لِمَنwhose رَسمُtraces of دارٍa dwelling كَالكِتابِlike the book المُنَمنَمِornamented
لِمَن رَسمُ دارٍ كَالكِتابِ المُنَمنَمِ
بِمُنعَرَجِat the bend of الواديthe valley فُوَيقَjust above المُهَزَّمِal-Muhazzam
بِمُنعَرَجِ الوادي فُوَيقَ المُهَزَّمِ
Whose are these dwelling-traces, like an ornamented book,
Who etched a home like an illuminated book
At the valley's bend, just above al-Muhazzam?
Along the winding valley's incline which the defeated sought?
عَفَتfaded بَعدَafter أَشباحِthe figures of الأَنيسِthe inhabitants كَأَنَّماas though الthe
عَفَت بَعدَ أَشباحِ الأَنيسِ كَأَنَّما ال
شُخوصُstanding shapes بِهاin it خيلانُdark patches حُرضٍsaltwort وَعَجرَمِand ‘ajram shrubs
شُخوصُ بِها خيلانُ حُرضٍ وَعَجرَمِ
They faded after the dwellers' figures were gone, as though the
After the ghosts of friends were gone it seemed
Shapes there were dark patches of saltwort and ‘ajram shrubs.
As though riders on spirited, unbroken steeds galloped there.
تَوَهَّمتُهاI made it out مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat قَدalready خَلاhad passed لَهاover it
تَوَهَّمتُها مِن بَعدِ ما قَد خَلا لَها
أَهِلَّةُnew moons of حَولٍa year بَعدَafter حَولٍa year مُجَرَّمِfully elapsed
أَهِلَّةُ حَولٍ بَعدَ حَولٍ مُجَرَّمِ
I made them out after there had passed over them
I imagined after they had gone that it
The new moons of year upon fully elapsed year:
Had eras coming and going in succession.
مَنازِلُdwellings of أَترابٍsame-age maidens تَبَدَّلنَthey exchanged بَعدَهاafter them
مَنازِلُ أَترابٍ تَبَدَّلنَ بَعدَها
بِلاداًlands فَبادَتso they vanished غَيرَexcept نُؤيٍan encircling trench مُهَدَّمِcrumbled
بِلاداً فَبادَت غَيرَ نُؤيٍ مُهَدَّمِ
Dwellings of maidens of one age, who afterward exchanged them
The dwellings of tribes were transformed -
For other lands; they vanished, save a crumbling encircling trench.
The land perished, no longer a secure refuge.
سَمِعنَthey heard بِغَيثٍof rain رابِعٍspringtime فَتَبِعنَهُso they followed it
سَمِعنَ بِغَيثٍ رابِعٍ فَتَبِعنَهُ
عَلىon كُلِّeach مَوّارِswaying المِلاطِflanks عَثَمثَمِhuge and sturdy
عَلى كُلِّ مَوّارِ المِلاطِ عَثَمثَمِ
They heard of spring rain and followed it,
They heard a fourth rain so they followed it
On each huge, sturdy camel with swaying flanks.
Over every muddy, puddled terrain.
طوالُlong القَرىof back تَحكيimitate خُطاهُits steps إِذاwhen مَشىit walks
طوالُ القَرى تَحكي خُطاهُ إِذا مَشى
تَجاوُبَthe answering sounds of أَحناءَcurved parts of الغَبيطِthe howdah المُقَوَّمِwell-built
تَجاوُبَ أَحناءَ الغَبيطِ المُقَوَّمِ
Long-backed, its footsteps as it walks imitate
The long villages tell of its footsteps when it walked -
The answering sounds of the well-built howdah's curved frame.
The hollows of the uneven valley echoed back.
تَخَطَّينَthey crossed بَطنَthe hollow of السِترِal-Sitr حَتّىuntil جَعَلنَهُthey placed it
تَخَطَّينَ بَطنَ السِترِ حَتّى جَعَلنَهُ
عَلىto الغَربِthe west سَيرَthe journey of المُنتَوىthe purposeful traveler المُتَيَمِّمِheading toward his goal
عَلى الغَربِ سَيرَ المُنتَوى المُتَيَمِّمِ
They crossed the hollow of al-Sitr until they left it
They crossed the belly of the mountain until they made it
To the west, traveling like one intent upon his destination.
A trip westward, the goal of one performing ablution.
فَلَمّاso when تَجوَزنَthey passed الحَصيداتِal-Hasidat كُلَّهاall of them
فَلَمّا تَجوَزنَ الحَصيداتِ كُلَّها
وَخَلَّفنَand they left behind مِنهاof them كُلَّevery رَعنٍmountain spur وَمَخرَمِand mountain pass
وَخَلَّفنَ مِنها كُلَّ رَعنٍ وَمَخرَمِ
When they had passed all of al-Hasidat,
When they had crossed all the harvests
And left behind every ridge and mountain pass there,
Leaving behind every fault-finder and slanderer,
دَأَبنَthey pressed on لِخَيشومِtoward the nose of البَياضِal-Bayad الَّذيwhich لَهُit has
دَأَبنَ لِخَيشومِ البَياضِ الَّذي لَهُ
مِنَfrom التاجِal-Taj إِكليلٌa circlet كَتاجِlike the crown of المُسَوَّمِthe adorned one
مِنَ التاجِ إِكليلٌ كَتاجِ المُسَوَّمِ
They pressed on toward the nose of al-Bayad, which wears
They set out for the white forehead which had
From al-Taj a circlet like the crown of one adorned.
A crown like the crown of anointed kings.
مَدَحتُI praised أَميرَthe commander of المُؤمِنينَthe faithful الَّذيwhom اِصطَفىchose
مَدَحتُ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ الَّذي اِصطَفى
لَناfor us رُبُّناour Lord فَضلاًin preference عَلىover كُلِّevery مُسلِمِMuslim
لَنا رُبُّنا فَضلاً عَلى كُلِّ مُسلِمِ
I praised the Commander of the Faithful, chosen
I praise the Commander of the Faithful whom our Lord chose
For us by our Lord, above every Muslim.
With favor above every Muslim.
بَنيwas built الحَمدpraise فيهِin him فَاِرتَقىso it rose فيwithin مُشَرَّفٍa lofty structure
بَني الحَمد فيهِ فَاِرتَقى في مُشَرَّفٍ
رَفيعٍhigh مِنَof البُنيانِthe building لَمnot يَتَثَلَّمِbe breached
رَفيعٍ مِنَ البُنيانِ لَم يَتَثَلَّمِ
Praise was built within him, rising into a lofty
The Hamdanid glories were built up in him -
Towering edifice that had never been breached.
He ascended to a lofty, unblemished edifice.
فَماso no فيamong بَنىthe children of حَوّاءَEve فَرعٌa scion يَفوقُهُsurpasses him
فَما في بَنى حَوّاءَ فَرعٌ يَفوقُهُ
بِفاضِلَةٍin any excellence دونَapart from النَبِيِّthe Prophet المُكَرَّمِhonored
بِفاضِلَةٍ دونَ النَبِيِّ المُكَرَّمِ
No scion among Eve's children surpasses him
Among the children of Eve there is no branch higher
In any excellence, apart from the honored Prophet.
Than the honored Prophet in noble traits.
فَماso not كانَwas بابُthe gate of الحَمدِpraise حَتّىuntil لَقيتُهُI met him
فَما كانَ بابُ الحَمدِ حَتّى لَقيتُهُ
بِأَخرَسَmute مَكنونٍhidden وَلاnor بِمُصَتَّمِsealed shut
بِأَخرَسَ مَكنونٍ وَلا بِمُصَتَّمِ
The gate of praise, until I met him, was never
I did not find the Hamdanid court closed off
Mute and hidden, nor sealed shut.
Or inaccessible, guarded from visitors.
جَمَعتَyou gathered اللَواتيthose qualities which يَحمَدُpraises اللَهُGod عَبدَهُHis servant
جَمَعتَ اللَواتي يَحمَدُ اللَهُ عَبدَهُ
عَلَيهِنَّfor them فَليَهنَأso may it bring joy لَكَto you الخَيرُgoodness وَاِسلَمِand be safe
عَلَيهِنَّ فَليَهنَأ لَكَ الخَيرُ وَاِسلَمِ
You gathered the qualities God praises His servant
You brought together praiseworthy traits -
For possessing; may good bring you joy, and may you be safe.
May you have the blessing of goodness and well-being!
فَأَوَّلُهُنَّso their first البِرُّrighteousness والبرُّand righteousness غالِبٌprevails
فَأَوَّلُهُنَّ البِرُّ والبرُّ غالِبٌ
وَماand no بِكَin you مِنof عَيبِa flaw in السَرائِرِhidden thoughts يُعلَمِis known
وَما بِكَ مِن عَيبِ السَرائِرِ يُعلَمِ
Their first is righteousness, and righteousness prevails;
The first is righteousness and righteousness prevails -
No flaw in your secret thoughts is known.
No secret faults are known about you.
وَثانِيَةٌand a second كانَتwas مِنَfrom اللَهِGod نِعمَةًa blessing
وَثانِيَةٌ كانَت مِنَ اللَهِ نِعمَةً
عَلىupon المُسلِمينَthe Muslims إِنَّهُindeed He is خَيرُthe best مُنعِمِbenefactor
عَلى المُسلِمينَ إِنَّهُ خَيرُ مُنعِمِ
A second was a blessing from God
The second was a blessing from God
Upon the Muslims; He is the best of benefactors.
Upon the Muslims - He is the Best Provider.
وَثالِثَةٌand a third أَنthat لِيسَthere is not فيكَin you هَوادَةٌleniency
وَثالِثَةٌ أَن لِيسَ فيكَ هَوادَةٌ
لِمَنfor whoever رامَsought ظُلماًinjustice أَوor سَعىacted سَعيَthe conduct of مُجرِمِa criminal
لِمَن رامَ ظُلماً أَو سَعى سَعيَ مُجرِمِ
A third: there is no leniency in you
The third is that you have no inclination
For one who seeks injustice or acts as a criminal.
To unjustly oppress or walk the path of criminals.
وَرابِعَةٌand a fourth أَنthat لاnot تزالَyou cease مَعَwith التُقىpiety
وَرابِعَةٌ أَن لا تزالَ مَعَ التُقى
تَحُثُّyou urge onward بِمَيمونٍwith an auspicious course مِنَof الأَمرِaction مُبرَمِfirmly resolved
تَحُثُّ بِمَيمونٍ مِنَ الأَمرِ مُبرَمِ
A fourth: you never cease to cleave to piety,
The fourth is that you will always remain
Pressing on with an auspicious, firmly resolved course.
Urging honorable, authoritative command.
وَخامِسَةٌand a fifth فيin الحُكمِjudgment أَنَّكَthat you تُنصِفُdo justice to الضَّthe (word fragment)
وَخامِسَةٌ في الحُكمِ أَنَّكَ تُنصِفُ الضَّ
ضَعيفَweak person وَماand not مَنone whom عَلَّمَtaught اللَهُGod كَالعَميlike the blind
ضَعيفَ وَما مَن عَلَّمَ اللَهُ كَالعَمي
A fifth, in judgment: you do justice to the
The fifth is that in judgment you give justice
Weak; one whom God has taught is not like the blind.
To the weak - none taught by God is like the blind.
وَسادِسَةٌand a sixth أَنَّthat الَّذيthe One who هُوَHe رَبُّناour Lord اِصchose (word beginning)
وَسادِسَةٌ أَنَّ الَّذي هُوَ رَبُّنا اِص
طَفاكَchose you (word ending) فَمَنso whoever يَتبَعكَfollows you لَمnot يَتَنَدَّمِregret it
طَفاكَ فَمَن يَتبَعكَ لَم يَتَنَدَّمِ
A sixth: He who is our Lord has
The sixth is that the One who is our Lord chose you -
Chosen you; whoever follows you will not regret it.
Whoever follows you will have no regrets.
وَسابِعَةٌand a seventh أَنَّthat المَكارِمَnoble qualities كُلَّهاall of them
وَسابِعَةٌ أَنَّ المَكارِمَ كُلَّها
سَبَقتَyou preceded إِلَيهاto them كُلَّevery ساعٍrunner وَمُلجِمِand rider
سَبَقتَ إِلَيها كُلَّ ساعٍ وَمُلجِمِ
A seventh: all the noble qualities—
The seventh is that you surpassed all
You reached them before every runner and rider.
In noble deeds before every striver and toiler.
وَثامِنَةٌand an eighth فيin مَنصِبِthe ancestral standing of الناسِpeople أَنَّهُthat it
وَثامِنَةٌ في مَنصِبِ الناسِ أَنَّهُ
سَماrose high بِكَwith you مِنهُfrom it مُعظَمٌgreatness فَوقَabove مُعظَمِgreatness
سَما بِكَ مِنهُ مُعظَمٌ فَوقَ مُعظَمِ
An eighth: in mankind's noble lineage,
The eighth is your lofty position among people -
Greatness upon greatness within it has raised you high.
None among them has been ennobled above the ennobled.
وَتاسَعَةٌand a ninth أَنَّthat البَرِيَّةَhumanity كُلَّهاall of it
وَتاسَعَةٌ أَنَّ البَرِيَّةَ كُلَّها
يَعُدّونَthey count سَيباًbounty مِنfrom إِمامٍan imam مُتَمَّمِconsummate
يَعُدّونَ سَيباً مِن إِمامٍ مُتَمَّمِ
A ninth: all humanity
The ninth is that all humanity
Counts gifts from a consummate imam.
Count themselves followers of a perfected leader.
وَعاشِرَةٌand a tenth أَنَّthat الحُلومَjudgments تَوابِعٌfollowers
وَعاشِرَةٌ أَنَّ الحُلومَ تَوابِعٌ
لِحِلمِكَof your judgment فيin فَضلٍexcellence مِنَof القَولِspeech مُحكَمِwell-wrought
لِحِلمِكَ في فَضلٍ مِنَ القَولِ مُحكَمِ
A tenth: other judgments follow
The tenth is that restraint always
Your judgment, in the excellence of well-wrought speech.
Accompanies your forbearance in authoritative speech.
جَوادٌgenerous فَلاso not يَنفَكُّceases يَرمُدُthrongs بابَهُhis door
جَوادٌ فَلا يَنفَكُّ يَرمُدُ بابَهُ
أولوthose possessing حاجَةٍa need مُستَبشِرونَrejoicing بِمُنعِمِin a benefactor
أولو حاجَةٍ مُستَبشِرونَ بِمُنعِمِ
Generous—never do they cease thronging his door,
Open-handed, his door does not cease providing
People in need, glad of a benefactor.
For those in need, rejoicing in his blessings.
فَقَدso indeed جُعِلَتwere made كُتّابُهُhis scribes فيin مَؤونَةٍproviding support
فَقَد جُعِلَت كُتّابُهُ في مَؤونَةٍ
مَفاتيحُkeys مِنfrom مَعروفِهِhis bounty المُتَقَسِّمِshared out
مَفاتيحُ مِن مَعروفِهِ المُتَقَسِّمِ
His scribes have been made, in providing support,
His writers have been given provisions -
Keys to the bounty he distributes.
The keys to his distributed favors.
إِذاwhen ماever حَباhe gave gifts to وَفداًa delegation أَتاهُمbrought to them بِمِثلِهِwith its like
إِذا ما حَبا وَفداً أَتاهُم بِمِثلِهِ
رُكوبَriding across المَواميthe wastes بِالمَطِيِّon riding camels المُخَزَّمِnose-reined
رُكوبَ المَوامي بِالمَطِيِّ المُخَزَّمِ
Whenever he gives gifts to a delegation, another like it is brought to them
When a delegation comes he receives them in kind
By riding the wastes on nose-reined camels.
On thoroughbred riding camels with embroidered saddles.
تَقيسُthey measure بِأَيديهاwith their forelegs الفَلاةَthe wilderness كَأَنَّماas though
تَقيسُ بِأَيديها الفَلاةَ كَأَنَّما
مَذارِعُoutstretched lengths of أَيديهِنَّtheir forelegs أَذرُعُarms of مَأتَمِa mourning gathering
مَذارِعُ أَيديهِنَّ أَذرُعُ مَأتَمِ
They measure the wilderness with their forelegs, as though
They survey the wilderness with their hands as though
Their outstretched forelegs were the arms of mourners.
Their fields were acres the size of outstretched arms.
كَأَنَّas though أَفاحيصَnesting hollows of القَطاsandgrouse حَيثُwhere عاجَهاhe turned them aside
كَأَنَّ أَفاحيصَ القَطا حَيثُ عاجَها
مُعَرَّسُa night-halt مَثوىًa resting place مِنfrom كَرىsleepiness of اللَيلِthe night نُيَّمِsleepers
مُعَرَّسُ مَثوىً مِن كَرى اللَيلِ نُيَّمِ
As though the sandgrouse's nesting hollows, where he turned them aside,
It is as if the hillsides where they camped
Were a night-halt, a resting-place for sleepers overcome by nighttime drowsiness.
Were a dwelling place in the darkness of night.
أَناخواthey knelt their camels وَقَدand already طالَhad grown long الكَرىsleep فَكَأَنَّهُمso as though they
أَناخوا وَقَد طالَ الكَرى فَكَأَنَّهُم
سُكارىdrunkards تَحاذَواpassed among themselves صَحنَa bowl of راحٍwine مُخَضرَمِbrimming
سُكارى تَحاذَوا صَحنَ راحٍ مُخَضرَمِ
They knelt their camels; sleep had grown long, as if they
They halted when the distance was long - it was as though
Were drunkards passing round a brimming bowl of wine.
They were drunkards gathered around a verdant meadow.
أَناخواthey knelt their camels قَليلاًbriefly ثُمَّthen نَبَّهَroused نَومَهُمtheir sleep
أَناخوا قَليلاً ثُمَّ نَبَّهَ نَومَهُم
دُعاءٌa call بُعَيدَfar-reaching الفَهمِin understanding ماضٍresolute مُعَمَّمِturbaned
دُعاءٌ بُعَيدَ الفَهمِ ماضٍ مُعَمَّمِ
They knelt their camels briefly; then their sleep was broken
They halted briefly then were roused
By the call of a far-seeing, resolute man in a turban.
By a distant call to prayer from a cloaked figure.
عَمَرَّسُa seasoned veteran of أَسفارٍjourneys إِذاwhen اِستَقبَلَتcame to meet لَهُhim
عَمَرَّسُ أَسفارٍ إِذا اِستَقبَلَت لَهُ
سُمومٌa scorching wind كَحَرِّlike the heat of النارِfire لَمnot يَتَلَثَّمِveil his face
سُمومٌ كَحَرِّ النارِ لَم يَتَلَثَّمِ
Hardened by travel, when there comes to meet him
A bold traveller whom deadly spears cannot dismay
A searing wind, hot as fire, he does not veil his face.
When the poisonous arrows of fate assail him.
يُكافِحُhe confronts لَوحاتِscorching blasts of الهَواجِرِmidday heat وَالضُحىand morning
يُكافِحُ لَوحاتِ الهَواجِرِ وَالضُحى
مُكافَحَةًhead-on بِالمَنخِرَينِwith the two nostrils وِبِالفَمِand with the mouth
مُكافَحَةً بِالمَنخِرَينِ وِبِالفَمِ
He confronts the scorching blasts of noon and morning
He struggles with the dawn and morning light
Head-on, with his nostrils and his mouth.
Battling them with flaring nostrils and mouth.
وَقَدand already سَفَعتهُscorched him الشَمسُthe sun بَعدَafter بَضاضَةٍsoftness
وَقَد سَفَعتهُ الشَمسُ بَعدَ بَضاضَةٍ
فَصارَso he became كَسَفّودِlike a spit of الحَديدِiron المُسَحَّمِsoot-blackened
فَصارَ كَسَفّودِ الحَديدِ المُسَحَّمِ
The sun has darkened him after his former softness,
The sun had tanned him after some time
Till he became like a soot-blackened iron spit.
Until he became like reddened, burnished iron.
إِذاwhen مارَمىhe ever cast أَصحابَهُhis companions بِجَبينِهِwith his brow
إِذا مارَمى أَصحابَهُ بِجَبينِهِ
دُجاthe gloom of اللَيلَةِthe night الظَلماءِdark لَمnot يَتَكَهَّمِflinch
دُجا اللَيلَةِ الظَلماءِ لَم يَتَكَهَّمِ
Whenever he leads his companions, brow foremost,
When he playfully butts his companions with his forehead
Into a black night's gloom, he never flinches.
Piercing the deep darkness of night he does not frown.
شَديدُfirm صِفاقِthe membrane of الكَشحِthe flank يَلويhe wraps إِزارَهُhis waistcloth
شَديدُ صِفاقِ الكَشحِ يَلوي إِزارَهُ
بِمُنخَرِقٍaround a gaunt body عاريbare الشَراسيفِrib-ends اَهضَمِhollow-bellied
بِمُنخَرِقٍ عاري الشَراسيفِ اَهضَمِ
With firm flank-skin, he wraps his waistcloth
The coarse hair of his forelock he winds
Around a gaunt body, bare-ribbed and hollow-bellied.
Around a torn, threadbare turban.
كَأَنَّas though زُرورَbuttons of القُبطُرِيَّةِthe Coptic linen tunic عُلِّقَتwere fastened
كَأَنَّ زُرورَ القُبطُرِيَّةِ عُلِّقَت
بَنادِكُهاits front panels مِنهُon him بِجِذعٍto a trunk مُقَوَّمِstraightened
بَنادِكُها مِنهُ بِجِذعٍ مُقَوَّمِ
As though the buttons of the Coptic linen tunic had attached
It is as if the little bells of his headdress are hung
Its front panels, on him, to a straight tree-trunk.
By his ears from a twisted palm trunk.
كَأَنَّas though قُرادَيthe two ticks of نَحرِهِhis upper chest طَبَعَتهُماstamped them both
كَأَنَّ قُرادَي نَحرِهِ طَبَعَتهُما
بَطينٍwith clay مِنَfrom الجولانَthe Golan كُتّابُscribes of أَعجَمِa foreigner
بَطينٍ مِنَ الجولانَ كُتّابُ أَعجَمِ
As though the two ticks on his upper chest had been stamped
It is as if his protruding neck veins were stamped
With clay from the Golan by a foreigner's scribes.
By a foreign scribe with mud from the Golan.
إِذاif شِئتَyou wished أَنto تَلقىmeet فَتىa man of البَأسِvalor وَالنَدىand generosity
إِذا شِئتَ أَن تَلقى فَتى البَأسِ وَالنَدى
وَذاand one possessing الحَسَبِancestral honor الرابيlofty التَليدِinherited المقدَمِpreeminent
وَذا الحَسَبِ الرابي التَليدِ المقدَمِ
If you wish to meet a man of valor and generosity,
If you wish to meet a bold and high-born man
And of lofty, inherited, preeminent honor,
Of ancient lineage and precedence recognized,
فَكُنthen be عُمَراً‘Umar تَأتيyou come to وَلاand do not تَعدوَنَّهُever pass beyond him
فَكُن عُمَراً تَأتي وَلا تَعدوَنَّهُ
إِلىto غَيرِهِanother than him وَاِستَخبِرِand ask الناسَthe people وَاِفهَمِand understand
إِلى غَيرِهِ وَاِستَخبِرِ الناسَ وَاِفهَمِ
Then seek ‘Umar, and do not pass him by
Be an Umar - come to him and none can match him.
For another; ask the people, and understand.
Ask people and understand fully.
فَتىًa man حُجِبَنتwere barred عَنهُfrom him الفَواِشُshameful deeds كُلُّهاall of them
فَتىً حُجِبَنت عَنهُ الفَواِشُ كُلُّها
فَماso not اِختَلَطَتmingled مِنهُof him بِلَحمٍwith flesh وَلاnor دَمِblood
فَما اِختَلَطَت مِنهُ بِلَحمٍ وَلا دَمِ
A man from whom all shameful deeds were barred,
A man veiled from depravities -
Never mingling with his flesh or blood.
None of them mixed with his flesh or blood.
غَداhe went forth طَيِّبَpure الأَثوابِin garments يَنفَحُwafts fragrance عِرضُهُhis honor
غَدا طَيِّبَ الأَثوابِ يَنفَحُ عِرضُهُ
مُبيناًmanifest لِعَينِto the eye of الناظِرِthe observer المُتَوَسِّمِdiscerning
مُبيناً لِعَينِ الناظِرِ المُتَوَسِّمِ
He went forth in pure garments, his honor breathing fragrance,
Tomorrow he will don fine clothes and his honor
Manifest to the eye of the discerning observer.
Will be apparent to the discerning observer.
شَديداًstern عَلىtoward ذيone possessing الضَغنِrancor حينَwhen يَريبُهُhe arouses his suspicion
شَديداً عَلى ذي الضَغنِ حينَ يَريبُهُ
دَفوعاًa staunch defender عَنِof المُستَضعَفِthe weak المُتَهَضِّمِthe wronged
دَفوعاً عَنِ المُستَضعَفِ المُتَهَضِّمِ
Stern with the resentful man when he arouses his suspicion,
Stern toward the hostile when he doubts him,
A staunch defender of the weak and wronged.
Repelling harm from the oppressed victim.
كَأَنَّas though هِلالاًa crescent واضِحاًbright فَرَجَتparted لَهُfor it
كَأَنَّ هِلالاً واضِحاً فَرَجَت لَهُ
شَماريخُhigh crests of مُزنٍrain-clouds رابِعٍspringtime مُتَغَيِّمِcloud-massed
شَماريخُ مُزنٍ رابِعٍ مُتَغَيِّمِ
As though he were a bright crescent, for which had parted
It is as though the crescent moon smiled at him
The high crests of darkly massed spring rain-clouds.
Through the cloudy heavens of a fourth night.
عَلىon مِنبَرِthe pulpit of الواديthe valley المُقَدَّسِsacred كُلِّهِall of it
عَلى مِنبَرِ الوادي المُقَدَّسِ كُلِّهِ
يَروحُhe goes forth بِقَولٍwith speech ثابِتِsteadfast المَتَكَلَّمِin utterance
يَروحُ بِقَولٍ ثابِتِ المَتَكَلَّمِ
On the pulpit of the wholly sacred valley,
On the sanctified pulpit of the whole valley
He comes forth with words, unwavering in utterance.
He preaches with consistent, eloquent speech.
أَغَرُّradiant مُحَيّاof countenance بِالإِمارَةِwith rulership وَجهُهُhis face
أَغَرُّ مُحَيّا بِالإِمارَةِ وَجهُهُ
مِنَamong المُنجِزينَthose who fulfill الحَمدَpraise غَيرَnot مُذَمَّمِblamed
مِنَ المُنجِزينَ الحَمدَ غَيرَ مُذَمَّمِ
Radiant of countenance, his face bright with authority,
More radiant in leadership than others -
Among those who live up to praise, free of blame.
Among those fulfilling promises, no blemish on him.
نَماهُraised him إِلىto عَلياءَa height يَهلِكُperishes دونَهاshort of it
نَماهُ إِلى عَلياءَ يَهلِكُ دونَها
تَكاليفُarduous efforts of ذيone possessing المَأثورَةِinherited renown المُتَكَرِّمِgenerous
تَكاليفُ ذي المَأثورَةِ المُتَكَرِّمِ
He was raised to a height beneath which would perish
He carried him to the heights - beneath them
The labors of a generous man of inherited renown,
The costs overwhelm the honorable man of means.
ثَلاثَةِthree آباءٍforefathers لَهُof his كُلُّهُمeach of them بَنيbuilt
ثَلاثَةِ آباءٍ لَهُ كُلُّهُم بَني
تَماماًperfection وَمُلكاًand kingship ثُمَّthen لَمnot يَتَصَرَّمِcame to an end
تَماماً وَمُلكاً ثُمَّ لَم يَتَصَرَّمِ
By three forefathers, each of whom built
He had three perfect fathers, each of them
Perfection and kingship that never afterward ended.
A fully just king, then was weaned.
مُلوكٌkings يَرَونَthey regard العَدلَjustice حَقّاًa duty عَلَيهِمupon them
مُلوكٌ يَرَونَ العَدلَ حَقّاً عَلَيهِم
حِسانُfair الوِجوهِof face يَهتَديfind guidance بِهِمby them العَميthe blind
حِسانُ الوِجوهِ يَهتَدي بِهِم العَمي
Kings who regard justice as their duty,
Kings who see justice as an obligation -
Fair of face, by whom the blind find guidance.
The beauty of their faces provides guidance for the blind.
فَكانواso they were لَناfor us نوراًa light بِإِذنِby leave of الَّذيHim who لَهُto Him
فَكانوا لَنا نوراً بِإِذنِ الَّذي لَهُ
عَلَيهاupon it إِيادٍfavors مِنof فُضولٍbounties وَأَنعُمِand blessings
عَلَيها إِيادٍ مِن فُضولٍ وَأَنعُمِ
They were a light for us, by leave of Him who has
By the permission of Him to whom
Favors upon it, of bounty and blessings.
Creation's bountiful blessings belong, they were a light for us.
رَأَوناthey saw us فَوَلّواso they entrusted أَمرَناour affairs أَتقِياءَناour most pious people
رَأَونا فَوَلّوا أَمرَنا أَتقِياءَنا
وَماand not عَلِمناwe knew أَنَّناthat we لَمnot نُعَلَّمِwere taught
وَما عَلِمنا أَنَّنا لَم نُعَلَّمِ
They saw us, and entrusted our affairs to the most pious among us;
They considered our affairs and handed leadership
Nor did we know ourselves to have been left untaught.
To our most God-fearing - we did not know we were taught.
فَهَذاso this ثَنائيmy praise صادِقاًtruthful غَيرَnot كاذِبٍfalse
فَهَذا ثَنائي صادِقاً غَيرَ كاذِبٍ
عَلَيهِمof them وَمَنand whoever لَمnot يَقضِjudge بِالحَقِّaccording to right يَندَمِregret it
عَلَيهِم وَمَن لَم يَقضِ بِالحَقِّ يَندَمِ
This is my praise, truthful, not false,
This is my true praise, not lies,
Of them; whoever does not judge justly will regret it.
For them. Whoever does not judge fairly will regret it.
Sol 6.1