طافَhe went round يَسعىhurrying بِهاwith it عَلىamong الجُلّاسِthe seated guests
طافَ يَسعى بِها عَلى الجُلّاسِ
كَقَضيبِlike a branch of الأَراكَةِthe arak tree المَيّاسِswaying
كَقَضيبِ الأَراكَةِ المَيّاسِ
He hurried round with it among the seated guests,
like a swaying branch of the arak tree.
بَدرُa moon تَمٍّfullness غازَلتُI wooed مِنthrough لَحظِهِhis glance لَيnight (first part)
بَدرُ تَمٍّ غازَلتُ مِن لَحظِهِ لَي
لَةَ(completes 'night') نادَمتُهُI drank with him غَزالَa gazelle of كِناسِa covert
لَةَ نادَمتُهُ غَزالَ كِناسِ
A full moon: through his glance I wooed, the night
I drank with him, a gazelle of the covert.
ذَلَّلَتهُsubdued him ليfor me المُدامُthe wine فَأَضحىso he became
ذَلَّلَتهُ لي المُدامُ فَأَضحى
لَيِّنَsupple العِطفِof flank بَعدَafter طولِlengthy شِماسِunruliness
لَيِّنَ العِطفِ بَعدَ طولِ شِماسِ
The wine subdued him for me, and he grew
supple of flank after long unruliness.
باتَhe spent the night يَجلوunveiling عَليَّto me رَوضَةَa garden of حُسنٍbeauty
باتَ يَجلو عَليَّ رَوضَةَ حُسنٍ
بِتُّI spent the night فيهاin it ماthe space بَينَbetween وَردٍroses وَآسِand myrtle
بِتُّ فيها ما بَينَ وَردٍ وَآسِ
All night he unveiled to me a garden of beauty,
where I passed the night amid roses and myrtle,
أَمزُجُI mix الكاسَthe cup مِنwith جَناهُhis fruit وَكَمand how many لَيnight (first part)
أَمزُجُ الكاسَ مِن جَناهُ وَكَم لَي
لَةِ(completes 'night') صَدٍّrejection مَزَجتُI mixed بِالدَمعِwith tears كاسيmy cup
لَةِ صَدٍّ مَزَجتُ بِالدَمعِ كاسي
mixing the cup with his fruit; and how many a night
of rejection have I mixed my cup with tears!
لاmay not يَبِتhe spend the night ذَلِكَthat الحَبيبُbeloved بِماwith what بِتspent the night
لا يَبِت ذَلِكَ الحَبيبُ بِما بِت
تُI (verb ending) أُعانيsuffer فيin حُبِّهِlove of him وَأُقاسيand endure hardship
تُ أُعاني في حُبِّهِ وَأُقاسي
May that beloved never spend a night as I have,
suffering and struggling in my love for him.
قَلَقيmy unrest مِنfrom وِشاحِهِhis sash وَبِقَلبيand in my heart
قَلَقي مِن وِشاحِهِ وَبِقَلبي
ماwhat بَخَلخالِهِin his anklet مِنَof الوَسواسِwhispering
ما بَخَلخالِهِ مِنَ الوَسواسِ
My unrest comes from his sash, and in my heart
is the whispering that stirs his anklet.
أَيُّwhat بُرحٍanguish لَوif only كانَthere were ليfor me مُسعِدٌa consoler فيin
أَيُّ بُرحٍ لَو كانَ لي مُسعِدٌ في
هِit وَجُرحٍand a wound لَوif only كانَthere were ليfor me مِنهُfor it آسِa healer
هِ وَجُرحٍ لَو كانَ لي مِنهُ آسِ
What anguish—if only I had someone to comfort me
in it! What a wound—if only I had a healer for it!
مَنwhoever تَناسىforgets عَهدَthe days of الشَبابِyouth فَإِنَّيyet I
مَن تَناسى عَهدَ الشَبابِ فَإِنَّي
لِحَميدٍof what was delightful مِنfrom عَهدِهِits days غَيرُnot ناسِforgetful
لِحَميدٍ مِن عَهدِهِ غَيرُ ناسِ
Let others forget the days of youth; I
have not forgotten what was delightful in its days.
أَخلَقَwore out الدَهرُtime جِدَّتيmy freshness وَغَدَتand became مَنstricken (first part)
أَخلَقَ الدَهرُ جِدَّتي وَغَدَت مَن
كوبَةً(completes 'stricken') نَعدَunclear; probably 'after' مِرَّةٍfirm twisting أَمراسيmy ropes
كوبَةً نَعدَ مِرَّةٍ أَمراسي
Time has worn out my freshness, and my ropes
have grown frayed [after] being firmly twisted.
ياO نَهارَdaylight of المَشيبِgray hair مَنwho ليfor me وَهَيهاand how far away! (first part)
يا نَهارَ المَشيبِ مَن لي وَهَيها
تَ(completes 'how far away!') بِلَيلِthe night of الشَبيبَةِyouth الديماسِpitch-dark
تَ بِلَيلِ الشَبيبَةِ الديماسِ
O daylight of gray hair, who can restore to me—how far away!—
the pitch-dark night of youth?
حالَintervened بَينيbetween me وَبَينَand لَهويmy amusement وَأَطراand my delights (first part)
حالَ بَيني وَبَينَ لَهوي وَأَطرا
بي(completes 'my delights') دَهرٌtime أَحالَchanged صِبغَةَthe color of راسيmy head
بي دَهرٌ أَحالَ صِبغَةَ راسي
Between me and my pleasures and delights
stands time, which changed the color of my hair.
وَرَأىand saw الغانِياتُthe beauties شَيبيmy gray hair فَأَعرَضso turned away
وَرَأى الغانِياتُ شَيبي فَأَعرَض
نَthey (feminine verb ending) وَقُلتُand I said الشَبابُyouth خَيرُthe finest لِباسِgarment
نَ وَقُلتُ الشَبابُ خَيرُ لِباسِ
The beauties saw my gray hair and turned
away; I said, “Youth is the finest garment.”
كَيفَhow لاnot يَفضُلُexcel السَوادُblack وَقَدand already أَضbecame (first part)
كَيفَ لا يَفضُلُ السَوادُ وَقَد أَض
حى(completes 'became') شِعاراًan emblem عَلىupon بَنيthe sons of العَبّاسِal-Abbas
حى شِعاراً عَلى بَني العَبّاسِ
How should black not excel, when it has become
the emblem of the sons of al-Abbas?
إِمَناءُtrustees of اللَهِGod الكِرامُthe noble وَأَهلُand people of الthe
إِمَناءُ اللَهِ الكِرامُ وَأَهلُ ال
جودِgenerosity وَالحِلمِand forbearance وَالتُقىand piety وَالباسِand valor
جودِ وَالحِلمِ وَالتُقى وَالباسِ
God's noble trustees, and masters of
generosity, forbearance, piety, and valor;
عُلَماءُscholars of الدينِthe religion الحَنيفِupright وَأَعلاand beacons (first part)
عُلَماءُ الدينِ الحَنيفِ وَأَعلا
مُ(completes 'beacons') الهُدىguidance وَالضَراغِمِand the lions الأَشراسِferocious
مُ الهُدى وَالضَراغِمِ الأَشراسِ
scholars of the upright faith, and beacons
of guidance, and ferocious lions.
أَيَّدَstrengthened اللَهُGod دينَهُHis religion بِجِبالٍwith mountains
أَيَّدَ اللَهُ دينَهُ بِجِبالٍ
مِنهُمُfrom among them شُمَّخِlofty الهِضابِthe peaks رَواسيfirmly rooted
مِنهُمُ شُمَّخِ الهِضابِ رَواسي
God strengthened His religion with mountains
from among them, lofty-peaked and firmly rooted.
وَاِصطَفاهُمand He chose them مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَغلَبَthick-necked lion مَشoutstretched (first part)
وَاِصطَفاهُم مِن كُلِّ أَغلَبَ مَش
بوحِ(completes 'outstretched') الذِراعَينِof both arms لِلعِدىtoward foes فَرّاسِa fierce slayer
بوحِ الذِراعَينِ لِلعِدى فَرّاسِ
And He chose them, each a mighty lion,
arms outstretched, a slayer of foes.
فَهُمُfor they are الآمِرونَthose who command بِالعَدلِjustice وَالإِحand benevolence (first part)
فَهُمُ الآمِرونَ بِالعَدلِ وَالإِح
سانِ(completes 'benevolence') وَالحاكِمونَand those who govern بِالقُسطاسِwith even scales
سانِ وَالحاكِمونَ بِالقُسطاسِ
They command justice and
benevolence, and govern with even scales.
وَلَقَدand indeed زينَتِwas adorned الخِلافَةُthe caliphate مِنهُمfrom among them
وَلَقَد زينَتِ الخِلافَةُ مِنهُم
بِإِمامِwith the Imam of الهُدىguidance أَبيAbu العَباسِal-Abbas
بِإِمامِ الهُدى أَبي العَباسِ
Indeed, through them the caliphate was adorned
with the Imam of Guidance, Abu al-Abbas.
مَلِكٌa king جَلَّis exalted قُدسُهُhis sanctity عَنabove مِثالٍany likeness
مَلِكٌ جَلَّ قُدسُهُ عَن مِثالٍ
وَتَعالَتand were exalted آلاؤُهُhis favors عَنbeyond قِياسِcomparison
وَتَعالَت آلاؤُهُ عَن قِياسِ
A king whose sanctity is exalted above any likeness,
whose favors are beyond comparison.
هاشِميٌّa Hashimite لَهُhe has زَئيرُa roar of سُطىًfierce attacks يُنmakes forget (first part)
هاشِميٌّ لَهُ زَئيرُ سُطىً يُن
سي(completes 'makes forget') الأُسودَthe lions الزَئيرَroaring فيin الأَخياسِthe thickets
سي الأُسودَ الزَئيرَ في الأَخياسِ
A Hashimite whose mighty roar makes
lions forget their roaring in the thickets;
وَسَماحٌand generosity يُغنيenriching البِلادَthe lands إِذاwhen الأَنthe rain-stars (first part)
وَسَماحٌ يُغني البِلادَ إِذا الأَن
واءُ(completes 'the rain-stars') ضَنَّتwithheld بِصَوبِهِwith its downpour الرَجّاسِthunderous
واءُ ضَنَّت بِصَوبِهِ الرَجّاسِ
and bounty that enriches the lands when the rain-stars
withhold their thunderous downpour.
جَمَعَbrought together الأَمنُsecurity فيunder إِيالَتِهِhis rule ماwhat lies
جَمَعَ الأَمنُ في إِيالَتِهِ ما
بَينَbetween ذِئبِthe wolf of الغَضاthe ghada shrubs وَظَبيand the gazelle of الكِناسِthe covert
بَينَ ذِئبِ الغَضا وَظَبي الكِناسِ
Under his rule, security has brought together
the wolf of the ghada shrubs and the gazelle of the covert.
وَعَناand bowed خاضِعاًsubmissively لِعِزَّتِهِbefore his might كُلُّevery
وَعَنا خاضِعاً لِعِزَّتِهِ كُلُّ
أَبِيِّaverse to القِيادِthe rein صَعبِhard المِراسِto handle
أَبِيِّ القِيادِ صَعبِ المِراسِ
And before his might bows, submissively, every
headstrong spirit, hard to lead and hard to tame.
بَثَّspread فيthroughout الأَرضِthe earth رَأفَةًmercy بَدَّلَتreplaced وَحdread (first part)
بَثَّ في الأَرضِ رَأفَةً بَدَّلَت وَح
شَةَ(completes 'dread') ساريthe traveler through الظَلامِdarkness بِالإيناسِwith reassurance
شَةَ ساري الظَلامِ بِالإيناسِ
He spread mercy throughout the earth, replacing
the night traveler's dread with reassurance.
غادَرَتturned جَفوَةَthe harshness of اللَياليthe nights حُنُوّاًtenderness
غادَرَت جَفوَةَ اللَيالي حُنُوّاً
وَأَلانَتand softened قَلبَthe heart of الزَمانِtime القاسيthe hard
وَأَلانَت قَلبَ الزَمانِ القاسي
It turned the harshness of nights to tenderness
and softened time's hard heart.
بِيَدِat the hand of الناصِرِal-Nasir الإِمامِthe Imam اِستَجابَتit yielded
بِيَدِ الناصِرِ الإِمامِ اِستَجابَت
بَعدَafter مَطلٍdelay مِنهاon its part وَطولِand prolonged مِكاسِhaggling
بَعدَ مَطلٍ مِنها وَطولِ مِكاسِ
At the hand of al-Nasir, the Imam, it yielded,
after its delays and lengthy haggling.
رُدَّwas restored تَدبيرُهاits governance إِلَيهِto him فَأَضحىso became مُلكُهاits sovereignty
رُدَّ تَدبيرُها إِلَيهِ فَأَضحى مُلكُها
وَهوَwhile it is ثابِتٌfirm فيin الأَساسِthe foundation
وَهوَ ثابِتٌ في الأَساسِ
Its governance was restored to him, and its sovereignty
now rests on firm foundations.
ياO لَهاfor it (exclamation) بَيعَةًa pledge of allegiance أَجَدَّتrenewed مِنَof الإِسIslam (first part)
يا لَها بَيعَةً أَجَدَّت مِنَ الإِس
لامِ(completes 'Islam') باليthe worn-out رُسومِهِits traces الأَدراسِeffaced
لامِ بالي رُسومِهِ الأَدراسِ
What a pledge of allegiance, renewing Islam's
worn and faded traces!
وَإِلىand to اللَهِGod أَمرُهاits affair فَلَهُso His is المِنthe favor (first part)
وَإِلى اللَهِ أَمرُها فَلَهُ المِن
نَةُ(completes 'the favor') فيهاin it عَلَيهِupon him لاnot لِلناسِto mankind
نَةُ فيها عَلَيهِ لا لِلناسِ
Its affair rests with God; His is
the favor shown him through it, not mankind's.
جَمَعَتناit united us عَلىbehind خَليفَةِa caliph حَقٍّrightful
جَمَعَتنا عَلى خَليفَةِ حَقٍّ
نَبَويِّprophetic الأَعراقِthe roots وَالأَغراسِand stock
نَبَويِّ الأَعراقِ وَالأَغراسِ
It united us behind a rightful caliph,
of prophetic roots and stock,
فيin مَقامٍan assembly ذَلَّتbowed لِهَيبَتِهِbefore his majesty الأَعthe necks (first part)
في مَقامٍ ذَلَّت لِهَيبَتِهِ الأَع
ناقِ(completes 'the necks') ذِلَّwith the submission of المُقادِone led captive لِلهِرماسِbefore the mighty lion
ناقِ ذِلَّ المُقادِ لِلهِرماسِ
in an assembly where necks bowed before his majesty
like one led captive before a mighty lion.
زالَwas lifted فيهاthere الحِجابُthe veil عَنfrom مَلِكٍa king عاfree (first part)
زالَ فيها الحِجابُ عَن مَلِكٍ عا
رٍ(completes 'free') مِنَof العارِdisgrace لِلتُقىin piety لَبّاسِclad
رٍ مِنَ العارِ لِلتُقى لَبّاسِ
There the veil was lifted from a king free
of disgrace, and clad in piety.
وَرَأَيناand we saw بُردَthe mantle of النَبِيِّthe Prophet عَلىupon مَنshoulder (first part)
وَرَأَينا بُردَ النَبِيِّ عَلى مَن
كِبِ(completes 'shoulder') طودٍa mountain مِنَamong الأَئِمَّةِthe imams راسيfirmly rooted
كِبِ طودٍ مِنَ الأَئِمَّةِ راسي
And we saw the Prophet's mantle upon the shoulder
of a firmly rooted mountain among the imams,
تالِياًfollowing هَديَهُhis guidance المَواقِفُthe gatherings مِنof نوlight (first part)
تالِياً هَديَهُ المَواقِفُ مِن نو
رِ(completes 'light') جَلالٍmajesty يُضيءُshining كَالنِبراسِlike a lamp
رِ جَلالٍ يُضيءُ كَالنِبراسِ
following his guidance at the gatherings, in a light
of majesty shining like a lamp.
فَلَهُso to him belongs فيupon الرِقابِthe necks عَهدُa pledge of وَلاءٍloyalty
فَلَهُ في الرِقابِ عَهدُ وَلاءٍ
مُحكَمِfirmly secured العَقدِthe knot مُحصَدِtightly twisted الأَمراسِthe ropes
مُحكَمِ العَقدِ مُحصَدِ الأَمراسِ
Upon our necks he holds a pledge of loyalty,
its knot secure, its ropes tightly twisted.
ياO مُبيدَdestroyer of العِدىthe foes وَياand O قاتِلَslayer of المَحdrought (first part)
يا مُبيدَ العِدى وَيا قاتِلَ المَح
لِ(completes 'drought') نَداهُhis bounty وَطارِدَand banisher of الإِفلاسِpoverty
لِ نَداهُ وَطارِدَ الإِفلاسِ
O destroyer of foes, O you whose bounty slays
drought, and who drives away poverty!
حُجَّةَproof of اللَهِGod أَنتَyou وَالسَبَبُand the cord المَمstretched (first part)
حُجَّةَ اللَهِ أَنتَ وَالسَبَبُ المَم
دودِ(completes 'stretched') ماwhat lies بَينَهُbetween Him وَبَينَand between الناسِmankind
دودِ ما بَينَهُ وَبَينَ الناسِ
You are God's proof, and the cord stretched
between Him and mankind.
أَنتَyou أَحيَيتَyou revived رِمَّةَthe corpse of العَدلِjustice وَالجوand generosity (first part)
أَنتَ أَحيَيتَ رِمَّةَ العَدلِ وَالجو
دِ(completes 'generosity') وَأَنشَرتَهاand you resurrected it مِنَfrom الأَرماسِthe tombs
دِ وَأَنشَرتَها مِنَ الأَرماسِ
You revived the corpse of justice and
generosity, raising it from the tombs.
جُدتَyou gave generously قَبلَbefore السُؤالِbeing asked عَفواًspontaneously وَكائِنand how many
جُدتَ قَبلَ السُؤالِ عَفواً وَكائِن
مِنof يَدٍa hand لاnot تَدُرُّyields milk بِالإِبساسِwith coaxing
مِن يَدٍ لا تَدُرُّ بِالإِبساسِ
You gave freely before being asked; how many
hands yield no milk even when coaxed!
وَأَرَحتَand you relieved الزَوراءَal-Zawra مِنfrom جورِthe tyranny of مُزوَرone turned aside (first part)
وَأَرَحتَ الزَوراءَ مِن جورِ مُزوَر
رٍ(completes 'one turned aside') عَنِfrom الخَيرِgoodness فاجِرٍwicked مَكّاسِan extortionate toll-collector
رٍ عَنِ الخَيرِ فاجِرٍ مَكّاسِ
You relieved al-Zawra of the tyranny of one turned
from goodness—a wicked toll-extorter,
آنِفاًindignant لِلإِسلامِfor Islam مِنهُat him وَمِنand at أَشياhis followers (first part)
آنِفاً لِلإِسلامِ مِنهُ وَمِن أَشيا
عِهِ(completes 'his followers') عُصبَةِa band of الخَناdepravity الأَرجاسِthe filthy
عِهِ عُصبَةِ الخَنا الأَرجاسِ
outraged for Islam by him and by his
followers, that filthy band of depravity.
رَدَّturned back فيinto نَحرِهِhis throat اِنتِقامُكَyour vengeance ماwhat فَوhe nocked it (first part)
رَدَّ في نَحرِهِ اِنتِقامُكَ ما فَو
وَقَهُ(completes 'he nocked it') مِنof سِهامِهِhis arrows الأَنكاسِthe worthless
وَقَهُ مِن سِهامِهِ الأَنكاسِ
Your vengeance turned back upon his throat
the worthless arrows he had nocked.
دُنِّسَتwas defiled بُرهَةًfor a time بِأَفعالِهِby his deeds الدُنthe world (first part)
دُنِّسَت بُرهَةً بِأَفعالِهِ الدُن
يا(completes 'the world') فَطَهَّرتَهاso you purified it مِنَof الأَدناسِthe stains
يا فَطَهَّرتَها مِنَ الأَدناسِ
For a time his deeds defiled the world,
then you cleansed it of its stains.
بِكَin you عاذَتit sought refuge مِنfrom شَرِّthe evil of شَيطانِهِhis devil الوَسthe whisperer (first part)
بِكَ عاذَت مِن شَرِّ شَيطانِهِ الوَس
واسِ(completes 'the whisperer') فيهاwithin it وَمُكرِهِand his guile الخَنّاسِthe skulking
واسِ فيها وَمُكرِهِ الخَنّاسِ
In you it sought refuge from the evil of his devil,
whispering within it, and from his skulking guile.
وَاِشتَكَتand it complained of داءَهاits disease العُضالَincurable فَأَلفَتand so it found
وَاِشتَكَت داءَها العُضالَ فَأَلفَت
كَyou لِأَدوائِهاfor its ailments الطَبيبَthe physician الآسيthe healer
كَ لِأَدوائِها الطَبيبَ الآسي
It complained of its incurable disease and found
you a healing physician for its ailments.
فَاِبقَso remain لِلدينِfor the faith ناصِراًa champion وَاِرمِand strike بِالإِرwith humiliation (first part)
فَاِبقَ لِلدينِ ناصِراً وَاِرمِ بِالإِر
غامِ(completes 'humiliation') جَدَّthe fortune of الإِعداءِthe enemies وَالإِتعاسِand misery
غامِ جَدَّ الإِعداءِ وَالإِتعاسِ
So remain the faith's champion, and strike down
the enemies' fortune with humiliation and misery.
وَاِستَمِعهاand hear it عَذراءَa maiden شَرطَas required by التَهانيcongratulations
وَاِستَمِعها عَذراءَ شَرطَ التَهاني
وَاِقتِراحِand the requests of النَدمانِdrinking companions وَالجُلّاسِand the seated guests
وَاِقتِراحِ النَدمانِ وَالجُلّاسِ
And hear it, a maiden ode, as congratulations require
and drinking companions and assembled guests request.
حَمَلَتit carried مِنfrom أَريجِthe fragrance of مَدحِكَpraise of you نَشراًa waft of scent
حَمَلَت مِن أَريجِ مَدحِكَ نَشراً
هِيَit مِنهُfrom it مِسكِيَّةُmusk-scented الأَنفاسِthe breaths
هِيَ مِنهُ مِسكِيَّةُ الأَنفاسِ
It carries a waft of the fragrance of praising you;
its breaths are thereby scented with musk.
مِدَحاًpraises فيكَof you ليmine سَتَبقىwill endure عَلىthrough الدَهtime (first part)
مِدَحاً فيكَ لي سَتَبقى عَلى الدَه
رِ(completes 'time') بَقاءَwith the endurance of التَنزيلِthe Revelation فيon الأَطراسِthe pages
رِ بَقاءَ التَنزيلِ في الأَطراسِ
My praises of you shall endure through
time, as the Revelation endures upon the pages,
ماas long as اِمتَطىrode راحَةًa palm يَراعٌa reed pen وماand as long as خَطinscribed (first part)
ما اِمتَطى راحَةً يَراعٌ وما خَط
طَت(completes 'inscribed') يَمينٌa right hand رَقشاًornate script عَلىupon قِرطاسِa sheet of paper
طَت يَمينٌ رَقشاً عَلى قِرطاسِ
as long as a reed pen rides a palm, and
a right hand traces script upon a sheet.
Sol 6.1