beacons of رُشدٍguidance فيamong البَرِيَّةِmankind يَهتَديfinds guidance
وَأَعلامُ رُشدٍ في البَرِيَّةِ يَهتَدي
بِهاby them كُلُّevery سارٍtraveler فيin المَجاهِلِunknown lands هائِمِwandering
بِها كُلُّ سارٍ في المَجاهِلِ هائِمِ
And beacons of guidance among mankind; guided
And signs of guidance in the wilderness by which
By them is every traveler wandering through unknown lands.
Every wanderer in the wilds confused is guided.
وَلَكِنَّهاbut it is الدُنياthe world لَعَمريby my life أولِعتُI became enamored (context suggests 'it became enamored')
وَلَكِنَّها الدُنيا لَعَمري أولِعتُ
بِنَكبِwith bringing down العُلىgreatness مِنsince عَهدِهاits age المُتَقادِمِancient
بِنَكبِ العُلى مِن عَهدِها المُتَقادِمِ
But such is the world—by my life!—enamored
But this world, by my life, is inclined
Of bringing down greatness, since its ancient days.
To defeat the noble since time immemorial.
يُرَجّيone hopes for التِهابَthe blazing of النارِfire بِالماءِwith water عِندَهاwith it
يُرَجّي التِهابَ النارِ بِالماءِ عِندَها
وَلَيسَand not يَرجىis hoped for صَفوُهاits serenity كُلَّevery حازِمِprudent man
وَلَيسَ يَرجى صَفوُها كُلَّ حازِمِ
With it, one may hope to set fire ablaze with water,
One who hopes for fire to be lit with water has no hope there,
But its serenity is not to be hoped for by any prudent man.
Not every rational person hopes for its purity.
أَحَقّاًis it truly so? عِبادَO servants of اللَهِGod ذاthis اليَومَday قَدindeed خَباhas gone out
أَحَقّاً عِبادَ اللَهِ ذا اليَومَ قَد خَبا
شِهابُthe blazing star of العُلىgreatness وَاِندَكَّand collapsed طَودُthe mountain of المَكارِمِnoble deeds
شِهابُ العُلى وَاِندَكَّ طَودُ المَكارِمِ
Is it true, servants of God, that on this day there has gone out
Indeed, O servants of God, the light of nobility has waned today
The blazing star of greatness, and the mountain of noble deeds has crumbled?
And the glory of all that is noble has crumbled.
وَأَنَّand that المَعاليlofty attainments وَالمَعانيand meanings فَجِعتُI was stricken (context suggests 'were bereaved')
وَأَنَّ المَعالي وَالمَعاني فَجِعتُ
بِخَطبٍby a calamity لِسُمرِto the brown spears of الخَطِّal-Khatt وَالبيضِand white swords ثالِمِnotching
بِخَطبٍ لِسُمرِ الخَطِّ وَالبيضِ ثالِمِ
And that lofty attainments and meanings have been bereaved
And I have been stricken by eloquence and the drawing of swords that rend,
By a calamity that notches al-Khatt's brown spears and white swords?
With a tragedy for the affairs of knowledge flowing down gardens of merit.
وَماand why? لِشُئونِfor the affairs of العِلمِlearning سالَتhave flowed شُئونُهاits tear ducts
وَما لِشُئونِ العِلمِ سالَت شُئونُها
عَلىupon جَنّاتِthe gardens of الفَضلِvirtue سَحَّthe downpour of الغَمائِمِclouds
عَلى جَنّاتِ الفَضلِ سَحَّ الغَمائِمِ
And why, for the affairs of learning, have its tear ducts streamed
Lighting has struck the gardens where they were blossoming
Upon the gardens of virtue like the downpour of clouds?
And this obituary has left them blossomless.
أَجَلyes ماتَdied مَنhe who قَدindeed كانَwas لِلفَضلِof excellence سَيِّداًa master
أَجَل ماتَ مَن قَد كانَ لِلفَضلِ سَيِّداً
بِفاجِئٍthrough a sudden خَطَبَcalamity (apparently خَطْب) داهِمِoverwhelming أَيُّwhat an داهِمِoverwhelming one
بِفاجِئٍ خَطَبَ داهِمِ أَيُّ داهِمِ
Yes, he who was a master of excellence has died,
Its impact has filled the ears, awakening
Through a sudden calamity, overwhelming—how overwhelming!
Every slumbering soul from heedlessness.
قَضىdied اليَومَtoday عَبدُAbd (servant of) اللَهِAllah (God) فِكريFikri الَّذيwho سَعىstrove
قَضى اليَومَ عَبدُ اللَهِ فِكري الَّذي سَعى
لِنَيلِto attain المَعاليlofty attainments مُنذُsince نوطَthe hanging of التَمائِمِamulets
لِنَيلِ المَعالي مُنذُ نوطَ التَمائِمِ
Today Abd Allah Fikri died, who had striven
Thus let the stars sink into the earth,
To attain greatness since amulets were hung upon him.
Thus let the seas, turbulent, surge and boil.
وَخَلَفَتِand remained behind الأَقلامَthe pens وَالصُحُفَand the pages بَعدَهُafter him
وَخَلَفَتِ الأَقلامَ وَالصُحُفَ بَعدَهُ
بِحُزنِin grief إِلَيَّto me (context suggests 'until') يَومَthe Day of القِيامَةِResurrection دائِمِenduring
بِحُزنِ إِلَيَّ يَومَ القِيامَةِ دائِمِ
And pens and pages remained behind him,
Tidings of glory made me swoon when I heard them,
In grief lasting until the Day of Resurrection.
Silencing all people, making every standing one sit.
وَأَضحىand dawned بِهِwith it أَضحىAdha (the feast) وَقَدwhile already كانَhad been يَومَهُits day
وَأَضحى بِهِ أَضحى وَقَد كانَ يَومَهُ
وَلَذّاتِهِand its pleasures قَدalready نَغَّصَتwere soured بِالعَلاقِمِwith bitter colocynth
وَلَذّاتِهِ قَد نَغَّصَت بِالعَلاقِمِ
And Adha dawned amid this loss, while its day
We have lost a prince who was the pride of our time,
And its pleasures had been soured with bitter colocynth.
And the stratagem of the noble and protected.
وَباتَتand spent the night ثُغورٌmouths كُنَّhad been فيهِon it بَواسِماًsmiling
وَباتَت ثُغورٌ كُنَّ فيهِ بَواسِماً
وَغادَرَهاand left them ذاthis النَعيُdeath announcement غَيرَnot بَواسِمِsmiling
وَغادَرَها ذا النَعيُ غَيرَ بَواسِمِ
And mouths that had smiled that day passed the night,
We have lost the prince of prose and verse, sublime,
Left unsmiling by this announcement of death.
Soaring higher than any fancy has flown.
نَعِيٌّa death announcement سَرىspread مِلءَfilling المَسامِعِthe ears وَقعُهُits sound
نَعِيٌّ سَرى مِلءَ المَسامِعِ وَقعُهُ
إِذاًthen لَصَحاwould surely awaken مِنfrom غَفلَةِthe heedlessness of كُلِّevery نائِمِsleeper
إِذاً لَصَحا مِن غَفلَةِ كُلِّ نائِمِ
A death announcement spread, its sound filling the ears;
Alas for the words he lent such charm
Then every sleeper would surely have woken from heedlessness.
With his subtlety soft as the gently blowing breeze.
كَذاthus فَليَكُنso let it be غَورُthe sinking of الكَواكِبِthe stars فيinto الثَرىthe earth
كَذا فَليَكُن غَورُ الكَواكِبِ في الثَرى
كَذاthus فَليَكُنso let it be غيضَthe draining of البِحارِthe seas الخَضارِمِvast
كَذا فَليَكُن غيضَ البِحارِ الخَضارِمِ
Thus let the stars sink into the earth;
And the delicacy of flawless Arabic speech
Thus let the vast seas drain away.
He adorned by embroidering the craft of the non-Arabs.
مُصيبَةُa calamity to مَجدٍglory أَسكَرَتintoxicated بِسَماعِهاthrough hearing it
مُصيبَةُ مَجدٍ أَسكَرَت بِسَماعِها
نُهىthe minds of الناسِpeople حَتّىuntil أَقعَدَتmade sit down كُلَّeveryone قائِمِstanding
نُهى الناسِ حَتّى أَقعَدَت كُلَّ قائِمِ
A calamity to glory that, when heard, intoxicated
A consistent system puts the garden to shame with delight,
People's minds, until it made all who stood sit down.
And subtle ideas roam with the gazelles at rest.
فَقَدناwe lost أَميراًa prince كانَwas غُرَّةَthe radiant brow of عَصرِناour age
فَقَدنا أَميراً كانَ غُرَّةَ عَصرِنا
وَحيلَةُand an ornament (apparently حلية) أَجيادِthe necks of العُلاgreatness وَالمَعاصِمِand wrists
وَحيلَةُ أَجيادِ العُلا وَالمَعاصِمِ
We lost a prince who was the radiant brow of our age,
The virtues of a soul that sought in its time
And the ornament of greatness's necks and wrists.
Nothing but good and kindness, ever, for mankind,
فَقَدناwe lost أَميرَthe prince of النَظمِverse وَالنَثرِand prose راقِياascending
فَقَدنا أَميرَ النَظمِ وَالنَثرِ راقِيا
مِنَof الأَمرِrank أَعلاthe highest ماwhat اِرتَجَتhoped for نَفسُthe soul of رائِمِan aspirant
مِنَ الأَمرِ أَعلا ما اِرتَجَت نَفسُ رائِمِ
We lost the prince of verse and prose, ascending
And trod no path but that of valor,
To the highest station any aspiring soul had hoped for.
Nor knew any approach but that of probity.
فَواهاًah, then! بلِأَقوالٍfor sayings (irregular spelling) لَهُof his قَدindeed أَعارَهاlent them
فَواهاً بلِأَقوالٍ لَهُ قَد أَعارَها
سَلاسَتُهُits smoothness وَاللُطفُand gentleness مَرُّthe passage of النَسائِمِbreezes
سَلاسَتُهُ وَاللُطفُ مَرُّ النَسائِمِ
Ah, his sayings, to which were lent
The nature of meadows blossoming, aromatic,
The passing breezes' smoothness and gentleness;
From which wafts the fragrance of flowers in bud.
وَرِقَّةَand the delicacy of أَلفاظِwords صِحاحٍsound أَعارِبَpurely Arabic
وَرِقَّةَ أَلفاظِ صِحاحٍ أَعارِبَ
كَساهاhe clothed them بِتَفويفِwith the variegation of طِرازِembroidery الأَعاجِمِof non-Arabs
كَساها بِتَفويفِ طِرازِ الأَعاجِمِ
And the delicacy of sound, pure-Arabic words,
And he was wiser than the flint's spark, its lord,
Which he clothed in the variegated patterns of non-Arab embroidery.
And firmer in judgement than the edge of thin swords.
نِظامٌan arrangement of مُبانٍverbal forms (apparently مَبانٍ) يَخجَلُputs to shame الرَوضَthe meadow بَهجَةًin beauty
نِظامٌ مُبانٍ يَخجَلُ الرَوضَ بَهجَةً
وَصَيدُand the capture of مَعانٍmeanings فيin شُرودِthe elusiveness of النَعائِمِostriches
وَصَيدُ مَعانٍ في شُرودِ النَعائِمِ
An array of expressions whose beauty shames the meadow,
So when he passed away under dust, humbled,
And the capture of meanings as elusive as ostriches.
With his death the banners of knowledge fell limp.
مَحاسِنُthe virtues of روحٍa soul ماnever اِبتَغَتsought فيin زَمانِهاits lifetime
مَحاسِنُ روحٍ ما اِبتَغَت في زَمانِها
سِوىanything but الخَيرَgoodness وَالمَعروفُand kindness يَوماًever لِآدَميfor a human being
سِوى الخَيرَ وَالمَعروفُ يَوماً لِآدَمي
The virtues of a soul that never sought in its lifetime
The eyes of the noble wept for him and demonstrated
Anything but goodness and kindness for a human being, ever;
Their bereavement, like doves moaning grievously.
وَلاand never وَرَدَتapproached غَيرَother than الشَهامَةِnoble courage مَورِداًa watering place
وَلا وَرَدَت غَيرَ الشَهامَةِ مَورِداً
وَلاand never عَرَفتknew مِنfrom أَينَwhere بابُthe door of المَآثِمِsins
وَلا عَرَفت مِن أَينَ بابُ المَآثِمِ
Nor came to any watering place save noble courage,
I have never seen a tragedy that weakened resolve
Nor knew where the door of sins lay.
As this has done, undoing determined decisions.
خَلائِقُtraits أَمثالِlike الرِياضِgardens نواضُرُfresh and verdant
خَلائِقُ أَمثالِ الرِياضِ نواضُرُ
تَضوعُwafts مِنهاfrom them عُرفُthe fragrance of زَهرِblossoms الكَمائِمِflower sheaths
تَضوعُ مِنها عُرفُ زَهرِ الكَمائِمِ
Traits like fresh, verdant gardens,
I will mourn him, not boastful, shedding copious tears,
From which wafts the scent of blossoms in their sheaths.
Nor hearing in grief the blame of any critic.
وَقَدand indeed كانَwas أَذكىbrighter مِنthan سَناthe radiance of النارِfire رَبِّهاtheir possessor
وَقَد كانَ أَذكى مِن سَنا النارِ رَبِّها
وَأَقطَعُand sharper رَأياًin judgment مِنthan شِفارِthe edges of الصَوامِswords (apparently الصوارم)
وَأَقطَعُ رَأياً مِن شِفارِ الصَوامِ
And their possessor was brighter than fire's gleam,
And I have no dearer jewels from his words
And sharper in judgment than the edges of swords.
Than necklaces more precious than rare gems.
فَلَمّاso when ثَوىlay تَحتَbeneath الرِغامِthe dust وَذَلَّلَتand were humbled
فَلَمّا ثَوى تَحتَ الرِغامِ وَذَلَّلَت
بِمَصرَعِهِby his death لِلعِلمِbelonging to learning شَمَّproud المَراغِمِnoses
بِمَصرَعِهِ لِلعِلمِ شَمَّ المَراغِمِ
When he lay beneath the dust, and were humbled
And I had wearied of poetry until I hated it
By his death the proud noses of learning,
And it was forbidden to me, among unlawful things,
بَكَتهُwept for him عُيونُthe eyes of المَكرُماتِnoble deeds وَأَعلَمَتand showed
بَكَتهُ عُيونُ المَكرُماتِ وَأَعلَمَت
عَلَيهِover him المَعاليlofty virtues كَيفَhow نَوحُthe lament of الحَمائِمِdoves
عَلَيهِ المَعالي كَيفَ نَوحُ الحَمائِمِ
The eyes of noble deeds wept for him, and we were shown
Until describing him inspired threnodies,
By lofty virtues mourning him how doves lament.
So poetry has become incumbent on me today.
وَلَمand never أَرَI saw خَطباًa calamity مِثلَهُlike it أَوهَنَweakened القُوىstrength
وَلَم أَرَ خَطباً مِثلَهُ أَوهَنَ القُوى
بِهِthrough it وَقَدand indeed اِنحَلَّتcame undone عُقودُthe knots of العَزائِمِresolve
بِهِ وَقَد اِنحَلَّت عُقودُ العَزائِمِ
And I have never seen a calamity like it; strength failed
Though I was no versifier before,
Through it, and the knots of resolve came undone.
His description has prepared my diction to versify.
سَأَندِبُهُI shall lament him لاnot زاخِراًoverflowing (likely ذاخراً, 'withholding') دَرَّthe outpouring of مَدمَعُa weeping eye
سَأَندِبُهُ لا زاخِراً دَرَّ مَدمَعُ
وَلاand not سامِعاًheeding فيin الحُزنِgrief لَومَةًthe reproach of لائِمِa reproacher
وَلا سامِعاً في الحُزنِ لَومَةً لائِمِ
I shall lament him, withholding no flood of tears,
So from praising and eulogizing him freely flow
Nor heeding, in grief, any reproacher's reproach.
Abundant tears and drafts of outpoured laments.
وَلاand not أَنسَI forget عِنديin my keeping مِنfrom نَفائِسِthe treasures of لَفظِهِhis words
وَلا أَنسَ عِندي مِن نَفائِسِ لَفظِهِ
قَلائِدَnecklaces أَغلىdearer مِنthan لَآليthe pearls of العَيالِمِvast seas
قَلائِدَ أَغلى مِن لَآلي العَيالِمِ
Nor shall I forget, kept with me from his precious words,
O you who travel from us to the King
Necklaces dearer than the pearls of vast seas.
Who summoned you to eternal blissful life!
وَكُنتُand I had مَلَلتُgrown weary of الشِعرَpoetry حَتّىuntil كَرِهتُهُI hated it
وَكُنتُ مَلَلتُ الشِعرَ حَتّى كَرِهتُهُ
وَأَصبَحَand it became عِنديfor me فيin عِدادِthe reckoning of المَحارِمِforbidden things
وَأَصبَحَ عِندي في عِدادِ المَحارِمِ
I had grown weary of poetry until I hated it,
By your life, this is the goal of all creation,
And it came, for me, to be counted among forbidden things.
Even if the lifespan of creatures reached that of statues.
إِلىuntil أَنthat قَضَتdecreed أَوصافُهُhis qualities بِرِثائِهِfor his elegy
إِلى أَن قَضَت أَوصافُهُ بِرِثائِهِ
فَأَصبَحَso it became عِنديfor me اليَومَtoday ضَربَةَa stroke لازَمِunavoidable
فَأَصبَحَ عِندي اليَومَ ضَربَةَ لازَمِ
Until his qualities decreed that I must elegize him,
May your God greet you with every comfort
So today it became for me an inescapable duty.
And solace, and may the soil of your grave be shaded with mercy.
عَلىdespite أَنَّنيthat I إِنeven if لَمnot أَكُنI was قَبلَpreviously ناظِماًa poet
عَلى أَنَّني إِن لَم أَكُن قَبلَ ناظِماً
أَعَدَّam reckoned وَلِنُطقيand for my speech فيهِabout him مُهجَةَthe lifeblood of ناظِمِa poet
أَعَدَّ وَلِنُطقي فيهِ مُهجَةَ ناظِمِ
Yet even if I was not previously counted a poet,
And we have solace in your son today,
My words about him carry a poet's lifeblood.
A consolation that comforts the grieving heart.
فَمِنso from وَصفِهِdescribing him دَرَّthe outpouring of المَحامِدِpraises وَالثَناand acclaim
فَمِن وَصفِهِ دَرَّ المَحامِدِ وَالثَنا
وَمِنand from نَوحُهُlamenting him دَرُّthe outpouring of الدموعِtears السَواجِمِstreaming
وَمِن نَوحُهُ دَرُّ الدموعِ السَواجِمِ
From describing him flows a torrent of praises and acclaim,
May noble support that brings success endure for us,
And from lamenting him flows a torrent of streaming tears.
And we ask the Lord of Majesty for good outcomes.
أَياO راحِلاًُdeparted one عَناfrom us إِلىto المُلكِdominion (context suggests 'the King') الَّذيwho
أَيا راحِلاًُ عَنا إِلى المُلكِ الَّذي
دَعاهُcalled him إِلىto عَيشٍa life مِنَof الخُلدِeternity ناعِمِblissful
دَعاهُ إِلى عَيشٍ مِنَ الخُلدِ ناعِمِ
O one departed from us to the King who
Called him to a blissful life of eternity,
فَلَعَمرُكَfor, by your life هَذِهِthis غايَةَthe destination of الخَلقِcreation كُلُّهُمall of them
فَلَعَمرُكَ هَذِهِ غايَةَ الخَلقِ كُلُّهُم
وَلَوeven if عُمرُthe lifespan of المَخلوقِa creature عُمرِthe lifespan of القَشاعِمِold vultures
وَلَو عُمرُ المَخلوقِ عُمرِ القَشاعِمِ
For, by your life, this is the destination of all creation,
Even were a creature's lifespan that of old vultures.
حَباكَmay He grant you إِلَهيmy God كُلَّall رَوحٍrelief وَراحَةٍand rest
حَباكَ إِلَهي كُلَّ رَوحٍ وَراحَةٍ
وَجادَتand may rain generously ثَرىthe earth of مَثواكَyour resting place سُحبُthe clouds of المَراحِمِmercies
وَجادَت ثَرى مَثواكَ سُحبُ المَراحِمِ
May my God grant you all relief and rest,
And may clouds of mercy drench the earth of your resting place.
وَإِنَّand indeed لَناfor us فيin نَجلِكَyour son اليَومَtoday سَلوَةٌconsolation
وَإِنَّ لَنا في نَجلِكَ اليَومَ سَلوَةٌ
وَتَعزِيَةًand comfort يُؤسىis soothed بِهاby it قَلبُthe heart of واجِمِone struck silent with grief
وَتَعزِيَةً يُؤسى بِها قَلبُ واجِمِ
And in your son today we find consolation,
And comfort by which a grief-stricken heart is soothed.
يَدومُmay endure لَناfor us الشَهمُthe gallant man الأَمينُthe trustworthy مُؤَيِّداًlending support
يَدومُ لَنا الشَهمُ الأَمينُ مُؤَيِّداً
وَنَسأَلُand we ask رَبُّthe Lord of العَرشِthe Throne حُسنَthe goodness of الخَواتِمِendings
وَنَسأَلُ رَبُّ العَرشِ حُسنَ الخَواتِمِ
May the gallant, trustworthy one endure for us, lending support,
And we ask the Lord of the Throne for good endings.
Partial English translation: 74 of 84 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1