ألاAh! ياO قومُpeople للقَدَرِfor the fate المُتاحِallotted
ألا يا قومُ للقَدَرِ المُتاحِ
وللأيّامِand for the days ترغبُturn away عنfrom جِراحيmy wounds
وللأيّامِ ترغبُ عن جِراحي
Ah, my people, alas for the allotted fate,
Alas, O people inclined to fate!
and for the days that turn away from my wounds,
Forget my wounds, for time does abate.
وللدّنياand for the world تماطلُputs off بالرّزاياwith calamities
وللدّنيا تماطلُ بالرّزايا
مِطالَthe delaying of الجُربِmangy camels للإبلِtoward the camels الصِّحاحِhealthy
مِطالَ الجُربِ للإبلِ الصِّحاحِ
and for the world that puts off its calamities,
This world with its sorrows beguiles,
as mangy camels put off afflicting healthy camels.
Like rich pastures lure roaming tribes.
تُسالمنِيmakes peace with me ولِيand for me فيهاwithin it خَبِئa hidden thing
تُسالمنِي ولِي فيها خَبِئ
أَغَضُّI choke عليهover it بالعَذْبِon sweet water القَراحِpure
أَغَضُّ عليه بالعَذْبِ القَراحِ
It makes peace with me, yet something lies hidden for me within it,
It bids me peace, while in its confines,
over which I choke even on sweet, pure water.
Are pits where serpents and scorpions twine.
وياand oh لِمُلِمَّةٍfor a calamity نَزَعتْtore away يمينيmy right hand
ويا لِمُلِمَّةٍ نَزَعتْ يميني
وَحَصَّتْand stripped بالقوادِمِat the primary feathers مِنْfrom جَناحيmy wing
وَحَصَّتْ بالقوادِمِ مِنْ جَناحي
And oh, for a calamity that tore away my right hand
And ah, the sweet poison it brought!
and stripped the flight feathers from my wing.
Which made me heedless of ruin or loss.
فُتِنْتَyou were captivated بهاby it ومنظرُهاand its appearance قبيحٌugly
فُتِنْتَ بها ومنظرُها قبيحٌ
كماas فُتِنَwas captivated المُتَيَّمُthe love-stricken man بالملاحِby beauties
كما فُتِنَ المُتَيَّمُ بالملاحِ
You were captivated by it, though its appearance was ugly,
You fancied it, though its sight was uncomely,
as the love-stricken man was captivated by beauties.
As a thirsty man fancies even the salty.
أَلاListen! قُلْsay للأَخايرِto the finest منof قريشٍQuraysh
أَلا قُلْ للأَخايرِ من قريشٍ
وسُكَّانِand the dwellers of الظّواهِرِthe outlying districts والبِطاحِand the broad valleys
وسُكَّانِ الظّواهِرِ والبِطاحِ
Listen: tell the finest of Quraysh,
Say to the best of Quraysh people around,
and the dwellers of the outlying districts and broad valleys:
And dwellers of plains and valleys abound:
هَوىfell مِنfrom بَينِكمْamong you جبلُthe mountain of المعالِيlofty virtues
هَوى مِن بَينِكمْ جبلُ المعالِي
وعِرْنينُand the pinnacle والمكارِمِand noble deeds والسَّماحِand generosity
وعِرْنينُ والمكارِمِ والسَّماحِ
The mountain of lofty virtues has fallen from among you,
The height of glory has left your horizons,
and the pinnacle of noble deeds and generosity.
Generosity, nobility have fled your regions.
وَجبَّand cut off اللَّهُGod غارِبَكمْyour withers فَكونواso be
وَجبَّ اللَّهُ غارِبَكمْ فَكونوا
كَظالعةٍlike a limping she-camel تحيدveers عنfrom المَراحِthe fold
كَظالعةٍ تحيد عن المَراحِ
God has cut off your withers; so be
God has eclipsed your brightening star,
like a limping she-camel veering away from the fold.
As cattle avoid a deserted watering hole.
يُدَفِّعُهاkeeps pushing her مُسوّقهاher driver المُعَنّىwearied
يُدَفِّعُها مُسوّقها المُعَنّى
وقَدand already شَحَطَhas grown far removed الكَلالُweariness عنfrom البُرَاحِdeparture
وقَد شَحَطَ الكَلالُ عن البُرَاحِ
Her weary driver keeps pushing her on,
Urged by zeal, though the guide-rope is slackened,
though weariness is far from departing.
And the waterbag emptied of its burden is slackened.
وَغضّواand lower اللّحْظَthe gaze عنfrom شَغَفٍyearning إليهِtoward him
وَغضّوا اللّحْظَ عن شَغَفٍ إليهِ
فماfor there is no لكُمُfor you العَشيَّةthis evening مِنْany طَماحِsoaring aspiration
فما لكُمُ العَشيَّة مِنْ طَماحِ
Turn your eyes away from yearning toward him,
Now turn a blind eye to my misplaced passion,
for this evening no soaring aspiration is yours.
For at dusk, you have no need of action.
غُلِبْناهُwe were robbed of him كَماas غُلِبَwas robbed ابنُa son of ليلٍnight
غُلِبْناهُ كَما غُلِبَ ابنُ ليلٍ
وقدand already سَئِمَgrew weary of السُّهادَsleeplessness علىover الصَّباحِthe morning
وقد سَئِمَ السُّهادَ على الصَّباحِ
He was wrested from us, as a son of night is robbed,
We overpowered him, as Layl's son was bested,
weary of sleeplessness, of the morning.
And the morning outlasted the night's persistence.
فَقُلْso say لِمَعاشرٍto clans رهبواthey feared شَباتِيmy spear-points
فَقُلْ لِمَعاشرٍ رهبوا شَباتِي
وماand what تجنيwreak رماحِيmy spears أوor صفاحِيmy blades
وما تجني رماحِي أو صفاحِي
So tell the clans who feared my spear-points
Say to my peers who were green in my salad days,
and what my spears or blades would reap:
Whose spears or swords I did not raise:
رِدُواcome to drink منfrom حيثُماwherever شِئتمyou wish جِمامِيmy brimming pools
رِدُوا من حيثُما شِئتم جِمامِي
فإنّيfor I اليومَtoday للأعداءِto enemies ضاحِexposed
فإنّي اليومَ للأعداءِ ضاحِ
Come to drink at my brimming pools from wherever you wish,
Take back my bridle from wherever you please,
for today I lie exposed to enemies.
For today to my foes I sue for peace.
ورُومونِيand seek me وَلاand do not تخشَوْاfear قِراعِيmy blows
ورُومونِي وَلا تخشَوْا قِراعِي
فقدfor indeed أصبحتُI have become مُستَلَبَstripped of السِّلاحِweapons
فقد أصبحتُ مُستَلَبَ السِّلاحِ
Seek me out, and do not fear my blows,
Circle and strike me, do not fear my resistance,
for I have become stripped of weapons.
For I am bereft now of all defence.
وقودونِيand lead me فماfor not أَنَاI فيin يديكمْyour hands
وقودونِي فما أَنَا في يديكمْ
عَلىin the state of ماwhat تَعهَدونyou know منof الجِماحِunruliness
عَلى ما تَعهَدون من الجِماحِ
Lead me; in your hands I am no longer
Lead me for I am no longer strong,
as headstrong as you once knew me.
To uphold the valour to which you belong.
وَلاand do not تَتنظَّرواexpect منِّيfrom me اِرتِياحاًgladness
وَلا تَتنظَّروا منِّي اِرتِياحاً
فَقَدfor indeed ذَهَبdeparted ابنُthe son of موسىMusa بِاِرتياحِيwith my gladness
فَقَد ذَهَب ابنُ موسى بِاِرتياحِي
Expect no gladness from me,
Expect no joy from me anymore,
for Ibn Musa has taken my gladness away.
For Musa's son has taken away my cheer.
فَللسّببِso to the cause الّذيwhich يُشجِيbrings sorrow اِلتِزامِيmy clinging
فَللسّببِ الّذي يُشجِي اِلتِزامِي
وَلِلسّببِand to the cause الّذيwhich يُسلِيbrings consolation اِطّراحيmy rejection
وَلِلسّببِ الّذي يُسلِي اِطّراحي
I cling to the cause that grieves me,
For that which kindles my zeal,
and cast aside the cause that consoles me.
Or comforts me when my spirits kneel,
لَوانِيturned me aside ماwhat لَوانِيturned me aside عنfrom مُرادِيmy purpose
لَوانِي ما لَوانِي عن مُرادِي
وحالَand intervened الدّهرُtime دونَin the way of مَدَىthe reach of اِقتراحِيmy wishes
وحالَ الدّهرُ دونَ مَدَى اِقتراحِي
What turned me aside has turned me from my purpose,
My steed's mettle avails me naught,
and time has barred the farthest reach of my wishes.
As fate has my desires brought to naught.
فلاso no دَوٌّdesert تَخُبُّtrot بهin it رِكابيmy mounts
فلا دَوٌّ تَخُبُّ به رِكابي
ولاand no جَوٌّopen sky تَهُبُّblow بهin it رِياحيmy winds
ولا جَوٌّ تَهُبُّ به رِياحي
There is no desert where my mounts may trot,
No sheltering roof or tent for me now,
nor open sky where my winds may blow.
Nor east winds or west winds allow.
فَمَنْso who للخيلِfor the horses يقدِمُهاleads them مُغِذّاًhastening
فَمَنْ للخيلِ يقدِمُها مُغِذّاً
يُنازعْنَthey strain against الأعنّةَthe reins كالقِداحِlike arrow-shafts
يُنازعْنَ الأعنّةَ كالقِداحِ
Who, then, will lead the horses, hastening onward,
So who will feed the steeds vying in their run?
as they strain against the reins like arrow-shafts?
To excel the fleetest racers under the sun.
ومَنْand who للبيضِfor the white swords يُولِغُهاmakes them lap نجيعاًdark blood
ومَنْ للبيضِ يُولِغُها نجيعاً
مِنَfrom الأعداءِenemies فيon يَومِthe day of الكفاحِclose combat
مِنَ الأعداءِ في يَومِ الكفاحِ
And who will make the white swords lap dark blood
And who will vigilantly guard the eggs at night,
from enemies on the day of close combat?
From the enemies in days of strife and fight?
ومَنْand who للحربِfor war يُوقِدkindles فيin لَظاهاits blaze
ومَنْ للحربِ يُوقِد في لَظاها
إِذاwhen اِحتدَمَتْit rages أنابيبَthe shafts of الرّماحِspears
إِذا اِحتدَمَتْ أنابيبَ الرّماحِ
And who will kindle within war's blaze,
And who will ignite fiercest fires in battle's blazing throes,
when it rages, the shafts of spears?
When clashing spears deal deathly blows?
ومَنْand who لِمُسَرْبَلٍfor one clad فيin القِدِّleather bonds عانٍa captive
ومَنْ لِمُسَرْبَلٍ في القِدِّ عانٍ
علىin وَجَلٍdread يُذادُis kept back عنfrom السَّراحِrelease
على وَجَلٍ يُذادُ عن السَّراحِ
And who will help a captive clad in leather bonds,
And who will valiantly defend Musbil's name,
in dread, held back from release?
When peril looms, with a courage aflame?
وَمَنand who للمالِfor wealth يَعْصِيdisobeys فيهregarding it بَذْلاًin giving
وَمَن للمالِ يَعْصِي فيه بَذْلاً
أساطيرَthe fables of العواذلِreproaching women واللّواحيand scolding women
أساطيرَ العواذلِ واللّواحي
And who, in giving wealth, will defy
And who will rebuff wealth with open-handedness rife,
the fables of reproaching and scolding women?
As sweet tales recount of nobles free of strife?
وَمَنand who لِمُسَوَّفٍfor one put off بالوعدِwith promises يُلوىis kept waiting
وَمَن لِمُسَوَّفٍ بالوعدِ يُلوى
وَمَطروحٍand one cast aside عَنِfrom الجَدوىbounty مُزاحِexcluded
وَمَطروحٍ عَنِ الجَدوى مُزاحِ
And who will help one stalled with promises, kept waiting,
And who will mend a laggard's broken word,
and one cast aside, shut out from bounty?
Spurning jesters who find falsehoods preferred?
هِيَit الدّنياthe world تُجَمْجِمُmutters indistinctly ثُمَّthen تَأْتيcomes
هِيَ الدّنيا تُجَمْجِمُ ثُمَّ تَأْتي
مِنَof الأمرِthe affair المبرّحِgrievous بالصِّراحِwith plain truth
مِنَ الأمرِ المبرّحِ بالصِّراحِ
Such is the world: it mutters, then brings
Such is the world, at first beguiling and then,
the plain truth of a grievous affair.
With damaging candour, wounds again.
تُنيلُbestows عَطيّةًa gift وتردُّand takes back أخرىanother
تُنيلُ عَطيّةً وتردُّ أخرى
وتَطوِيand folds away الجِدَّearnestness فيin عينِthe very essence of المزاحِjest
وتَطوِي الجِدَّ في عينِ المزاحِ
It grants one gift and takes another back,
Gifting today then rescinding tomorrow,
and folds earnestness into the very heart of jest.
Mixing earnest and jest, blessing and sorrow.
فمنْso who يُعدِيgrants redress علىagainst أُمِّthe mother of الرّزاياcalamities
فمنْ يُعدِي على أُمِّ الرّزايا
إذاwhen جاءتْshe comes بقاسيةِwith grievous الجِراحِwounds
إذا جاءتْ بقاسيةِ الجِراحِ
Who, then, will grant redress against the mother of calamities
So who dares assail the queen of sorrows,
when she comes bearing grievous wounds?
When she comes cloaked in life's harshest arrows?
سَلامُthe peace of اللّهGod تنقلُهُcarry it اللّيالِيthe nights
سَلامُ اللّه تنقلُهُ اللّيالِي
ويُهديهِand gifts it الغُدوُّmorning إلىto الرّواحِevening
ويُهديهِ الغُدوُّ إلى الرّواحِ
May God's peace, carried by the nights
May Allah's peace transport him through the nights,
and gifted by morning to evening,
And may morn guide him to blissful heights,
علىupon جَدَثٍa grave تشبّثclung منfrom لُؤَيٍّLu'ayy
على جَدَثٍ تشبّث من لُؤَيٍّ
بِيَنبوعِto the wellspring of العِبادَةِworship والصَّلاحِand righteousness
بِيَنبوعِ العِبادَةِ والصَّلاحِ
rest upon a grave that has clasped, from Lu'ayy's line,
To a grave clung to with hands pure of sin,
the wellspring of worship and righteousness:
A fount of goodness and faith within.
فَتىًa youth لمdid not يَرْوَdrink his fill إلّاexcept مِنfrom حَلالٍwhat is lawful
فَتىً لم يَرْوَ إلّا مِن حَلالٍ
وَلَمand not يكُwas زادُهُhis sustenance غيرother than المُباحِthe permitted
وَلَم يكُ زادُهُ غير المُباحِ
a youth who drank his fill only of the lawful,
A noble soul who sought only the lawful,
and whose sustenance was nothing but the permitted.
And lived on the clean, spurning the unlawful.
وَلاand never دَنِسَتْwere soiled لَهُfor him أُزُرٌwaistcloths بعارٍwith shame
وَلا دَنِسَتْ لَهُ أُزُرٌ بعارٍ
ولاand never عَلِقَتْclung لهfor him راحٌa palm براحِto wine
ولا عَلِقَتْ له راحٌ براحِ
His waistcloths were never stained by shame,
No disgrace soiled his garb, no shame ever stuck,
nor did his palm ever touch wine.
His wings were unburdened by sins of bad luck.
خَفيفُlight الظّهرِthe back مِنfrom حَمْلِbearing الخَطاياsins
خَفيفُ الظّهرِ مِن حَمْلِ الخَطايا
وَعُريانُand bare الصّحيفةِthe record منof جُناحِwrongdoing
وَعُريانُ الصّحيفةِ من جُناحِ
His back was light, unburdened by sins,
Light of load for misdeeds of the past,
and his record bare of wrongdoing;
His book of deeds from evil cleansed at last.
مَسوقٌguided فيin الأمورِmatters إِلىtoward هُداهاtheir right course
مَسوقٌ في الأمورِ إِلى هُداها
وَمَدْلولٌand shown علىto بابِthe door of النّجاحِsuccess
وَمَدْلولٌ على بابِ النّجاحِ
guided in all matters toward their right course,
Steered in all matters by conscience as guide,
and shown the door to success;
Knocking at the doors where triumph resides.
مِنَof القومِthe people الّذينwho لَهُمْfor them قلوبٌhearts
مِنَ القومِ الّذين لَهُمْ قلوبٌ
بِذِكرِwith remembrance of اللَّهِGod عامرةُfilled النّواحيin every corner
بِذِكرِ اللَّهِ عامرةُ النّواحي
one of those people whose hearts
One of a folk with hearts filled by the Almighty's name,
are filled in every corner with remembrance of God,
Regions within, enlightened by the same.
بِأَجسامٍwith bodies منَfrom التّقوىpiety مِراضٍsickly
بِأَجسامٍ منَ التّقوى مِراضٍ
لِمبصرهاto their beholder وأديانٍand faiths صِحاحِsound
لِمبصرها وأديانٍ صِحاحِ
with bodies that piety makes seem sickly
With bodies pleased with a pious inclination,
to their beholder, but with faith that is sound.
And faith pure and safe from aberration.
بَنِيsons of الآباءِthe forefathers قومواrise فَاِنْدُبوهُso mourn him
بَنِي الآباءِ قوموا فَاِنْدُبوهُ
بِأَلِسنَةٍwith tongues بِماin what تُثْنِيthey praise فِصاحِeloquent
بِأَلِسنَةٍ بِما تُثْنِي فِصاحِ
Sons of the forefathers, rise and mourn him
O kindred of fathers, lament him in words clear and plain,
with tongues eloquent in the praises they utter.
However your eloquent tongues may deign.
وَإِنْand if شِئتمْyou wish لَهfor him عَقْراًa slaughter فشُلُّواthen drive away
وَإِنْ شِئتمْ لَه عَقْراً فشُلُّوا
نفوسَthe souls of ذوِيowners of اللِّقاحِmilch camels عنfrom اللِّقاحِmilch camels
نفوسَ ذوِي اللِّقاحِ عن اللِّقاحِ
And if you wish a slaughter in his honor, drive
And if you wish to sever ties, then go ahead,
the souls of milch-camel owners away from their camels.
Part from those whose watering place you shared.
أَصابَكَmay it reach you كلُّevery مُنْهَمِرٍpouring cloud دَلوحٍheavy with rain
أَصابَكَ كلُّ مُنْهَمِرٍ دَلوحٍ
وحاملُand the bearer of كلِّevery مُثقَلَةٍladen cloud رَداحِswollen
وحاملُ كلِّ مُثقَلَةٍ رَداحِ
May every pouring, rain-heavy cloud reach you,
Every downpour of events poured forth its fill,
and the bearer of every laden, swollen cloud.
And every laden moment had its share to spill.
وَروّاكَand may it water you الغمامُthe clouds الجَونُdark يسرِيmove by night
وَروّاكَ الغمامُ الجَونُ يسرِي
بطيءَslow الخَطْوِof step كالإبلِlike camels الرِّزاحِworn-out
بطيءَ الخَطْوِ كالإبلِ الرِّزاحِ
And may the dark clouds water you, moving by night
The clouds slowly drifted showering you,
slow of step, like worn-out camels.
Like the gait of pregnant she-camels treading anew.
تُرابٌearth طابَwas pure ساكنُهُits dweller فباتتْso they spent the night
تُرابٌ طابَ ساكنُهُ فباتتْ
تأرّجُwaft fragrance فيهwithin it أنفاسُthe breaths of الرّياحِthe winds
تأرّجُ فيه أنفاسُ الرّياحِ
Earth whose dweller was pure, so all night
Dust that was blessed in life,
the winds' breaths wafted fragrance within it.
Where now the winds play soft without strife,
غَنِيٌّfree of need أنْthat تجاورَهُneighbors it الخُزامىlavender
غَنِيٌّ أنْ تجاورَهُ الخُزامى
وتُوقدand are kindled حولهaround it سُرجُthe lamps of الأقاحِيdaisies
وتُوقد حوله سُرجُ الأقاحِي
It needs no lavender to grow beside it,
Wealthy though neighbouring ants,
nor lamps of daisies to be kindled around it.
And glowing cinders in the cooking pots.
Sol 6.1