ماwhat ضرّwould harm طيفَكِyour dream-phantom لوif والىrepeated زياراتيvisits to me
ما ضرّ طيفَكِ لو والى زياراتي
ماwhat lies بَينَbetween تِلكَthose المَحانيbends والثّنِيّاتِand the mountain passes
ما بَينَ تِلكَ المَحاني والثّنِيّاتِ
What harm would it do your phantom to keep visiting me,
My phantom keeps visiting, between thickets and little hills,
Between those bends and mountain passes?
While caravans are busy with their camels and their saddles.
والرّكبُand the riders عنّاaway from us مشاغيلٌpreoccupied بأَبيَنهمْwith their weariness (unclear form)
والرّكبُ عنّا مشاغيلٌ بأَبيَنهمْ
مِنَfrom الدّؤوبunceasing exertion وإرقالِand the swift pacing المطيّاتِof the riding-camels
مِنَ الدّؤوب وإرقالِ المطيّاتِ
And the riders are distracted from us by their weariness,
They fell like glass bottles aligned for them,
From unceasing toil and the camels' swift gait:
Yet to your eyes they're alive like dead.
صَرْعىprostrate كأنّas though زجاجاتٍbottles أُدِرْنَwere passed around لهمْfor them
صَرْعى كأنّ زجاجاتٍ أُدِرْنَ لهمْ
فهمْso they لعينيكfor your two eyes أحياءٌalive كأمواتِlike dead people
فهمْ لعينيك أحياءٌ كأمواتِ
Prostrate, as though bottles had been passed around for them,
If dawn has forbidden a bond, it was to torture us,
So, for your eyes, they are alive, yet like the dead.
But it is made lawful by the delusions of nights.
إنْif حرّمforbade الصّبحُthe morning وصلاًa union كانwas يُجذلُناdelighting us
إنْ حرّم الصّبحُ وصلاً كان يُجذلُنا
فَهْوَthen it الحلالُis lawful بتهويمِthrough dozing العشيّاتِof evenings
فَهْوَ الحلالُ بتهويمِ العشيّاتِ
If morning forbids a union that used to delight us,
And how often have I been visited by wings of night when they spread,
Then it is lawful in the dozing of evenings.
By one who wasn't on my mind that he'd come.
وَكَمand how often أَتانيcame to me وجُنحُand the darkness اللَّيلِof night حُلّتُهُhis robe
وَكَم أَتاني وجُنحُ اللَّيلِ حُلّتُهُ
مَنone who لَمnot يَكُنwas فيin حسابيmy reckoning أنَّهthat he ياتيwould come
مَن لَم يَكُن في حسابي أنَّه ياتي
How often there came to me, night's darkness his robe,
And he'd visit without an appointed time, and how often
One I had not reckoned would come.
His visit was diverted from us at every time.
وَزارَand visited فيat غيرِother than ميقاتٍan appointed time وكمand how often لُوِيَتْwas diverted
وَزارَ في غيرِ ميقاتٍ وكم لُوِيَتْ
عنّاfrom us زيارتُهُhis visit فيat كلِّevery ميقاتِappointed time
عنّا زيارتُهُ في كلِّ ميقاتِ
He visited unappointed; how often was diverted
And you have seen, and the camel has walked with you,
His visit from us at every appointed time.
How patient I've been with those afflictions.
وَقَدand indeed رَأَيتمْyou saw وَقدand as سارtraveled المطيُّthe riding-camels بكمْwith you
وَقَد رَأَيتمْ وَقد سار المطيُّ بكمْ
كَيفَhow اِصطِباريmy endurance علىin facing تلكthose المصيباتِcalamities
كَيفَ اِصطِباري على تلك المصيباتِ
You saw, as the mounts carried you away,
And how often have I turned my cheek from your caravans,
How I endured those calamities.
When my wants and needs were in the caravans.
وَكَمand how often ثنيتُI turned لِحاظيmy glances عَنaway from هوادِجكمْyour howdahs
وَكَم ثنيتُ لِحاظي عَن هوادِجكمْ
وَفيand in الهَوادِجِthe howdahs أَوطاريmy desires وحاجاتيand my needs
وَفي الهَوادِجِ أَوطاري وحاجاتي
How often I turned my glances from your howdahs,
And I said, no rancor is found in my heart to the blamer,
Though in the howdahs lay my desires and my needs.
While my heart is burnt by the fire of passion's coal.
وقلتand I said لاno وجدَlove-longing فيin قلبيmy heart لِلائِمِهِto its reprover
وقلت لا وجدَ في قلبي لِلائِمِهِ
وَالقلبُand the heart تحرقُهُburns it نارُthe fire الصّباباتِof passionate longings
وَالقلبُ تحرقُهُ نارُ الصّباباتِ
I told my heart's reprover, 'There is no yearning in my heart,'
Tell those who severed on the day of their departure,
While the heart was burned by the fire of passionate longings.
Private conversations like doves in the thicket.
قلْsay للّذينto those who حَدَوْاdrove by song فيon يومthe day رِحلَتِهمof their departure
قلْ للّذين حَدَوْا في يوم رِحلَتِهم
خُوصاًsunken-eyed خمائِصَhollow-bellied أمثالَlike الحنيّاتِcurved bows
خُوصاً خمائِصَ أمثالَ الحنيّاتِ
Tell those who drove by song, on the day of their departure,
Memories, with no burdens to carry them
Sunken-eyed, hollow-bellied mounts like curved bows:
A day of grace like the gamboling of cubs.
مذكّراتٍmale-like she-camels فلاso no سَقْبٌmale calf لهنّbelongs to them ولاand not
مذكّراتٍ فلا سَقْبٌ لهنّ ولا
كَرِعْنَthey drank deeply يوماًever بنشوانِof the heady draught الوليداتِof little daughters
كَرِعْنَ يوماً بنشوانِ الوليداتِ
Male-like she-camels, with no male calves, nor
They and the caravan that takes me far from arranging them
Have they ever drunk the heady draught of little daughters.
To the litters, longing, each moaning camel.
لَهُنّthey have والرّحلُand the saddle يَعْلَولِيrises high over مناسِجَهاtheir withers
لَهُنّ والرّحلُ يَعْلَولِي مناسِجَها
إلىtoward السَّباسِبِthe open plains شوقاًin longing كلَّall حنّاتِplaintive cries
إلى السَّباسِبِ شوقاً كلَّ حنّاتِ
They have, while the saddle rises over their withers,
And how many tough, patient she-camels endured them
Every plaintive cry, in longing for the open plains.
Until they brought them safe, honored litters.
وكمْand how often ولَجْنَthey entered شديداتٍhardships صَبَرْنَthey endured بهاwithin them
وكمْ ولَجْنَ شديداتٍ صَبَرْنَ بها
حَتّىuntil نَجونَthey escaped كِراماًnobly بالحُشاشاتِwith remnants of life
حَتّى نَجونَ كِراماً بالحُشاشاتِ
How many hardships they entered and endured within,
If messengers are sent to fulfill wishes,
Until they escaped nobly with their remnants of life.
They guaranteed you'd bring near the distant.
فَإِنْso if بُعِثْنَthey are sent إِلىto نيلِattaining المُنىwishes رُسُلاًas messengers
فَإِنْ بُعِثْنَ إِلى نيلِ المُنى رُسُلاً
كفَلْنَthey guarantee منكfrom you بتقريبِto bring near البعيداتِdistant things
كفَلْنَ منك بتقريبِ البعيداتِ
If sent as messengers to attain wishes,
Whoever of you reaches the minister, tell him
They guarantee that, through you, distant hopes are brought near.
My greetings and regards when you reach him.
مَنْwho فيكُمُamong you مُبلغٌwill convey عنّيon my behalf الوزيرَto the minister إذاwhen
مَنْ فيكُمُ مُبلغٌ عنّي الوزيرَ إذا
بَلَغْتموهyou reach him سلاميmy greeting والتحيّاتِand salutations
بَلَغْتموه سلامي والتحيّاتِ
Who among you will convey to the minister on my behalf, when
He whose life gladdened the world and then the country,
You reach him, my greeting and salutations?
They weren't unjust when they called him the prosperous.
وَمنand one who سعودgood fortunes الورىof mankind ثمّthen البلادthe lands بهِthrough him
وَمن سعود الورى ثمّ البلاد بهِ
لمnot يَظلمواthey wronged إذwhen دعوهthey called him ذاpossessor of السّعاداتِfelicities
لم يَظلموا إذ دعوه ذا السّعاداتِ
And to him through whom mankind, and then the lands, find fortune—
Say, Would that I were the messenger, nothing
They did him no wrong in calling him Dhu al-Sa'adat.
Would convey to you except my words, messages.
قولواsay لَيتنيwould that I كنتُhad been الرّسولَthe messenger وماand not
قولوا لَيتني كنتُ الرّسولَ وما
أدّىconveyed إليكto you سوىexcept لفظِيmy utterance رسالاتيmy messages
أدّى إليك سوى لفظِي رسالاتي
Say: 'Would that I had been the messenger, and none
God bless you in pressing, perilous circumstances,
But my own speech had conveyed my messages to you.'
You aided me with joys and reliefs.
للّهto God دَرُّكَyour excellence فيin مُستغْلَقٍa closed predicament حَرِجٍstraitened
للّه دَرُّكَ في مُستغْلَقٍ حَرِجٍ
أسعفتَyou brought help فيهin it بفرحاتٍwith joys وفُرجاتِand openings of relief
أسعفتَ فيه بفرحاتٍ وفُرجاتِ
How admirable you are! In a closed, straitened plight,
In gloomy darkness where no light shines,
You brought help with joys and openings of relief.
You removed the garments of darkness from us.
وفاحمٍand a coal-black gloom مُدْلَهمٍّpitch-dark لاno ضياءَlight بهِin it
وفاحمٍ مُدْلَهمٍّ لا ضياءَ بهِ
نزعتَyou stripped away عنهfrom it لناfor us أثوابgarments ظُلماتِof darkness
نزعتَ عنه لنا أثواب ظُلماتِ
And from coal-black, pitch-dark gloom with no light,
In your hands a messenger you send,
You stripped away for us the garments of darkness.
Whenever you want, to all the wishing.
وفيand in يديكyour two hands رسولٌa messenger منكfrom you تُرسلهُyou send him
وفي يديك رسولٌ منك تُرسلهُ
متىwhenever أردتَyou wish إلىtoward كلِّevery المنيّاتِwish
متى أردتَ إلى كلِّ المنيّاتِ
In your hands is a messenger of yours, whom you send
Like sprinkling rain seen giving sight,
Whenever you wish, toward every desire.
To cut through the horizons the caravans.
مثلَlike الرِّشاءِthe well-rope يُرىis seen منهin it لمبصرِهِto its beholder
مثلَ الرِّشاءِ يُرى منه لمبصرِهِ
تغضّنُthe twisting الرُّقمِof patterned snakes يقطعنthey cross التّنوفاتِthe trackless wastes
تغضّنُ الرُّقمِ يقطعن التّنوفاتِ
Like a well-rope, it shows to its beholder
I swear by litters that carry the fallen dead,
The twisting of patterned snakes crossing the trackless wastes.
That they have no knowledge of meadows from the clouds’ watering.
حَلفتُI swore بالبُدْنِby the sacrificial camels يرعينthey graze on الوَجيفswift motion ولاand no
حَلفتُ بالبُدْنِ يرعين الوَجيف ولا
عَهدٌacquaintance لهنَّfor them بِرَيٍّwith quenching thirst منfrom غماماتِrainclouds
عَهدٌ لهنَّ بِرَيٍّ من غماماتِ
I swore by the sacrificial camels, grazing on swift motion, with no
They return home where the angels live,
Acquaintance with thirst quenched by rainclouds,
An intention that surpasses all intention.
يُردنَthey seek بيتاًa House بهin which الأملاكُthe angels ساكنةٌdwell
يُردنَ بيتاً به الأملاكُ ساكنةٌ
بنيّةa structure فَضَلَتْthat surpassed كلَّall البِنيّاتِstructures
بنيّة فَضَلَتْ كلَّ البِنيّاتِ
Seeking a House where angels dwell,
And those who circumambulate around it when they blocked,
A structure that surpassed all structures;
It for protection with touching and kissing.
وَالطائِفينand those circling حوالَيْهِaround it وقدand indeed سَدَكواthey clung
وَالطائِفين حوالَيْهِ وقد سَدَكوا
بِهto it تُقاءًin piety بمسحاتٍwith strokes of the hand ولثماتِand kisses
بِه تُقاءً بمسحاتٍ ولثماتِ
And by those circling it, clinging
And how much they shed in Mina's valley throngs
To it in piety, with touches and kisses;
At the stoning pillars from the aged pebbles.
وماand what أراقوهthey shed فيin واديthe valley مِنىof Mina زُمَراًin companies
وما أراقوه في وادي مِنى زُمَراً
عندbeside الجِمارِthe stoning pillars منfrom الكُومِhigh-humped camels المسنّاتِaged females
عند الجِمارِ من الكُومِ المسنّاتِ
And by what they shed in the valley of Mina, in companies,
And flinging forearms like Indian swords polished,
Beside the jamarat, from aged, high-humped camels;
They cast each day the little pebbles.
وأذرُعٍand arms كسيوفِlike swords الهندِof India ضاحيةٍbare
وأذرُعٍ كسيوفِ الهندِ ضاحيةٍ
يَقذفنthey cast فيon كلِّevery يومٍday بالحُصيّاتِwith little pebbles
يَقذفن في كلِّ يومٍ بالحُصيّاتِ
And by bare arms, like the swords of India,
And those spending the night in a group after they stood
Casting little pebbles every day;
At the knoll, but oh, what standing!
وَالبائتينَand those spending the night بجَمْعٍat Jam' بعدafter أنthat وقفواthey stood
وَالبائتينَ بجَمْعٍ بعد أن وقفوا
علىat المعرَّفِal-Mu'arraf لكنْbut أيَّwhat وَقْفاتِstandings
على المعرَّفِ لكنْ أيَّ وَقْفاتِ
And by those spending the night at Jam', after standing
And they passed it quickly after they slaughtered
At al-Mu'arraf—but what standings!
Until they came to it with heavy crimes.
وَجاوَزوهand they passed beyond it خِفافاًlightly بَعدafter أَنthat ذَبحواthey sacrificed
وَجاوَزوه خِفافاً بَعد أَن ذَبحوا
حتّىuntil أَتوهthey reached it بِأجرامٍwith bodies ثقيلاتِheavy
حتّى أَتوه بِأجرامٍ ثقيلاتِ
And they passed beyond it lightly, after sacrificing,
It erased the mark of light from their faces,
Until they came to it with heavy bodies.
The one who had been erasing sins.
مَحاerased النضارةَthe freshness منfrom صَفْحاتِthe surfaces أوجههمْof their faces
مَحا النضارةَ من صَفْحاتِ أوجههمْ
ذاكَthat الّذيwhich كَانwas محواًan erasure للجريراتِof sins
ذاكَ الّذي كَان محواً للجريراتِ
The freshness was erased from the surfaces of their faces
You are, apart from all these people,
By that which had erased their sins.
More rightful for me and worthier of loyalty.
لأنتَsurely you مِنfrom دونِapart from هَذاthis الخلقِcreation كلِّهِمُall of them
لأنتَ مِن دونِ هَذا الخلقِ كلِّهِمُ
أَحقّmore entitled فيناamong us وَأَولىand more worthy بالموالاةِof allegiance
أَحقّ فينا وَأَولى بالموالاةِ
You alone, apart from all these created beings,
Bring me closer to you, humankind doesn't guide me,
Are, in our eyes, most deserving and most worthy of allegiance.
Except a gallant youth who sheltered virtues.
قُدنِيlead me إِلَيكَto you فماfor no يَقتادنيleads me بشرٌmortal
قُدنِي إِلَيكَ فما يَقتادني بشرٌ
إلّاexcept فتىًa noble youth كانwho was مأوىًa refuge للفضيلاتِfor virtues
إلّا فتىً كان مأوىً للفضيلاتِ
Lead me to you, for no mortal leads me
Strengthen your hand with what you gave of my hatred
Except a noble youth who is a refuge for virtues.
And passion and the fermenting of my affection.
وَاِشددْand hold fast يَديكyour two hands بماto what ناولتَyou received (reading uncertain) منof مِقَتِيmy affection
وَاِشددْ يَديك بما ناولتَ من مِقَتِي
ومنand of غراميmy ardent attachment ومنand of ثاوِيthe abiding مودّاتيof my affections
ومن غرامي ومن ثاوِي مودّاتي
And hold fast with both hands to what you received of my affection,
I am the one who doesn't change with time from my ardency
And of my passion, and of my abiding affections.
For those I was ardent for, and I don't forget my early madness.
أَناI الّذيam the one who لاdoes not أَحولturn away الدّهرَthroughout time عنfrom كَلَفِيmy devotion
أَنا الّذي لا أَحول الدّهرَ عن كَلَفِي
بِمنto the one whom كلفتُI loved ولاand do not أسلوforget صباباتيmy passionate longings
بِمن كلفتُ ولا أسلو صباباتي
I am the one who never turns, throughout time, from my devotion
Don't fear deviation from me in the long term,
To the one I love, nor do I forget my passionate longings.
Everything you see in me is nothing but my stumblings.
لاdo not تخشَfear منّيfrom me علىover طولthe length المدىof the span زللاًa lapse
لا تخشَ منّي على طول المدى زللاً
فكلُّfor every شيءٍthing تراهyou see غيرother than زلّاتيmy lapses
فكلُّ شيءٍ تراه غير زلّاتي
Fear no lapse from me, however long the span;
It's all the same to me, I owe no favor to,
You may see everything, but never my lapses.
Refuge from harm and comforts of pleasures.
سِيّانِequal عنديto me ولاand no منٌّclaim of favor عليهagainst him بهِfor it
سِيّانِ عندي ولا منٌّ عليه بهِ
مَغْنىthe abode الأذىof harm ومقرّاتُand the dwellings اللّذاذاتِof delights
مَغْنى الأذى ومقرّاتُ اللّذاذاتِ
Both are alike to me—with no favor claimed against him for this—
I complain to God of my longing for you and what is
The abode of hurt and the dwellings of delight.
In my heart of burning agonies and stirring.
أَشكوI complain إلىto اللَّهGod أَشواقيof my longings إِليكfor you وماand what
أَشكو إلى اللَّه أَشواقي إِليك وما
فيin القلبِthe heart مِنof حرّthe heat لوعاتٍof anguish ورَوْعاتِand terrors
في القلبِ مِن حرّ لوعاتٍ ورَوْعاتِ
I complain to God of my longing for you, and what
And I'm barred from my adornment, your nearness, or
Lies in my heart of burning anguish and terrors.
The palms are empty, devoid of visits.
وَإِنّنيand indeed I عاطِلٌam unadorned مِنof حَليthe jewels قُربِكَof nearness to you أوor
وَإِنّني عاطِلٌ مِن حَلي قُربِكَ أو
صِفْرُempty اليدينof both hands خليٌّbereft منof زياراتيmy visits
صِفْرُ اليدين خليٌّ من زياراتي
I am unadorned by the jewels of nearness to you, or
And if I saw you away from all the people,
Empty-handed, bereft of my visits.
I'd be content with this life, done with my wishes.
ولوand if رأيتُكI saw you دونapart from النّاسِthe people كلِّهِمُall of them
ولو رأيتُك دون النّاسِ كلِّهِمُ
قَضيتُI would fulfill مِنof هَذهِthis الدّنياworld لُباناتيmy desires
قَضيتُ مِن هَذهِ الدّنيا لُباناتي
Were I to see you alone, apart from all other people,
Don't think I never saw him, ever,
I would fulfill my desires in this world.
We meet in affection.
لاdo not تَحسَبواsuppose أَنّنيthat I لَمdid not أَلقَهُmeet him أبداًever
لا تَحسَبوا أَنّني لَم أَلقَهُ أبداً
فَإِنّناfor we نَتَلاقىmeet one another بالمودّاتِthrough affections
فَإِنّنا نَتَلاقى بالمودّاتِ
Do not suppose I have never met him;
And how much meeting for a people in their hearts,
For we meet through affection.
As they wished over the distance of miles.
وَكَمْand how many تَلاقٍmeetings لِقَومٍfor people مِنْthrough قلوبهمُtheir hearts
وَكَمْ تَلاقٍ لِقَومٍ مِنْ قلوبهمُ
كَماas أَرادواthey wished علىdespite بُعدِthe remoteness المَسافاتِof distances
كَما أَرادوا على بُعدِ المَسافاتِ
How often people meet through their hearts,
Nearness is the nearness of the heart's concealment, not
As they wish, despite the distances.
The nearness of dwellings, what the conscience contains.
وَالقربُand nearness قربُis the nearness خبيئاتِof hidden things الصّدورof breasts وماand what
وَالقربُ قربُ خبيئاتِ الصّدور وما
تحويcontain الضمائرُthe inner hearts لاnot قربُthe nearness المحلّاتِof dwelling-places
تحوي الضمائرُ لا قربُ المحلّاتِ
Nearness is the nearness of what breasts conceal, and what
I'm a friend to whoever you're a friend to,
The inward hearts contain, not the nearness of dwellings.
And hostile to whoever you're hostile to.
إِنّيindeed I الصديقُam the friend لمنof whoever كنتَyou were الصديقَthe friend لهto him
إِنّي الصديقُ لمن كنتَ الصديقَ له
ومنand whoever تُعادِيyou oppose لهfor him منّيfrom me معاداتيis my enmity
ومن تُعادِي له منّي معاداتي
I am a friend to anyone whose friend you are;
You're from a group whose virtues are narrated,
And whoever you oppose has my opposition.
They excelled as if sons of masters.
وأنتَand you منare from معشرٍa people تُروىare recounted فضائلُهمْtheir virtues
وأنتَ من معشرٍ تُروى فضائلُهمْ
سادواthey became lords علىwhile أنّهمْthey are أبناءُsons ساداتِof lords
سادوا على أنّهمْ أبناءُ ساداتِ
You belong to a people whose virtues are recounted;
Reaching the lofty peaks with their proposals,
They became lords, while also being sons of lords.
And standing firm in harsh tribulations.
البالِغينthose reaching مِنَof العَلْياءِthe heights of glory ماwhat اِقتَرحواthey desired
البالِغين مِنَ العَلْياءِ ما اِقتَرحوا
وَالقائِمينَand those standing firm بصَعْباتِagainst the hardest المُلمّاتِcalamities
وَالقائِمينَ بصَعْباتِ المُلمّاتِ
Those who reach whatever heights of glory they desire,
And they attend tumults out of excess help,
And stand firm against the hardest calamities.
And terror spreads in empty hearts.
وَيَشهَدونَand they attend الوغىbattle منfrom فَرْطِthe abundance نَجْدَتهمْof their valor
وَيَشهَدونَ الوغى من فَرْطِ نَجْدَتهمْ
والرّعبُand terror فاشٍis spreading بألْبابٍthrough minds خليّاتِempty
والرّعبُ فاشٍ بألْبابٍ خليّاتِ
They attend battle through the abundance of their valor,
As if their hands weren't created for people
While terror spreads through vacant minds.
Except for giving hands and gifts.
كأنّas though أيدِيَهُمْtheir hands فيamong النّاسpeople ماnot خُلقتْwere created
كأنّ أيدِيَهُمْ في النّاس ما خُلقتْ
إِلّاexcept لِبَذلto bestow الأيادِيfavors والعَطِيّاتِand gifts
إِلّا لِبَذل الأيادِي والعَطِيّاتِ
As though their hands among mankind had not been created
Preferring over all the people a height,
Except to bestow favors and gifts.
Judging all cases.
مُقَدَّمينset foremost عَلىabove كلِّall الأنامِmankind عُلاًin eminence
مُقَدَّمين عَلى كلِّ الأنامِ عُلاً
مُحَكّمينmade arbiters علىover كلِّall القضيّاتِcases
مُحَكّمين على كلِّ القضيّاتِ
Set above all mankind in eminence,
If you assess them you'll find them mansions and homes,
Made arbiters over every case.
Tall as the stars that are above the heavens.
فإِنْso if تَقِسْهُمْyou measure them تَجِدْهُمْyou find them منزلاًin station وبناًand structure
فإِنْ تَقِسْهُمْ تَجِدْهُمْ منزلاً وبناً
طالواthey overtopped النّجومَthe stars التّيwhich فوقare above السّماواتِthe heavens
طالوا النّجومَ التّي فوق السّماواتِ
If you measure them, you find them, in station and edifice,
You've privileged them with glories particularized,
Towering above the stars beyond the heavens.
This though they surpassed humanity.
قدindeed فُقْتَهُمْyou surpassed them بمزيّاتٍthrough distinctions خُصِصْتَyou were distinguished بهاby them
قد فُقْتَهُمْ بمزيّاتٍ خُصِصْتَ بها
هذاthis علىthough أنّهمْthey فاقواsurpassed البريّاتِall creation
هذا على أنّهمْ فاقوا البريّاتِ
You have surpassed them through distinctions granted to you,
You never ceased producing noble lineage
Even though they surpassed all creation.
As you took it for yourself from the hands of the chaste ladies.
ولمand not تزلْyou ceased مُنجباًsiring noble offspring فيمنamong those whom نَسَلْتَyou begot كماjust as
ولم تزلْ مُنجباً فيمن نَسَلْتَ كما
أخَذتهاyou received it لكfor yourself منfrom أيدِيthe hands النجيباتِof noble women
أخَذتها لك من أيدِي النجيباتِ
You have always sired noble offspring among those you begot, as
You were bounty and faith that gives light
You received it for yourself from the hands of noble women.
You joined verses of glory with verses.
وكنتَand you were فضلاًexcellence وديناًand faith يُستضاءُone takes light بهِfrom it
وكنتَ فضلاً وديناً يُستضاءُ بهِ
خلطتَyou joined للمجدِfor glory أبياتاًhouses بأبياتِwith houses
خلطتَ للمجدِ أبياتاً بأبياتِ
You were excellence and faith by which one finds light;
Indeed the head who headed the people with what
For glory, you joined houses to houses.
He contained of his bounty before headship.
إنّindeed الرَّئيسthe chief الّذيis the one who راسَruled الأنامmankind بماthrough what
إنّ الرَّئيس الّذي راسَ الأنام بما
حواهhe possessed منof فضلهِhis merit قبلbefore الرّياساتِoffices of leadership
حواه من فضلهِ قبل الرّياساتِ
Indeed, the chief is he who ruled mankind through what
If a people adorned themselves with ministry,
He possessed of merit before holding offices of leadership.
The ministries adorned themselves with you.
فَإِنso if تَجمّلadorned themselves قومٌpeople فيin وزارتهمْtheir ministries
فَإِن تَجمّل قومٌ في وزارتهمْ
فَاِجَّمَّلتْthen became adorned فيكby you أدراعُthe coats of armor الوزاراتِof ministries
فَاِجَّمَّلتْ فيك أدراعُ الوزاراتِ
If people adorn themselves through their ministries,
They came to you freely, you sent no reason for them,
The armor of ministerial offices is adorned by you.
You didn't extend to them the palm of your rest.
جاءتكَit came to you عفواًunsolicited ولمand not تبعثْyou sought لهاfor it سبباًa means
جاءتكَ عفواً ولم تبعثْ لها سبباً
ولاand not بسطتَyou stretched out إليهاtoward it قبضَthe clenching راحاتِof palms
ولا بسطتَ إليها قبضَ راحاتِ
It came to you unsought; you pursued no means to gain it,
There came to me, among what visited me, news
Nor stretched out your clenched palms toward it.
That reached the furthest limits of all my times.
وقدand indeed أتانِيَcame to me فيماamong what زارنيvisited me خبرٌnews
وقد أتانِيَ فيما زارني خبرٌ
فَطالَand grew long منهُbecause of it قُصارىthe utmost limit كلِّof all ساعاتيmy hours
فَطالَ منهُ قُصارى كلِّ ساعاتي
Among the things that visited me, news reached me,
It made me drink bitterness from my cup and robbed
And through it the bounds of all my hours stretched long.
My right eye of the delights of my slumber.
سَقانيit made me drink المُرَّbitterness مِنfrom كَأسيهِits two cups وَاِستَلبتْand stole
سَقاني المُرَّ مِن كَأسيهِ وَاِستَلبتْ
يُمناهُits right hand منfrom بَصَرِيmy sight لذّاتِthe pleasures هَجْعاتيof my sleeps
يُمناهُ من بَصَرِي لذّاتِ هَجْعاتي
It made me drink bitterness from both its cups, and
If I lie down, it's on the thorns of the lote tree, my bed,
Its right hand stole from my sight the pleasures of slumber.
If I walk, seas engulfing fiery embers.
إِنِif اِضطَجعتُI lay down فمِنْthen from شوكِthe thorns القناof spears فُرُشِيis my bedding
إِنِ اِضطَجعتُ فمِنْ شوكِ القنا فُرُشِي
وإنْand if مشيتُI walked فواطٍthen I am a treader فوقَupon جَمْرَاتِembers
وإنْ مشيتُ فواطٍ فوقَ جَمْرَاتِ
If I lie down, my bedding is made of spear-point thorns;
They said, he who people wish that they
If I walk, I tread upon embers.
Could sacrifice themselves for him complained.
قالواthey said اِشتَكىfell ill مَنْthe one يوَدُّwish النَّاسُthe people أنَّهُمthat they
قالوا اِشتَكى مَنْ يوَدُّ النَّاسُ أنَّهُم
كانواthey might be الفداءَthe ransom لهfor him دونinstead of الشّكاياتِafflictions
كانوا الفداءَ له دون الشّكاياتِ
They said, 'He is ill'—he for whom people wish they
And I didn't cease to be anxious until I knew
Could be the ransom, to spare him afflictions.
What protections God gave to him from the safety of shadows.
وَلَمand not أَزَلْI ceased مُشفقاًbeing anxious حتّىuntil علمتُI learned بماof what
وَلَم أَزَلْ مُشفقاً حتّى علمتُ بما
أَنالَهُgranted him اللَّهُGod مِنof ظِلِّthe shelter السّلاماتِof sound health
أَنالَهُ اللَّهُ مِن ظِلِّ السّلاماتِ
I remained anxious until I learned what
And give glad tidings of wellness after my omens stretched,
God had granted him of the shelter of sound health.
Good tidings, but not like glad tidings.
وَبشّرواand they announced glad news بالعوافيof recovery بعدafter أنthat مُطِلَتْwas delayed
وَبشّروا بالعوافي بعد أن مُطِلَتْ
بُشريmy glad tidings ولكنّهاbut it لاnot كالبشاراتِlike other glad tidings
بُشري ولكنّها لا كالبشاراتِ
They brought glad news of recovery, after long delay:
Thanks to God, you got what you wanted, none
My glad tidings—yet unlike any other glad tidings.
Is prosperous except one who attains his wishes.
وَالحمدُand praise للَّهbe to God قَدindeed نلتَyou attained المَرادَthe desired aim وماand not الthe (continued)
وَالحمدُ للَّه قَد نلتَ المَرادَ وما ال
سَعيدُhappy إلّاexcept الّذيthe one who نالَattained الإراداتِthe wishes
سَعيدُ إلّا الّذي نالَ الإراداتِ
And praise be to God: you have gained your wish; none is
So live however you want in surrounding honor,
Happy but the one who has attained his desires.
To God belongs a dense army of sufficiency.
فَعِشْso live كماas شئتَyou wish منin عزٍّhonor يطيفsurrounds بهِit
فَعِشْ كما شئتَ من عزٍّ يطيف بهِ
للَّهِbelonging to God جَيشٌan army كثيفٌdense منof كفاياتِsafeguards
للَّهِ جَيشٌ كثيفٌ من كفاياتِ
So live as you wish in honor, encircled
May you not be worn out by any hated thing,
By God's dense host of safeguards.
Nor your fingers fall short of attaining loves.
وَلاand may not بُليتَyou be tried بِمَكروهٍwith misfortune ولاand may not قَصُرَتْfall short
وَلا بُليتَ بِمَكروهٍ ولا قَصُرَتْ
منكfrom you الأناملُthe fingers عنof نيلِattaining المُحبّاتِbeloved things
منك الأناملُ عن نيلِ المُحبّاتِ
May you never be tried by misfortune, nor may
Never disdained by any humans in this world,
Your fingers fall short of attaining what you love.
So how could you be worn out by worldly aid!
فلمfor not تكنْyou were مُعْنِتاًcausing hardship منamong ذاthis الورىmankind بشراًto any mortal
فلم تكنْ مُعْنِتاً من ذا الورى بشراً
فَكيفَso how تُبلىare you afflicted منَby الدنياthe world بِإِعْناتِwith hardship
فَكيفَ تُبلى منَ الدنيا بِإِعْناتِ
For you never caused hardship to any mortal among mankind;
I have nothing else to output except this translated poem.
How, then, should the world afflict you with hardship?
Partial English translation: 127 of 128 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1