ماwhat احتياليmy recourse ولستand I do not أعلمknow ماليwhat awaits me
ما احتيالي ولست أعلم مالي
فيin أماليإذاmy hopes, when بدتappear أعماليmy deeds
في أماليإذا بدت أعمالي
What recourse have I, not knowing my fate
I know not my guile, nor what I own,
amid my hopes, when my deeds are laid bare?
When my hopes appear, my deeds are shown,
أناI واللهby God موثقbound فيin أسارcaptivity
أنا والله موثق في أسار
منby ذنوبsins قدindeed أحكمتmade fast أغلاليmy shackles
من ذنوب قد أحكمت أغلالي
By God, I am bound in captivity
By God, I'm shackled in captivity,
by sins that have made my shackles fast.
My sins have fettered and chained me fully.
ضاقbecame too short وقتيmy time عنfor ماwhat يفكreleases أساريmy captivity
ضاق وقتي عن ما يفك أساري
منthrough تقيpiety أوor يحطlightens منsome of أثقاليmy burdens
من تقي أو يحط من أثقالي
My time is too short for what would free me from bondage
My time's too short my shackles to undo,
through piety, or lighten some of my burdens.
Or lighten the load that weighs me through and through.
أناI مستوفزpoised to leave لوfor imminence (fragment) شكcompletion of 'imminence' رحيلa departure
أنا مستوفز لو شك رحيل
عنwithin قريبa short time فماthen what للهوىhas desire وماليand what have I
عن قريب فما للهوى ومالي
I am poised for an imminent departure
Ready I am, if death should call,
very soon; what have desire and I in common?
To part, though dear to me is life withal.
لمdid not تغادرleave منيof me الثمانونthe eighty years والأمراand illnesses (continued)
لم تغادر مني الثمانون والأمرا
ضcompletion of 'illnesses' الأنضواonly a wasted frame (apparent reading) كطيفlike a phantom خيالof imagination
ض الأنضوا كطيف خيال
My eighty years and illnesses have left of me
Eighty years gone and still,
only a wasted frame, like a phantom vision.
Disease assails me, frail against its will,
كلماwhenever صحbecame sound حرفthe letter عزميof my resolve وقواand strengthened (continued)
كلما صح حرف عزمي وقوا
هit يقينيmy certainty أوهاهweakened it حرفa letter اعتلالof infirmity
ه يقيني أوهاه حرف اعتلال
Whenever the letter of my resolve is sound and strengthened
Whene'er my will resolves, my faith grows bold,
by my certainty, a letter of infirmity weakens it.
Alas, frail health makes my resolve fold.
كادnearly يأسىmy despair يقضيmade an end علىof me (apparent reading) ولكنbut
كاد يأسى يقضي على ولكن
رجائيmy hope قدindeed مدextended ليfor me آماليmy aspirations
رجائي قد مد لي آمالي
My despair nearly made an end of me, but
Despair almost ended me, but hope,
my hope has prolonged my aspirations.
Extended its rope and scope,
فأناso I الآنnow منwith رجاءhope وبأسand distress
فأنا الآن من رجاء وبأس
بينbetween حالa state حالchanging وبالand a mind باليworn-out
بين حال حال وبال بالي
So now, with hope and distress,
So between hope and despair I dwell,
I am between a changing state and a worn-out mind.
From state to state, and trial to trial fell.
ليتif only شعريI knew ماذاwhat يكونwill be جوابيmy answer
ليت شعري ماذا يكون جوابي
فيat معاديإذاmy final return, when طيلis prolonged سؤاليmy questioning
في معاديإذا طيل سؤالي
If only I knew what my answer will be
I wonder what my answer will be,
at my final return, when my questioning is prolonged.
When prolonged is my reckoning's day,
لاno جوابanswer واللهby God عنديI have ولكنbut
لا جواب والله عندي ولكن
اعترافيmy confession بذلتيof my lowliness أرجىmore hopeful ليfor me
اعترافي بذلتي أرجى لي
By God, I have no answer, but
No answer have I, God knows,
confessing my lowliness offers me greater hope.
But my admission of guilt, I hope,
ليتif only شعريI knew وماand what يفيدbenefits اعترافيmy confession
ليت شعري وما يفيد اعترافي
وفعاليwhile my deeds مخالفcontrary لمقاليto my words
وفعالي مخالف لمقالي
If only I knew—what good is my confession
Of what use is this admission of mine?
when my deeds contradict my words?
When my actions contradict all I opine.
أيwhat وجهground للعذرfor an excuse عنديdo I have واثقاًconfident; perhaps 'and burdens' (broken text)
أي وجه للعذر عندي واثقاً
لذنوبيof my sins (following a broken word) أخفهاtheir lightest كالجبالlike mountains
لذنوبي أخفها كالجبال
What grounds have I for excuse, when the burdens
What plea have I, when well I know,
of my sins, even their lightest, are like mountains?
My sins, the least, like mountains show?
ليتنيif only I متhad died قبلbefore هذاthis ولاand had not
ليتني مت قبل هذا ولا
حملتborne مالاwhat ... not يقويcan withstand عليهit احتماليmy endurance
حملت مالا يقوي عليه احتمالي
If only I had died before this, and had not
Would that I'd died before this day,
borne what my endurance cannot withstand.
Borne not what I cannot bear or allay.
ماnot بقيremained ليfor me شيءanything سوىexcept حسنgood ظنيmy opinion
ما بقي لي شيء سوى حسن ظني
بالكريمof the Generous One الذيwho إليهto whom مآليmy final return
بالكريم الذي إليه مآلي
Nothing remains to me but my good opinion
Naught is left, but good faith in The Clement,
of the Generous One, to whom I shall return.
To whom my return is eminent.
قابلAccepter of التوبrepentance راحمmerciful to الشيبthe gray-haired غفاForgiver (continued)
قابل التوب راحم الشيب غفا
رcompletion of 'Forgiver' الخطاياof sins ياO ربLord of الورىcreation ذيPossessor of الجلالMajesty
ر الخطايا يا رب الورى ذي الجلال
Accepter of repentance, merciful to the gray-haired, Forgiver
Accept repentance, pardon white hair,
of sins—O Lord of creation, Possessor of Majesty!
Forgive sins, Oh Lord of Exaltation and Might.
فعلىso upon عفوهHis pardon وجاهand the rank of رسولthe Messenger of اللهGod
فعلى عفوه وجاه رسول الله
موقفthe place of standing فيat الحسابthe reckoning اتكاليmy reliance
موقف في الحساب اتكالي
Upon His pardon and the rank of God's Messenger
I trust in Your grace and rank sublime,
rests my trust at the reckoning.
Of the Messenger of God, till judgment time.
فلكمfor how many قدindeed نجاwere saved بجاهthrough the rank of نبيthe Prophet of اللهGod
فلكم قد نجا بجاه نبي الله
فيon يومthe day عرضهمof their presentation أمثاليpeople like me
في يوم عرضهم أمثالي
How many have been saved through the rank of God's Prophet—
Many through the Prophet's grace were saved,
people like me, on the day they are brought forth!
On their day of reckoning, from harm and loss.
أناI لولاwere it not for الشفيعthe Intercessor أملتwould hope أنيthat I
أنا لولا الشفيع أملت أني
لوif تخلصتescaped لاnothing علىagainst me (apparent reading) ولاand nothing ليin my favor
لو تخلصت لا على ولا لي
Without the Intercessor, I would only hope
Without the Intercessor, I'd have thought, deliverance was naught.
to escape, with nothing against me or in my favor.
Through him alone, I hope to triumph, and win the race,
إنماonly ارتجىI hope بهthrough him الفوزfor deliverance إذsince لذتI sought refuge
إنما ارتجى به الفوز إذ لذت
بخيرwith the best of الأنامhumankind ماضpast وتاليand yet to come
بخير الأنام ماض وتالي
I hope for deliverance only through him, since I sought refuge
By the best of mankind, the noble and high.
with the best of humankind, past and yet to come.
The prophet of miracles, like the she-wolf speech,
صاحبbearer of المعجزاتmiracles منهنamong them نطقthe speech of الذئبthe wolf
صاحب المعجزات منهن نطق الذئب
والضبand the spiny-tailed lizard معلناًspeaking openly والغزالand the gazelle
والضب معلناً والغزال
Bearer of miracles: among them the wolf's speech,
And the doe's, announcing the deer and gazelle.
and the spiny-tailed lizard speaking openly, and the gazelle.
The camel and camel mare's complaint of hunger and frailness,
وكذاand likewise العيرthe donkey والبعيرand the camel الذيthat واcame (continued)
وكذا العير والبعير الذي وا
فاهto him (completes 'came to him') يشكوcomplaining منof جوعهits hunger والكلالand exhaustion
فاه يشكو من جوعه والكلال
So too the donkey and the camel that came
Came to him, he split a date and its ripeness,
to him, complaining of its hunger and exhaustion.
At his birth, Kisra's fire dimmed,
فأتاهthen he came to it مسكتاًquieting it مثلlike أمa mother
فأتاه مسكتاً مثل أم
برةkind نصفينtwo halves ظاهرplainly evident الانفصالseparation
برة نصفين ظاهر الانفصال
Then he came to it, quieting it like a mother,
A thousand proofs, of its kindling.
kind; two halves, plainly separated [wording unclear].
And so too the Iwan cracked and collapsed,
خمدتdied out فيat ميلادهhis birth نارthe fire of كسرىKisra
خمدت في ميلاده نار كسرى
ولهاand it had ألفa thousand حجةyears فيin اشتعالburning
ولها ألف حجة في اشتعال
At his birth, the fire of Kisra died out,
Balconies that towered so high.
though it had burned for a thousand years.
Bahira saw him in the caravan, the sun upon the people,
وكذاكand likewise الإيوانthe palace hall شقwas split واهوتand fell
وكذاك الإيوان شق واهوت
شرفاتbattlements كانتthat were لهon it فيin الأعاليthe heights
شرفات كانت له في الأعالي
Likewise the palace hall split, and down fell
While he, in shade, walked tall.
the battlements that stood high upon it.
A cloud shaded him, inclining right and left,
وبحيريand Bahira رآهsaw him فيin الركبthe caravan والشمسwhile the sun
وبحيري رآه في الركب والشمس
علىupon القومthe people وهوwhile he تحتbeneath الظلالthe shade
على القوم وهو تحت الظلال
Bahira saw him in the caravan, with the sun
Sheltering him completely in its keep.
upon the people while he was beneath the shade.
He asked about his character, searching deeper,
ظللتهshaded him غمامةa cloud كلماwhenever ماleaned (continued)
ظللته غمامة كلما ما
لcompletion of 'leaned' استمالتit shifted عنtoward يمينهhis right وشمالand left
ل استمالت عن يمينه وشمال
A cloud shaded him; whenever he leaned,
Though much was hidden beyond his inquiry.
it shifted to his right and left.
He called upon his uncle, and said return with your son,
فأتاهso he came to him مسائلاًquestioning عنabout سجاياqualities
فأتاه مسائلاً عن سجايا
هوأخفىhe concealed فيin فحصهhis scrutiny والسؤالand questioning
هوأخفى في فحصه والسؤال
He came to him, asking about qualities
Fearing for him harm anddanger.
he had kept hidden in his scrutiny and questioning.
He's the best of men, of glorious lineage,
ودعاand he called عمهhis uncle وقالand said لهto him ارجعreturn
ودعا عمه وقال له ارجع
بابنكwith your son الآنnow خشيةfor fear of الاغتيالassassination
بابنك الآن خشية الاغتيال
He called his uncle and told him, "Return
Chosen and prepared to be sent.
with your son now, for fear of assassination."
The seal of prophets, by whom God ascended,
فهوfor he is خيرthe best of الأنامhumankind ذوpossessing الحسبlineage الذاillustrious (continued)
فهو خير الأنام ذو الحسب الذا
كيcompletion of 'illustrious' الكريمnoble المعدprepared للإرسالto be sent as a messenger
كي الكريم المعد للإرسال
For he is the best of humankind, of illustrious lineage,
Increasing his perfection and renown.
noble, prepared to be sent as a messenger.
He journeyed, nearing twice a bow's length or closer,
خاتمSeal of المرسلينthe Messengers أسرىtook by night بهhim
خاتم المرسلين أسرى به
اللهGod إليهto Himself زيادةan increase فيin الكمالperfection
الله إليه زيادة في الكمال
The Seal of the Messengers, he was taken by night
What a night it was, beyond all nights!
by God to Himself, to increase his perfection.
God secured a nation, among whom,
فازattained فيهاduring it بقابa distance of قوسينtwo bow-lengths أوor أدnearer (continued)
فاز فيها بقاب قوسين أو أد
نىcompletion of 'nearer' فياO, then ليلةa night مضتsurpassed بلياليmany nights
نى فيا ليلة مضت بليالي
In it he attained two bow-lengths, or
Some harmed him, as noted in the spoils.
nearer—O what a night, surpassing many nights!
And granted him victory in Badr the great,
آمنkept safe اللهGod أمةa community كانhe was فيهمamong them
آمن الله أمة كان فيهم
منfrom سطاهHis wrath بالنصby explicit wording فيin الأنفالal-Anfal
من سطاه بالنص في الأنفال
God kept safe a community among whom he dwelt
Assigning angels to oversee the battle.
from His wrath, as stated explicitly in al-Anfal.
Many a disbeliever fell dead,
وحباهand He granted him بالنصرvictory فيat بدرBadr الكبرىthe great battle
وحباه بالنصر في بدر الكبرى
وولىand He entrusted الأملاكthe angels with أمرthe conduct of القتالbattle
وولى الأملاك أمر القتال
He granted him victory at the great battle of Badr,
Unmourned by beasts or birds of prey.
and entrusted the angels with the fighting.
Then dragged to a well, a sign and lesson,
فلكمfor how many قدindeed هوىfell قتيلslain منfrom الكفunbelief (continued)
فلكم قد هوى قتيل من الكف
رcompletion of 'unbelief' ولمthough not تردهbring him down الظباsword-blades والعواليand tall spears
ر ولم ترده الظبا والعوالي
How many an unbeliever fell slain,
In their death and ignoble decay.
whom neither sword-blades nor tall spears had brought down!
And so too in Hunain, the armies of disbelief massed,
ثمthen جرواthey were dragged إلىto القليبthe well وصارواand became
ثم جروا إلى القليب وصاروا
عبرةa lesson فيin هلاكهمtheir destruction والنكالand punishment
عبرة في هلاكهم والنكال
Then they were dragged to the well and became
Like a torrent roaring wild.
a lesson in their destruction and punishment.
The swords flashed like lightning in the storm,
وكذاand likewise فيat حنينHunayn وافتcame جيوشthe armies of الthe
وكذا في حنين وافت جيوش ال
كفرunbelief تترىone after another كالعارضlike a rain cloud الهظالpouring rain (apparent reading)
كفر تترى كالعارض الهظال
Likewise at Hunayn there came the armies of
Appearing through clouds of arrows hailed.
unbelief, one after another, like a cloud pouring rain.
He pelted them with a mere handful of earth,
وبروقand the flashes of السيوفthe swords فيهwithin it كومضlike the flash of البرقlightning
وبروق السيوف فيه كومض البرق
يبدوappearing فيin صيبa downpour منof نبالarrows
يبدو في صيب من نبال
The swords' flashes there were like lightning,
Reduced to ostrich-like weakness and frailness.
appearing in a downpour of arrows.
Turning to flee the blow, abandoning,
فرماهمthen he hurled at them بقبضةa handful منof ترابearth
فرماهم بقبضة من تراب
فغدواso they became كالنعامlike ostriches فيin الأجفالfrightened flight
فغدوا كالنعام في الأجفال
He hurled at them a handful of earth,
The precincts of home and possessions to pillage.
and they became like ostriches scattering in fright.
Much did the women suffer at their hands,
وتولواand they turned away منfrom وقعهاits impact وتخلواand abandoned
وتولوا من وقعها وتخلوا
عنfrom حفاظprotecting الحريمthe womenfolk والأموالand wealth
عن حفاظ الحريم والأموال
They turned away under its impact and abandoned
When they sought refuge with The Giving and Grace.
the protection of their womenfolk and wealth.
From his blessed fingers, water flowed forth,
ولقدand indeed بالحريمwith the womenfolk منhe bestowed favor عليهمupon them
ولقد بالحريم من عليهم
حينwhen لاذواthey sought refuge بالواهبwith the giver المفضالmost generous
حين لاذوا بالواهب المفضال
He indeed granted them their womenfolk
Barely a drop, quenching the army's thirst.
when they sought refuge with the generous giver.
They drank their fill, the sky shaded,
وجرىand flowed منfrom الماءwater أناملهhis fingertips الخمfive (continued)
وجرى من الماء أنامله الخم
سcompletion of 'five' وماثمand there was not قطرةa drop فيin الرحالthe baggage
س وماثم قطرة في الرحال
Water flowed from his five fingertips,
Without resting upon their mounts.
though not a drop was there among the baggage.
Like the breast of Umm Ma'bad,
فارتوىso drank its fill الجيشthe army منهfrom it واحتملواand they carried away السماءrainwater; literally, the sky
فارتوى الجيش منه واحتملوا السماء
ولمand did not يربعواlinger علىover الأوشالscant trickles
ولم يربعوا على الأوشال
The army drank its fill from it and carried away rainwater,
Emaciated, weak and stark.
and did not linger over scant trickles.
At his touch, her breast filled,
وكذاand likewise شاهthe ewe of أمUmm; mother of معبدMa'bad حينwhen مستtouched
وكذا شاه أم معبد حين مست
كفهhis palm ضرعهاher udder النحيفthin الباليwasted
كفه ضرعها النحيف البالي
So too Umm Ma'bad's ewe, when he touched
Flowing freely, swift and long.
her thin, wasted udder with his palm.
Quenching people, lasting still,
فامتلىso filled ضرعهاher udder ودرتand she yielded milk علىat الفوimmediacy (continued)
فامتلى ضرعها ودرت على الفو
رcompletion of 'immediacy' برسلwith milk جارflowing علىin استرسالan unbroken stream
ر برسل جار على استرسال
Her udder filled, and she poured forth at once
No trace of dryness, the flow was strong.
milk flowing in an unbroken stream.
Who thinks to measure his virtues in verse?
روتquenched the thirst of القومthe people واستمرتand continued وماalthough not كاhad been (continued)
روت القوم واستمرت وما كا
نcompletion of 'had been' يرىseen فيin ضروعهاher udders منany بلالmoisture
ن يرى في ضروعها من بلال
She quenched the people's thirst and kept flowing, though
Seeks the impossible, like counting sand and pebbles!
not a trace of moisture had been seen in her udders.
A drop of water indicates, the successive flow,
منwhoever يرمseeks حصرto encompass وصفهhis description فيin مديحpraise
من يرم حصر وصفه في مديح
رامseeks عداto count الحصىthe pebbles وحصرand enumerate الرملthe sand
رام عدا الحصى وحصر الرمل
Whoever seeks to encompass his qualities in praise
Were verses like stars strewn in the night sky.
attempts to count the pebbles and number the sand.
The poet's capability cannot match those lofty qualities,
إنماindeed قدmay تدلindicate قطرةa drop ماءof water
إنما قد تدل قطرة ماء
برآهاby its appearance (unclear form) علىto الحياthe rain المتواليfalling in succession
برآها على الحيا المتوالي
A drop of water may indeed indicate,
However hard he strives, and long.
by its appearance, the rain falling in succession.
Whenever I think to pursue,
لوif تكونwere الشعارpoems (apparent reading) كالأنجمlike the stars الزهرradiant
لو تكون الشعار كالأنجم الزهر
ونضدنand were strung فيon سلوكthe threads of اللياليnights
ونضدن في سلوك الليالي
If poems were like the shining stars,
I'm held back by inability, my state is wrong.
and were strung on the threads of nights,
My God, I have only Your perfect grace,
لمnot يكنwould be قدرهاtheir worth قدرةthe power الشاعرof the poet
لم يكن قدرها قدرة الشاعر
كفواequal لوصفto describing تلكthose المعاليlofty merits
كفوا لوصف تلك المعالي
their worth and the poet's power would not be
In my settling and travel, no other place.
equal to describing those lofty merits.
In life and death, let me not detach,
كلماwhenever رمتI sought أنto أسيرjourney إليهto him
كلما رمت أن أسير إليه
قعدتheld back بيme عجزاًthrough incapacity عنfor السيرthe journey حاليmy condition
قعدت بي عجزاً عن السير حالي
Whenever I seek to journey to him,
For by it, my ties are latched.
my condition holds me back, incapable of the journey.
Accept the intercession of the Chosen One,
ياO إلهيmy God ماليI have nothing سوىexcept لطفكYour kindness الشاall-embracing (continued)
يا إلهي مالي سوى لطفك الشا
ملcompletion of 'all-embracing' بيtoward me فيin إقامتيmy abiding وارتحاليand my departure
مل بي في إقامتي وارتحالي
O my God, I have only Your all-embracing kindness
For through him, is my hope of salvation won.
toward me, when I stay and when I depart.
Bless his family and companions, one and all,
فاجنبنيso spare me بالألطافthrough kindness حياًalive وميتاًand dead
فاجنبني بالألطاف حياً وميتاً
فبهذاfor with this الحباءgift شدتwere tied fast حباليmy cords
فبهذا الحباء شدت حبالي
So spare me through Your kindness, in life and death;
The best of company and kin.
for with this gift my cords are tied fast.
Since the first star glimmered, lightning flashed,
وتقبلand accept شفاعةthe intercession of المصطفىthe Chosen One
وتقبل شفاعة المصطفى
فإنيfor I واليتrepeated فيهاfor it سؤاليmy request
فإني واليت فيها سؤالي
Accept the Chosen One's intercession,
And breeze stirred wayward coats.
for I have repeatedly asked for it.
فصلاةso the blessing الإلهof God يسرىjourneys by night إليهto him
فصلاة الإله يسرى إليه
ركبهاits caravan بالغدوat dawn والآصالand in the evenings
ركبها بالغدو والآصال
May God's blessing journey by night toward him,
its caravan going forth at dawn and evening,
وعلىand upon آلهhis family وأصحابهand his companions الغرthe radiant
وعلى آله وأصحابه الغر
الميامينthe blessed خيرthe best صحبcompanions وآلand family
الميامين خير صحب وآل
and upon his family and his radiant companions,
the blessed, the best companions and family,
ماas long as بداappeared كوكبa star وأومضand flashed برقlightning
ما بدا كوكب وأومض برق
وثنتand bent نسمةa breeze معاطفthe curving boughs of ضالwild lote trees
وثنت نسمة معاطف ضال
as long as a star appears and lightning flashes,
and a breeze bends the boughs of wild lote trees.
Partial English translation: 105 of 112 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1