قَدalready أَقلَعَتhave ceased فَاِصفَحواso forgive عَنfor جُرمِهاtheir offense الغَيرُfortune's reversals
قَد أَقلَعَت فَاِصفَحوا عَن جُرمِها الغَيرُ
وَقَدand indeed أَتَتكُمhave come to you صُروفُvicissitudes الدَهرِof Time تَعتَذِرُapologizing
وَقَد أَتَتكُم صُروفُ الدَهرِ تَعتَذِرُ
The reversals of fortune have ceased; forgive their offense.
She has desisted, so forgive her transgression, O noble ones,
And the vicissitudes of Time have come to you apologizing.
And the vicissitudes of fate have come to you pleading her case.
كانَتwas عَلىin السُكرِintoxication مِنهُon his part هَفوَةٌa lapse فَهَبواso pardon
كانَت عَلى السُكرِ مِنهُ هَفوَةٌ فَهَبوا
بِفَضلِthrough the abundance of أَحلامِكُمyour forbearance ماwhat جَرَّهُbrought it about السَكَرُdrunkenness
بِفَضلِ أَحلامِكُم ما جَرَّهُ السَكَرُ
It was a drunken lapse on his part; so forgive,
In her drunkenness she misspoke, so pardon her,
with your abundant forbearance, what drunkenness brought about.
With your sublime dreams, the errors brought on by intoxication.
وَاِستَعمِلواand practice عادَةَthe custom of الصَفحِpardon الَّتيwhich شَهِدَattested الthe
وَاِستَعمِلوا عادَةَ الصَفحِ الَّتي شَهِدَ ال
بادونَdesert dwellers فيهاin it لَكُمfor you بِالفَضلِto excellence وَالحَضَرُand townspeople
بادونَ فيها لَكُم بِالفَضلِ وَالحَضَرُ
And practice your custom of pardon, for which
And act according to your custom of forgiveness, in which
desert dwellers and townspeople attest to your excellence.
The predecessors set a noble example for you to follow.
لِنَفسِهِto himself لاnot لَكُمto you كانَتwas إِساءَتُهُhis wrongdoing
لِنَفسِهِ لا لَكُم كانَت إِساءَتُهُ
وَفيand among بَنيهِhis sons سَرىspread لاnot فيكُمُamong you الضَرَرُthe harm
وَفي بَنيهِ سَرى لا فيكُمُ الضَرَرُ
His wrongdoing harmed himself, not you,
Her offense was against herself, not you,
and the injury spread among his sons, not among you.
And the harm was among her children, not yours.
أَصابَكُمstruck you فيin ثَراءٍwealth لَمhas not يَزَلceased لِذَويfor those possessing الthe
أَصابَكُم في ثَراءٍ لَم يَزَل لِذَوي ال
حاجاتِneeds أَوor لِبَنيfor the children of الآمالِhopes يُدَّخَرُis kept in reserve
حاجاتِ أَو لِبَني الآمالِ يُدَّخَرُ
He struck at your wealth, always kept for those
It struck you during times of plenty, which were being
in need, or for the children of hope.
Reserved for the needy or hopeful youth.
كَذاthus الحَوادِثُcalamities لاnot يُمسيbecomes عَلىin خَطَرٍdanger
كَذا الحَوادِثُ لا يُمسي عَلى خَطَرٍ
مِنهاfrom them مِنَamong الناسِpeople إِلاexcept مَنone who لَهُhe has خَطَرُstanding
مِنها مِنَ الناسِ إِلا مَن لَهُ خَطَرُ
Such are calamities: no one faces danger
Thus disasters do not threaten anyone
from them among men except a man of standing.
Except those destined for misfortune.
قَدindeed كانَthere was فيin ذاكَthat سَلبٌa taking وَهوَyet it is مَوهِبَةٌa gift
قَد كانَ في ذاكَ سَلبٌ وَهوَ مَوهِبَةٌ
وَالمالُand wealth ماso long as سَلِمَتremains safe نَفسُthe life of الفَتىa young man هَدَرُexpendable
وَالمالُ ما سَلِمَت نَفسُ الفَتى هَدَرُ
There was a taking in that, yet it was a gift;
There was indeed loss, yet it was a gift,
wealth is expendable so long as a man's life is safe.
For the money was safe while the brave lad was sacrificed.
فَكُلَّماso whatever سَلَبَتhave stripped away كَفّاكَyour two hands مِنof نَشبٍproperty
فَكُلَّما سَلَبَت كَفّاكَ مِن نَشبٍ
يادَهرُO Time فيin جَنبِcomparison with ماwhat أَبقَيتَyou spared مُغتَفَرُis forgiven
يادَهرُ في جَنبِ ما أَبقَيتَ مُغتَفَرُ
So whatever wealth your two hands have stripped away,
So whenever fate snatches something from your palms,
O Time, is forgiven beside what you have spared.
O Time, it is negligible next to what you have left us.
إِنّيindeed I أَرىsee ظَفَراًvictory تَبدوappear مَخائِلُهُits signs
إِنّي أَرى ظَفَراً تَبدو مَخائِلُهُ
فَاِستَشعِروهُso take it to heart وَعُقبىand the outcome of الصابِرِthe patient one الظَفَرُvictory
فَاِستَشعِروهُ وَعُقبى الصابِرِ الظَفَرُ
I see victory whose signs are appearing;
I see victory looming, so sense its tribulations,
take it to heart: victory is the patient one's reward.
For triumph comes to those who endure.
هَذاthis صَباحٌa dawn تَذُرُّrises الشَمسُthe sun طالِعَةٍrising
هَذا صَباحٌ تَذُرُّ الشَمسُ طالِعَةٍ
مِنfrom بَعدِهِafter it وَوَميضٌand a lightning flash خَلفَهُbehind it مَطَرُrain
مِن بَعدِهِ وَوَميضٌ خَلفَهُ مَطَرُ
This is a dawn; the sun will rise
This is a morn whose rising sun
after it, and a lightning flash with rain behind it.
Will later shine, and the rain trailing it will pour.
وَلَّتturned away سَحابَةُthe cloud of ذاكَthat الشَرِّevil مُقلِعَةًclearing away
وَلَّت سَحابَةُ ذاكَ الشَرِّ مُقلِعَةً
عَنّاfrom us وَعادَand became رَماداًashes ذَلِكَthose الشَرَرُsparks
عَنّا وَعادَ رَماداً ذَلِكَ الشَرَرُ
The cloud of that evil has turned away, clearing
The cloud of that evil has lifted from us
from us, and those sparks have become ashes.
And the embers of that flame have turned to ashes.
وَحُسنُand the soundness of رَأيِthe judgment of أَميرِthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful لَكُمfor you
وَحُسنُ رَأيِ أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ لَكُم
فيin كُلِّevery طارِقِvisitor of هَمٍّcare فادِحٍcrushing وَزَرُa refuge
في كُلِّ طارِقِ هَمٍّ فادِحٍ وَزَرُ
The Commander of the Faithful's sound judgment is for you
The wisdom of the Commander of the Faithful will help you
a refuge against every visitor of crushing care.
In every impending, grave concern or burden.
مِنfor كُلِّevery ماضٍthing gone بِجَدوىthrough the bounty of كَفِّهِhis hand خَلَفٌrecompense
مِن كُلِّ ماضٍ بِجَدوى كَفِّهِ خَلَفٌ
وَكُلُّand every وَهنٍweakness بِماby what أَولاهُhe bestowed it مُنجَبِرُis mended
وَكُلُّ وَهنٍ بِما أَولاهُ مُنجَبِرُ
For all that has gone, his hand's bounty offers recompense,
Every past weakness has a successor to rectify it,
and every weakness is mended by what he has bestowed.
And all disgrace meets its repairer.
آلَO house of المُظَفَّرِal-Muzaffar أَنتُمyou لِلبِلادِfor the lands حَياًlife-giving rain
آلَ المُظَفَّرِ أَنتُم لِلبِلادِ حَياً
يُهميpours down نَدىًbounty وَضِرامُand the blaze of الجَدبِdrought يَستَعِرُrages
يُهمي نَدىً وَضِرامُ الجَدبِ يَستَعِرُ
House of al-Muzaffar, you are life-giving rain for the lands,
You, Family of the Victorious, are the land’s vitality,
pouring down bounty while drought's blaze rages.
Your dew revives it while drought smolders.
عَنكُمabout you رَوىrecounted الناسُpeople أَخبارَstories of الكِرامِthe generous وَفيand in
عَنكُم رَوى الناسُ أَخبارَ الكِرامِ وَفي
قَديمِكُمyour ancient lineage جاءَتِcame الأَياتُthe verses وَالسُوَرُand the surahs
قَديمِكُم جاءَتِ الأَياتُ وَالسُوَرُ
Of you people recount the tales of the generous, and concerning
From your storied past came revelations and surahs,
your ancient lineage came the verses and the surahs.
And through you humankind learned nobleness and generosity.
قَومٌa people يُضِئُgives light لَناfor us فيin كُلِّevery راجِيَةٍhopeful prospect
قَومٌ يُضِئُ لَنا في كُلِّ راجِيَةٍ
آراؤُهُمtheir counsels وَظَلامُwhile the darkness of الخَطبِcalamity مُعتَكِرُis thickening
آراؤُهُم وَظَلامُ الخَطبِ مُعتَكِرُ
A people: in every hopeful prospect, there shines for us
A people who with their views illuminate
their counsel, while the darkness of calamity thickens.
Every hopeful cause, dispelling the darkness of distress.
إِذاwhen هُمُthey اِستَبَقواrace one another فيin الجودِgenerosity وَاِبتَدَرواand rush ahead
إِذا هُمُ اِستَبَقوا في الجودِ وَاِبتَدَروا
تَشابَهَتare alike مِنهُمُamong them الأَوضاحُthe white markings وَالغُرَرُand forehead-blazes
تَشابَهَت مِنهُمُ الأَوضاحُ وَالغُرَرُ
When they race one another in generosity and rush ahead,
They raced to be first in munificence and won,
their white markings and forehead-blazes are alike.
Their glowing moons equal, their full moons a match.
فَفيso in الكَتائِبِbattalions آسادٌlions إِذاwhen اِلتَأَمواthey gather
فَفي الكَتائِبِ آسادٌ إِذا اِلتَأَموا
وَفيand in المَواكِبِprocessions أَقمارٌmoons إِذاwhen سَفَرواthey show their faces
وَفي المَواكِبِ أَقمارٌ إِذا سَفَروا
In battalions they are lions when they gather,
Lions when united, yet moons when they travel,
and in processions moons when they show their faces.
Boasting not of lofty rule, though kingdoms boast of them.
لاnot يَفخَرونَthey boast بِمُلكٍof sovereignty شامِخٍlofty وَبِهِمand through them
لا يَفخَرونَ بِمُلكٍ شامِخٍ وَبِهِم
تُمسيcome to be المَمالِكُkingdoms فيacross الآفاقِthe horizons تَفتَخِرُtaking pride
تُمسي المَمالِكُ في الآفاقِ تَفتَخِرُ
They do not boast of lofty sovereignty; through them
When the earth trembles, their faces are
kingdoms across the horizons take pride.
Our meadows, their hands our gardens and streamlets.
إِذاwhen اِقشَعَرَّshivers الثَرىthe soil كانَتbecome وُجوهُهُمُtheir faces
إِذا اِقشَعَرَّ الثَرى كانَت وُجوهُهُمُ
لَناfor us وَأَيديهِمُand their hands الرَوضاتُgardens وَالغُدُرُand pools
لَنا وَأَيديهِمُ الرَوضاتُ وَالغُدُرُ
When the earth shivers, their faces become
With their moist springs they light fires in homes
our gardens, and their hands our pools.
And kindle the moon over the lands.
بِالمَندَلِwith sandalwood الرَطبِmoist يُذكىis kindled فيin بُيوتِهِمُtheir homes
بِالمَندَلِ الرَطبِ يُذكى في بُيوتِهِمُ
نارُthe fire of القِرىhospitality وَتُذَكّىand are sacrificed حَولَهاaround it البِدَرُmoneybags
نارُ القِرى وَتُذَكّى حَولَها البِدَرُ
With moist sandalwood, in their homes is kindled
Their openhandedness makes them more inclined to pardon,
hospitality's fire, and moneybags are sacrificed around it.
So forbearing were they when able to punish.
تَزيدُهُمincreases in them رَغبَةًdesire فيfor العَفوِpardon بَسطَةُthe reach of أَيfirst part of 'their hands'
تَزيدُهُم رَغبَةً في العَفوِ بَسطَةُ أَي
ديهِمlast part of 'their hands' فَأَحلَمُso most forbearing ماwhen كانواthey are إِذاwhen قَدَرواthey have power
ديهِم فَأَحلَمُ ما كانوا إِذا قَدَروا
Their desire to pardon grows with the reach of their
When the veil of glory dropped from the office of vizier,
hands; they are most forbearing when they have power.
And it lost the companionship of that radiant moon.
إِنَّindeed الوِزارَةَthe vizierate لَمّاwhen غابَdisappeared ضَيغَمُهاher lion
إِنَّ الوِزارَةَ لَمّا غابَ ضَيغَمُها
عَنهاfrom her وَفارَقَand left تِلكَthat الهالَةَhalo القَمَرُthe moon
عَنها وَفارَقَ تِلكَ الهالَةَ القَمَرُ
When the vizierate's lion disappeared
None on earth would it find worthy of obedience and order
from her, and the moon forsook that halo,
Save you, so it has no recourse apart from your management.
لَمdid not تَرضَaccept فيon الأَرضِthe earth مَخلوقاًany creature يَكونُto be لَهاfor her
لَم تَرضَ في الأَرضِ مَخلوقاً يَكونُ لَها
كُفُئاًan equal تَدينُshe submits لَهُto him عَفواًwillingly وَتَأتَمِرُand obeys
كُفُئاً تَدينُ لَهُ عَفواً وَتَأتَمِرُ
she accepted no creature on earth as
Some foolishly aspired to this office,
a worthy equal to whom she would willingly submit and obey.
Too incompetent and unable to attain it.
فَأَقسَمَتso she swore لاnot أَرىI see خَطباًa suitor لَهاshe has نَظَرُregard
فَأَقسَمَت لا أَرى خَطباً لَها نَظَرُ
حَتّىuntil يَكونَthere is لَكُمfor you فيin أَمرِهاher affair نَظَرُconsideration
حَتّى يَكونَ لَكُم في أَمرِها نَظَرُ
So she swore to give no suitor her regard
Tell them: Shun its path, for when
until you gave consideration to her affairs.
Thoroughbreds race, donkeys cannot compete.
إِنif لانَsoftened مَغمَزُهاher pressure-point مِنfrom بَعدِكُمafter you فَبِماthen because
إِن لانَ مَغمَزُها مِن بَعدِكُم فَبِما
أَمسَتshe became لَدَيكُمwith you وَماand not فيin عودِهاher timber خَوَرُweakness
أَمسَت لَدَيكُم وَما في عودِها خَوَرُ
If she yields to pressure after you, it is because
Make way, leave the arena of glory,
she has been with you; no weakness lies in her timber.
Vacate the lions’ abode, which oxen cannot occupy.
رَدّواrestore عَلَيهاto her أَمانيهاher hopes بِعودِكُمُby your return
رَدّوا عَلَيها أَمانيها بِعودِكُمُ
فَماfor not لَهاshe has فيin سِوىother than تَدبيرِكُمyour governance وَطَرُany desire
فَما لَها في سِوى تَدبيرِكُم وَطَرُ
Restore her hopes to her by your return;
War needs men known for it,
she desires no governance but yours.
And rule, others than you.
لَقَدindeed تَطاوَلَoverreached أَقوامٌmen لِمَنصِبِهاtoward her office
لَقَد تَطاوَلَ أَقوامٌ لِمَنصِبِها
جَهلاًignorantly وَفيwhile in بَوعِهِمtheir arm-span عَنfrom نَيلِهاattaining her قِصرُshortness
جَهلاً وَفي بَوعِهِم عَن نَيلِها قِصرُ
Men have indeed overreached toward her office,
Precedence belongs to racers, and only
in ignorance, though their span falls short of attaining it.
Stallions pay the tithe, not the infertile mule.
فَقُلso tell لَهُمthem نَكِّبواturn aside عَنfrom طُرقِهاher paths فَمَتىfor when
فَقُل لَهُم نَكِّبوا عَن طُرقِها فَمَتى
كَرَّتraced مَعَwith الجُردِsleek steeds فيon مِضمارِهاher racecourse الحُمُرُasses
كَرَّت مَعَ الجُردِ في مِضمارِها الحُمُرُ
Tell them: turn aside from her paths; for when
Through you alone faith has a guardian to champion it
have asses raced beside sleek steeds on her course?
When oppressed and avenge it when wronged.
تَزَحزَحواmove away عَنfrom مَقامِthe station of المَجدِglory وَاِعتَزِلواand withdraw from
تَزَحزَحوا عَن مَقامِ المَجدِ وَاِعتَزِلوا
مَرابِضَthe lairs of الأُسدِlions لاnot يَحتَلُّهاoccupy them البَقَرُcattle
مَرابِضَ الأُسدِ لا يَحتَلُّها البَقَرُ
Move away from the station of glory, and leave
Without a keen helmsman from you, power would wander
the lions' lairs: cattle do not occupy them.
Astray, a prize for roving beasts.
فَلِلحُرُبِfor wars have رِجالٌmen يُعرَفونَwho are known بِهاby them
فَلِلحُرُبِ رِجالٌ يُعرَفونَ بِها
وَلِلسِيادَةِand for mastery قَومٌa people غَيرُكُمother than you أُخَرُothers
وَلِلسِيادَةِ قَومٌ غَيرُكُم أُخَرُ
Wars have their men, known by their deeds in them,
It has reached you while opponents bewailed their arms,
and mastery has its people—others, not you.
With no claws to show or talons to display.
لاnot يُعرَفُis known السَبقُpreeminence in racing إِلّاexcept فيamong الجِيادِnoble steeds وَلاand not
لا يُعرَفُ السَبقُ إِلّا في الجِيادِ وَلا
يَفريcleaves الضَريبَةَthe target إِلّاexcept الصارِمُthe keen sword الذَكَرُhard-tempered
يَفري الضَريبَةَ إِلّا الصارِمُ الذَكَرُ
Preeminence in racing is known only among noble steeds, and none
Enjoy life’s bounty and live long, Pillar of Faith,
cleaves the target but the keen, hard-tempered sword.
As none have attained the ease you enjoy.
فَلاso may not خَلاbe devoid الدينُthe faith مِنof والٍa ruler يُعِزُّfinds strength بِهِthrough him
فَلا خَلا الدينُ مِن والٍ يُعِزُّ بِهِ
مِنكُمfrom among you إِذاwhen باتَbecomes مَظلوماًwronged وَيَنتَصِرُand gains victory
مِنكُم إِذا باتَ مَظلوماً وَيَنتَصِرُ
May the faith never lack a ruler through whom it gains strength,
In people’s eyes your achievements are praised, though many
one of you, when it suffers injustice, and wins redress.
Have ruled but left no legacy.
وَالمُلكُand sovereignty إِلّاexcept بِراعٍwith a shepherd مِنكُمُfrom among you نَقَدٌa flock of small sheep
وَالمُلكُ إِلّا بِراعٍ مِنكُمُ نَقَدٌ
يَضيعُis lost وَهوَand it is لِذِئبانِfor the wolves of الفَلاthe wilderness جُزُرُslaughter-meat
يَضيعُ وَهوَ لِذِئبانِ الفَلا جُزُرُ
Without a shepherd from you, sovereignty is a flock of small sheep,
Those grateful to you for your peace extol your rest
lost, and meat for the wolves of the wilderness.
As they praised the rain once the flowers bloomed.
أَضحىhas become وَكانَthough it was بِكُمthrough you شاكيfully armed with السِلاحِweapons وَماand not
أَضحى وَكانَ بِكُم شاكي السِلاحِ وَما
فيin كَفِّهِits hand مِخلَبٌa claw يَفريrending وَلاnor ظُفُرُa nail
في كَفِّهِ مِخلَبٌ يَفري وَلا ظُفُرُ
It has become—though through you it was fully armed—
A king towards whom the hopes of the destitute gravitate,
bereft of a rending claw in its hand, or even a nail.
And throngs gather before his doors.
تَمَلَّenjoy ياO عَضُدَAdud (Support of) الدينِal-Din (the Faith) البَقاءَlong life وَعِشand live
تَمَلَّ يا عَضُدَ الدينِ البَقاءَ وَعِش
فيin نِعمَةٍbliss لاmay not تَخَطَّتadvance نَحوَهاtoward it الغَيرُfortune's reversals
في نِعمَةٍ لا تَخَطَّت نَحوَها الغَيرُ
Enjoy long life, O Adud al-Din, and live
Bashfulness flows from his face; from his youthful form
in bliss that fortune's reversals never approach.
The waters of munificence can be squeezed.
حُمِدتَyou were praised فيamong الناسِpeople آثاراًfor deeds وَكَمand how many مَلَكَruled الthe
حُمِدتَ في الناسِ آثاراً وَكَم مَلَكَ ال
دُنياworld أُناسٌpeople فَلَمyet not يُحمَدwas praised لَهُمfor them أَثَرُa deed
دُنيا أُناسٌ فَلَم يُحمَد لَهُم أَثَرُ
You are praised among men for your deeds; how many ruled the
Lions revere him, the sun and rain envy
world, yet no deed of theirs was praised!
His cheerful disposition and radiant grace.
يُثنيpraise عَلىupon راحَتَيكَyour two palms المُعتَفونَbounty-seekers كَماjust as
يُثني عَلى راحَتَيكَ المُعتَفونَ كَما
أَثنىpraised عَلىupon الغَيثِthe rain لَمّاwhen أَقلَعَceased الزَهرُthe flowers
أَثنى عَلى الغَيثِ لَمّا أَقلَعَ الزَهرُ
Those seeking bounty praise your two palms, just as
A flaming brand against enemies, the clouds
flowers praised the rain after it had ceased.
Overflowing with goodness to the prosperous.
مَلِكٌa king تُهاجِرُmigrate آمالُthe hopes of العُفاةِbounty-seekers إِلىtoward
مَلِكٌ تُهاجِرُ آمالُ العُفاةِ إِلى
أَبوابِهِhis gates فَعَلَيهاso at them مِنهُمُof them زُمَرُthrongs
أَبوابِهِ فَعَلَيها مِنهُمُ زُمَرُ
A king: the hopes of bounty-seekers migrate toward
O you who make life pleasant while we are your partisans!
his gates, where they gather in throngs.
Days are wholesome during your prosperous reign.
يَكادُalmost مِنfrom وَجهِهِhis face ماءُthe water of الحَياءِmodesty وَمِنand from
يَكادُ مِن وَجهِهِ ماءُ الحَياءِ وَمِن
بَنانِهِhis fingers السَبطِsupple ماءُthe water of الجودِgenerosity يُعتَصَرُcan be wrung
بَنانِهِ السَبطِ ماءُ الجودِ يُعتَصَرُ
One could almost wring from his face the water of modesty, and from
This is a foal guided by luck; its star ascending,
his supple fingers the water of generosity.
Resembling the rosebud in soothing breasts.
يَخافُهُfear him الأُسدُlions إِجلالاًin awe وَتَحسُدُهُand envy him
يَخافُهُ الأُسدُ إِجلالاً وَتَحسُدُهُ
لِبِشرِهِfor his cheer وَنَداهُand his bounty الشَمسُthe sun وَالمَطَرُand rain
لِبِشرِهِ وَنَداهُ الشَمسُ وَالمَطَرُ
Lions fear him in awe, while he is envied
May your lands remain prosperous, your soul gratified
for his cheerful radiance and bounty by the sun and rain.
By the meadows and maidens ever greeting you.
شَواظُa flame of نارٍfire عَلىagainst الأَعداءِenemies مُضطَرِمٌblazing
شَواظُ نارٍ عَلى الأَعداءِ مُضطَرِمٌ
وَصَوبُand the downpour of مُزنٍrainclouds عَلىupon العافينَbounty-seekers مُنهَمِرُpouring down
وَصَوبُ مُزنٍ عَلى العافينَ مُنهَمِرُ
A flame of fire blazing against his foes,
Fate proceeds as you wish, fortune accompanies
and rain from clouds pouring upon bounty-seekers.
All you do or refrain from doing.
ياO مَنone who تَطيبُis sweet لَناfor us الدُنياthe world وَنَحنُwhile we are مَواfirst part of 'his retainers'
يا مَن تَطيبُ لَنا الدُنيا وَنَحنُ مَوا
ليهِlast part of 'his retainers' وَيَحسُنُand is fair فيin أَيّامِهِhis days العُمُرُlife
ليهِ وَيَحسُنُ في أَيّامِهِ العُمُرُ
O you through whom the world is sweet to us, we being your
Delighting in your radiant sons, stars shine
retainers, and life is fair in your days.
In the heavens of your glory for them.
هَذاthis خِتانٌa circumcision جَرىsped بِالسَعدِwith good fortune طائِرُهُits omen-bird
هَذا خِتانٌ جَرى بِالسَعدِ طائِرُهُ
وَشابَهَand resembled الوِردَarrival at water فيin إِحمادِهِits happy outcome الصَدَرُdeparture from water
وَشابَهَ الوِردَ في إِحمادِهِ الصَدَرُ
This is a circumcision whose omen-bird has flown auspiciously,
Until in the order of faith, you clearly see
and its departure matched its arrival in happy outcome.
What the Hashimites beheld from the exalted heavens.
لاmay not زالَcease to be رَبعُكَyour abode مَعموراًinhabited وَلاand may not بَرِحَتcease
لا زالَ رَبعُكَ مَعموراً وَلا بَرِحَت
تُهديbring الهَناءَjoy لَكَto you الرَوحاتُevenings وَالبُكرُand mornings
تُهدي الهَناءَ لَكَ الرَوحاتُ وَالبُكرُ
May your abode remain flourishing, and may
O people so formidable when angry
evenings and mornings keep bringing you joy.
That the world yields to them submissively when they command!
يَجريruns القَضاءُdestiny بِماaccording to what تَرضىyou desire وَيَصحَبُكَand accompanies you الthe
يَجري القَضاءُ بِما تَرضى وَيَصحَبُكَ ال
إِقبالُgood fortune فيin كُلِّeverything ماthat تَأتيyou undertake وَماand what تَذَرُyou leave aside
إِقبالُ في كُلِّ ما تَأتي وَما تَذَرُ
May destiny run as you desire, and may you be accompanied by
Tell Time to turn its fortunes my way
good fortune in all you undertake and all you leave aside.
And reveal its days that have betrayed me.
مُمَتَّعاًblessed بِبَنيكَwith your sons الغُرِّillustrious يُشرِقُshine فيin
مُمَتَّعاً بِبَنيكَ الغُرِّ يُشرِقُ في
سَماءِthe heaven of مَجدِكَyour glory مِنهُمamong them أَنجُمٌstars زُهُرُbright
سَماءِ مَجدِكَ مِنهُم أَنجُمٌ زُهُرُ
May you delight in your radiant sons, as there shine in
Or restrain its discord from me; perhaps
the heaven of your glory bright stars among them,
Its afflictions will cease and desist because of you.
حَتّىuntil تَرىyou see بِنِظامِin Nizam (Order of) الدينِal-Din (the Faith) عَنfrom كَثَبٍnearby
حَتّى تَرى بِنِظامِ الدينِ عَن كَثَبٍ
مِنَof العُلىeminence ماwhat رَأَتsaw فيin هاشِمٍHashim مُضَرُMudar
مِنَ العُلى ما رَأَت في هاشِمٍ مُضَرُ
until in Nizam al-Din you see close at hand
Why do I watch as days slip by,
the eminence that Mudar saw in Hashim.
Diverting the favors of fate from me, while I wait?
ياO مَنthose whom تَهابُهُمُfears them الدُنياthe world إِذاwhen غَضِبواthey grow angry
يا مَن تَهابُهُمُ الدُنيا إِذا غَضِبوا
وَتَستَكينُand submits لَهُمto them طَوعاًwillingly إِذاwhen أَمَرواthey command
وَتَستَكينُ لَهُم طَوعاً إِذا أَمَروا
O you whom the world fears when you are angered,
How many nights has wakefulness severed
and to whom it willingly submits when you command,
With sorrows! Neither dawn shining nor darkness lifting.
مُرواcommand الزَمانَTime يَواتينيto favor me فَتَسفِرَso may shine ليfor me
مُروا الزَمانَ يَواتيني فَتَسفِرَ لي
حُظوظُهُits fortunes وَتَفيand keep faith أَيّامُهُits days الغُدُرُtreacherous
حُظوظُهُ وَتَفي أَيّامُهُ الغُدُرُ
command Time to favor me, so that there may shine for me
It is not yet time for daylight to emerge
its fortunes, and its treacherous days may keep faith.
When will slumber finally delight my eyes?
أَوor فَاِزجُرواthen restrain عَنfrom خِصاميcontending with me صَرفَهُits reversals فَعَسىso perhaps
أَو فَاِزجُروا عَن خِصامي صَرفَهُ فَعَسى
خُطوبُهُits calamities تَنتَهيdesist عَنّيfrom me وَتَنزَجِرُand be checked
خُطوبُهُ تَنتَهي عَنّي وَتَنزَجِرُ
Or restrain its reversals from contending with me; perhaps
Secrets lasted until I thought the night forgot
its calamities will leave me alone and be checked.
To pass the moon around in its resting place.
إِلامَhow long أَرقُبُshall I watch وَالأَيّامُwhile the days ذاهِبَةٌare passing
إِلامَ أَرقُبُ وَالأَيّامُ ذاهِبَةٌ
إِدالَةَa turn of الحَظِّfortune مِنfrom دَهريmy Time وَأَنتَظِرُand wait
إِدالَةَ الحَظِّ مِن دَهري وَأَنتَظِرُ
How long shall I watch, while the days pass away,
May I never lack your gifts nor your listening
and wait for Time to grant a turn of fortune?
To my poor poetry and scattered rhymes.
كَمhow often يَقطَعُspends اللَيلَthe night بِالأَحزانِin sorrows ساهِرُهُits sleepless one
كَم يَقطَعُ اللَيلَ بِالأَحزانِ ساهِرُهُ
لاnot الصُبحُthe dawn يَبدوappears وَلاnor الظَلماءُthe darkness تَنحَسِرُrecedes
لا الصُبحُ يَبدو وَلا الظَلماءُ تَنحَسِرُ
How often the sleepless one spends the night in sorrow,
May I not stand at any door but yours,
with no dawn appearing, nor the darkness lifting!
Hopeful for aid from none but your munificence.
ماnot آنَhas the time come لِلفَجرِfor dawn أَنto يَبدوappear مَطالِعُهُits first lights
ما آنَ لِلفَجرِ أَن يَبدو مَطالِعُهُ
أَماhas not اِشتَفىhad its fill بَعدُyet مِنon أَجفانِيَmy eyelids السَهرُsleeplessness
أَما اِشتَفى بَعدُ مِن أَجفانِيَ السَهرُ
Is it not time for dawn's first lights to appear?
My praise of you is beyond reproach,
Has sleeplessness not yet had its fill of my eyelids?
Pure in you, by no blemish marred.
طالَgrew long السِرارُthe moonless spell إِلىuntil أَنthat خِلتَyou thought أَنَّthat سَواfirst part of 'blackness'
طالَ السِرارُ إِلى أَن خِلتَ أَنَّ سَوا
دَlast part of 'blackness' اللَيلِof night ماnever دارَcircled فيin أَحشائِهِits entrails القَمَرُthe moon
دَ اللَيلِ ما دارَ في أَحشائِهِ القَمَرُ
The moonless spell lasted so long that you thought the blackness
It is poetry, but studied closely, wisdom,
of night had never held the moon circling in its belly.
Rhymed, yet its meaning polished pearls.
فَلاso may not عَدِمتُI lack عَطاياكُمyour gifts وَلاnor عَدِمَتmay lack
فَلا عَدِمتُ عَطاياكُم وَلا عَدِمَت
إِصغاءَكُمyour attentive listening لِمَديحيto my praise هَذِهِthese الفِقَرُverses
إِصغاءَكُم لِمَديحي هَذِهِ الفِقَرُ
May I never lack your gifts, nor may
these verses lack your attentive hearing of my praise.
وَلاand may not رَآنيsee me عَلىat أَبوابِthe gates of غَيرِكُمُothers than you
وَلا رَآني عَلى أَبوابِ غَيرِكُمُ
مُؤَمِّلاًhoping لِسِوىfor other than جَدواكُمُyour bounty بَشَرُany person
مُؤَمِّلاً لِسِوى جَدواكُمُ بَشَرُ
And may no one ever see me at another's gates,
hoping for bounty other than yours.
فَدونَكُمso take for yourselves مِنfrom ثَنائيmy praise كُلَّevery مُحكَمَةٍfinely wrought verse
فَدونَكُم مِن ثَنائي كُلَّ مُحكَمَةٍ
صَفاؤُهاits purity فيكُمabout you ماnot شابَهُtainted it كَدَرُany murk
صَفاؤُها فيكُم ما شابَهُ كَدَرُ
Receive, then, each finely wrought verse of my praise,
whose clarity in praising you no murk has clouded.
شِعرٌpoetry وَلَكِنyet إِذاif أَحقَقتَهُyou discern its truth حِكَمٌwise sayings
شِعرٌ وَلَكِن إِذا أَحقَقتَهُ حِكَمٌ
نَظمٌverse وَلَكِنyet إِذاif أَقوَمتَهُyou appraise it دُرَرُpearls
نَظمٌ وَلَكِن إِذا أَقوَمتَهُ دُرَرُ
Poetry, yet when you discern its truth, words of wisdom;
verse, yet when you appraise it, pearls.
Partial English translation: 110 of 118 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1