بِقِيَّةَa remnant مَجدٍof glory وُدِّعتْwas bidden farewell يَومَthe day وُدّعاhe was bidden farewell
بِقِيَّةَ مَجدٍ وُدِّعتْ يَومَ وُدّعا
وَآمالُand hopes عِزٍّof honor آنَthe time came أَنto تَتَقَطَّعاbe severed
وَآمالُ عِزٍّ آنَ أَن تَتَقَطَّعا
A remnant of glory was bidden farewell the day he was bidden farewell,
A remnant of glory was bid farewell the day they bid adieu,
and the time had come for hopes of honor to be severed.
And hopes of honor were nearing their demise.
وَلَمand did not تَنعَهُannounce his death الأَيّامُthe days إِلّاexcept وَأَدمَجَتand enfolded
وَلَم تَنعَهُ الأَيّامُ إِلّا وَأَدمَجَت
مِنَof الشِرقِthe East شَطراًa portion فيin مُنيَتِهِhis death مَعاtogether
مِنَ الشِرقِ شَطراً في مُنيَتِهِ مَعا
The days did not announce his death without enfolding
Fate allowed them nothing but intertwined
a portion of the East in his death as well.
A part of the East into its death knell.
لَقَدindeed جادَناshowered upon us نَوءُthe rainstorm الزَمانِof time مَصائِباًcalamities
لَقَد جادَنا نَوءُ الزَمانِ مَصائِباً
يَلوحُit seems لَناto us أَنَّthat مُزنَهاtheir rainclouds لَيسَare not مُقَطَّعاinterrupted
يَلوحُ لَنا أَنَّ مُزنَها لَيسَ مُقَطَّعا
The storm of time has indeed showered calamities upon us;
Indeed, the wheel of time has afflicted us with disasters,
it seems to us that their rainclouds are unceasing.
Portending more of its sorrows are yet to ensue.
وَسُبحانَand glory be مَنto Him who ساقَdrove الرَدىdeath بِوُجوهِهِin its guises
وَسُبحانَ مَن ساقَ الرَدى بِوُجوهِهِ
فَلَقىand brought to لَعَمريby my life الجَمعَthe multitude وَالفَردَand the individual مَصرَعاa death
فَلَقى لَعَمري الجَمعَ وَالفَردَ مَصرَعا
Glory be to Him who sent death in its many guises,
Glory to He who destines mankind to catastrophes,
and, by my life, brought both multitude and individual to their death.
My people and I met our common, dire fate.
إِذاwhen شَنَّlaunched جَيشُthe army النَحسِof ill fortune فيamong القَومِthe people غارَةًa raid
إِذا شَنَّ جَيشُ النَحسِ في القَومِ غارَةً
فَماthen how أَجدَرُfitting الأَرزاءِthe calamities أَنto تَتَنَوَّعاtake many forms
فَما أَجدَرُ الأَرزاءِ أَن تَتَنَوَّعا
When the army of ill fortune raids a people,
When the army of misfortune raids a tribe,
how fitting that their misfortunes should take many forms!
It is apt for the noblest to meet a variety of ends.
وَماand not كُنتُI was حَتّىuntil اليَومَtoday أَحسَبُI supposed دَهرَناour age
وَما كُنتُ حَتّى اليَومَ أَحسَبُ دَهرَنا
إِذاwhen ساءَit did wrong لاnot يَرتادُseeks لِلعُذرِfor an excuse مَوضِعاa place
إِذا ساءَ لا يَرتادُ لِلعُذرِ مَوضِعا
Until today, I had not thought that our age,
Never until now did I reckon our fate, when turned awry,
when it did wrong, would seek no room for an excuse.
Would forgo excuses and show no virtue.
أَلَمdid ... not? يَكفِهِsuffice it ماwhat غالَit destroyed مِنof كُلِّevery غايَةٍaim
أَلَم يَكفِهِ ما غالَ مِن كُلِّ غايَةٍ
وَأَفسَدَand spoiled مِنof مَعنىmeaning وَعَطَلَand rendered useless مَرجِعاa refuge
وَأَفسَدَ مِن مَعنى وَعَطَلَ مَرجِعا
Was all it had destroyed of every aim not enough for it,
Did it not suffice what extremes it reached,
all the meaning it had spoiled and the refuge it had laid waste?
Corrupting ideals and upending all order?
وَضيقُand the straitness الخَطبِof calamity وَليَفدَحَand let weigh heavily الأَسىgrief
وَضيقُ الخَطبِ وَليَفدَحَ الأَسى
وَتَنقَلِبُand turns back العُلياhigh glory بِمارِنٍwith a nose-tip أَجدَعاsevered
وَتَنقَلِبُ العُليا بِمارِنٍ أَجدَعا
And the straitness of calamity—let sorrow weigh heavily,
With calamities looming, sorrows swelling,
and high glory turn back with its nose-tip severed.
And the lofty stumbling headlong in collapse?
أَجَلَّexalts وَيُجَلّيand reveals الدَهرُtime النَوادِبُthe female mourners عَبرَتيmy tears
أَجَلَّ وَيُجَلّي الدَهرُ النَوادِبُ عَبرَتي
عَلَيَّupon me فائَتlost وَليَنعَand let announce death دَهرُكَyour age مَنwhomever نَعىit announced dead
عَلَيَّ فائَت وَليَنعَ دَهرُكَ مَن نَعى
Time exalts and reveals the mourners—my tears [wording unclear].
Time compounds my sorrow as the bereaved lament,
Lost to me [wording unclear]; let your age mourn whom it has mourned.
My loss intensified while fate spares none who mourn.
فَهَيهاتَthen far be it ماno إِنat all (emphatic) أَسطارٍwritten lines لِفاجِعٍfor a calamity
فَهَيهاتَ ما إِن أَسطارٍ لِفاجِعٍ
إِذاwhen كانَwas مَنthe one who أَودىperished الأَمينَAmin المُشَيَّعاborne to burial
إِذا كانَ مَن أَودى الأَمينَ المُشَيَّعا
Far be it—no written lines for such a calamity,
Alas, no script for a tragedy,
when the one who perished was Amin, borne to his burial.
Could do justice when the trusted meet their end.
أَحِبَّتَناour loved ones إِنif قيلَit is said فيin الصَبرِpatience رُجلَةًmanliness
أَحِبَّتَنا إِن قيلَ في الصَبرِ رُجلَةً
فَإِنّيthen I فَتىa youth أَبغيI seek أَنوحُI lament وَأجَزَعاand I grieve
فَإِنّي فَتى أَبغي أَنوحُ وَأجَزَعا
Our loved ones, if patience is called manliness,
My loved ones, some may cite composure in grief,
I am a youth who seeks to lament and grieve.
But I am one who wishes to weep and wail.
تَرَكتُI left لَكُمfor you فَضلِthe merit التَصَبُّرِof patient endurance صَبرَةًa store of patience
تَرَكتُ لَكُم فَضلِ التَصَبُّرِ صَبرَةً
وَقُلتُand I said لِطَرفيto my eye اليَومَtoday لاdo not تَألُspare مَدمَعاa tear
وَقُلتُ لِطَرفي اليَومَ لا تَألُ مَدمَعا
I leave you endurance's merit, a whole store of patience,
Patience in grief I leave to you,
and tell my eye today: spare no tears.
While I tell my eyes today, cease not your tears.
وَشَعشَعَand mix كُؤوسَgoblets الدَمعِof tears بِالدَمِwith blood ساقِياًas cupbearer
وَشَعشَعَ كُؤوسَ الدَمعِ بِالدَمِ ساقِياً
فَكُلُّfor every شَرابٍdrink زينُهُits adornment أَنto يُشَعشَعاbe mixed
فَكُلُّ شَرابٍ زينُهُ أَن يُشَعشَعا
And mix the goblets of tears with blood, as cupbearer,
He poured tears blended with blood as drink;
for every drink is adorned by being mixed.
Every draft adorned, stirred to fullness.
وَاِعتَدُّهاand I count it نَحوَtoward الأَمينِAmin خِيانَةًtreachery
وَاِعتَدُّها نَحوَ الأَمينِ خِيانَةً
إِذاif أَناI لَمdo not أَشتَفَّdrain to the dregs كاسَكَyour cup مَترَعاbrimming
إِذا أَنا لَم أَشتَفَّ كاسَكَ مَترَعا
I count it treachery toward Amin
And I would count it a betrayal of the Trusted One
if I do not drain your brimming cup.
If I did not savor a cup as he did.
فَماfor not كانَwas وُدّيmy affection لِلأَعِزَّةِfor the dear ones ضائِعاًwasted
فَما كانَ وُدّي لِلأَعِزَّةِ ضائِعاً
وَماand not كانَwas قَلبيmy heart مِنof أَخيa brother of الوُدِّaffection بَلقَعاa wasteland
وَما كانَ قَلبي مِن أَخي الوُدِّ بَلقَعا
My affection for the dear ones was never wasted,
Never did I neglect, even from afar, a friend,
nor was my heart barren of a brotherly bond.
As the stars watch over me, I watched over him in kind.
حَمَلتُI bore لَهُfor him بَينَbetween الضُلوعِthe ribs أَمانَةًa trust
حَمَلتُ لَهُ بَينَ الضُلوعِ أَمانَةً
لَوif اِحتَمَلتُهاhad borne it الشَمُّthe lofty mountains مالَتthey would have leaned تَصدَعاsplitting apart
لَو اِحتَمَلتُها الشَمُّ مالَت تَصدَعا
I bore a trust for him within my ribs,
If this soil has hidden away his moon,
which, had the lofty mountains borne it, would have made them lean and split.
Then neither will those stars beam their light.
وَأَصفَيتُهُand I sincerely offered him مِنّيfrom myself إِخاءَbrotherly affection لَوif أَنَّهُthat it
وَأَصفَيتُهُ مِنّي إِخاءَ لَو أَنَّهُ
أَعارَit lent اللَياليthe nights صَفوَهُits purity رُقنَthey would grow clear مَشرَعاat a watering place
أَعارَ اللَيالي صَفوَهُ رُقنَ مَشرَعا
I gave him from myself a friendship so pure that, had it
Nor will those lightning bolts shine, their beacons
lent its clarity to the nights, they would have grown clear at their watering place.
That once illuminated, now extinguished.
وَماand not زِلتُI ceased أَرعاهُI watch over him عَلىdespite البُعدِthe distance صاحِباًas a friend
وَما زِلتُ أَرعاهُ عَلى البُعدِ صاحِباً
وَقَبليand before me نُجومُthe stars الأُفقِof the horizon مِثلِيَlike me مَنthose who رَعىkept watch
وَقَبلي نُجومُ الأُفقِ مِثلِيَ مَن رَعى
I have always watched over him as a friend, despite the distance,
In the pitched darkness looming, no illuminant
and before me, the stars of the horizon, like me, kept watch.
May shine radiant or gleam bright.
فَإِنso if يَكُbe هَذاthis التُربُearth غَرَّبَcaused to set بَدرَهُits full moon
فَإِن يَكُ هَذا التُربُ غَرَّبَ بَدرَهُ
فَلاthen may not زَهَرَتshine تِلكَthose الكَواكِبُstars مَطلَعاat rising
فَلا زَهَرَت تِلكَ الكَواكِبُ مَطلَعا
If this earth has caused its full moon to set,
Today, the one who shepherded the righteous met his fate;
may those stars never shine as they rise;
For it is the finest of men the people will mourn.
وَلاand may not لَمَعَتflash تِلكَthose البُروقُlightnings وَقَدand already خَبَتhave died down
وَلا لَمَعَت تِلكَ البُروقُ وَقَد خَبَت
بُروقُlightnings أَمانٍof hopes كُنَّthat were بِالأَمسِyesterday لَمَّعاglittering
بُروقُ أَمانٍ كُنَّ بِالأَمسِ لَمَّعا
nor may those lightnings flash, for extinguished are
And death did not claim a single soul,
the lightnings of hopes that glittered yesterday.
Rather it claimed, wholesale, the best of them.
أَماis there not فيin دُجىthe darkness الخَطبِof calamity المُخَيِّمِthe overshadowing حاجِبٌa veil
أَما في دُجى الخَطبِ المُخَيِّمِ حاجِبٌ
لِكُلِّfor every مُنيرٍradiant thing أَنto يُضيءَshine وَيَسطَعاand blaze forth
لِكُلِّ مُنيرٍ أَن يُضيءَ وَيَسطَعا
Does the darkness of the brooding calamity not prevent
It claimed the wise, the learned, the reasonable and bold,
every radiant thing from shining and blazing forth?
The generous and revered, preserved from all vice.
قَضىdied اليَومَtoday مَنthe one who راعَalarmed البَرِيَّةَhumankind رُزؤَهُhis loss
قَضى اليَومَ مَن راعَ البَرِيَّةَ رُزؤَهُ
وَلَيسَand not يُراعُare alarmed الناسُpeople إِلّاexcept لِأَروَعاfor a splendid man
وَلَيسَ يُراعُ الناسُ إِلّا لِأَروَعا
Today he died whose loss terrified humankind;
No noble quality or trait remained unsullied,
people are stricken only for a splendid man.
Nor principles he upheld but to join him in repose.
وَلَمand did not يَأتِbring about فيهِin him المَوتُdeath مَصرَعَthe fall of واحِدٍone man
وَلَم يَأتِ فيهِ المَوتُ مَصرَعَ واحِدٍ
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it كانَwas المَصارِعُthe deaths أَجمَعاall together
وَلَكِنَّهُ كانَ المَصارِعُ أَجمَعا
In him, death did not bring about one man's fall;
Were intercession of avail before death’s arrival,
rather, it encompassed all deaths together.
His exceptional traits would have sufficed as intercessors.
أَصابَit struck الحِجىreason وَالعِلمَand knowledge وَالحَزمَand resolve وَالمَضاand vigor
أَصابَ الحِجى وَالعِلمَ وَالحَزمَ وَالمَضا
وَصَدَّقَand affirmed المَباديthe principles وَالذِمامِand the pledge المُمَنَّعاinviolable
وَصَدَّقَ المَبادي وَالذِمامِ المُمَنَّعا
It struck reason, learning, resolve, and vigor,
Yet death’s caller is not swayed by bribes,
and affirmed the principles and the inviolable pledge.
And none so lofty as to be above its grasp.
وَماand not بَقِيَتremained فيamong المَكرُماتِthe noble virtues سَجِيَّةًa trait
وَما بَقِيَت في المَكرُماتِ سَجِيَّةً
وَلاnor خُطَّةًa course of conduct إِلّاexcept ثَوَتit lay مَعَهُwith him مَضجَعاin a resting place
وَلا خُطَّةً إِلّا ثَوَت مَعَهُ مَضجَعا
Not one trait among the noble virtues remained,
It captured him suddenly, by betrayal’s hand,
nor any noble course, but shared his resting place.
As quick as a glance of the eye, or quicker yet.
فَلَوso if نَفَعَتhad availed عِندَagainst المَنونِdeath شَفاعَةًintercession
فَلَو نَفَعَت عِندَ المَنونِ شَفاعَةً
كَفَتهُwould have sufficed him فَريداتُthe peerless الخِصالِqualities مُشَفَّعاwith intercession accepted
كَفَتهُ فَريداتُ الخِصالِ مُشَفَّعا
Had intercession availed against death,
A tragedy that shook all corners as news of it spread,
his peerless qualities would have saved him through their pleading,
And nothing steadfast remained but was shaken.
وَدافَعَand would have defended عَنon behalf of حَوبائِهِhis soul طَيِّبُnoble الثَناpraise
وَدافَعَ عَن حَوبائِهِ طَيِّبُ الثَنا
وَخَلَّدَهُand made him immortal لَوif أَنَّindeed فيin الخُلدِimmortality مَطمَعاany hope
وَخَلَّدَهُ لَو أَنَّ في الخُلدِ مَطمَعا
and noble praise would have defended his soul,
It humbled every eye, so that nothing held back its tears,
and made him immortal, had immortality held any hope.
And volunteered its sorrows without reserve.
وَلَكِنداعيbut the summoner of المَوتِdeath لاnot يَقبَلُaccepts الرُشىbribes
وَلَكِنداعي المَوتِ لا يَقبَلُ الرُشى
وَأَنفَسَand more precious مِنهُthan him لَيسَdoes not يَلقىencounter وَأَرفَعاand more exalted
وَأَنفَسَ مِنهُ لَيسَ يَلقى وَأَرفَعا
But death's summoner accepts no bribes,
Never have I witnessed a loss so far-reaching,
and will meet none more precious or exalted than he.
Or hearts so receptive, as if waiting for its advent.
تَصَيَّدَهُit hunted him down عَنfrom ساعِدِthe arm الغَدرِof treachery فَجأَةًsuddenly
تَصَيَّدَهُ عَن ساعِدِ الغَدرِ فَجأَةً
فَكانَso it was كَرَجعِlike the blink of الطَرفَthe eye أَوor كانَit was أَسرَعاquicker
فَكانَ كَرَجعِ الطَرفَ أَو كانَ أَسرَعا
It hunted him down suddenly with treachery's arm,
An eve where none possessed the will to mourn,
in the blink of an eye, or faster still.
Only feigning their breast’s lament.
مُصابٌa calamity لَهُbecause of it الأَقطارُthe lands إِذwhen شاعَit spread زَلزَلَتwere shaken
مُصابٌ لَهُ الأَقطارُ إِذ شاعَ زَلزَلَت
فَلاso no رُكنٌpillar لِلعَلياءِof greatness إِلّاexcept تَزَعزَعاwas shaken
فَلا رُكنٌ لِلعَلياءِ إِلّا تَزَعزَعا
A calamity that shook the lands when its news spread,
An eve where the people’s father was intoxicated, though
leaving no pillar of greatness unshaken.
Never did he indulge until that night perversely.
أَذَلَّit humbled إِباءَthe refusal الدَمعِof tears مِنin كُلِّevery جامِدٍdry-eyed person
أَذَلَّ إِباءَ الدَمعِ مِن كُلِّ جامِدٍ
فَلَمso not يَبقَremained عاصٍa rebellious tear مِنهُof it إِلّاexcept تَطَوَّعاit yielded willingly
فَلَم يَبقَ عاصٍ مِنهُ إِلّا تَطَوَّعا
It humbled the refusal of tears in every dry eye,
An eve that left no mother figure to her grief,
until no rebellious tear remained but yielded willingly.
Nor sorrowful soul but squandered its resolve.
وَلَمand not أَرَI saw فيamong الأَرزاءِcalamities أَبعَدَfarther-reaching غارَةٍa raid
وَلَم أَرَ في الأَرزاءِ أَبعَدَ غارَةٍ
وَلاnor مِنto قُلوبِthe hearts الخَلقِof humankind أَقرَبَcloser مَوقِعاa blow
وَلا مِن قُلوبِ الخَلقِ أَقرَبَ مَوقِعا
Among calamities I have seen none whose raid reached farther,
An eve where I saw the sun set on mankind,
nor any that struck closer to the hearts of humankind.
As the sun itself darkened, refusing to rise over Joshua.
عَشِيَّةَthat evening لاno فيamong الناسِpeople مالِكُone controlling عَبرَةٍa tear
عَشِيَّةَ لا في الناسِ مالِكُ عَبرَةٍ
وَلاnor زَفَراتِthe sighs الصَدرِof the chest إِلّاexcept تَصَنُّعاby pretense
وَلا زَفَراتِ الصَدرِ إِلّا تَصَنُّعا
That evening, no one could master a tear,
It was said the trusted one of glory knocked on the door,
nor the chest's deep sighs, save through pretense.
As many a lip kept vigil at the threshold.
عَشِيَّةَthat evening آبِreturned الناسِthe people سُكريdrunken وَإِنَّماbut only
عَشِيَّةَ آبِ الناسِ سُكري وَإِنَّما
بِماwith what لَمnot يَكُنhad been يَوماًever لَهُfor it الكَرَمُthe grapevine مَنبَعاa source
بِما لَم يَكُن يَوماً لَهُ الكَرَمُ مَنبَعا
That evening the people returned drunken—but only
If the Nile valley felt the loss,
with what the grapevine had never produced.
Then no mountain in Levant but trembled in anguish.
عَشِيَّةَthat evening لَمdid not تُبقِleave الفَجيعَةِthe calamity مُسكَةًself-possession
عَشِيَّةَ لَم تُبقِ الفَجيعَةِ مُسكَةً
وَلاnor حَزَمَresolve لِلمَحزونِfor the sorrowful إِلّاexcept مُضَيَّعاwasted
وَلا حَزَمَ لِلمَحزونِ إِلّا مُضَيَّعا
That evening the calamity left no self-possession,
Noble is he who falls short describing the noble one,
nor any resolve in the sorrowful, but squandered it.
When asked to describe the generous and virtuous.
عَشِيَّةَthat evening وارىburied الناسَthe people شَمساًa sun وَأَظلَمَتand grew dark
عَشِيَّةَ وارى الناسَ شَمساً وَأَظلَمَت
لَهاfor its sake الشَمسُthe sun حَتّىso that لاnot تَرُدَّbe brought back بِيوشَعاby Joshua
لَها الشَمسُ حَتّى لا تَرُدَّ بِيوشَعا
That evening the people buried a sun, and it grew dark—
The path of good he walked sincerely, as though
the sun, for its sake—beyond even Joshua's power to restore it.
From cradle to grave he came but to benefit mankind.
وَقيلَand it was said أَمينُAmin المَجدِof glory تَدُقُّstrikes بِأُختِهاagainst its sister
وَقيلَ أَمينُ المَجدِ تَدُقُّ بِأُختِها
وَكَمand how many شِفَةًa lip باتَتspent the night تُجاوِرُbeside أُصبَعاa finger
وَكَم شِفَةً باتَت تُجاوِرُ أُصبَعا
And 'Amin of glory' was said; one hand struck against the other,
He possessed an easy disposition and ardent spirit,
and many a lip spent the night beside a finger.
While the very meadows paled before his sublime traits.
فَإِنso if يَكُbe واديthe valley النَيلِof the Nile أَشعِرmade to feel فَقدَهُhis loss
فَإِن يَكُ وادي النَيلِ أَشعِر فَقدَهُ
فَلاthen no جَبَلٌmountain فيin الشامِal-Sham إِلّاexcept تَضَعضَعاwas shaken
فَلا جَبَلٌ في الشامِ إِلّا تَضَعضَعا
If the Nile valley was made to feel his loss,
Pens of honesty and loyalty eulogize him,
there was no mountain in al-Sham that did not shake.
As the most prolific writer extolling his magnificence.
كَريمٌa noble man بِهِin describing him لَفظَthe word الكَريمِnoble مُقصِرٌfalls short
كَريمٌ بِهِ لَفظَ الكَريمِ مُقصِرٌ
إِذاwhen قيلَit is said عَنof قَومٍpeople كِرامٍnoble تَوَسُّعاloosely
إِذا قيلَ عَن قَومٍ كِرامٍ تَوَسُّعا
A noble man: in describing him, the word 'noble' falls short,
After Abdullah, he was next in succession,
when applied loosely to people called noble.
But alas the scion is lost, though the tree may branch anew.
تَوَخّىhe sought طَريقُthe path الخَيرِof goodness مَحَضّاًpurely كَأَنَّهُas though he
تَوَخّى طَريقُ الخَيرِ مَحَضّاً كَأَنَّهُ
مِنَfrom المَهدِthe cradle حَتّىto اللَحدِthe grave جاءَhe came لِيَنفَعاto bring benefit
مِنَ المَهدِ حَتّى اللَحدِ جاءَ لِيَنفَعا
He sought the path of goodness alone, as though
And so it remained until the offshoot followed the root;
from cradle to grave he had come only to bring benefit.
An era where even the noble are pursued relentlessly!
لَهُhe had خَلقٌa nature سَهلٌgentle وَنَفسٌand a soul أَبِيَّةٌproud
لَهُ خَلقٌ سَهلٌ وَنَفسٌ أَبِيَّةٌ
وَحَسُنَand lovely خِلالَqualities دَونِهاinferior to them الرَوضُthe garden مِمرَعاlush
وَحَسُنَ خِلالَ دَونِها الرَوضُ مِمرَعا
His nature was gentle and his soul proud,
And it remained until the people were bereft of their full moon,
and his qualities were lovely, surpassing a flourishing garden.
Inflicting a grievous, sinister night.
وَأَقلامُand pens صِدقٍof truth راجِعٌreturning فيin وَلائِهاtheir allegiance
وَأَقلامُ صِدقٍ راجِعٌ في وَلائِها
لِأَكتُبَto the best writer مَنof those who أوتيwere given الكِتابَwriting وَأَبرَعاand most skillful
لِأَكتُبَ مَن أوتي الكِتابَ وَأَبرَعا
And truthful pens, whose allegiance returns
If the hands of mortality shrouded him,
to the finest and most gifted of those endowed with writing.
Still the passing nights recount his memory in anguish.
وَمِنand from بَعدِafter عَبدِAbd (servant of) اللَهِAllah (God) كانَthere was مُؤَمَّلاًhope
وَمِن بَعدِ عَبدِ اللَهِ كانَ مُؤَمَّلاً
بِأَنthat لَمnot يَغِبvanished ذاthis الأَصلُroot إِلّاexcept وَفَرَّعاand put forth a branch
بِأَن لَم يَغِب ذا الأَصلُ إِلّا وَفَرَّعا
And after Abd Allah, it had been hoped
And if his shroud be unsullied white,
that this root had not vanished without putting forth a branch.
His gleaming reputation outshines it evermore.
فَماso not زالَceased حَتّىuntil أَتبَعَmade follow الفَرعَthe branch أَصلَهُits root
فَما زالَ حَتّى أَتبَعَ الفَرعَ أَصلَهُ
زَمانٌtime لِتَنقادَso that might be led الكِرامَthe noble تَتبَعاin succession
زَمانٌ لِتَنقادَ الكِرامَ تَتبَعا
So it persisted until it made the branch follow its root—
Noble friend! To divine decree we submit your affair,
time, leading the noble away one after another.
As you were a resolute man who found success and repose.
وَماand not زالَceased فَقَدَthe loss of البَدرَthe full moon لِلناسِfor people موجِعاpainful
وَما زالَ فَقَدَ البَدرَ لِلناسِ موجِعا
وَفيand on اللَيلَةِthe night الدَهماءِpitch-dark أَنكىmore wounding وَأَوجَعاand more painful
وَفي اللَيلَةِ الدَهماءِ أَنكى وَأَوجَعا
The loss of the full moon has always pained people,
You have preceded us to a cistern, as if a filled pool
and on the pitch-dark night it wounds and pains them more.
Feared the jostling of crowds and hurried ahead.
فَإِنso if تَطوِهِenfold him أَيديthe hands المَنونِof death فَماthen not طَوىeffaced
فَإِن تَطوِهِ أَيدي المَنونِ فَما طَوى
كُرورُthe recurrence اللَياليof nights ذِكرُهُhis remembrance المُتَضَوِّعاfragrant
كُرورُ اللَيالي ذِكرُهُ المُتَضَوِّعا
Though death's hands may enfold him, never have
You met your mortality boldly, without dread,
the returning nights effaced his fragrant remembrance.
While the words of faith sufficed you as armor.
وَإشنand if (corrupt spelling) تَكُنِbe الأَكفانُthe shrouds بيضاًwhite نَواصِعاًspotless
وَإشن تَكُنِ الأَكفانُ بيضاً نَواصِعاً
فَإِنَّthen indeed لَهُhe has مِنfrom أَبيَضِthe whiteness الذِكرِof remembrance أَنصَعاsomething purer
فَإِنَّ لَهُ مِن أَبيَضِ الذِكرِ أَنصَعا
And though the shrouds are white and spotless,
I call out to you, hoping not for a reply, for you have gone,
the whiteness of his remembrance is purer still.
Oh, how I wish to speak and you to hear!
أَلاlo فيin ذِمامِthe protection اللَهِof God سَيرَكَyour journey إِنَّهُindeed it
أَلا في ذِمامِ اللَهِ سَيرَكَ إِنَّهُ
مُسَيَّرُthe journey فَتىof a youth ماضٍresolute أَغذَwho hastened وَأَوضَعاand hurried
مُسَيَّرُ فَتى ماضٍ أَغذَ وَأَوضَعا
May your journey be in God's keeping; it is
You have left, after your loss, a mouth longing,
the journey of a resolute youth who pressed on and hurried.
And an eye wishing for sleep and rest.
سَبَقَتyou went ahead إِلىto حَوضٍa pool كَأَنَّهُas though he ناهِلٌa drinker
سَبَقَت إِلى حَوضٍ كَأَنَّهُ ناهِلٌ
عَلىin نَكظٍdistress خافَfeared الزِحامَthe crowd فَأَهرَعاso he hurried
عَلى نَكظٍ خافَ الزِحامَ فَأَهرَعا
You reached the pool ahead of others, like a thirsty drinker
If only the withholders of the valley dwellings would toil
hard pressed, who feared the crowd and rushed.
For what we expend in eulogizing you.
وَنازَلتَand you challenged قَرنَan adversary المَوتِdeath لاnot مُتَهَيِّباًfearful
وَنازَلتَ قَرنَ المَوتِ لا مُتَهَيِّباً
وَحَسبُكَand enough for you أَلفاظُthe words الشَهادَةِof the testimony of faith أَدرَعاas coats of armor
وَحَسبُكَ أَلفاظُ الشَهادَةِ أَدرَعا
You challenged death, your adversary, without fear,
We hoped your return would restore our homelands
and the words of the testimony of faith were armor enough for you.
When they needed one to raise them from isolation and neglect.
أُناديكَI call to you لاnot راجيhoping for الجَوابَan answer فَقَدfor already مَضىhas passed
أُناديكَ لا راجي الجَوابَ فَقَد مَضى
وَياand oh لَهفَthe anguish of قَلبيmy heart أَنthat أَقولَI speak وَتَسمَعاand you hear
وَيا لَهفَ قَلبي أَن أَقولَ وَتَسمَعا
I call to you, hoping for no reply; the time is past—
But the fleeting world betrayed us, and we knew not loyalty,
alas for my heart!—when I could speak and you could listen.
Witnessing only its cunning and deception.
أَخلَفتَhave you left behind ثَغراًa mouth بَعدَafter بُعدِكَyour departure باسِماًsmiling
أَخلَفتَ ثَغراً بَعدَ بُعدِكَ باسِماً
وَطَرفاًand an eye تَمَنّىthat wished أَنto يَنامَsleep وَيَهجَعاand slumber
وَطَرفاً تَمَنّى أَن يَنامَ وَيَهجَعا
Have you left any mouth smiling after your departure,
What is this abode which, for all its transience,
or an eye that hoped to sleep and slumber?
Men desire, contend for, and refuse to relinquish?
وَلَوand if ساكِناتِthe dwellers الأَيكطِof the thickets (corrupt spelling) يَعمَلنَthey work (text likely corrupt) مَنwho ثَوىlay buried
وَلَو ساكِناتِ الأَيكطِ يَعمَلنَ مَن ثَوى
لِماthen not نَحنُthey lamented (reading uncertain) إِلّاexcept فيin رِثائِكَyour elegy سَجَّعاcooing
لِما نَحنُ إِلّا في رِثائِكَ سَجَّعا
If the dwellers of the thickets knew who lay buried [reading uncertain],
Some brief enjoyment, then an abode for the grave;
they would coo only in lament for you.
What then can man aspire to possess?
رَجَوناكَwe hoped for you لِلأَوطانِfor the homelands أَحوَجَmost in need ماwhen غَدَتthey became
رَجَوناكَ لِلأَوطانِ أَحوَجَ ما غَدَت
إِلىof مَنsomeone who يَرقيهاuplifts them وَأَوحَشَand most desolate أَربُعاin their dwellings
إِلى مَن يَرقيها وَأَوحَشَ أَربُعا
We hoped for you for the homelands, when they most needed
someone to uplift them, their dwellings most desolate.
فَلَمbut did not تَسمَحِgrant الدُنياthe world وَلَمand did not نَعلَمِwe know الوَفاfaithfulness
فَلَم تَسمَحِ الدُنيا وَلَم نَعلَمِ الوَفا
وَلَمand did not تَرَsee fit إِلّاexcept أَنto تَغَرَّbeguile وَتَخدَعاand deceive
وَلَم تَرَ إِلّا أَن تَغَرَّ وَتَخدَعا
But the world would not grant it, and we knew no faithfulness,
nor did it see fit to do anything but beguile and deceive.
وَماand what is هَذِهِthis الدارُabode الَّتيwhich لِفِنائِهاfor its courtyard
وَما هَذِهِ الدارُ الَّتي لِفِنائِها
يُشُّunclear وَيَهوىand desires أَنto يُمالَbe inclined وَيَنزَعاand turn toward
يُشُّ وَيَهوى أَن يُمالَ وَيَنزَعا
What is this abode, for whose courtyard
one [unclear verb] and longs to be drawn toward it and to seek it?
مَتاعٌenjoyment قَليلٌlittle ثُمَّthen مَأوىa refuge لِحَفرَةٍin a grave
مَتاعٌ قَليلٌ ثُمَّ مَأوى لِحَفرَةٍ
فَماذاso what عَسىmight الإِنسانُa human being أَنto يَتَمَتَّعاenjoy
فَماذا عَسى الإِنسانُ أَن يَتَمَتَّعا
A little enjoyment, then shelter in a grave—
so what can a human being hope to enjoy?
Partial English translation: 106 of 114 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1