وخمرٍand wine ترشّفتُI sipped سَلسالهاits limpid flow
وخمرٍ ترشّفتُ سَلسالها
وأَجْرَيتُand I set flowing فيamong الشَّربthe drinkers جِريالهاits crimson wine
وأَجْرَيتُ في الشَّرب جِريالها
And wine whose limpid flow I sipped,
I sipped the wine and let its chains flow,
And sent its crimson flow among the drinkers.
And drank abundantly, letting it run its course,
نعمتُI delighted بهاin it قبلَbefore وقتِthe time of العذولthe reproacher
نعمتُ بها قبلَ وقتِ العذول
لأُشمِتَso I might make gloat بالشكرِthrough praise عُذّالهاits censurers
لأُشمِتَ بالشكرِ عُذّالها
I delighted in it before the reproacher's hour,
I enjoyed it before the time of abstinence,
So my praise might give its censurers cause to gloat.
So I would spitefully thank its preventer.
لدىbeside روضةٍa garden رَقَّمَتْهاpatterned it النجومthe stars
لدى روضةٍ رَقَّمَتْها النجوم
سقتهاwatered it السحائبthe clouds تَهْطالهاtheir downpour
سقتها السحائب تَهْطالها
Beside a garden patterned by the stars,
In a garden watered by the clouds
Watered by the clouds with their downpour.
With dripping rain adorning it,
فجاءتand it came مُزَخْرَفَةًornamented كالعروسlike a bride
فجاءت مُزَخْرَفَةً كالعروس
تُحَلَّىadorn النواوِيرُthe flowers مِعْطالهاits unadorned form
تُحَلَّى النواوِيرُ مِعْطالها
It came forth ornamented like a bride;
It emerged like a bride embellished
Flowers bedeck its unadorned form.
With the glittering of its pearls.
كأنَّas though كواكبَthe stars of نُوَّارِهاits blossoms
كأنَّ كواكبَ نُوَّارِها
مصابيحُlamps تُوقِدkindling ذُبَّالهاtheir wicks
مصابيحُ تُوقِد ذُبَّالها
As though the stars of its blossoms
As if its shining stars
Were lamps kindling their wicks.
Were lamps lighting its wicks,
وغانِيةٍand a beautiful woman تشتكِيcomplaining of فَتْرةًlanguor
وغانِيةٍ تشتكِي فَتْرةً
إذاwhen جاذَبَtugged against الخصرُthe waist أَكفالهاher hips
إذا جاذَبَ الخصرُ أَكفالها
And a beauty who complains of languor
And a singing girl complaining of estrangement
When her waist strains against her hips.
When her waist allures her shoulders.
نَرَىwe see كَنَقَاlike the crest of الدِّعِصthe sand dune إِدبارَهاher rear view
نَرَى كَنَقَا الدِّعِص إِدبارَها
ومِثلَand like الغزالةِthe sun إِقبالَهاher front view
ومِثلَ الغزالةِ إِقبالَها
Seen from behind, she resembles a sand dune's crest,
We see it sway like a supple branch
And from the front, she resembles the sun.
And prance like a doe,
سقَتْناshe gave us to drink المدامَthe wine وأَلحاظُهاand her glances
سقَتْنا المدامَ وأَلحاظُها
منof السِحرِmagic تفعلperform أَفعالهاtheir deeds
من السِحرِ تفعل أَفعالها
She poured us wine, while her glances
We drank the wine while it winked
Worked their deeds of enchantment.
Bewitching with its sorcery.
إذاwhen اشتعلتْblazed نارُهاits fire فيin الكؤوthe cups (continued)
إذا اشتعلتْ نارُها في الكؤو
سِ(completes 'cups') أَلْهَبْتُI intensified بالمزجِby mixing إشعالَهاits blaze
سِ أَلْهَبْتُ بالمزجِ إشعالَها
When its fire blazed in the cups,
When its fire blazed in the goblets
I heightened its blaze by mixing it.
I ignited it by mixing.
وإِنand if أُعمِلتwere performed نَغَماتthe melodies of القِياthe singing women (continued)
وإِن أُعمِلت نَغَمات القِيا
نِ(completes 'singing women') أَدْمَنْتُI persisted للكأسwith the cup إِعمالهاin using it
نِ أَدْمَنْتُ للكأس إِعمالها
And when the singing women's melodies were sounded,
And when the tunes of the lute were played
I ceaselessly put the cup to use.
I indulged the cup by sipping.
سأَدفعُI shall repel بالراحwith wine جيشَthe army of الهمومcares
سأَدفعُ بالراح جيشَ الهموم
ومنand whoever عالَburdened نفسيmy soul وماand whatever غالهاassailed it
ومن عالَ نفسي وما غالها
With wine I shall repel the army of cares,
I will repel the army of sorrows with ecstasy
Whoever burdens my soul, and whatever assails it.
And whoever rivals my passion, however intense.
فكمfor how many حيلةٍa stratagem لِيَI have فيwith الغانياthe beauties (continued)
فكم حيلةٍ لِيَ في الغانيا
تِ(completes 'beauties') تُعْييbaffles مِنamong الناسpeople محتالهاits deviser
تِ تُعْيي مِن الناس محتالها
How many a stratagem I have with beauties
So how many tricks do I have with the singing girls
That baffles anyone among men who would devise it!
That exhaust the schemes of schemers.
إذاwhen غادةٌa lovely woman منعتdenied نَيْلَهاaccess to her
إذا غادةٌ منعت نَيْلَها
ببخلthrough stinginess ولمand did not تَخْشَfear تَبْخالهاher being deemed stingy
ببخل ولم تَخْشَ تَبْخالها
When a lovely woman denies me access to her,
If a singing girl was stingy
Out of stinginess, unafraid of being deemed stingy,
And withheld her favor out of miserliness,
صرفتُI turned إليهاtoward her عِنانَthe reins of المدامwine
صرفتُ إليها عِنانَ المدام
وعلَّand repeated draughts from الكؤوسِthe cups وإنهالَهاand their first servings
وعلَّ الكؤوسِ وإنهالَها
I turn the reins of wine toward her,
I would point the cup to her
And the cups' repeated draughts and first servings.
And make the goblets overflow towards her.
فذلّتْthen she yielded وقدalthough عزّwas difficult مِنهاfrom her المَرامthe sought-for favor
فذلّتْ وقد عزّ مِنها المَرام
وماand not كنتُI was آمُلُhoping for إذلالَهاher submission
وما كنتُ آمُلُ إذلالَها
Then she yields, though winning her had been difficult,
So she would submit though she was proud
And I had never hoped to make her yield.
And I did not hope to humiliate her.
إلىto اللهِGod أَشكوI complain of مرِيضَlanguid of الجفونeyelids
إلى اللهِ أَشكو مرِيضَ الجفون
ملِيحَbeautiful in الشمائِلِmanners مُخْتالَهاproud in them
ملِيحَ الشمائِلِ مُخْتالَها
To God I complain of a beloved with languid eyelids,
I complain to God about the sickness of my eyelids
Lovely in manner, proud in bearing.
And the beauty of her gait and her allure,
تظلَّمcomplained of injustice مِنِّيfrom me وماand not إِنْindeed (emphatic) يزالceases
تظلَّم مِنِّي وما إِنْ يزال
ظَلومَtyrannical in المحاسِنِbeauty مُغتالَهاdeadly through it
ظَلومَ المحاسِنِ مُغتالَها
Who complained of me, yet never ceases
She wrongs me but her wronging of beauty
To tyrannize with beauty and slay with it,
Is not ceasing, it persists.
دَلالاًwith coquettishness عَلَيَّtoward me وكُنْتُand I was امْرَأًa man
دَلالاً عَلَيَّ وكُنْتُ امْرَأً
أحِبّI love منin الخَودِthe young beauty إِدلالَهاher coquettish confidence
أحِبّ من الخَودِ إِدلالَها
Playing the coquette toward me; and I was a man
She points me out while I was a man
Who loved a young beauty's coquettish airs.
Who loved the rosiness of her cheeks.
فنُعْمٌthen Nuʿm ولمyet did not أَرَI see إنعامَهاher kindness
فنُعْمٌ ولم أَرَ إنعامَها
وجُمْلٌand Juml ولمyet did not أرI see إجمالهاher graciousness
وجُمْلٌ ولم أر إجمالها
Then Nuʿm—yet I never saw her kindness,
Bounties I have not seen her favor
And Juml—yet I never saw her graciousness.
And beauty I have not seen her grace.
تعلّقْتُI fell in love with ليلىLayla كمِثلِlike المهَاةِthe oryx doe
تعلّقْتُ ليلى كمِثلِ المهَاةِ
خَذولاًlingering behind تراتِعgrazing alongside خُذّالَهاher fellow lingering does
خَذولاً تراتِع خُذّالَها
I fell in love with Layla, like an oryx doe,
I clung to Layla like a swooning person
Lingering behind, grazing with others of her kind.
Falling back on the shoulders of her carrier.
وإِنيand indeed I لأَحْسُدُcertainly envy عينَthe eye of الرّقيبthe watcher
وإِني لأَحْسُدُ عينَ الرّقيب
إذاwhen لمnot أَنَلْهاI reach her وقدthough نالهاit reached her
إذا لم أَنَلْها وقد نالها
And I truly envy the watcher's eye
And indeed I envy the eye of the watcher
When I cannot reach her, though it has reached her.
When I cannot attain her and he attains her.
تَرَىyou see خَجَلthe blush of الخَدِّthe cheek مِثلlike المدامwine
تَرَى خَجَل الخَدِّ مِثل المدام
إذاwhen أظهرrevealed الحسنُbeauty إخجالَهاher being made to blush
إذا أظهر الحسنُ إخجالَها
You see her cheek's blush, like wine,
You see the shyness of the cheek like the wine
When beauty brings her blushing to light.
When beauty reveals its shyness.
وفرعاًand hair لهاof hers مِلثلlike لونِthe color of اسمِهاher name
وفرعاً لها مِلثل لونِ اسمِها
أَثيثاًluxuriant يصافِحclasps خَلْخالَهاher anklet
أَثيثاً يصافِح خَلْخالَها
And hair of hers, like the color of her name,
And a branch like the color of its name
Luxuriant, reaching to clasp her anklet.
Whose bangles greet its anklets.
ولوand if عُلِّمَwere taught الغصنُthe branch مِنsome of مَيْسِهاher swaying
ولو عُلِّمَ الغصنُ مِن مَيْسِها
تعلّمit would learn مِنهاfrom her وصلىand pray لهاto her
تعلّم مِنها وصلى لها
Had the branch been taught some of her swaying,
If the branch was taught from her swaying
It would have learned from her and prayed to her.
It would learn from her and pray for her.
وكنتand I was امرأًa man غَرِقاًimmersed فيin المجوwantonness (continued)
وكنت امرأً غَرِقاً في المجو
نِ(completes 'wantonness') عَفَّchaste in السجِيَّةِnatural disposition مِفْضالَهاgenerous in it
نِ عَفَّ السجِيَّةِ مِفْضالَها
I was a man immersed in wantonness,
While I was a man drowned in passion
Yet chaste in nature, generous in spirit.
By the morals of a virtuous woman.
ففرَّغتُso I freed نفسِيmy soul منfrom الغانياتbeautiful women
ففرَّغتُ نفسِي من الغانيات
وصيّرتُand I directed فيtoward المجدglory أَعمالهاits labors
وصيّرتُ في المجد أَعمالها
So I freed my soul from beautiful women
So I emptied myself of singing girls
And directed its labors toward glory,
And made glory my deeds,
بأَبيضَthrough a fair man كالبدرِlike the full moon طَلْقِopen اليَدَيْنِof both hands
بأَبيضَ كالبدرِ طَلْقِ اليَدَيْنِ
تُسابِقُoutruns جَدْواهhis bounty سُؤَّالَهاthose asking for it
تُسابِقُ جَدْواه سُؤَّالَها
Through a fair man like the full moon, openhanded,
With hands white like the full moon, pure
Whose bounty outruns those who ask for it.
Her wrists racing to answer her calling.
هوhe البحرُis the sea تُغْرِقdrown أَمواجُهhis waves
هو البحرُ تُغْرِق أَمواجُه
بِحارَthe seas of النّوالِbounty ونُوّالَهاand their givers
بِحارَ النّوالِ ونُوّالَها
He is the sea; his waves drown
He is the sea, its waves drown
The seas of bounty and their givers.
The oceans of gifts and grants.
هوhe الليثُis the lion تُنْسِيكmake you forget أهوَالُهhis terrors
هو الليثُ تُنْسِيك أهوَالُه
زئيرَthe roaring of الليوثِlions وأَهوالَهاand their terrors
زئيرَ الليوثِ وأَهوالَها
He is the lion; his terrors make you forget
He is the lion whose terrors
The lions' roaring and their terrors.
Make you forget the roars and horrors.
إمامan imam إذاwhen طاوَلَتْهُvied with him الملوكkings
إمام إذا طاوَلَتْهُ الملوك
إلىfor فضلِthe distinction of مَنْقَبةٍa noble deed طالهاhe surpassed them
إلى فضلِ مَنْقَبةٍ طالها
An imam: when kings vie with him
The caliph when kings stand before him
For the distinction of a noble deed, he surpasses them.
Reaching to the superiority of his glory.
وإنand if نالhe attained فيon اليومthe day أَكرومةًan honor
وإن نال في اليوم أَكرومةً
تناولhe attained فيon الغدِthe morrow أَمثالَهاothers like it
تناول في الغدِ أَمثالَها
And if he gains an honor today,
And if he gained a munificence one day
He gains others like it on the morrow.
He would take its like the next.
رأيتI saw الإمامthe imam نِزَاراًNizar بهthrough him
رأيت الإمام نِزَاراً به
تُتِمّcompletes الخلافةُthe caliphate أَحزالهاits aḥzāl (meaning unclear)
تُتِمّ الخلافةُ أَحزالها
I have seen Imam Nizar; through him
I saw the Caliph Al-Nizar thereby
The caliphate completes its [unclear word: aḥzāl].
Completing the caliphate’s burdens.
إمامan imam إذاwhen أَمرhe commands الحادثاevents (continued)
إمام إذا أَمر الحادثا
تِ(completes 'events') أَرسلhe dispatches حالينِin two conditions أَرسالهاtheir successive waves
تِ أَرسل حالينِ أَرسالها
An imam who, when he commands events,
The Caliph when events occur
Dispatches their successive waves in two forms:
Sending two messengers to manage them.
فَيُحْيِيthus he gives life to الولِيَّthe ally ويُرْدِيand destroys العدوّthe enemy
فَيُحْيِي الولِيَّ ويُرْدِي العدوّ
بِكفٍّwith a hand تُفَرِّقdistributing أَموالَهاits wealth
بِكفٍّ تُفَرِّق أَموالَها
He gives life to the ally and destroys the enemy
Bringing life to the loyal and death to the enemy
With a hand that distributes its wealth.
With a hand dividing its wealth.
منof النفرthe company الغُرِّthe radiant ones ممّنof those whom تَرَوْنyou see
من النفر الغُرِّ ممّن تَرَوْن
خيارَthe choicest of البراياcreation وأَبدالهاand its righteous elect
خيارَ البرايا وأَبدالها
One of the radiant company whom you see
Among the virtuous elite you see
As the choicest of creation, its righteous elect.
The best of creations and its substitutes.
وممنand of those who يكونُare غِياثَthe succor of البلادthe land
وممن يكونُ غِياثَ البلاد
فيُبدِلthus he replaces بالروضِwith gardens إمحالهاits drought
فيُبدِل بالروضِ إمحالها
And of those who bring succor to the land,
And among those who would be the refuge of nations
Replacing its drought with gardens.
Changing the garden for its barrenness.
وممنand of those whom تراهمyou see غداةon the morning of الهياجbattle
وممن تراهم غداة الهياج
مَغاويرَbold warriors of حربwar وأزوالهاand its outstanding champions
مَغاويرَ حرب وأزوالها
And of those you see on the morning of battle
And among those you see them as warriors on days of calamity
As bold warriors, its outstanding champions.
Stirring battle and its misfortunes.
رَقّىhe ascended بالنبِيّthrough the Prophet وآلِand the family of النبيّthe Prophet
رَقّى بالنبِيّ وآلِ النبيّ
هِضابَthe highlands of المعالِيglory وأَجبالهاand its mountains
هِضابَ المعالِي وأَجبالها
Through the Prophet and the Prophet's family he climbed
He ascended with the Prophet and the Prophet’s family
The highlands of glory and its mountains.
To the summits of glories and its mountains.
سماhe rose بالوصِيّthrough the Legatee إلىto حالةٍa station
سما بالوصِيّ إلى حالةٍ
لوif النجمُthe star يَجْهَدُstrove ماnot نالهاwould it attain it
لو النجمُ يَجْهَدُ ما نالها
Through the Legatee he rose to a station
He reached with the successor a state
No star could reach, however hard it strove.
That even if a star exhausted itself it would not attain.
تراهbehold him الملوكkings بعينِwith an eye of الحلالreverence (uncertain reading)
تراه الملوك بعينِ الحلال
فقدfor indeed صَغَّرَتْhas made small حالُهhis station حالَهاtheir station
فقد صَغَّرَتْ حالُه حالَها
Kings regard him with reverence [reading uncertain],
You see him look at kings with permitted eyes
For his station has made theirs seem small.
For his state belittled their state.
هوhe الحيّةis the serpent الصّلّthe deadly asp منwith سُمِّهاits venom
هو الحيّة الصّلّ من سُمِّها
تُميتit kills وتَقتلand slays أَصلالهاits fellow asps
تُميت وتَقتل أَصلالها
He is the deadly asp; with its venom
He is the adder whose poison
It kills and slays its fellow asps.
Kills and destroys its roots.
هوhe المسكis musk منfrom نِسبةa lineage غضّةٍflourishing
هو المسك من نِسبة غضّةٍ
إذاwhen أَصبحbecame الناسpeople صَلَصالهاits dried clay
إذا أَصبح الناس صَلَصالها
He is musk, of a flourishing lineage,
He is the musk from an honored lineage
When other people are but its dried clay.
If people smelled it in the morning its chains would jingle.
لهhe has شجراتُtrees of عُلاًlofty glory لمnot تكنwere
له شجراتُ عُلاً لم تكن
تَرَىseeing نَبْعَbow-wood trees of نجدٍNajd ولاnor ضَالهاits wild lote trees
تَرَى نَبْعَ نجدٍ ولا ضَالها
He has trees of lofty glory that never
He has towering trees that were not
Saw Najd's bow-wood trees or its wild lote trees.
Seen near the springs of Nejd nor its streams.
ولوand if واجَهconfronted الشمسَthe sun وجهٌa face لهof his
ولو واجَه الشمسَ وجهٌ له
لأَبدَتْit would show لهto him الشّمْسُthe sun إجلالهاits reverence
لأَبدَتْ له الشّمْسُ إجلالها
Had his face confronted the sun,
If a face among faces faced the sun
The sun would have shown him reverence.
The sun would revere it.
إذاwhen أَشكلتgrew obscure مظلِماتُthe dark complexities of الأموaffairs (continued)
إذا أَشكلت مظلِماتُ الأمو
رِ(completes 'affairs') أَوضحhe clarified بالرُشْدِwith sound judgment إِشكالهاtheir obscurity
رِ أَوضح بالرُشْدِ إِشكالها
When the dark complexities of affairs grow obscure,
When the matters of destiny are unclear
He clears their obscurity with sound judgment.
He clarifies its ambiguity with righteousness.
يفوقsurpasses البِحارَthe seas ندىthe bounty of كفّهhis hand
يفوق البِحارَ ندى كفّه
وصوبَand the downpour of الغمامِclouds وتَهْمالهاand their streaming rain
وصوبَ الغمامِ وتَهْمالها
The bounty of his hand surpasses the seas,
His palm’s dew transcends the oceans
And the clouds' downpour and streaming rain.
And directs the clouds and collects them.
نَهوضاًever rising بأَعباءِto the burdens of حملِbearing العهودcovenants
نَهوضاً بأَعباءِ حملِ العهود
رَكوبَever riding العظائمِgreat challenges حَمّالَهاtheir tireless bearer
رَكوبَ العظائمِ حَمّالَها
Ever rising to the burdens of bearing covenants,
Bearing the burdens of fulfilling covenants
Riding mighty trials, bearing their weight.
And riding the greatest of matters carrying them.
وأَبيضand a fair warrior جَرّدَunsheathed بِيضَthe bright blades of السيوفswords
وأَبيض جَرّدَ بِيضَ السيوف
فَقَتَلand he slew فيin الحربِwar أَبطالهاits champions
فَقَتَل في الحربِ أَبطالها
And a fair warrior who unsheathed bright swords
Pure white drawing the whites of swords
And slew their champions in war.
Killing the heroes in war.
يخوضhe wades through بحارthe seas of الوغىbattle لِلوغىto wage battle
يخوض بحار الوغى لِلوغى
كماas خاضتِwaded through الأُسْدُlions أَوشالهاtheir shallow pools
كما خاضتِ الأُسْدُ أَوشالها
He wades through the seas of battle to wage battle,
Plunging into tumultuous seas of calamity
As lions wade through their shallow pools.
As lions plunge into their lairs.
بِرأيٍwith judgment هوthat is الدهرTime فيin قدرِهits might
بِرأيٍ هو الدهر في قدرِه
يحطّit brings down مِنfrom الهَضْبِthe heights أَوعالهاtheir ibex
يحطّ مِن الهَضْبِ أَوعالها
With judgment that is Time itself in its might,
With an opinion that he is the time itself
It brings the ibex down from their heights.
In its decree breaking its eminence.
تزلزلتِshook الأرضُthe earth شواًwith longing (uncertain reading) إليهtoward him
تزلزلتِ الأرضُ شواً إليه
فسكّنthen stilled ذوthe Lord of العرشِthe Throne زلْزالهاits trembling
فسكّن ذو العرشِ زلْزالها
The earth shook toward him with longing [reading uncertain],
The earth quaked in yearning to him
And the Lord of the Throne stilled its trembling.
So the Lord of the Throne calmed its tremors.
وطوّقهand invested him with اللهGod تَدْبِيرَهاits governance
وطوّقه الله تَدْبِيرَها
ومذand since كانhe existed كانhe was المسمّىthe one appointed لهاfor it
ومذ كان كان المسمّى لها
God invested him with its governance,
And God adorned him with its management
And from his beginning he was the one appointed for it.
Since he was the designated for it.
لِيهنِmay it gladden الإمامةَthe imamate ماwhat نِلتهyou have attained
لِيهنِ الإمامةَ ما نِلته
فقدfor indeed تَممhas fulfilled اللهGod آمالهاits hopes
فقد تَمم الله آمالها
May your attainment bring joy to the imamate,
To facilitate the caliphate that he attained
For God has fulfilled its hopes.
For God completed his hopes.
لكانتit had indeed been تراسِلُهsending him messages قبلَbefore ذاthis
لكانت تراسِلُه قبلَ ذا
يقِيناًin certainty ليحملso he might bear أَحمالهاits burdens
يقِيناً ليحمل أَحمالها
It had indeed been sending him messages before this,
The affairs would have consulted him before this
Assured that he would bear its burdens.
Believing he would bear its burdens.
وأَوحتand it revealed إليهto him بأَمرِby the command of الإلهGod
وأَوحت إليه بأَمرِ الإله
قُبَيلshortly before الفطامِweaning وأَوحىand he revealed لهاto it
قُبَيل الفطامِ وأَوحى لها
It revealed its message to him by God's command,
And it was revealed to him in God's command
Just before weaning; he revealed his to it.
Before he was weaned and it was revealed to him.
فجاءتهthen it came to him منin عجلٍhaste وادِعاًwhile he was at ease
فجاءته من عجلٍ وادِعاً
تُسابقracing فيin الغيبthe unseen إعجالهاits own haste
تُسابق في الغيب إعجالها
Then it came to him in haste, while he was at ease,
It came to him hastily obeying
Racing its own haste in the unseen.
Racing in the unseen to hasten to him.
وزُفّتand it was led as a bride إليهto him بأمرِat the command of الإلهGod
وزُفّت إليه بأمرِ الإله
فأَلبسهthen clothed him الإلهGod سِربالَهاin its robe
فأَلبسه الإله سِربالَها
It was brought to him as a bride at God's command,
And it was presented to him by God's command
And God clothed him in its robe.
So God dressed him in its attire.
وتَوَّجَهُand crowned him with اللهGod تِيجانَهاits crowns
وتَوَّجَهُ الله تِيجانَها
وأطلعand brought forth فيupon وجهِهhis face خالهاits beauty mark
وأطلع في وجهِه خالها
And God crowned him with its crowns,
And God crowned him with its crowns
And brought forth its beauty mark upon his face.
And showed its mole on his cheek.
وأُلبِسand he was clothed in اَثوابَrobes of إعزازهاits exaltation
وأُلبِس اَثوابَ إعزازها
ليِسحبso he might trail فيin العِزّglory أَذيالهاtheir hems
ليِسحب في العِزّ أَذيالها
He was clothed in the robes of its exaltation,
And he wore its robes of honor
To trail their hems in glory.
To drag its tails in glory.
تَصدَّتit presented itself لأَصيدَto a proud lord يَرْعَىwho tends السواthe grazing herds (continued)
تَصدَّت لأَصيدَ يَرْعَى السوا
مَ(completes 'grazing herds') مِنهاof it ويحفظand guards أَهمالهاits untended beasts
مَ مِنها ويحفظ أَهمالها
It offered itself to a proud lord who tends its herds
It confronted the prey that grazes
And protects its untended beasts.
Protecting it and guarding its possessions.
ولوand if ساسهاruled it أَحدٌanyone غَيْرُهother than him
ولو ساسها أَحدٌ غَيْرُه
لأخرجتِwould have disgorged الأَرضthe earth أَثقالهاits burdens
لأخرجتِ الأَرض أَثقالها
Had anyone else ruled it,
If anyone other than him ruled it
The earth would have disgorged its burdens.
The earth would weigh heavily.
فعاشso may live العزيزُal-ʿAziz لهاfor its sake سالماًin safety
فعاش العزيزُ لها سالماً
يَشُدُّstrengthening عُراهاits bonds وأَقفالهاand its locks
يَشُدُّ عُراها وأَقفالها
May al-ʿAziz live safely for its sake,
So the honored one lived in it safely
Strengthening its bonds and its locks.
Tightening its bindings and shackles.
يُعِزّhe strengthens علىagainst الدهرِTime أَنصارَهاits supporters
يُعِزّ على الدهرِ أَنصارَها
ويضرِبand strikes بالسيفwith the sword خُذّالَهاits deserters
ويضرِب بالسيف خُذّالَها
He strengthens its supporters against Time,
Honoring its supporters against time
And strikes its deserters with the sword.
And striking its despicable with the sword.
ترىyou see نِعماًblessings مثمراتِfruit-laden of الغصونْboughs
ترى نِعماً مثمراتِ الغصونْ
إذاwhen قَولةٌa saying فيconcerning النَّدَىgenerosity قالهاhe utters it
إذا قَولةٌ في النَّدَى قالها
You see blessings with fruit-laden boughs
You see its laden branches when
Whenever he utters a word of generosity.
A soft vocal tone speaks of it.
وترجُفand tremble منهbefore him قلوبُthe hearts of العِدَاthe enemies
وترجُف منه قلوبُ العِدَا
إذاwhen صَولَةٌan assault فيهمُagainst them صالَهاhe launches it
إذا صَولَةٌ فيهمُ صالَها
And his enemies' hearts tremble before him
And the hearts of enemies tremble from it
Whenever he launches an assault against them.
When a roar roars among them.
يُغذّيhe nourishes الأنامَhumankind بمعروفِهwith his kindness
يُغذّي الأنامَ بمعروفِه
كماas غذَتِnourished الأُسدُlions أَشبالَهاtheir cubs
كما غذَتِ الأُسدُ أَشبالَها
He nourishes humankind with his kindness,
Feeding people through his kindness
As lions nourish their cubs.
As lionesses fed their cubs.
يفوقhe surpasses الشموسَthe suns وإشراقَهاand their radiance
يفوق الشموسَ وإشراقَها
ويعلوand rises above البدورَthe full moons وإِكمالهاand their fullness
ويعلو البدورَ وإِكمالها
He surpasses the suns and their radiance,
Surpassing the suns and their rising
And rises above the full moons and their fullness.
And ascending above full moons.
ترىyou see البدرَthe full moon والبحرَand the sea فيin سرجِهhis saddle
ترى البدرَ والبحرَ في سرجِه
وليثَand the lion of الحروبِwars ورئبالَهاand their mighty lion
وليثَ الحروبِ ورئبالَها
You see the full moon and the sea in his saddle,
You see the full moon and sea in its saddle
And the lion of wars, their mighty lion.
And the battle’s lion and its swaying tail.
بهthrough him يَقْبَلُaccepts اللهGod فَرَضَthe obligation of الصّيامfasting
به يَقْبَلُ الله فَرَضَ الصّيام
وحَجّand the pilgrimage of الحجيجpilgrims وإهلالهاand their ritual invocations
وحَجّ الحجيج وإهلالها
Through him God accepts the obligation of fasting,
Through it God accepts the obligation of fasting
And the pilgrims' pilgrimage and their ritual invocations.
And the Hajj of pilgrims and their chanting.
أبوكَyour father المعِزُّal-Muʿizz هَدَىguided نورُهhis light
أبوكَ المعِزُّ هَدَى نورُه
لَدَىamid حَيْرَةِthe bewilderment of النّاسِpeople ضُلاّلِهاtheir straying ones
لَدَى حَيْرَةِ النّاسِ ضُلاّلِها
Your father al-Muʿizz—his light guided,
Your father the honored, his light guided
Amid people's bewilderment, those who had gone astray.
When people were lost in their misguidance,
وبَصَّرَهُمْand gave them sight بعدَafter طولِthe length of العَمَىblindness
وبَصَّرَهُمْ بعدَ طولِ العَمَى
وقَوَّمَand set upright بالعَدْلwith justice مُنْهالَهاwhat had collapsed among them
وقَوَّمَ بالعَدْل مُنْهالَها
And gave them sight after long blindness,
And showed them after long blindness
And with justice raised what had fallen among them.
And established justice among its channels.
لهhe has آيةٌa sign فيin العلاglory لمnot يكنwas
له آيةٌ في العلا لم يكن
عدوّan enemy لِيدرِكable to attain إِبطالهاits invalidation
عدوّ لِيدرِك إِبطالها
He has a sign of greatness that no
He has a sign in the highest that no
Enemy could ever manage to invalidate.
Enemy could ever invalidate.
وأنتمand you شموسٌare suns إذاwhen ماindeed (emphatic) بدتthey appear
وأنتم شموسٌ إذا ما بدت
كَفَتْناspare us النجومthe stars وأُفّالهاand their setting ones
كَفَتْنا النجوم وأُفّالها
And you are suns that, when they appear,
While you are suns that if you appear
Spare us the stars, including those that set.
We suffice from stars and their setting.
وكمand how many نِعمblessings ناعماتِluxuriant of الغصونboughs
وكم نِعم ناعماتِ الغصون
لبِسناwe wore بظِلّكbeneath your shade اَظلالهاtheir shadows
لبِسنا بظِلّك اَظلالها
How many blessings, with luxuriant boughs,
And how much gentle bounty on branches
Whose shadows we have worn beneath your shade!
We wore in your shade.
تفاءلتِaugured well النفسُthe soul نَيْلَthe attainment of العلاglory
تفاءلتِ النفسُ نَيْلَ العلا
فَصَدَّقْتَand you fulfilled بالفِعلthrough deeds ليfor me فالَهاits omen
فَصَدَّقْتَ بالفِعل لي فالَها
My soul augured the attainment of glory,
My soul foretold attaining glory
And by your deeds you fulfilled its omen for me.
And you confirmed the omen for me.
فَمُلِّيتَmay you be granted enjoyment of عُمْرَكَyour life ماas long as تابعتْfollowed
فَمُلِّيتَ عُمْرَكَ ما تابعتْ
لناfor us بُكَرُthe mornings of الدَّهْرِTime آصالَهاits evenings
لنا بُكَرُ الدَّهْرِ آصالَها
May you enjoy your life as long as
So you filled your life following
Time's mornings follow its evenings for us.
What the early morn told of us.
Sol 6.1