مِنْfrom سِحْرِthe magic of طَرْفِكِyour glance أمْor منfrom جِيدِكِyour neck الحَالِيthe bejeweled
مِنْ سِحْرِ طَرْفِكِ أمْ من جِيدِكِ الحَالِي
قَدْindeed حِرْتُI became bewildered مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween نَظَّامa pearl-stringer وَغَزَّالِand a spinner
قَدْ حِرْتُ مَا بَيْنَ نَظَّام وَغَزَّالِ
From the magic of your glance, or from your bejeweled neck,
Is it from the magic of your eyes or from your swaying necklace
I am bewildered between a pearl-stringer and a spinner.
That I've become confused between a composer and a bracelet-maker
يَاO حَبَّذَاhow lovely فِيin الهَوَىlove وَجْدٌpassion أكَابِدُهُI endure it
يَا حَبَّذَا فِي الهَوَى وَجْدٌ أكَابِدُهُ
مِنْfrom جَوْهَرِthe jewels of الثَّغْرِthe mouth أوْor مِنْfrom عَنْبَرِthe ambergris of الخَالِthe beauty mark
مِنْ جَوْهَرِ الثَّغْرِ أوْ مِنْ عَنْبَرِ الخَالِ
How lovely in love is the passion I endure,
O how excellent is the passion in love that I endure
from the jewels of your mouth or the ambergris of your beauty mark!
From the essence of your lips or from your musky mole
رُوحِيmy soul فِدَاؤُكِyour ransom مِنْas a بَدْرfull moon مَحَاسِنُهُwhose beauties
رُوحِي فِدَاؤُكِ مِنْ بَدْر مَحَاسِنُهُ
قَدْindeed نَاسَبَتْhave harmonized بَيْنَbetween أسْمَاءnames وَأفْعَالِand deeds
قَدْ نَاسَبَتْ بَيْنَ أسْمَاء وَأفْعَالِ
My soul be your ransom, you full moon whose beauties
My soul is your ransom from a full moon whose beauties
have brought names and deeds into harmony.
Have conformed between names and deeds
أهْلَكْتَyou destroyed قَلْبِيmy heart بِأنْوَاعِwith varieties of الغَرَامِpassion وَقَدْand indeed
أهْلَكْتَ قَلْبِي بِأنْوَاعِ الغَرَامِ وَقَدْ
مَلَكْتَهُyou possessed it فَارْعَso tend to حِفْظَthe preservation of المَالِthe treasure يَاO مَالِيmy treasure
مَلَكْتَهُ فَارْعَ حِفْظَ المَالِ يَا مَالِي
You have destroyed my heart with every kind of passion, and now
You have destroyed my heart with various types of love, and yet
you own it: safeguard your treasure, O my treasure.
You possess it so tend to preserving the wealth, O my wealth
كَحَّلْتَyou applied kohl to عَيْنِيmy eye بِلَيْلِwith the night of السُّهْدِsleeplessness فَاتَّصَلَتْso it extended
كَحَّلْتَ عَيْنِي بِلَيْلِ السُّهْدِ فَاتَّصَلَتْ
مَسَافَةُthe distance of البُعْدِseparation يَاO عَيْنِيmy eye بِأمْيَالِby miles
مَسَافَةُ البُعْدِ يَا عَيْنِي بِأمْيَالِ
You have kohled my eye with the night of sleeplessness, so
You have darkened my eye with the night of sleeplessness, so the distance
the distance of separation, O my eye, stretches for miles.
Of separation has connected, O my eye, with miles
رُحْمَاكَyour mercy! رُحْمَاكَyour mercy! بِالصَّبّon the lovelorn one الكثيبِthe sand dune (likely 'sorrowful') فَكَمْfor how many
رُحْمَاكَ رُحْمَاكَ بِالصَّبّ الكثيبِ فَكَمْ
لَهُhe has بِصَدّكَthrough your rejection مِنْof أهْوَالِhorrors أهْوَالِhorrors
لَهُ بِصَدّكَ مِنْ أهْوَالِ أهْوَالِ
Mercy, mercy for the [sorrowful] lover—how many
Have mercy, have mercy on the enduring lover, for how much
horrors upon horrors he suffers through your rejection!
Distress from your rejection he has, so much distress
مَاwhat ضَرَّwould harm نَاظِرُthe pupil of جَفْنَيْكَyour two eyelids التِيwhich كُسِرَتْwere made languid
مَا ضَرَّ نَاظِرُ جَفْنَيْكَ التِي كُسِرَتْ
أنْthat لَوْif غَداًtomorrow نَاظِراًlooking بِالخَيْرِwith kindness فيupon حَالِيmy condition
أنْ لَوْ غَداً نَاظِراً بِالخَيْرِ في حَالِي
What harm would it do the gaze of your languid eyelids
No fault of your eyelid's glances which broke me
if, tomorrow, it looked kindly upon my plight?
If tomorrow they glance at me with kindness in my state
أفْدِيهِI would ransom him مِنْas a نَاظِرٍgazer مَاضِيeffective in الوِلاَيَةِauthority بَلْnay
أفْدِيهِ مِنْ نَاظِرٍ مَاضِي الوِلاَيَةِ بَلْ
وَاحَرَّalas, the burning of قَلْبَاهُmy heart! مِنْfrom ذَاthis النَّاظِرِgazer الوَالِيthe ruler
وَاحَرَّ قَلْبَاهُ مِنْ ذَا النَّاظِرِ الوَالِي
I would ransom him—an eye whose authority holds sway; nay,
I will ransom it from a glance that has passed its authority but
oh, the burning of my heart from this ruling eye!
Which has burned its heart from that current glance
ظَبْيٌa gazelle بِمَبْسَمِهِthrough his smile الزَّاهِيthe radiant وَمَعْطَفِهِand his supple figure
ظَبْيٌ بِمَبْسَمِهِ الزَّاهِي وَمَعْطَفِهِ
جَانَسْتُI made a wordplay مَاwhat lies بَيْنَbetween مَعْسُولhoney-sweet وَعَسَّالِand supple-swaying
جَانَسْتُ مَا بَيْنَ مَعْسُول وَعَسَّالِ
A gazelle: through his radiant smile and supple figure,
A gazelle with its blossoming smile and its cloak
I have paired honeyed sweetness with supple sway.
I've likened between a beekeeper and a honey-seller
مُكَمَّلُperfect in الحُسْنِbeauty مَاwhenever لاَحَتْappeared مَحَاسِنُهُhis charms
مُكَمَّلُ الحُسْنِ مَا لاَحَتْ مَحَاسِنُهُ
إلاَّbut انْجَلَىwas dispelled لَيْلُthe night of إشْكَالperplexity بِأشْكَالِby forms
إلاَّ انْجَلَى لَيْلُ إشْكَال بِأشْكَالِ
Perfect in beauty, whenever his charms appear,
Perfect of beauty, when its beauties appeared
the night of perplexity is dispelled by his features.
The night of doubts was illuminated with forms
مَنْwho لِيfor me بِهwith him أهْيَفٌslender سَاجِيtranquil in اللِّحَاظِglances لَهُhe has
مَنْ لِي بِه أهْيَفٌ سَاجِي اللِّحَاظِ لَهُ
مَيْلٌan inclination وَلَكِنْbut إلىtoward تَسْوِيفِpostponing آمَالِيmy hopes
مَيْلٌ وَلَكِنْ إلى تَسْوِيفِ آمَالِي
Who can win him for me, slender and tranquil-eyed? He has
I have for it a doe-eyed one, long of dress, it is inclined
an inclination—but toward postponing my hopes.
Yet towards procrastinating my hopes
نَادَيْتُهُI called to him يَاO غَزَالاًgazelle جَلَّexalted عَنْbeyond شَبَهa likeness
نَادَيْتُهُ يَا غَزَالاً جَلَّ عَنْ شَبَه
مَاnot كُفْءُa worthy match for جِيدِكَyour neck إلاَّexcept عِقْدُthe necklace of أغْزَالِيmy love lyrics
مَا كُفْءُ جِيدِكَ إلاَّ عِقْدُ أغْزَالِي
I called to him: O gazelle exalted beyond compare,
I called it, O gazelle, outstanding in its likeness
nothing befits your neck but the necklace of my love lyrics.
My neck's match is none but my fawn's necklace
أخْلَصْتُI devoted sincerely حَبِّيmy love لَهُto him مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter مَعْرِفَتِيmy knowing
أخْلَصْتُ حَبِّي لَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَعْرِفَتِي
بِأنَّthat حَظِّيَmy share مِنْهُfrom him حَظُّa share of إقْلاَلِscarcity
بِأنَّ حَظِّيَ مِنْهُ حَظُّ إقْلاَلِ
I devoted my love to him after learning
I made my love for it sincere after knowing
that my share of him was a scant share.
That my share of it is the share of scarcity
وَعَاذِلand a reproacher رَامَsought يُسْلِينِيto console me فَقُلْتُso I said لَهُto him
وَعَاذِل رَامَ يُسْلِينِي فَقُلْتُ لَهُ
مَاnot عَذْلُthe reproach of مِثْلِكَyour kind يُسْلَىis made to forget عَنْهُhim أمْثَالِيmy kind
مَا عَذْلُ مِثْلِكَ يُسْلَى عَنْهُ أمْثَالِي
A reproacher sought to console me, so I told him:
And a reproacher wanted to appease me, so I said to him
Reproach from your kind cannot make my kind forget him.
There is no reproach like you that equals me can be appeased
إنَّindeed المَحَبَّةَlove لِلأهْوَاءِfor the passions قَائِدَةٌa leader
إنَّ المَحَبَّةَ لِلأهْوَاءِ قَائِدَةٌ
وَلِلْهَوَىand love has خَطَرَاتٌimpulses ذَاتُendowed with إرْقَالِswift trotting
وَلِلْهَوَى خَطَرَاتٌ ذَاتُ إرْقَالِ
Love, indeed, leads the passions,
For love of passions is a leader
and love has impulses that move at a swift trot.
And for passions are dangerous matters, owners of decline
صُمَّتْgrew deaf عَنِto العَذْلِreproach آذَانِيmy ears بِهِthrough him فَلِذَاtherefore
صُمَّتْ عَنِ العَذْلِ آذَانِي بِهِ فَلِذَا
قَدْindeed أرْغَمrubbed in the dust اللَّهُGod فِيهِover him أنْفَthe nose of عُذَّالِيmy reproachers
قَدْ أرْغَم اللَّهُ فِيهِ أنْفَ عُذَّالِي
Through him my ears grew deaf to reproach; therefore
It has deafened its ears to reproach with it, and so
God has rubbed my reproachers' noses in the dust over him.
God has forced against it the nose of my reproachers
لَيْتَwould that الثُّغُورَthe mouths جَلَتْrevealed بَرْقاًlightning لَهُمْto them فَرَأوْاso they saw
لَيْتَ الثُّغُورَ جَلَتْ بَرْقاً لَهُمْ فَرَأوْا
سَحَابَa cloud of دَمْعtears عَلَىupon الخَدَّيْنِboth cheeks هَطَّالِpouring
سَحَابَ دَمْع عَلَى الخَدَّيْنِ هَطَّالِ
Would that those mouths flashed lightning for them, so they could see
I wish the battlefields had flashed lightning at them and they had seen
a cloud of tears pouring down both cheeks.
Clouds of my tears' blood pouring on my cheeks
حَسْبِيenough for me وَحَسْبِيand enough for me الهَوَىlove أنِّيthat I فَنَيْتُhave perished بهin it
حَسْبِي وَحَسْبِي الهَوَى أنِّي فَنَيْتُ به
أرْجُوI hope for البَقَاءَendurance بِأوْجَاعamid pains وَأوْجَالِand fears
أرْجُو البَقَاءَ بِأوْجَاع وَأوْجَالِ
Love suffices me, suffices me: I have perished in it,
It suffices me, it suffices me that I have perished in it
hoping to endure amid pains and fears.
Hoping for survival through pains and calamities
آيَاتُthe verses of أوْصَافِهِhis qualities أمْor خَمْرُthe wine of رِيَقتِهِhis saliva
آيَاتُ أوْصَافِهِ أمْ خَمْرُ رِيَقتِهِ
تُتَلَىare recited عَلَّيto me بِألْحَانin melodies وَتُجْلَىand are unveiled لِيto me
تُتَلَى عَلَّي بِألْحَان وَتُجْلَى لِي
Is it the verses of his qualities, or the wine of his saliva,
Are verses describing him or the wine of his saliva
being recited to me in melodies and unveiled before me?
Recited to me with melodies and unveiled to me
أمْor مِنْfrom رَحِيقِthe nectar of رُضَابsaliva ألْعَسٍdusky-lipped شَبِمٍcool
أمْ مِنْ رَحِيقِ رُضَاب ألْعَسٍ شَبِمٍ
تُمْلاَare filled كُؤُوسِيmy cups بِرَاحَاتٍby palms وَتُسْقَىand are served to drink لِيto me
تُمْلاَ كُؤُوسِي بِرَاحَاتٍ وَتُسْقَى لِي
Or from the nectar of cool saliva from dusky lips
Or from the nectar of the gums of dashing white camels
are my cups filled by palms and served for me to drink?
My cups are filled with comforts and are quenched for me
أذَابَhe melted جِسْمِيmy body بِنَارِwith the fire of الهَجْرِseparation ثُمَّthen قَلَىroasted; spurned
أذَابَ جِسْمِي بِنَارِ الهَجْرِ ثُمَّ قَلَى
قَلْبِيmy heart وَقَالَand he said نَعَمْyes هَذَاthis هُوَis القَالِيthe roaster; the spurner
قَلْبِي وَقَالَ نَعَمْ هَذَا هُوَ القَالِي
He melted my body with separation's fire, then roasted
He melted my body with the fire of separation, then
my heart, and said: Yes, this is the roaster.
Roasted my heart and said, “Yes, this is the roasted.”
وَرَامَand he sought يَشْرِيto buy بِغَالِيwith the costly price of الهَجْرِestrangement أنْفُسَنَاour souls
وَرَامَ يَشْرِي بِغَالِي الهَجْرِ أنْفُسَنَا
رُخْصاًcheaply فَأشْرَىso he sold رَخِيصَcheap in النَّفْسِsoul بِالغَالِيfor the dear
رُخْصاً فَأشْرَى رَخِيصَ النَّفْسِ بِالغَالِي
He sought to buy our souls with costly estrangement
And he wanted to buy our souls with the separation's high price
cheaply; so he sold a cheap soul for a dear one.
Cheaply, so he bought the cheap soul with the expensive one
قَدْindeed ضِعْتُI was lost فِيin حُبِّهِhis love لَمَّاwhen مَلأتُI filled حَشَاthe depths of
قَدْ ضِعْتُ فِي حُبِّهِ لَمَّا مَلأتُ حَشَا
قَلْبِيmy heart بِأوْصَابِهِwith its pains يَاO ضَيْعَةَthe wasting of الْمَالِtreasure
قَلْبِي بِأوْصَابِهِ يَا ضَيْعَةَ الْمَالِ
I was lost in his love when I filled the depths
I have been weak in loving him when I filled
of my heart with its pains—alas for wasted treasure!
My heart with his love, O squandering of wealth
إنْif كُنْتَyou are تَقْضِيdecreeing بِمُرّwith the bitterness of الصَّدَrejection يَاO أمَلِيmy hope
إنْ كُنْتَ تَقْضِي بِمُرّ الصَّدَ يَا أمَلِي
فَشَاهِدُthen the witness of الحُسْنِbeauty بِالإحْسَانِwith kindness حَلَّىhas sweetened لِيfor me
فَشَاهِدُ الحُسْنِ بِالإحْسَانِ حَلَّى لِي
If you decree bitter rejection, O my hope,
If you decree with the bitterness of rejection, O my hope
then beauty's witness has sweetened it for me with kindness.
The witness of beauty has made things sweet for me
أوْor كَانَthere were لِيfor me أمَلٌa hope بِالصَّبْرِof enduring عَنْكَwithout you فَلاَthen may not
أوْ كَانَ لِي أمَلٌ بِالصَّبْرِ عَنْكَ فَلاَ
بُلِّغْتُI be granted مِنْfrom نِعَمِthe favors of المَسْعُودِal-Mas'ud آمَالِيmy hopes
بُلِّغْتُ مِنْ نِعَمِ المَسْعُودِ آمَالِي
Or if I hoped to endure without you, may I never
Or if I had hope in patience from you, I would not
be granted my hopes through the favors of al-Mas'ud.
Have achieved the blessings of the fortunate, my hopes
المَانِحُthe giver of الجُودَbounty لاَnot رَدْعاًrebuffing لِسَائِلِهِhis petitioner
المَانِحُ الجُودَ لاَ رَدْعاً لِسَائِلِهِ
المَانِعُthe protector of الجَارَthe neighbor لاَnot خَوْفاًfearing لأقْيَالِprinces
المَانِعُ الجَارَ لاَ خَوْفاً لأقْيَالِ
The giver of bounty, who never rebuffs his petitioner,
The bestower of generosity, nothing holds back his askers
the protector of his neighbor, undaunted by princes.
The preventer of neighbors, no fear of consequences
مَاnot خَالَفَتْهُdiffered from him بُدُورُthe moons of التَّمّfullness فِيin شَبَهٍlikeness
مَا خَالَفَتْهُ بُدُورُ التَّمّ فِي شَبَهٍ
إلاّexcept لِتَقْصِيرهَاbecause they fall short عَنْof مَجْدِهِhis glory العالِيthe lofty
إلاّ لِتَقْصِيرهَا عَنْ مَجْدِهِ العالِي
The moons at their fullness differ from him in likeness
The full moons in cycles did not differ from it in likeness
only because they fall short of his lofty glory.
Except by their falling short of its lofty glory
طَوْدُa mountain of المكَارِمِnoble deeds جَلَّىbanished كُلَّevery دَاجِيةٍdarkness
طَوْدُ المكَارِمِ جَلَّى كُلَّ دَاجِيةٍ
بِعَزْمَةٍwith a resolve أرْغَمَتْthat rubbed in dust آنَافَthe noses of أشَكَالِpeers
بِعَزْمَةٍ أرْغَمَتْ آنَافَ أشَكَالِ
A mountain of noble deeds, he banished every darkness
The pillar of virtues made clear every shining light
with a resolve that rubbed his peers' noses in the dust.
With determination that forced the noses of forms
لَيْثٌa lion إذَاwhen أمْطَرَتْrain down مَوْتاًdeath قَوَاضِبُهُhis keen blades
لَيْثٌ إذَا أمْطَرَتْ مَوْتاً قَوَاضِبُهُ
حَسِبْتَهَاyou would think them سُحُباًclouds سَحَّتْthat poured عَلَىupon الضَّالِthe wild lote-trees
حَسِبْتَهَا سُحُباً سَحَّتْ عَلَى الضَّالِ
A lion: when his keen blades rain down death,
A lion whose blows rain death, you would think them
you would think them clouds pouring upon wild lote-trees.
Clouds that poured over the lost
مُبَرْقِعُthe veiler of الخَيْلِthe horses بِالبِيضِwith bright swords الحِدَادِthe sharp إذَاwhen
مُبَرْقِعُ الخَيْلِ بِالبِيضِ الحِدَادِ إذَا
هَاجَraged الهِيَاجُbattle باطلابwith foes وَأبْطَالِand champions
هَاجَ الهِيَاجُ باطلاب وَأبْطَالِ
He veils the horses in bright, sharp swords when
Saddled in white mourning, when the battle
battle rages with foes and champions.
Was stirred between heroes and champions
وَمُصْدِرُand the sender back of البِيضِbright swords حُمْراًred مِنْfrom دِمَائِهمُtheir blood
وَمُصْدِرُ البِيضِ حُمْراً مِنْ دِمَائِهمُ
وَجاعِلُand the maker of الهَامِskulls أغْمَاداًsheaths لأوْصَالِfor limbs (likely 'blade-points')
وَجاعِلُ الهَامِ أغْمَاداً لأوْصَالِ
And he sends the bright blades back red with their blood,
And the white's origin is red from their blood
and makes skulls into sheaths for [blade-points].
And making the resolve into sheaths for limbs
أسْمَىthe loftiest حُرُوفِletters of المَعَانِيmeaning فِيهِin him وَاضِحَةٌclear
أسْمَى حُرُوفِ المَعَانِي فِيهِ وَاضِحَةٌ
وَكُلُّand every عَالٍexalted one سِوَاهُbesides him حَرْفُa letter of إعْلاَلِweakening
وَكُلُّ عَالٍ سِوَاهُ حَرْفُ إعْلاَلِ
The loftiest letters of meaning are clear in him,
The highest letters of meanings in it are clear
and everyone exalted besides him is a weak letter.
And all elevated except it are letters of defect
صَحَّتْheld firm وِلاَيَةُthe authority of أقْلاَمٍpens بِرَاحَتِهِin his palm
صَحَّتْ وِلاَيَةُ أقْلاَمٍ بِرَاحَتِهِ
فَقَسَّمَتْso they apportioned بَيْنَbetween أرْزَاقٍlivelihoods وَآجَالِand lifespans
فَقَسَّمَتْ بَيْنَ أرْزَاقٍ وَآجَالِ
The authority of pens holds firm in his palm,
By his comfort, the authorities of pens have been validated
so they apportion sustenance and lifespans.
Distributing between sustenances and terms
قَامَتْthey stood بِشُكْرِin gratitude وَلِلْبَارِيand to the Creator بِهِthrough him سَجَدَتْthey prostrated
قَامَتْ بِشُكْرِ وَلِلْبَارِي بِهِ سَجَدَتْ
تُلاَزِمُthey keep to الخَمْسَthe five (fingers/prayers) أفْضَالاًfavors لأفْضَالِin return for favors
تُلاَزِمُ الخَمْسَ أفْضَالاً لأفْضَالِ
They stood in gratitude and, through him, prostrated to the Creator,
They stood in thanks and to the Creator through it bowed down
keeping to the five, favors in return for favors.
Continuously performing the five obligations and more
يَاO قُلْsay لِحَاسِدِهِto his envier المَغْرُورِthe deluded مُتْdie كَمَداًof grief
يَا قُلْ لِحَاسِدِهِ المَغْرُورِ مُتْ كَمَداً
ذَاكَthat الجَنَابُaugust presence فَلاَso not يُصْدَعْbe cracked بِزَلْزَالِby an earthquake
ذَاكَ الجَنَابُ فَلاَ يُصْدَعْ بِزَلْزَالِ
Come, tell his deluded envier: Die of grief!
O say to his arrogant envious enemy swollen up
That august presence cannot be cracked by an earthquake.
That eminent one, so let not the earthquakes make him deaf
كَهْفٌa cave of refuge تَعَالَىrose عَلَىabove العَلْيَاءthe heights مَجْلِسُهُhis seat
كَهْفٌ تَعَالَى عَلَى العَلْيَاء مَجْلِسُهُ
فَكَاتَبَتْهُso it wrote to him العُلاَeminence بِالْمَجْلِسِas the Seat العَالِيthe Exalted
فَكَاتَبَتْهُ العُلاَ بِالْمَجْلِسِ العَالِي
A cave of refuge: his seat has risen above the heights,
A cave, lofty is his sitting above the heights
so eminence addressed him in writing as the Exalted Seat.
So the elevation has corresponded with him at the high sitting
لَوْif طَاوَلَتْهُvied with him in height النُّجُومُthe stars الزُّهْرُthe shining مَاnot بَلَغَتْwould reach
لَوْ طَاوَلَتْهُ النُّجُومُ الزُّهْرُ مَا بَلَغَتْ
مِنْof نَسْرِthe eagle of عَلْيَاهُhis eminence إلاَّexcept تُرْبَthe dust of أنْعَالِsandals
مِنْ نَسْرِ عَلْيَاهُ إلاَّ تُرْبَ أنْعَالِ
If the shining stars vied with him in height, they would reach
If the stars had reached him, the blossoms would not have reached
only the dust of his sandals beneath the eagle of his eminence.
From the flight of his elevation except the dust of his shoes
كَافٍsufficient لِكُلّfor every مُلِمّcalamity لاَnot يَقُومُhe confronts بِهِit
كَافٍ لِكُلّ مُلِمّ لاَ يَقُومُ بِهِ
إلاَّexcept بِغَيْثِwith the rain of نَدَاهُhis bounty عِنْدَin times of إمْحَالِdrought
إلاَّ بِغَيْثِ نَدَاهُ عِنْدَ إمْحَالِ
Equal to every calamity, which he confronts with nothing
It is enough for every shelter-seeker that he stands by him
but the rain of his bounty in times of drought.
Except with a rain of his call at desperation
وَنَاصِرٌand a champion of ثَرْوَتِيmy wealth حَتَّىuntil تَغَلَّبَهَاit was overcome
وَنَاصِرٌ ثَرْوَتِي حَتَّى تَغَلَّبَهَا
أخُوthe brother of اللَّيالَيthe nights عَلَىamid عِسْرٍhardship وَإقْلاَلِand penury
أخُو اللَّيالَي عَلَى عِسْرٍ وَإقْلاَلِ
And a champion of my wealth, until it was overcome
And a supporter of my wealth until it overcomes
by the brother of the nights amid hardship and want.
The brother of nights over hardship and scarcity
لَمْnever أجْرِI sent forth غَايَةَthe limit of فِكْرِيmy thought فِيهِabout him فيin صِفَةٍa description
لَمْ أجْرِ غَايَةَ فِكْرِي فِيهِ في صِفَةٍ
إلاَّexcept وَجَدْتُI found مَدَاهَاits reach غَايَةَthe limit of القَالِspeech
إلاَّ وَجَدْتُ مَدَاهَا غَايَةَ القَالِ
Never have I sent my thought to its limit in describing him
I have not extended the limit of my thought about him in an attribute
without finding its reach the limit of speech.
Except I found its scope the utmost limit
يَابْنَO son of الكِرَامِthe noble الذِيwhose قَامَتْstood firm مَكَارِمُهُمْtheir noble deeds
يَابْنَ الكِرَامِ الذِي قَامَتْ مَكَارِمُهُمْ
هَلْwill أنْتَyou مُصْغٍlisten لِمَاto what تُلْقِيهِconvey أقْوَالِيmy words
هَلْ أنْتَ مُصْغٍ لِمَا تُلْقِيهِ أقْوَالِي
O son of the noble, whose generous deeds have stood firm,
O son of generous ones whose virtues established them
will you listen to what my words convey?
Are you listening to what my words pronounce
مَاnot أنْتَyou إلاَّexcept إمَامُthe leader of المَجْدِglory قَدْindeed عُقِدَتْhave been firmly bound
مَا أنْتَ إلاَّ إمَامُ المَجْدِ قَدْ عُقِدَتْ
عَلَيْكَupon you آرَاءُopinions of إجْمَاعٍconsensus وَإجْمَالِand comprehensiveness
عَلَيْكَ آرَاءُ إجْمَاعٍ وَإجْمَالِ
You are none but glory's leader; firmly settled
You are none but the imam of glory whom
upon you are judgments, unanimous and comprehensive.
Opinions of consensus and generality have been bound to
كَأنَّas though أهْلَthe people of العُلاَeminence جِسْمٌa body وَأنْتَand you لَهُمْfor them
كَأنَّ أهْلَ العُلاَ جِسْمٌ وَأنْتَ لَهُمْ
هَامٌa head يُتَوَّجُis crowned فِيin العَلْيَاthe heights بِإجْلاَلِwith reverence
هَامٌ يُتَوَّجُ فِي العَلْيَا بِإجْلاَلِ
It is as though the people of eminence were a body, and you their
As if the people of status are a body and you are for them
head, crowned in the heights with reverence.
A resolver crowned at the peak with veneration
إنْif كُنْتَyou are فِيin الوَقْتِtime قَدْindeed وَافَيْتَyou arrived آخِرَهُمْthe last of them
إنْ كُنْتَ فِي الوَقْتِ قَدْ وَافَيْتَ آخِرَهُمْ
فَإنَّكَthen indeed you are البَدْرُthe full moon وَافَىthat arrived عِنْدَat إكْمَالِcompletion
فَإنَّكَ البَدْرُ وَافَى عِنْدَ إكْمَالِ
If in time you have arrived last among them,
If you have in time reached their last
then you are the full moon, which arrives at fullness.
You are the moon which has arrived at its perfection
لَمَّاwhen وَزَنْتُI weighed بِكَagainst you الدُّنْيَاthe world فَمِلْتَthen you tipped the balance بِهَاagainst it
لَمَّا وَزَنْتُ بِكَ الدُّنْيَا فَمِلْتَ بِهَا
يَاO مُنْتَهَىthe pinnacle of الجُودِgenerosity قَدْindeed حَقَقْتَyou fulfilled آمالِيmy hopes
يَا مُنْتَهَى الجُودِ قَدْ حَقَقْتَ آمالِي
When I weighed the world against you, you outweighed it;
When I weighed the world with you I became bored with it
O pinnacle of generosity, you have fulfilled my hopes.
O utmost of generosity, you have realized my hopes
لَوْلاَwere it not for غَمَامُthe cloud of نَدَىbounty أيْدِيكَyour hands يُمْطِرُنَاraining on us
لَوْلاَ غَمَامُ نَدَى أيْدِيكَ يُمْطِرُنَا
لأصْبَحَit would have become الجُودgenerosity فِينَاamong us كَاسِفَdowncast in البَالِspirit
لأصْبَحَ الجُود فِينَا كَاسِفَ البَالِ
Were it not for the cloud of your hands' bounty raining on us,
If not for the clouds of dew from your hands that rain us
generosity among us would have become downcast.
Generosity in us would have been disappointing
لأشْكُرَنَّكَI shall surely thank you إنَّindeed الشُّكْرَgratitude نَائِلُهُits gift
لأشْكُرَنَّكَ إنَّ الشُّكْرَ نَائِلُهُ
أبْقَىmore enduring عَلَىin حَالِهِits unchanged state مِنْthan نَائِلِthe gift of المَالِwealth
أبْقَى عَلَى حَالِهِ مِنْ نَائِلِ المَالِ
I shall surely thank you, for the gift of gratitude
I will thank you, for thanks - its obtainer
endures unchanged longer than a gift of wealth.
Remains in his state over the obtainer of wealth
فَارْقَso ascend المَعَالِيَthe heights مَخْدُوماًattended بِأرْبَعَةٍby four
فَارْقَ المَعَالِيَ مَخْدُوماً بِأرْبَعَةٍ
عِزّhonor وَجَاهٍand prestige وَإيثَارٍand selflessness وَإقْبَالِand good fortune
عِزّ وَجَاهٍ وَإيثَارٍ وَإقْبَالِ
So ascend the heights, attended by four:
Distinct with four qualities: honor, prominence, preference, and attention
honor, prestige, selflessness, and good fortune.
And listen to the prose of stringed lines whose essence
وَاسْمَعْand hear مُنَظَّمَةَan ordered poem of الأسْلاَكِstrands جَوْهَرُهَاits jewel
وَاسْمَعْ مُنَظَّمَةَ الأسْلاَكِ جَوْهَرُهَا
أزْرَتْput to shame غَرَابَتُهُits rarity بِالعَاطِلِthe unadorned الحَالِيthe bejeweled
أزْرَتْ غَرَابَتُهُ بِالعَاطِلِ الحَالِي
And hear a poem of ordered strands, whose jewel
Adorned its strangeness with the empty current state
by its rarity shames the bare yet bejeweled.
A houri from the gardens of thought not known to us
حُورِيَّةٌa houri مِنْfrom جِنَانِthe gardens of الفِكْرِthought مَاnot عُرْفَتْwas known
حُورِيَّةٌ مِنْ جِنَانِ الفِكْرِ مَا عُرْفَتْ
فِينَاamong us بِنَسْبَةِby attribution to خَرَّاطٍa turner وَقَفَّالِand a locksmith
فِينَا بِنَسْبَةِ خَرَّاطٍ وَقَفَّالِ
A houri from the gardens of thought, never known
In relation to a peddler or grocer
among us as the work of a turner or a locksmith.
If it is not the making of al-A'sha then its maker
إنْif لمْnot تَكُنْit is صَنْعَةَthe handiwork of الأعْشَىal-A'sha فَصَانِعُهَاthen its maker
إنْ لمْ تَكُنْ صَنْعَةَ الأعْشَى فَصَانِعُهَا
يَرْوِيtransmits عَنِfrom ابْنِIbn (son of) هلاَلٍHilal صُنعَthe craft of لآَّلِa pearl-worker
يَرْوِي عَنِ ابْنِ هلاَلٍ صُنعَ لآَّلِ
If it is not the work of al-A'sha, its maker
Relates from the son of Hilal the making of instruments
transmits from Ibn Hilal the craft of a pearl-worker.
So remain with praise and grace with which you have filled
فَدُمْso live on بِحَمْدٍamid praise وَآلاَءٍand favors مَلأتَyou filled بِهَاwith them
فَدُمْ بِحَمْدٍ وَآلاَءٍ مَلأتَ بِهَا
جِهَاتِيَmy directions السِّتّthe six مِنّwith فَضْلٍbounty وَإفْضَالِand generosity
جِهَاتِيَ السِّتّ مِنّ فَضْلٍ وَإفْضَالِ
So live on amid praise and favors with which you have filled
My six directions with virtue and favor
all six directions around me with bounty and generosity.
Like a star I have not ceased, but like the moon in nobility
كَالنَّجْمِlike a star لاَmay not زِلْتَyou cease to be بَلْrather كَالبَدْرِlike the full moon فيin شَرفٍeminence
كَالنَّجْمِ لاَ زِلْتَ بَلْ كَالبَدْرِ في شَرفٍ
نُوراًa light لِمُقْتَبِسٍfor one seeking a flame رُشْداًguidance لِضُلاَّلِfor those astray
نُوراً لِمُقْتَبِسٍ رُشْداً لِضُلاَّلِ
May you remain like a star—rather, like the full moon—in eminence,
A light for one who kindles, guidance for the lost
a light for one seeking a flame, guidance for those astray.
Partial English translation: 105 of 106 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1