هِيَthey are الأَحكامُthe decrees يُصدِرُهاit issues them القَضاءُfate
هِيَ الأَحكامُ يُصدِرُها القَضاءُ
فَلَيسَso there is no لِمُبرَمٍfor an irrevocable decree إِلّاexcept المَضاءُfulfillment
فَلَيسَ لِمُبرَمٍ إِلّا المَضاءُ
These are the decrees that fate issues;
The decrees are issued by fate,
An irrevocable decree can only be fulfilled.
And the destined must accept his fate.
وَلاand does not يَنبوfail to strike حُسامَthe keen sword المَوتِof death مِهماwhenever
وَلا يَنبو حُسامَ المَوتِ مِهما
أُتيحَwas permitted لَهُto it عَلىagainst الخَلقِcreation اِنتِضاءُunsheathing
أُتيحَ لَهُ عَلى الخَلقِ اِنتِضاءُ
Nor does death's keen sword fail, whenever
The sword of death spares no one,
It is permitted to be drawn against creation.
When allowed to harvest lives at will.
لَقَدindeed عَمَّhas encompassed الرَدىdeath كُلَّall البَراياcreatures
لَقَد عَمَّ الرَدى كُلَّ البَرايا
وَماتَand died الناسُthe people حَتّىeven الأَنبِياءُthe prophets
وَماتَ الناسُ حَتّى الأَنبِياءُ
Death has indeed encompassed all creatures,
Devastation has spread among all people,
And people have died—even the prophets.
Even prophets have tasted death.
وَأَصبَحناand we have become رَعاياsubjects لِلمَناياof death
وَأَصبَحنا رَعايا لِلمَنايا
عَلَيناover us مِنfrom وِلايَتِهاits dominion لِواءُa banner
عَلَينا مِن وِلايَتِها لِواءُ
And we have become subjects of death;
We've become slaves of mortality,
Over us hangs the banner of its dominion.
Bearing the banner of its rule.
أَلَسناare we not الخَلقَthe creatures غايَتَناour end زَوالُpassing away
أَلَسنا الخَلقَ غايَتَنا زَوالُ
وَعُنصُرُand the substance خَلقِناof our creation طينٌclay وَماءُand water
وَعُنصُرُ خَلقِنا طينٌ وَماءُ
Are we not creatures whose end is passing away,
Our nature is to perish in the end,
And whose substance is clay and water?
We're made of dust and drops of water.
وَسَفَرُand travelers مَراحِلٍstages وَذَويand possessors of حَياةِlife
وَسَفَرُ مَراحِلٍ وَذَوي حَياةِ
لَهاfor it بِالوَيلِwith woe خَتمٌan ending وِاِبتِداءُand a beginning
لَها بِالوَيلِ خَتمٌ وِاِبتِداءُ
And travelers through stages, possessors of a life
Life is but a journey in stages,
Whose ending and beginning are marked by woe?
Which begins and ends with sorrow.
نُهِلُّwe cry out إِلىinto البُكاءِweeping مَتىwhen وُلِدناwe were born
نُهِلُّ إِلى البُكاءِ مَتى وُلِدنا
وَيَصحَبُناand accompanies us إِلىto الرَمسِthe grave البُكاءُweeping
وَيَصحَبُنا إِلى الرَمسِ البُكاءُ
We cry out in tears when we are born,
We're born crying and crying accompanies us,
And weeping accompanies us to the grave.
To the grave, where our course ends.
وَلاand not نَرجوwe hope for بِذيin this الدُنياworld بَقاءُpermanence
وَلا نَرجو بِذي الدُنيا بَقاءُ
أَلاindeed أَنَّthat البَقاpermanence مِنّاfrom us بَراءُestranged
أَلا أَنَّ البَقا مِنّا بَراءُ
We hope for no permanence in this world;
We have no hope of permanence in this life,
Indeed, permanence is estranged from us.
Eternity belongs to none but the Divine.
حَياةٌa life كَاِنسِيابِlike the gliding الطَيفِof a phantom مُرّاًpassing by
حَياةٌ كَاِنسِيابِ الطَيفِ مُرّاً
بِدُنياthrough a world لِلفَناءِfor annihilation هِيَit is الفِناءُthe forecourt
بِدُنيا لِلفَناءِ هِيَ الفِناءُ
Life is like a phantom gliding past
Life passes like a mirage,
Through a world that is annihilation's forecourt.
A fleeting world destined to fade.
إِذاif كانَتis نِهايَتُهاits end خُفوتاًa fading away
إِذا كانَت نِهايَتُها خُفوتاً
فَأَطوَلُهاthen its longest وَأَقصَرُهاand its shortest سَواءُequal
فَأَطوَلُها وَأَقصَرُها سَواءُ
If its end is fading away,
If its end is oblivion,
Its longest and shortest are alike.
Its length and brevity are equal.
يَغَرُّbeguiles المَرءُa person مِهاfrom it (text unclear) وَردَa rose عِزٍّof honor
يَغَرُّ المَرءُ مِها وَردَ عِزٍّ
كَذاthus الدُنياthe world وَماand whatever فيهاis in it رِياءُpretense
كَذا الدُنيا وَما فيها رِياءُ
A rose of honor from it beguiles a person;
One is deceived by worldly power and glory,
Such is the world, and all within it is pretense.
For it's all but empty illusion.
يُديرُpasses around الدَهرَtime فيناamong us كُلَّevery كَأسٍcup
يُديرُ الدَهرَ فينا كُلَّ كَأسٍ
لَناfor us مِنfrom صَرفِthe unmixed essence خَمرَتِهاof its wine اِنتِشاءُintoxication
لَنا مِن صَرفِ خَمرَتِها اِنتِشاءُ
Time passes every cup among us;
Fate makes us drink every cup,
From its unmixed wine we gain intoxication.
As it desires, bringing joy or pain.
وَيُرهِقَناand overwhelms us مِنَfrom الأَرزاthe calamities (truncated) بِبَطشٍwith violence
وَيُرهِقَنا مِنَ الأَرزا بِبَطشٍ
تُقصِرُfall short دونَهُbefore it الأَسَلُthe spears الظَماءُthe thirsty
تُقصِرُ دونَهُ الأَسَلُ الظَماءُ
And it overwhelms us with calamities, with a violence
It overwhelms us with afflictions,
Beside which thirsty spears fall short.
Before which the boldest men falter.
يُمَزِّقُtears apart فيamong البَرِيَّةِmankind كُلَّevery شَملٍunion
يُمَزِّقُ في البَرِيَّةِ كُلَّ شَملٍ
فَيُصبِحُso it becomes مِثلَماas though نَثَرَscattered الهَباءُfine dust
فَيُصبِحُ مِثلَما نَثَرَ الهَباءُ
It rends every union among mankind,
It shreds every gathered group,
Till it becomes like scattered dust.
Scattering them like dust in the wind.
وَيَهدِمُand demolishes لِلمعاليof high achievement كُلَّevery رُكنٍpillar
وَيَهدِمُ لِلمعالي كُلَّ رُكنٍ
فَيَشمَلُهُthen enfolds it بِأَيديهِwith its hands العَفاءُobliteration
فَيَشمَلُهُ بِأَيديهِ العَفاءُ
And demolishes every pillar of high achievement,
It demolishes every lofty edifice,
Till obliteration enfolds it in its hands.
Leaving it to decay and ruin.
كَذاthus قَضَتِhave decreed اللَياليthe nights مِنconcerning بَنيهاtheir children
كَذا قَضَتِ اللَيالي مِن بَنيها
بِأَنthat لاnot يَستَتِبَّbe firmly established لَهُمfor them هَناءُhappiness
بِأَن لا يَستَتِبَّ لَهُم هَناءُ
Thus the nights have decreed concerning their children:
Thus the nights have decreed for mankind,
That happiness shall never be secure for them.
That no joy or comfort will last.
لَعَمرُكَby your life فيamong البَرِيَّةِcreation أَيُّwhat أُمٍّmother
لَعَمرُكَ في البَرِيَّةِ أَيُّ أُمٍّ
عَلىagainst أَولادِهاher children مِنهاfrom her اِعتِداءُan assault
عَلى أَولادِها مِنها اِعتِداءُ
By your life, what mother among creation
By my life! What mother in the wild,
Would herself attack her children?
Would assault the children she tends?
فَواعَجَباًso how strange لِضاهِدَةٍfor an oppressor لَدَيهاin her keeping
فَواعَجَباً لِضاهِدَةٍ لَدَيها
أَواصِرَbonds of kinship ماnot بِهِنَّfor them لَهاfor her اِعتِناءُcare
أَواصِرَ ما بِهِنَّ لَها اِعتِناءُ
How strange an oppressor who has
Yet it's wondrous that she who nurtures,
Bonds of kinship for which she has no care!
Can sever the bonds she holds dear.
لَقَدindeed آلَتshe swore رَعاهاmay He guard her اللَهُGod قَدَماًlong ago
لَقَد آلَت رَعاها اللَهُ قَدَماً
يَميناًan oath أَنthat تُسِرَّshe rejoice بِماat what نِساءُwe are grieved
يَميناً أَن تُسِرَّ بِما نِساءُ
Long ago she swore—may God guard her—
God has ordained that she walk straight,
An oath to rejoice at what grieves us.
But turn right to find pleasure in women.
تُفَجِّعُناshe bereaves us بِكُلِّof every فَقيدٍdeparted one فَضَلَّvirtue
تُفَجِّعُنا بِكُلِّ فَقيدٍ فَضَلَّ
عَلَيهِfor him يَلطُمُstrikes الوَجهَthe face العَلاءُeminence
عَلَيهِ يَلطُمُ الوَجهَ العَلاءُ
She bereaves us of every departed man of virtue,
They make us grieve for every loved one lost,
For whom eminence strikes its face in grief.
As tears rain down their cheeks.
لَقَدindeed كانَتused to تَتيهُglory بِهِin him المَعاليhigh honors
لَقَد كانَت تَتيهُ بِهِ المَعالي
وَكانَand there was عَلَيهِupon him مِنof شَرَفِnobility رِداءُa mantle
وَكانَ عَلَيهِ مِن شَرَفِ رِداءُ
High honors once gloried in him,
You who bear news, stop your grieving!
And upon him lay a mantle of nobility.
For the one you mourn has gained eternity.
رُوَيدَكَtake your time أَيُّهاO you المَنعيthe death-announcer نَعياًdeath-tidings
رُوَيدَكَ أَيُّها المَنعي نَعياً
بِهِthrough it تَنعىyou mourn المَكارِمَthe noble virtues وَالرَجاءُand hope
بِهِ تَنعى المَكارِمَ وَالرَجاءُ
Gently, herald of death, with tidings
If you show distress, there's no blame,
In which you mourn noble virtues and hope.
For friendship and loyalty demand it.
وَياand O مُتَرَحِّلاًdeparting one مُهِلّاًgently لَعَمريby my life
وَيا مُتَرَحِّلاً مُهِلّاً لَعَمري
فِداكَransom for you الناسُhumankind لَوif صَحَّwere possible الفِداءُransom
فِداكَ الناسُ لَو صَحَّ الفِداءُ
O departing one, gently! By my life,
If you show patience, a praiseworthy trait,
Humanity would ransom you, were ransom possible.
His life's work will spread and endure.
وَردَand would avert حَمامِكَyour death الآسونِthe healers لَكِنbut
وَردَ حَمامِكَ الآسونِ لَكِن
دَوَيُّthe malady المَوتِof death لَيسَthere is not لَهُfor it دَواءُa cure
دَوَيُّ المَوتِ لَيسَ لَهُ دَواءُ
And healers would have warded off your doom, but
How noble, how kind was the departed!
The malady of death has no remedy.
Goodness flowed from him without restraint.
تُناديكَcall to you الفَضائِلُthe virtues وَهيwhile they تَبكيweep
تُناديكَ الفَضائِلُ وَهي تَبكي
وَلَكِنand yet لَيسَdoes not يَنفَعُهاbenefit them النِداءُthe calling
وَلَكِن لَيسَ يَنفَعُها النِداءُ
The virtues call to you, weeping,
He wore the garb of piety with pride,
But their calling does them no good.
And girt his loins with purity.
وَكَمand how many جَفَّتhave dried عَلَيكَover you شُؤونُtear ducts دَمعٍof tears
وَكَم جَفَّت عَلَيكَ شُؤونُ دَمعٍ
بِعَينٍin an eye لَمhave not تَجِفَّdried لَهاfor it دِماءُblood
بِعَينٍ لَم تَجِفَّ لَها دِماءُ
How many tear ducts have run dry over you
When shaken souls approached him,
In eyes whose blood has not dried!
How much shame did he dispel from them!
أَلاah مَنwho مُبلِغِwill convey to الأَفضالِthe virtues عَنّيon my behalf
أَلا مَن مُبلِغِ الأَفضالِ عَنّي
توفيhas died نَدبُهُits noble champion وَلَهُand for it البَقاءُcontinuance
توفي نَدبُهُ وَلَهُ البَقاءُ
Ah, who will tell Excellence on my behalf:
He embraced all that is good and proper,
Its noble champion has died, while it lives on.
And each honorable man followed his example.
فَإِنso if يَجزَعُit grieves فَلَيسَthen there is no عَلَيهِupon it لَومٌblame
فَإِن يَجزَعُ فَلَيسَ عَلَيهِ لَومٌ
كَذاthus تَبغيdemand الصَداقَةَfriendship وَالوَلاءُand loyalty
كَذا تَبغي الصَداقَةَ وَالوَلاءُ
If it grieves, no blame rests upon it;
Eloquence and generosity weep for him,
Thus do friendship and loyalty demand.
And his memory remains fresh among his people,
وَإِنand if يَصبِرَit endures patiently فَذاكَthen that عَلىover فَقيدٍa departed one
وَإِن يَصبِرَ فَذاكَ عَلى فَقيدٍ
بِنَشرِto spread حَياتِهِhis life كَفلُhas pledged الثَناءُpraise
بِنَشرِ حَياتِهِ كَفلُ الثَناءُ
And if it endures, it is for a departed one
Never fading like deeds of the ancients.
Whose life's story praise has pledged to spread.
If one leaves the world gloriously,
أَغَرَّradiant أَبَرَّmost upright سَمحُgracious الخَلقِin character كانَتwas
أَغَرَّ أَبَرَّ سَمحُ الخَلقِ كانَت
تَصرِفُهُguides him السَماحَةُgenerosity ماas تَشاءُit wishes
تَصرِفُهُ السَماحَةُ ما تَشاءُ
Radiant, righteous, gracious in character—
The heavens become his final resting place.
Generosity guided him however it wished.
There to enjoy eternal bliss,
عَلَيهِover him مَدَّتِspread التَقوىpiety وَشاحاa sash
عَلَيهِ مَدَّتِ التَقوى وَشاحا
وَشَدَّand fastened بِهِaround him مَناطِقَهُits girdles الصَفاءُpurity
وَشَدَّ بِهِ مَناطِقَهُ الصَفاءُ
Piety spread a sash over him,
Greeted with celebration and honor.
And purity fastened its girdles about him.
O children, pride of his lineage, patience!
إِذاwhen أَمَّsought العُفاةُthe petitioners نَدىthe bounty يَدَيهِof his hands
إِذا أَمَّ العُفاةُ نَدى يَدَيهِ
فَكَمthen how often يَعروovertakes الحَياthe rain مِنهُbecause of him الحَياءُshame
فَكَم يَعرو الحَيا مِنهُ الحَياءُ
When petitioners sought the bounty of his hands,
Though comfort is hard to find in grief.
How often shame overtook the rain because of him!
My love is not increased by graceful calm,
حَوىpossessed غُرَرَthe finest الخِلالِvirtues وَكُلُّand every حَرٍّnoble man
حَوى غُرَرَ الخِلالِ وَكُلُّ حَرٍّ
لَهُfor him بِسَنّىin the radiance of شيمَتُهُhis character اِقتِداءُemulation
لَهُ بِسَنّى شيمَتُهُ اِقتِداءُ
He possessed the choicest virtues, and every noble man
Which adorns the one who bears distress.
Takes his radiant character as a model.
Hardship visits but does not crush your hearts,
فَتُبكيهِso weep for him المَفاخِرُdistinctions وَالمَعاليand high honors
فَتُبكيهِ المَفاخِرُ وَالمَعالي
وَتَندِبُهُand lament him الطَلاقَةُcheerfulness وَالسَخاءُand generosity
وَتَندِبُهُ الطَلاقَةُ وَالسَخاءُ
Distinctions and high honors weep for him,
Yet in hardship lies your own trial.
And cheerfulness and generosity lament him.
وَظَلَّand remained ثَناؤُهُpraise of him فيamong القَومِthe people طَراًall together
وَظَلَّ ثَناؤُهُ في القَومِ طَراً
يَضوعُgives off fragrance وَلاand not كَماas ضاعَgave off fragrance الكَباءُincense
يَضوعُ وَلا كَما ضاعَ الكَباءُ
And praise of him remained among all the people,
Weep not for one who leaves this world,
Wafting fragrance—but not as incense does.
To dwell in eternal paradise.
فَإِنso if يَكُis فارِقُone who has left الدُنياthe world مَجداًin glory
فَإِن يَكُ فارِقُ الدُنيا مَجداً
فَأَثوَتهُthen has lodged him مَراقيهاits ascending heights السَماءُheaven
فَأَثوَتهُ مَراقيها السَماءُ
So if he departed this world in glory,
O you whose bounty poured forth in life,
Heaven has lodged him upon its heights,
Spreading goodness near and far!
لِيَنعَمso he may delight بِاللِقاin the meeting أَبَداًforever وَفيهاand therein
لِيَنعَم بِاللِقا أَبَداً وَفيها
يَكونُthere is بِهِfor him اِحتِفالٌcelebration وَاِحتِفاءُand honor
يَكونُ بِهِ اِحتِفالٌ وَاِحتِفاءُ
To delight forever in the meeting; and there
In a grave by the seashore you lie,
He is received with celebration and honor.
Between two seas where souls meet.
فَياso O أَنجالُهُhis offspring الأَنجابُthe noble مَهلاًgently
فَيا أَنجالُهُ الأَنجابُ مَهلاً
عَزاءُكُمconsolation for you وَإِنand even if عَزَّis hard to find العَزاءُconsolation
عَزاءُكُم وَإِن عَزَّ العَزاءُ
O his noble offspring, be calm;
There a noble spirit left our midst,
May you find consolation, though consolation is hard to find.
Taking with it chivalry and loyalty.
وَلَستُand I do not أَزيدُكُمincrease for you حُبّاًlove بِصَبرٍfor patience
وَلَستُ أَزيدُكُم حُبّاً بِصَبرٍ
جَميلٍnoble بِرَدِّby restoring لابِسِهِits wearer بَهاءُsplendor
جَميلٍ بِرَدِّ لابِسِهِ بَهاءُ
I need not deepen your love of patience—
Farewell o departed one! May your abode
Noble patience that restores splendor to its wearer.
Be far above the reach of elegy.
وَلاand may not راعَterrify البَلاءُaffliction لَكُمfor you قُلوباًhearts
وَلا راعَ البَلاءُ لَكُم قُلوباً
وَلَكِنand yet فيin البَلاءِaffliction لَكُمfor you بَلاءُa trial
وَلَكِن في البَلاءِ لَكُم بَلاءُ
May affliction never terrify your hearts;
Upon you always the peace of your Lord,
Yet in affliction lies a trial for you.
From dawn to dusk, darkness and light.
وَلاand not يَبكيone weeps عَلىfor مَنone who فاتَleft behind دُنياa world
وَلا يَبكي عَلى مَن فاتَ دُنيا
لِيَخلُدَto dwell forever فيin النَعيمِbliss لَهُfor him ثَواءُan abode
لِيَخلُدَ في النَعيمِ لَهُ ثَواءُ
Nor should one weep for him who left this world
Who begins the path of righteousness,
To dwell forever in bliss, where his abode lies.
Shall reach its end with ample reward.
فَياso O صَوبَdownpour الحَياof rain باكِرَvisit at dawn ثَراهُhis grave-earth
فَيا صَوبَ الحَيا باكِرَ ثَراهُ
فَمِنهُfor from him طالَماso often سَحَّpoured العَطاءُbounty
فَمِنهُ طالَما سَحَّ العَطاءُ
O falling rain, visit his grave-earth at dawn,
For gifts so often poured from him.
وَزَرَand visit جَدثاًa grave بِقُربِnear البَحرِthe sea تَعثُرُyou will come upon
وَزَرَ جَدثاً بِقُربِ البَحرِ تَعثُرُ
عَلىupon بَحرَينِtwo seas بَينَهُماbetween them اللِقاءُa meeting
عَلى بَحرَينِ بَينَهُما اللِقاءُ
And visit a grave beside the sea; you will come
Upon two seas that meet each other.
هُنالِكَthere غَيبَburied الأَقوامِthe peoples شَهماًa noble-hearted man
هُنالِكَ غَيبَ الأَقوامِ شَهماً
وَغَيَّبتُand I buried المُروءَةُchivalry وَالوَفاءُand fidelity
وَغَيَّبتُ المُروءَةُ وَالوَفاءُ
There the people buried a noble-hearted man,
And I buried chivalry and fidelity.
وَياand O ذاكَthat one الفَقيدُthe departed اِذهَبgo فَحاشاfor far be it
وَيا ذاكَ الفَقيدُ اِذهَب فَحاشا
مَقامُكَyour station أَنthat يَقومَdo justice بِهِto it الرِثاءُelegy
مَقامُكَ أَن يَقومَ بِهِ الرِثاءُ
O departed one, go—for it is unthinkable
That elegy could do justice to your stature.
عَلَيكَupon you سَلامُpeace رَبِّكَof your Lord ماas long as تَوالىcomes in succession
عَلَيكَ سَلامُ رَبِّكَ ما تَوالى
صَباحٌa morning مُنذُsince يَومِكَyour day أَوor مَساءُan evening
صَباحٌ مُنذُ يَومِكَ أَو مَساءُ
Upon you be your Lord's peace, as long as there comes
A morning or evening from your day onward.
وَمَنand whoever كانَhas الصَلاحُrighteousness لَهُfor him اِبتِداءُa beginning
وَمَن كانَ الصَلاحُ لَهُ اِبتِداءُ
فَبِالأَجرِthen with the reward الجَزيلِabundant لَهُfor him اِنتِهاءُan ending
فَبِالأَجرِ الجَزيلِ لَهُ اِنتِهاءُ
Whoever has righteousness as his beginning
Ends with abundant reward.
Partial English translation: 81 of 94 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1