سَفَرَتْunveiled وُجُوهُthe faces الحُسْنِof beauty عَنْfrom تِمْثَالِa likeness
سَفَرَتْ وُجُوهُ الحُسْنِ عَنْ تِمْثَالِ
فَتَبَسَّمَتْso smiled عَجَباًin wonder ثُغُورُmouths لآلِof pearls
فَتَبَسَّمَتْ عَجَباً ثُغُورُ لآلِ
Beauty's faces unveiled a likeness.
The faces of beauty have disappeared from the statue,
So mouths of pearl smiled in wonder.
So the mouths smiled in wonder at the new idols.
وَجُلِيتُand I was unveiled كَالْحَسْنَاءِlike a beautiful woman فيin حُلَلِrobes البَهَاof splendor
وَجُلِيتُ كَالْحَسْنَاءِ في حُلَلِ البَهَا
فَبَدَتْso appeared مَعَانِيthe meanings اللُّطْفِof grace فِيin أشْكالِيmy forms
فَبَدَتْ مَعَانِي اللُّطْفِ فِي أشْكالِي
And I was unveiled like a beautiful woman in robes of splendor,
I have become resplendent like a beautiful girl in her wedding dress,
so grace's meanings appeared in my forms.
So the meanings of gentleness have appeared in my forms.
وَغَدَوْتُand I became كَالتَّاجِlike a crown العَلِيّlofty مَقَامُهُits station
وَغَدَوْتُ كَالتَّاجِ العَلِيّ مَقَامُهُ
فَلِذَاكَso for that reason قَدْindeed حُزْتُI attained المَقَامَthe station العَالِيthe lofty
فَلِذَاكَ قَدْ حُزْتُ المَقَامَ العَالِي
And I became like a crown whose station is lofty,
I have become like the high crown in its position,
and thus attained the lofty station.
So I have attained the supreme station.
فَالبِشْرُso cheerfulness ثَغْرِيmy mouth وَالسُّرُورُand joy لَوَاحِظِيmy glances
فَالبِشْرُ ثَغْرِي وَالسُّرُورُ لَوَاحِظِي
وَالْحُسْنُand beauty خَدّيmy cheek وَالْمَهَابَةُand majesty خَالِيmy beauty mark
وَالْحُسْنُ خَدّي وَالْمَهَابَةُ خَالِي
Cheerfulness is my mouth, and joy my glances;
Joy is my smile and happiness my companion,
beauty is my cheek, and majesty my beauty mark.
Beauty is my cheek and reverence my birthmark.
والرقمand patterning تَاجِيmy crown والدهانand paint قَلاَئدِيmy necklaces
والرقم تَاجِي والدهان قَلاَئدِي
وَالنَّقْشُand engraving قُرْطِيmy earring وَالرّمَاحُand spears حِجَالِيmy bridal canopies
وَالنَّقْشُ قُرْطِي وَالرّمَاحُ حِجَالِي
Patterning is my crown, and paint my necklaces;
Numbers are my crown and painting my necklaces,
engraving is my earring, and spears my bridal canopies.
Engraving is my earring and spears are my ornaments.
وَأنَاand I الذِيam the one who نُزّهْتُwas exalted عَنْbeyond وَصْفٍdescription وَعَنْand beyond
وَأنَا الذِي نُزّهْتُ عَنْ وَصْفٍ وَعَنْ
مِثْلٍan equal وَعَنْand beyond شِبْهٍresemblance وَعَنْand beyond تِمْثَالِan image
مِثْلٍ وَعَنْ شِبْهٍ وَعَنْ تِمْثَالِ
And I am the one exalted beyond description and beyond
I am the one who has been purified of description,
an equal, and beyond resemblance, and beyond any image.
Likeness, resemblance, or statue.
قَابَلْتُI faced وِجْهَةَthe direction قِبْلَةٍa prayer-direction قُبَّلْتُهَاI kissed it (irregular vocalization)
قَابَلْتُ وِجْهَةَ قِبْلَةٍ قُبَّلْتُهَا
فَظَفِرْتُso I won بِالتَّقْبِيلkisses وَالإقْبَالِand favor
فَظَفِرْتُ بِالتَّقْبِيل وَالإقْبَالِ
I faced the direction of prayer and kissed it,
I have met the destination of the qiblah and kissed it,
thus winning kisses and favor.
So I have attained the kiss and the inclination.
مَثِّلْliken قِيَابِيmy domes (uncertain reading) الأرْبَعthe four الغُرّthe radiant الَّتِيwhich
مَثِّلْ قِيَابِي الأرْبَع الغُرّ الَّتِي
حُفَّتْwere surrounded برَوْضٍby a garden خُصَّwas singled out بِالإجْلاَلِfor reverence
حُفَّتْ برَوْضٍ خُصَّ بِالإجْلاَلِ
Liken my four radiant domes,
Portray my four honored keeps which
ringed by a garden singled out for reverence,
Have been surrounded by a garden given special veneration.
أفْلاَكَspheres سَعْدٍof good fortune فِيin سَمَاءa sky أطْلِعَتْwere made to rise
أفْلاَكَ سَعْدٍ فِي سَمَاء أطْلِعَتْ
فِيin كُلّeach قَوْسٍarch لاَحَgleamed شَكْلُthe shape هِلاَلِof a crescent
فِي كُلّ قَوْسٍ لاَحَ شَكْلُ هِلاَلِ
to spheres of good fortune raised into a sky;
Planets of good fortune in a sky in which
in every arch the shape of a crescent gleams.
The shape of the crescent has shone in every arc.
مِنْfrom كُلّeach قَوْسِarch إنْif تُسَمِّهِyou name it نِسْبَةًby lineage
مِنْ كُلّ قَوْسِ إنْ تُسَمِّهِ نِسْبَةً
لِبَنِيto the sons of هِلاَلٍHilal قَالَit said يَالَهِلاَلِO Hilal!
لِبَنِي هِلاَلٍ قَالَ يَالَهِلاَلِ
Each arch, if you ascribe its lineage
In each arc, name it after
to Banu Hilal, cries, 'O Hilal!'
The descendants of Hilal, who said: "O crescent!"
وَانْظُرْand look جَوَانِبَthe sides صَحْنِof the open court سَاحَتِيof my courtyard التِيwhich
وَانْظُرْ جَوَانِبَ صَحْنِ سَاحَتِي التِي
ضُرِبَتْwere coined بِهَاthrough it الأمْثَالُthe proverbs لِلأمْثَالِfor peers
ضُرِبَتْ بِهَا الأمْثَالُ لِلأمْثَالِ
Look at the sides of my courtyard's open court,
And look at the sides of my courtyard's basin which
which has become a byword among its peers.
Have become proverbs for proverbs.
قَدْalready قُسمَتْwas divided إذْwhen جِئْتُI came أشْكِلُI give form to (uncertain reading) أمْرَهَاits design
قَدْ قُسمَتْ إذْ جِئْتُ أشْكِلُ أمْرَهَا
كَتَقَسُّمِlike the partitioning الإشْكَالِof intricacy بِالأشْكَالِby shapes
كَتَقَسُّمِ الإشْكَالِ بِالأشْكَالِ
It was partitioned when I came to give its design form,
When I came, its shape became intricate,
as intricacies are partitioned by shapes.
Like the division of complexities into complex forms.
مِنْfrom كُلّeach جَدْوَلَstream كَالْحُسَامِlike a sword إذاwhen انْبَرىit springs forth
مِنْ كُلّ جَدْوَلَ كَالْحُسَامِ إذا انْبَرى
فِيin حُسْنِthe beauty رَوْنَقِهِof its luster وَصَفْوِand the purity صِقَالِof polish
فِي حُسْنِ رَوْنَقِهِ وَصَفْوِ صِقَالِ
Each stream, like a sword when it springs forth
From each stream, like an Indian sword when it flashes
in beautiful luster and pure polish,
With the beauty of its edge and polished blade.
يَنْسَابُglides ذُعْراًin fear كَالحَبَابِlike a serpent وَيَنْثَنِيand curves
يَنْسَابُ ذُعْراً كَالحَبَابِ وَيَنْثَنِي
كَالنُّونlike the letter nun أوْor كَاللاَّمِlike the letter lam أوْor كَالدَّالِlike the letter dal
كَالنُّون أوْ كَاللاَّمِ أوْ كَالدَّالِ
glides in fear like a serpent, and curves
It flows gently like kernels and bends
like a nun, or a lam, or a dal,
Like the letter noon, lam, or dal.
مِنْfrom خَصَّةٍa fountain حُفَّتْwas encircled بِصَحْنٍby a basin قَدْalready زَهَاgleamed
مِنْ خَصَّةٍ حُفَّتْ بِصَحْنٍ قَدْ زَهَا
فَأرَتْكَso it showed you بَداراًa full moon (likely textual error) حَلَّalighted in بُرْجَthe mansion كَمَالِof perfection
فَأرَتْكَ بَداراً حَلَّ بُرْجَ كَمَالِ
from a fountain encircled by a basin that gleams,
From a special garden surrounded by a basin it has adorned,
showing you a full moon lodged in perfection's mansion.
So it showed you a land on which the castle of perfection settled.
تَنْهَلُّpour down أدْمُعُهَاits tears بِوَجْنَةِupon the cheek صَحْنِهَاof its basin
تَنْهَلُّ أدْمُعُهَا بِوَجْنَةِ صَحْنِهَا
فَتَفِيضُso overflows قِمَّتُهَاits summit كَذَوْْبِlike a melt زُلاَلِof limpid water
فَتَفِيضُ قِمَّتُهَا كَذَوْْبِ زُلاَلِ
Its tears pour upon the cheek of its basin,
Its tears flow down its cheeks to fill its basin,
so its crest overflows like a melt of limpid water.
So its brim overflows like pouring sap.
حَيْثُwhere القَنَاطِرُthe arches ألَّفَتْformed وَجَنَاتُهَاtheir cheeks
حَيْثُ القَنَاطِرُ ألَّفَتْ وَجَنَاتُهَا
أصْدَاغَtemple-locks وَاوَاتٍof letter waws لُوِينَwere curled كَدَالِlike a dal
أصْدَاغَ وَاوَاتٍ لُوِينَ كَدَالِ
Where the arches' cheeks have formed
Where the arches have gathered and its gardens
temple-locks of waws, curled like a dal;
Are curves and meanders bent like the letter dal.
أوْor حَيْثُwhere أشْبَهَتِthey resembled القِسِيَّbows وَقَدْand already غَدَتْhad become
أوْ حَيْثُ أشْبَهَتِ القِسِيَّ وَقَدْ غَدَتْ
تَرْمِيshoot مَجَارِيَهاtheir channels بِنَبْلِwith arrows زُلاَلِof limpid water
تَرْمِي مَجَارِيَها بِنَبْلِ زُلاَلِ
or where they resemble bows, having come
Or where it resembles the bow when it
to send arrows of limpid water down their channels,
Shoots its channels with the arrows of flowing water.
مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween أزْهَارٍflowers رَوَتْrelated أغْصَانُهَاtheir branches
مَا بَيْنَ أزْهَارٍ رَوَتْ أغْصَانُهَا
خَبَراًnews عَنِof الأسْحَارِthe predawn hours وَالآصَالِand late afternoons
خَبَراً عَنِ الأسْحَارِ وَالآصَالِ
among flowers whose branches have related
Among flowers whose branches have narrated
news of predawn hours and late afternoons.
News of trees and meadows and thickets.
وَالزَّهْرُand the blossoms يَبْدُوappear فِيin بُرُوجِtowers كَمَائِمٍof buds
وَالزَّهْرُ يَبْدُو فِي بُرُوجِ كَمَائِمٍ
وَبُرُوجِand towers أوْرَاقٍof leaves وَسُحْبِand clouds ظِلاَلِof shade
وَبُرُوجِ أوْرَاقٍ وَسُحْبِ ظِلاَلِ
The blossoms appear in towers of buds,
The flowers appear on the towers' peaks
and towers of leaves, and clouds of shade.
On leaf towers and in clouds of shade.
تُسْقَىare given to drink بِأكْوَابِfrom the cups النَّوَاعِرِof waterwheels قَهْوَةًwine
تُسْقَى بِأكْوَابِ النَّوَاعِرِ قَهْوَةً
مَمْزُوجُةًmixed بِالشَّهْدِwith honey وَالسَّلْسَالِand limpid water
مَمْزُوجُةً بِالشَّهْدِ وَالسَّلْسَالِ
They are watered with wine from the waterwheels' cups,
They are watered from the fountains with coffee
mixed with honey and limpid water.
Blended with honey and chainlinks.
تَخْتَالُsway proudly مِنْfrom سُكْرٍdrunkenness فَيَعْطِفُهَاso it bends them الصَّبَاthe east breeze
تَخْتَالُ مِنْ سُكْرٍ فَيَعْطِفُهَا الصَّبَا
بِيَمِينِهِwith its right hand إنْif هَبَّblew رِيحُa wind شَمَالِfrom the north
بِيَمِينِهِ إنْ هَبَّ رِيحُ شَمَالِ
They sway in drunkenness, and the east breeze bends them
It sways drunkenly so the morning breeze turns it
with its right hand, if a north wind blows.
To the right if a north wind blows.
حَيْثُwhere النَّوَاعِرُthe waterwheels أبْرَزَتْbrought forth دَارَاتُهَاtheir circles
حَيْثُ النَّوَاعِرُ أبْرَزَتْ دَارَاتُهَا
هَالاَتِhalos أقْمَارٍof moons بِجُنْحِin the darkness لَيَالِof nights
هَالاَتِ أقْمَارٍ بِجُنْحِ لَيَالِ
Where the waterwheels' circles bring forth
Where the fountains have revealed their houses
the halos of moons in the darkness of nights;
Like crescent moons with wings of night.
أوْor حَيْثُwhere أشْبَهَresembled شَكْلُهَاtheir shape فِيin دَوْرِهِits rotation
أوْ حَيْثُ أشْبَهَ شَكْلُهَا فِي دَوْرِهِ
نُوقاًshe-camels تَشُقُّcleave البيدَthe deserts بالإرْقَالِat a swift trot
نُوقاً تَشُقُّ البيدَ بالإرْقَالِ
or where their shape, in its turning, resembles
Or where their shape in their rotation resembles
she-camels cleaving deserts at a swift trot.
Camels cutting through the desert sands.
تَسْرِيtravel by night وَلَمْand not تَقْطَعْcover مَدىًa distance وَهْيَwhile they الَّتِيwhich
تَسْرِي وَلَمْ تَقْطَعْ مَدىً وَهْيَ الَّتِي
لَمْnot تَتَّصِفْshowed فِيin سَيْرِهَاtheir travel بِكَلاَلِwith weariness
لَمْ تَتَّصِفْ فِي سَيْرِهَا بِكَلاَلِ
They travel by night, yet cover no distance, and they
It flows without traversing distance, tireless,
show no weariness in their journey.
Unmarred in its course by any weariness.
حَنَّتْyearned وَأنَّتand groaned فَاْنَبَرتْthen began تَشْكُوto complain of النَّوَىseparation
حَنَّتْ وَأنَّت فَاْنَبَرتْ تَشْكُو النَّوَى
جَزَعاًin anguish بِألْسُنِin tongues مُقْتَضَىdemanded by الأحْوَالِthe circumstances
جَزَعاً بِألْسُنِ مُقْتَضَى الأحْوَالِ
They yearned and groaned, then began to lament separation
It has bent and moaned, then set out complaining of homesickness,
in anguish, in tongues their condition called for.
Agitated, with the tongues of circumstances requiring it to speak.
فَحَكَتْso mimicked أنِينَthe moaning الوُرْقِof gray doves فِيin تَمْدِيدِهَاtheir prolonged notes
فَحَكَتْ أنِينَ الوُرْقِ فِي تَمْدِيدِهَا
وَجَرَتْand flowed عَنِfrom الأوْجَاعِpains وَالأزْجَالِand songs
وَجَرَتْ عَنِ الأوْجَاعِ وَالأزْجَالِ
They mimicked the moaning of gray doves in their drawn-out notes,
It has told of the rustling of leaves in its extending,
and their strains flowed from anguish and song.
And has narrated the pains and sorrows.
يَاO نَاظِراًone gazing at رَوْضِيmy garden النَّضِيرَthe verdant مُفَكِّراًpondering
يَا نَاظِراً رَوْضِي النَّضِيرَ مُفَكِّراً
فِيupon وَصْفِdescribing حَالٍa state بِالْمَلاَحَةِwith loveliness حَالِadorned
فِي وَصْفِ حَالٍ بِالْمَلاَحَةِ حَالِ
O you who gaze upon my verdant garden, pondering
O you who look upon my blossoming garden, reflecting
how to describe a state adorned with loveliness,
On describing a condition with subtlety!
إنَّindeed الهَنَاhappiness وَالسَّعْدَand good fortune حَلَّalighted بِسَاحَتِيin my courtyard
إنَّ الهَنَا وَالسَّعْدَ حَلَّ بِسَاحَتِي
فَأجِلْso turn لِحَاظَكَyour gaze فِيthrough جَلاَءِthe revealing جَمَالِيof my beauty
فَأجِلْ لِحَاظَكَ فِي جَلاَءِ جَمَالِي
happiness and good fortune have alighted in my courtyard;
Joy and good fortune have come to my courtyard,
so let your gaze wander through my beauty's revelation.
So set aside your gaze to see the splendor of my beauty.
وَارْوِand recount الشَّذَاthe fragrance عَنْfrom زُهْرِthe radiant أزْهَارِflowers الرُّبَىof the hills
وَارْوِ الشَّذَا عَنْ زُهْرِ أزْهَارِ الرُّبَى
عَنْfrom مَالِكِيmy master المَسْعُودِthe fortunate بَدْرِthe full moon كَمَالِيof my perfection
عَنْ مَالِكِي المَسْعُودِ بَدْرِ كَمَالِي
And recount the fragrance from the bright flowers of the hills,
Partake of the fragrance from the flowers of the meadow
from my fortunate lord, the full moon of my perfection.
About my fortunate owner, the full moon of perfection.
مَلِكٌa king إذَاwhen سَحَّتْpoured سَحَائِبُthe clouds جُودِهِof his generosity
مَلِكٌ إذَا سَحَّتْ سَحَائِبُ جُودِهِ
أزْرَتْput to shame بِإيجَادِthe producing power الحَيَاof rain الهَطَّالِthe pouring
أزْرَتْ بِإيجَادِ الحَيَا الهَطَّالِ
A king whose clouds of generosity, when they pour,
A king - when the clouds of his generosity rain down,
put the life-giving work of pouring rain to shame.
They quench the thirst of the living, which craves water.
وَإذَاand when اسْتَضَاءَsought light بِفِكْرِهِfrom his thought مُتَحَيِّرٌa bewildered man
وَإذَا اسْتَضَاءَ بِفِكْرِهِ مُتَحَيِّرٌ
أهْدَاهُguided him لِلإرْشَادِto right guidance بَعْدَafter ضَلاَلِerror
أهْدَاهُ لِلإرْشَادِ بَعْدَ ضَلاَلِ
And when a bewildered man seeks light from his thought,
And when one in doubt because of his thoughts is confused,
he guides him to right guidance after error.
He guides him to guidance after misguidance.
وَإذَاand when بَدَاappeared فِيin جَحْفَلٍa host مِنْfrom جَيْشِهِhis army
وَإذَا بَدَا فِي جَحْفَلٍ مِنْ جَيْشِهِ
لاَحَgleamed الهِلاَلُthe crescent لَنَاfor us بِجُنْحِin the darkness لَيَالِof nights
لاَحَ الهِلاَلُ لَنَا بِجُنْحِ لَيَالِ
And when he appears amid a host from his army,
And when the crescent appears in the vanguard of his army,
a crescent gleams for us in the darkness of nights.
The crescent shines for us in the darkness of night.
وَإذَاand when انْتَضَتْunsheathed عَضْباًa keen sword صَقيلاًpolished كَفُّهُhis hand
وَإذَا انْتَضَتْ عَضْباً صَقيلاً كَفُّهُ
كَفُّتْrestrained يَدَthe hand الأهْوَاءِof passions وَالأهْوَالِand terrors
كَفُّتْ يَدَ الأهْوَاءِ وَالأهْوَالِ
And when his hand draws a sharp, polished sword,
And when his sword, sharpened for battle, is unsheathed in anger,
it checks the hand of passions and terrors.
His palm suppresses the passions and terrors.
مُتَفَرّدٌpeerless نَالَattained الزَّمَانُTime بِفَضْلِهِthrough his excellence
مُتَفَرّدٌ نَالَ الزَّمَانُ بِفَضْلِهِ
فَوْقَbeyond المَقَالِspeech بِعَقْدِby binding جَمْعِthe entirety القَالِof speech
فَوْقَ المَقَالِ بِعَقْدِ جَمْعِ القَالِ
Peerless: through his excellence, Time has gained
Peerless, he attained, thanks to his excellence,
more than all words, bound together, can express.
The highest praise, beyond all other sayings.
يَاO مَنْone who يَرُومُseeks لَحَاقَto attain شَأوِthe utmost عَلاَئِهِof his eminence
يَا مَنْ يَرُومُ لَحَاقَ شَأوِ عَلاَئِهِ
أقْصِرْdesist فَمَاfor not البَادِيthe foremost كَمِثْلِis like التَّالِيthe follower
أقْصِرْ فَمَا البَادِي كَمِثْلِ التَّالِي
O you who seek to reach the utmost of his eminence,
O you who aspires to attain the lofty rank of his superiors!
desist: the foremost is not like the follower.
Fall short, for what is manifest is not like what is hidden.
مَنْwho ذَاis it that يُضَاهِيmatches الشَّمْسَthe sun بِالشِّعْرَىwith Sirius وَمَنْand who
مَنْ ذَا يُضَاهِي الشَّمْسَ بِالشِّعْرَى وَمَنْ
ذَاis it that يَدَّعِيclaims أنَّthat الحَيَاrain كَالآلis like a mirage
ذَا يَدَّعِي أنَّ الحَيَا كَالآل
Who matches the sun with Sirius, and who
Who can compare the stars to the sun? And who
claims that rain is like a mirage?
Can claim that snakes are like stallions?
أوْor مَنْwho يَقِيسُmeasures البَدْرَthe full moon بَالعَوَّاagainst al-Awwa سَناًin brilliance
أوْ مَنْ يَقِيسُ البَدْرَ بَالعَوَّا سَناً
أوْor مَنْwho يَقُولُsays الأسْدُlions كَالأوْعَالِare like ibexes
أوْ مَنْ يَقُولُ الأسْدُ كَالأوْعَالِ
Or who measures the full moon against al-Awwa in brilliance?
Or who measures the full moon against fireflies in splendor?
Or who says that lions are like ibexes?
Or who says: "The lion is like the fox"?
قَصُرَتْfell short خُطَاكَyour steps وَهَذِهِand these طُرُقٌpaths عَلَتْrose too high
قَصُرَتْ خُطَاكَ وَهَذِهِ طُرُقٌ عَلَتْ
أنْto تُقْتَفَىbe followed بِنَجَائِبِby noble mounts الإيصَالِof conveyance
أنْ تُقْتَفَى بِنَجَائِبِ الإيصَالِ
Your strides fall short; these paths are too exalted
You have faltered, while these are paths that have risen up
to be followed by noble mounts of attainment.
Too high for extraordinary feats to reach.
مَلِكٌa king سَمَتْrose high أخْلاَقُهُhis character فَتَرَفَّعَتْthen transcended
مَلِكٌ سَمَتْ أخْلاَقُهُ فَتَرَفَّعَتْ
عَنْabove رُتْبَةِthe rank الأشْبَاهِof likenesses وَالأمْثَالِand equals
عَنْ رُتْبَةِ الأشْبَاهِ وَالأمْثَالِ
A king whose character rose so high that it transcended
A king whose character has risen above
the rank of likenesses and equals.
The station of the ordinary and the similar.
قَمَرٌa moon جَلاَdispelled ظُلَمُthe darkness الخُطُوبِof calamities ضِيَاؤُهُhis radiance
قَمَرٌ جَلاَ ظُلَمُ الخُطُوبِ ضِيَاؤُهُ
عَنَّاfrom us وَبَدْرٌand a full moon كَامِلُperfect in الإجْلاَلِmajesty
عَنَّا وَبَدْرٌ كَامِلُ الإجْلاَلِ
A moon whose radiance dispelled the darkness of calamities
A moon whose light dispelled the darkness of afflictions,
from us, and a full moon of perfect majesty.
Protecting us, and a full moon held in high esteem.
إنْif كَانَis عَالٍhigh فِيin الخلاَفَةِthe caliphate قَدْرُهُhis rank
إنْ كَانَ عَالٍ فِي الخلاَفَةِ قَدْرُهُ
فَأبُوهُthen his father مِنْهَاwithin it فِيin المَحَلْthe station العَالِيthe lofty
فَأبُوهُ مِنْهَا فِي المَحَلْ العَالِي
If his rank in the caliphate is high,
If he is exalted in the caliphate, his father
his father holds its lofty station.
Was even higher in rank, in the highest place.
ذُوpossessed of هِمَّةٍresolve رُفِعَتْwere raised (also nominative) عَوَامِلُthe governing forces نَصْبِهَاof its exertion (also accusative)
ذُو هِمَّةٍ رُفِعَتْ عَوَامِلُ نَصْبِهَا
فَقَضَتُso it decreed (irregular vocalization) بِجَزْمِwith resolve (also jussive) الْخَفْضِlowering (also genitive) لِلأفْعَالِof deeds (also verbs)
فَقَضَتُ بِجَزْمِ الْخَفْضِ لِلأفْعَالِ
A man of resolve, whose forces of exertion were raised,
With an ambition whose pillars were erected high,
so it decisively decreed the lowering of deeds.
Fulfilling with determination the actions.
وَعَزَائِمٍand determinations حُدَّتْwere sharpened لِقَطْعِto cut through مَكِيدَةٍa plot
وَعَزَائِمٍ حُدَّتْ لِقَطْعِ مَكِيدَةٍ
فَهْيَso they القَوَاضِبُare cutting swords فِيin مَضاًkeenness وَصِقَالِand polish
فَهْيَ القَوَاضِبُ فِي مَضاً وَصِقَالِ
And of determinations sharpened to cut through a plot:
With resolves that were sharpened to vanquish any plot -
they are keen swords in edge and polish.
They are blades flashing brightly when blades clash.
لاَno عَيْبَfault فِيin نُعْمَاهُhis bounty إلاَّexcept أنَّهَاthat it
لاَ عَيْبَ فِي نُعْمَاهُ إلاَّ أنَّهَا
تُوفِيكَfulfills for you مَاwhat وَعَدَتْit promised بِغَيْرِwithout مِطَالِdelay
تُوفِيكَ مَا وَعَدَتْ بِغَيْرِ مِطَالِ
His bounty has no fault except that it
No fault in his blessings except that they
fulfills its promises to you without delay.
Fulfill for you what they promised without delay.
عَجَباًa marvel لَهَاat it وَهْيَwhile it التِيwhich مَعَdespite عَدْلِهَاits justice
عَجَباً لَهَا وَهْيَ التِي مَعَ عَدْلِهَا
ظَلاَّمَةٌtyrannical فِيin بَذْلِهَاits giving لِلْمَالِof wealth
ظَلاَّمَةٌ فِي بَذْلِهَا لِلْمَالِ
Marvel at it: though it is just,
Wondrous are they, even though in their justice
it tyrannizes over wealth in its lavish giving.
They are oppressive in their generosity with wealth.
تُولِيbestows العَطَاgifts فِيin غَيْرِthe absence of مَنٍّreproach مُتْبَعٍfollowing
تُولِي العَطَا فِي غَيْرِ مَنٍّ مُتْبَعٍ
وَتُجِيبُand answers رَاجِيهَاone who hopes for it بِغَيْرِwithout سُؤَالِasking
وَتُجِيبُ رَاجِيهَا بِغَيْرِ سُؤَالِ
It bestows gifts without following them with reproach,
Bestowing gifts without constraint or condition,
and answers those who hope for it without a request.
Answering those who seek them without even asking.
شَرُفَتْbecame noble مَعَالِيهِhis lofty merits فَلَيْسَso there is no لِوَصْفِهَاfor their description
شَرُفَتْ مَعَالِيهِ فَلَيْسَ لِوَصْفِهَا
حَدٌّlimit فَيُعْرِبُهُso would express it لِسَانُa tongue مَقَالِof speech
حَدٌّ فَيُعْرِبُهُ لِسَانُ مَقَالِ
His lofty merits are so noble that their description has no
His noble qualities have risen up so high that no words
limit a speaking tongue could express.
Can express them in speech however hard they try.
هَذَاthis هُوَis الشَّرَفُthe nobility الذِيwhich قَدْindeed جَلَّis too great أنْfor
هَذَا هُوَ الشَّرَفُ الذِي قَدْ جَلَّ أنْ
تُطْرَىto be extolled لَدَيْهِbeside it غَرَائِبُthe marvels الأمْثَالِof comparisons
تُطْرَى لَدَيْهِ غَرَائِبُ الأمْثَالِ
This is the nobility too great for
This is the nobility that is too lofty for
wondrous comparisons to be extolled beside it.
Extraordinary feats to be mentioned in its presence.
مِنْfrom مَعْشَرٍa people هُمْwho فيin النَّدَىgenerosity سُحْبٌare clouds وَفِيand in
مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ هُمْ في النَّدَى سُحْبٌ وَفِي
نَقْعِthe dust الْحُروبِof wars هُمُthey حِمَىare a refuge الأبْطَالِfor champions
نَقْعِ الْحُروبِ هُمُ حِمَى الأبْطَالِ
From a people who are clouds in generosity, and in
From a people who are clouds in times of prosperity, and in
the dust of wars are a refuge for champions.
The battlefield's carnage are protectors of heroes.
فَهُمُso they هُمُthey themselves الآسَادُare lions فيon يَوْمِthe day الوَغَىof battle
فَهُمُ هُمُ الآسَادُ في يَوْمِ الوَغَى
وَهُمُand they هُمُthey themselves الأقْيَالُare chieftains يَوْمَon the day سِجَالِof contest
وَهُمُ هُمُ الأقْيَالُ يَوْمَ سِجَالِ
They, they are the lions on the day of battle,
They are the lions in days of strife
and they, they are the chieftains on the day of contest.
And on days of clashing swords they are warriors.
شَادُواraised حِمَىthe stronghold الإسْلاَمِof Islam بِالبِيضِwith white blades التِيwhich
شَادُوا حِمَى الإسْلاَمِ بِالبِيضِ التِي
مِنْهَاfrom them تَهِلُّpour سَحَائِبُthe clouds الآجَالِof death
مِنْهَا تَهِلُّ سَحَائِبُ الآجَالِ
They raised Islam's stronghold with white blades,
They have defended the sanctuaries of Islam with shining swords
from which the clouds of death pour down.
From which pour down the clouds of death.
اللَّهُGod أعْلَىexalted قَدْرَهُمْtheir rank وَأحَلَّهُمْand established them
اللَّهُ أعْلَى قَدْرَهُمْ وَأحَلَّهُمْ
رُتَبَranks الوَفَاof loyalty وَالجُودِand generosity وَالإفْضَالِand beneficence
رُتَبَ الوَفَا وَالجُودِ وَالإفْضَالِ
God exalted their standing and established them
God has elevated their worth and made them
in ranks of loyalty, generosity, and beneficence.
Attain the highest ranks of loyalty, generosity, and grace.
يَاO مَالِكاًsovereign عَوَّذْتُI invoked protection for طَلْعَتَهُhis countenance وَجْand bounty (first fragment)
يَا مَالِكاً عَوَّذْتُ طَلْعَتَهُ وَجْ
ودَbounty (completion) بَنَانِهِof his fingers بِالشَّمْسِwith al-Shams وَالأنْفَالِand al-Anfal
ودَ بَنَانِهِ بِالشَّمْسِ وَالأنْفَالِ
O sovereign, whose countenance I have warded, and
O ruler whom I have described - his rising fortune
whose fingers' bounty, with al-Shams and al-Anfal:
And the structure of his success - by the sun and crescent!
قُلْsay لِلَّذِيto the one who قَدْalready رَاحْbegan يُنْكِرُimpugns أنَّنِيthat I
قُلْ لِلَّذِي قَدْ رَاحْ يُنْكِرُ أنَّنِي
فِيin النَّظْمِverse غَيْرُnot مُصَدَّقِcredited الأقْوَالِin speech
فِي النَّظْمِ غَيْرُ مُصَدَّقِ الأقْوَالِ
tell him who now impugns me, saying that I
Say to the one who denies that in poetry
am not to be believed in my verse.
I speak anything but the verified word:
قَامَarose الدَّلِيلُthe proof عَلَىof افْتِرَاهُhis fabrication وَقَدْand already مَحَاerased
قَامَ الدَّلِيلُ عَلَى افْتِرَاهُ وَقَدْ مَحَا
فَلَقُthe dawn البَيَانِof eloquence غَيَاهِبَthe darkness الإشْكَالِof ambiguity
فَلَقُ البَيَانِ غَيَاهِبَ الإشْكَالِ
Proof of his fabrication has arisen, and
The proof has been established against his slander, and eloquence
the dawn of eloquence has erased the darkness of ambiguity.
Has unveiled the gloom of ambiguities.
فَدَعِso leave اسْتِمَاعَlistening to مَقَالِthe words حَاسِدِof one envious of نِعْمَةٍa blessing
فَدَعِ اسْتِمَاعَ مَقَالِ حَاسِدِ نِعْمَةٍ
يَسْعَىstrives لَعَمْرُby the life of أبِيكَyour father سَعْيَa striving ضَلاَلِof error
يَسْعَى لَعَمْرُ أبِيكَ سَعْيَ ضَلاَلِ
So leave off listening to the words of one who envies a blessing,
Leave off listening to the words of one envious of blessings
who strives—by your father's life—with misguided striving.
Who strives - by your father's life! - in ways of error.
مِنْfrom جَهْلِهِhis ignorance أضْحَىhe began يُعَارِضُto rival مَنْone who غَدَتْbecame
مِنْ جَهْلِهِ أضْحَى يُعَارِضُ مَنْ غَدَتْ
أغْزَالُهُhis love poems تَرْوِيrelate عَنِon the authority of الغَزَّالِal-Ghazzal
أغْزَالُهُ تَرْوِي عَنِ الغَزَّالِ
In his ignorance he has begun to rival one whose
In his ignorance he disputes with one whose does
love poems relate on the authority of al-Ghazzal.
Narrate what gazelles tell of gazelles.
وَيَقُولُand says مُفْتَخِراًboastfully نَعَمْyes أنَاI مَعْدِنٌa mine
وَيَقُولُ مُفْتَخِراً نَعَمْ أنَا مَعْدِنٌ
أقْلِلْhow paltry بِهِhe is مِنْas مَعْدِنِa mine الإقْلالِof poverty
أقْلِلْ بِهِ مِنْ مَعْدِنِ الإقْلالِ
And he boasts, 'Yes, I am a mine!'
And he says, boasting, "Yes! I am a source
How paltry he is—a mine of poverty!
That diminishes the worth of all things precious!"
لَوْif كَانَhad been ذَاpossessed of عَقْلٍsense لَعَارَضَhe would have rivaled بَاقِلاًBaqil
لَوْ كَانَ ذَا عَقْلٍ لَعَارَضَ بَاقِلاً
فِيin عَيَtongue-tiedness أقْوَالٍof speech وَفَرْطِand excess خَبَالِof folly
فِي عَيَ أقْوَالٍ وَفَرْطِ خَبَالِ
Had he any sense, he would have rivaled Baqil
Had he any mind, he would have disputed with one who
in tongue-tied speech and excessive folly.
Babbles foolish sayings and excessive delusions.
فَهْوَfor he الحَسُودُthe envious one وَهَلْand have سَمِعْتُهمْI heard them حَاسِداًan envier
فَهْوَ الحَسُودُ وَهَلْ سَمِعْتُهمْ حَاسِداً
قَدْever سَادَattained mastery فِيin حَالٍa circumstance مِنَof الأحْوَالِcircumstances
قَدْ سَادَ فِي حَالٍ مِنَ الأحْوَالِ
He is the envious one; have I heard them tell of an envier
He is the envious one - and did you ever hear of an envious one
who ever attained mastery in any circumstance?
Succeeding in any situation?
وَهْوَand he الكَذُوبُthe inveterate liar تَعَرُّضاًin meddling وَخِيَانَةًand betrayal
وَهْوَ الكَذُوبُ تَعَرُّضاً وَخِيَانَةً
صَبَّmay pour الإلَهُGod عَلَيْهِupon him صَوْبَa downpour نَكَالِof punishment
صَبَّ الإلَهُ عَلَيْهِ صَوْبَ نَكَالِ
And he is a liar in his meddling and betrayal;
He is the liar, transgressing and betraying,
may God pour upon him a downpour of punishment.
Upon whom God has poured the cup of punishment.
وَالْبَدْرُand the full moon مَاnot أبْدَىshowed itself لِعَيْنِكَto your eye عَاطِلاًunadorned
وَالْبَدْرُ مَا أبْدَى لِعَيْنِكَ عَاطِلاً
إلاَّexcept لِتَعْلَمَso you may know قَدْرَthe measure قَدْرِof the worth الحَالِيof the adorned one
إلاَّ لِتَعْلَمَ قَدْرَ قَدْرِ الحَالِي
The full moon showed itself unadorned to your eye
The full moon has not revealed to your eyes in vain,
only to teach you the measure of the adorned one's worth.
Except that you may know the value of your present state.
فَأنَاso I الَّذِيam the one who أوْضَحْتُilluminated غَيْرَwithout مُدَافَعٍbeing disputed
فَأنَا الَّذِي أوْضَحْتُ غَيْرَ مُدَافَعٍ
سُبُلَthe paths الظَّلاَمِof darkness لِغَازِلِfor the spinner الأغْزَالِof love poems
سُبُلَ الظَّلاَمِ لِغَازِلِ الأغْزَالِ
It is I who illuminated, beyond dispute,
I am the one who has unveiled clearly, without contention,
the paths of darkness for the spinner of love poems.
The paths of darkness for the one who courts the does.
وَشُهِرْتُand I became renowned فِيin شَرْقِthe east البلاَدِof the lands وَغَرْبِهَاand their west
وَشُهِرْتُ فِي شَرْقِ البلاَدِ وَغَرْبِهَا
بِعُلُومِfor knowledge آدَابِof the arts القَرِيضِof poetry العَالِيthe lofty
بِعُلُومِ آدَابِ القَرِيضِ العَالِي
And I became renowned in the lands of east and west
In the east and west of nations I have gained repute
for knowledge of the arts of lofty poetry.
For the knowledge of the ingenious art of verse.
فَاحْفَظْso guard نَفِيسَthe precious عُقُودِnecklaces نَظْمِيof my verse إنَّهُfor it
فَاحْفَظْ نَفِيسَ عُقُودِ نَظْمِي إنَّهُ
نِعْمَexcellent is النَّفِيسُthe treasure وَأنْتَand you نِعْمَexcellent is الكَالِيthe guardian
نِعْمَ النَّفِيسُ وَأنْتَ نِعْمَ الكَالِي
Guard the precious necklaces of my verse, for it
So preserve the priceless necklaces of my poetry; they
is a fine treasure, and you a fine guardian.
Are most precious, and you are most perfect.
وَاسْتَجْلِand unveil مِنْهُfrom it كُلevery بَاسِمَةٍsmiling one غَدَتْhas come
وَاسْتَجْلِ مِنْهُ كُل بَاسِمَةٍ غَدَتْ
تَفْتَرُّparts her lips in a smile عَنْrevealing وَصْفِa description السَّنَاءِof splendor العَالِيthe lofty
تَفْتَرُّ عَنْ وَصْفِ السَّنَاءِ العَالِي
And unveil from it each smiling maiden that has come
Derive from it every smiling one who has become
to part her lips in describing lofty splendor.
Adorned with the attire of sublime praise.
وَتَلَقَّهَاand receive her بِالرُّحْبِwith warmth مِنْكَfrom you فَإنَّمَاfor only
وَتَلَقَّهَا بِالرُّحْبِ مِنْكَ فَإنَّمَا
قَدْhas indeed قَابَلَتْكَmet you بِأوْجُهِwith faces الإقْبَالِof welcome
قَدْ قَابَلَتْكَ بِأوْجُهِ الإقْبَالِ
Receive her warmly, for she has only
And welcome it generously, for it has only
met you with the faces of welcome.
Approached you with the most receptive manner.
هَيْفَاءُa slender maiden تَخْطُرُsways فِيin بَديِعِthe wondrousness جَمَالِهَاof her beauty
هَيْفَاءُ تَخْطُرُ فِي بَديِعِ جَمَالِهَا
كَالْخُودِlike a tender maiden تَرْفُلُtrails her garments فِيin رِدَاءِa robe جَلاَلِof majesty
كَالْخُودِ تَرْفُلُ فِي رِدَاءِ جَلاَلِ
A slender maiden sways in her wondrous beauty,
Delicate, it occurs to the mind in the beauty of its perfection
like a tender girl trailing a robe of majesty.
Like a cheek flirting in the gown of majesty.
لِمْwhy لاَnot وَمَدْحُكَand praise of you قَدْhas indeed كَسَاهَاclothed her حُلَّةًin a robe
لِمْ لاَ وَمَدْحُكَ قَدْ كَسَاهَا حُلَّةً
فَاقَتْsurpassed بِهَاthrough it فَخْراًin glory عَلَىover الأمْثَالِpeers
فَاقَتْ بِهَا فَخْراً عَلَى الأمْثَالِ
Why not? Praise of you has clothed her in a robe
Why not, when your praise has dressed it in a robe,
in which she surpasses her peers in glory.
Causing it to surpass others in pride?
فَلَكَso yours be السَّلاَمَةُsafety وَالهَنَاand happiness مَاas long as أنْشَدَتْshe recites
فَلَكَ السَّلاَمَةُ وَالهَنَا مَا أنْشَدَتْ
سَفَرَتْunveiled وُجُوهُthe faces الحُسْنِof beauty عَنْfrom تِمْثَالِa likeness
سَفَرَتْ وُجُوهُ الحُسْنِ عَنْ تِمْثَالِ
So may safety and happiness be yours as long as she recites:
So peace be upon you, and the joy in what I have recited -
Beauty's faces unveiled a likeness.
The faces of beauty have disappeared from the statue.
Sol 6.1