بِاِسمِin the name of الإِلَهِGod تَحيَّةٌa greeting لِمُتَيَّمِfor one enslaved by love
بِاِسمِ الإِلَهِ تَحيَّةٌ لِمُتَيَّمِ
تُهدىis offered إِلىto حَسَنِgraceful القَوامِin stature مُكَرَّمِhonored
تُهدى إِلى حَسَنِ القَوامِ مُكَرَّمِ
In God's name, a greeting for one enslaved by love,
In the name of God, a greeting from a heart enslaved by love,
offered to one of graceful stature, held in honor.
Offered to the one of graceful stature, the honored one;
وَصَحيفَةٌand a letter ضَمَّنتُهاI entrusted it بِأَمانَةٍin trust
وَصَحيفَةٌ ضَمَّنتُها بِأَمانَةٍ
عِندَat الرَحيلِdeparture إِلَيكِto you أُمَّUmm (mother of) الهَيثَمِal-Haytham
عِندَ الرَحيلِ إِلَيكِ أُمَّ الهَيثَمِ
And a letter I entrusted in good faith
And a scroll I have entrusted with a sacred charge,
at departure, to you, Umm al-Haytham.
Upon its departure to you, O Umm al-Haytham.
فيهاin it التَحِيَّةُthe greeting وَالسَلامُand peace وَرَحمَةٌand mercy
فيها التَحِيَّةُ وَالسَلامُ وَرَحمَةٌ
حَفَّsurrounded الدُموعُthe tears كِتابَهاits writing بِالمُعجَمِwith letter-dots
حَفَّ الدُموعُ كِتابَها بِالمُعجَمِ
Within it are greetings, peace, and mercy;
Within it lie greetings, peace, and mercy,
tears have ringed its writing with dots.
While tears have bordered its script, obscuring the words.
مِنfrom عاشِقٍa lover كَلِفٍinfatuated يَبوءُacknowledges بِذَنبِهِhis sin
مِن عاشِقٍ كَلِفٍ يَبوءُ بِذَنبِهِ
صَبِّlovesick الفُؤادِat heart مُعاقَبٍpunished لَمdid not يَظلِمِdo wrong
صَبِّ الفُؤادِ مُعاقَبٍ لَم يَظلِمِ
From an infatuated lover who admits his sin,
From a lover, infatuated, acknowledging his guilt,
lovesick at heart, punished though he did no wrong.
A man of yearning heart, punished though he did no wrong.
باديrevealing الصَبابَةِardent longing قَدindeed ذَهَبتِyou went away بِعَقلِهِwith his reason
بادي الصَبابَةِ قَد ذَهَبتِ بِعَقلِهِ
كِلفٍinfatuated بِحُبِّكِwith love for you ياO عُثَيمَUthaym مُتَيَّمِenslaved by love
كِلفٍ بِحُبِّكِ يا عُثَيمَ مُتَيَّمِ
His longing is plain; you have taken away his reason,
His passion is laid bare; you have bereft him of his reason,
consumed with love for you, Uthaym, utterly enthralled.
Consumed by your love, O 'Uthaym, a captive thrall.
يَشكوhe complains إِلَيكِto you بِعَبرَةٍwith a tear وَبِعَولَةٍand with a wail
يَشكو إِلَيكِ بِعَبرَةٍ وَبِعَولَةٍ
وَيَقولُand he says أَمّاnow إِذsince مَلِلتِyou grew weary فَأَنعِميthen be gracious
وَيَقولُ أَمّا إِذ مَلِلتِ فَأَنعِمي
He complains to you with a tear and a wail,
He complains to you with a tear and a wailing cry,
and says: Now that you have grown weary, be gracious.
Saying: "If you have grown weary, then at least be kind."
لاdo not تَقتُلينيkill me ياO عُثَيمَUthaym فَإِنَّنيfor indeed I
لا تَقتُليني يا عُثَيمَ فَإِنَّني
أَخشىI fear عَلَيكِfor you عِقابَthe punishment رَبِّكِof your Lord فيfor دَميmy blood
أَخشى عَلَيكِ عِقابَ رَبِّكِ في دَمي
Do not kill me, Uthaym, for I
Do not slay me, O 'Uthaym, for truly I,
fear for you your Lord's punishment for shedding my blood.
I fear for you the retribution of your Lord for my blood.
إِنif لَمnot يَكُنthere be لَكِfor you رَحمَةٌmercy وَتَعَطُّفٌand tenderness
إِن لَم يَكُن لَكِ رَحمَةٌ وَتَعَطُّفٌ
فَتَحَرَّجيthen refrain مِنfrom قَتلِناkilling us أَنlest تَأثَميyou sin
فَتَحَرَّجي مِن قَتلِنا أَن تَأثَمي
If you have no mercy or tenderness,
If you possess no mercy and no affection,
then refrain from killing us, lest you sin.
Then shrink from killing us, lest you bear a sin.
لَمdid not يُخطِmiss سَهمُكِyour arrow إِذwhen رَميتِyou shot at مَقاتِليmy vital spots
لَم يُخطِ سَهمُكِ إِذ رَميتِ مَقاتِلي
وَتَطيشُand stray عَنكِaway from you إِذاwhen رَمَيتُكِI shoot at you أَسهُميmy arrows
وَتَطيشُ عَنكِ إِذا رَمَيتُكِ أَسهُمي
Your arrow did not miss when you shot at my vital spots,
Your arrow never missed when you aimed at my vital parts,
yet my arrows stray from you whenever I shoot at you.
Yet my arrows go astray whenever I aim at you.
وَوَجَدتُand I found حَوضَthe pool الحُبِّof love حينَwhen وَرَدتُهُI came to it for water
وَوَجَدتُ حَوضَ الحُبِّ حينَ وَرَدتُهُ
مُرَّbitter المَذاقَةِin taste طَعمُهُits flavor كَاِلعَلقَمِlike colocynth
مُرَّ المَذاقَةِ طَعمُهُ كَاِلعَلقَمِ
And I found love's pool, when I came to drink from it,
I found the cistern of love when I came to drink from it,
bitter to the taste, its flavor like colocynth.
Bitter in its taste, a flavor like colocynth.
لاno وَالَّذيby Him who بَعَثَsent النَبِيَّthe Prophet مُحَمَّداًMuhammad
لا وَالَّذي بَعَثَ النَبِيَّ مُحَمَّداً
بِالنورِwith light وَالإِسلامِand Islam دينِthe religion القَيِّمِupright
بِالنورِ وَالإِسلامِ دينِ القَيِّمِ
No, by Him who sent the Prophet Muhammad
No, by the One who sent the Prophet Muhammad,
with light and Islam, the upright faith,
With the Light and Islam, the upright faith;
وَبِماand by what أَهَلَّraised their voices بِهِwith it الحَجيجُthe pilgrims وَكَبَّرواand proclaimed God's greatness
وَبِما أَهَلَّ بِهِ الحَجيجُ وَكَبَّروا
عِندَat المَقامِthe Station وَرُكنِand the corner بَيتِof the House المَحرَمِthe sacred
عِندَ المَقامِ وَرُكنِ بَيتِ المَحرَمِ
and by the pilgrims' invocations and cries of 'God is greatest'
And by the chant raised by pilgrims declaring God's greatness,
at the Station and the corner of the Sacred House,
At the Station of Abraham and the corner of the Sacred House;
وَالمَسجِدِand by the Mosque الأَقصىthe farthest المُبارَكِblessed حَولَهُaround it
وَالمَسجِدِ الأَقصى المُبارَكِ حَولَهُ
وَالطَورِand by the Mount حِلفَةَan oath صادِقٍof a truthful man لَمdid not يَأثَمِsin
وَالطَورِ حِلفَةَ صادِقٍ لَم يَأثَمِ
and by al-Aqsa Mosque, whose surroundings are blessed,
And by the Blessed Farthest Mosque and its precincts,
and by the Mount—an oath of a truthful man who has not sinned—
And by Mount Sinai—the oath of a truthful man who has not sinned:
ماnot خُنتُI betrayed عَهدَكِyour pledge ياO عُثَيمَUthaym وَلاnor هَفاhas yearned
ما خُنتُ عَهدَكِ يا عُثَيمَ وَلا هَفا
قَلبيmy heart إِلىfor وَصلٍunion لِغَيرِكِwith anyone but you فَاعلَميso know
قَلبي إِلى وَصلٍ لِغَيرِكِ فَاعلَمي
I have not betrayed your pledge, Uthaym, nor has
I have never betrayed your covenant, O 'Uthaym, nor has
my heart yearned for union with anyone but you—know this.
My heart inclined toward union with another—know this well.
فُكّيfree أَسيراًa captive ياO عُثَيمَUthaym فَإِنَّهُfor he
فُكّي أَسيراً يا عُثَيمَ فَإِنَّهُ
خَلَطَhe joined الحَياءَmodesty بِعِفَّةٍwith chastity وَتَكَرُّمِand generosity
خَلَطَ الحَياءَ بِعِفَّةٍ وَتَكَرُّمِ
Set a captive free, Uthaym, for he
Set a prisoner free, O 'Uthaym, for he is one who
has joined modesty with chastity and generosity.
Has blended shyness with chastity and noble generosity.
وَرَعىand he safeguarded الأَمانَةَthe trust فيin المَغيبِabsence وَلَمand did not يَخُنbetray
وَرَعى الأَمانَةَ في المَغيبِ وَلَم يَخُن
غيبَthe absence الصَديقِof the friend وَذاكَand that فِعلُthe conduct المُسلِمِof a Muslim
غيبَ الصَديقِ وَذاكَ فِعلُ المُسلِمِ
He kept the trust in absence, and did not betray
He guarded the trust in your absence and did not betray
a friend behind their back; that is a Muslim's conduct.
The unseen bond of a friend; such is the act of a Muslim.
أَحصَيتُI counted خَمسَةَfive أَشهُرِmonths مَعدودَةٍnumbered
أَحصَيتُ خَمسَةَ أَشهُرِ مَعدودَةٍ
وَثَلاثَةًand three مِنfrom بَعدِهاafter them لَمnot توهَمِbe misreckoned
وَثَلاثَةً مِن بَعدِها لَم توهَمِ
I have counted five months, carefully reckoned,
I have counted five numbered months,
and three after them, with no mistake.
And three following them, about which there is no illusion.
هَذيthese ثَمانِيَةٌeight تَهُلُّdawn وَتَنقَضيand pass away
هَذي ثَمانِيَةٌ تَهُلُّ وَتَنقَضي
عالَجتُI wrestled with فيهاduring them سُقمَthe sickness صَبٍّof a lovesick lover مُغرَمِenthralled
عالَجتُ فيها سُقمَ صَبٍّ مُغرَمِ
These are eight months that dawn and pass away;
These are eight months that rise and pass away,
in them I wrestled with the sickness of a lovesick, enthralled man.
In which I endured the sickness of a lover utterly enthralled.
مَكَثَstayed الرَسولُthe messenger لَدَيكُمُwith you all حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen
مَكَثَ الرَسولُ لَدَيكُمُ حَتّى إِذا
قَدِمَarrived الرَسولُthe messenger وَلَيتَهُand would that he لَمdid not يَقدَمِcome
قَدِمَ الرَسولُ وَلَيتَهُ لَم يَقدَمِ
The messenger stayed with you; when at last
The messenger tarried with you, until when
the messenger came—would that he had not come!—
The messenger returned—and would that he had never returned!
لَمdid not يَأتِنيbring me لَكُمُof yours بِخَطٍّwith a written line واحِدٍa single
لَم يَأتِني لَكُمُ بِخَطٍّ واحِدٍ
يَشفيheals غَليلَthe burning thirst فُؤادِيَof my heart المُتَقَسِّمِtorn apart
يَشفي غَليلَ فُؤادِيَ المُتَقَسِّمِ
he brought me not a single written line from you
He brought me not a single line from you
to slake the burning thirst of my torn heart.
To cure the burning thirst of my shattered heart.
وَحَرَمتِنيand you denied me رَدَّthe return السَلامِof the greeting وَماand not أَرىI deem
وَحَرَمتِني رَدَّ السَلامِ وَما أَرى
رَدَّreturning السَلامِthe greeting عَلىto الكَريمِthe noble man بِمَحرَمِforbidden
رَدَّ السَلامِ عَلى الكَريمِ بِمَحرَمِ
And you denied me a greeting in return, though I do not deem
You withheld the return of the greeting, yet I do not see
answering a noble man's greeting forbidden.
Returning a greeting to a noble man as something forbidden.
إِنif كُنتِyou are عاتِبَةًaggrieved عَلَيَّwith me فَأَهلَthen well entitled ماindeed
إِن كُنتِ عاتِبَةً عَلَيَّ فَأَهلَ ما
أَنto تَعتَبيreproach فيماfor what عَتَبتِyou resented وَتُكرِميand be gracious
أَن تَعتَبي فيما عَتَبتِ وَتُكرِمي
If you hold a grievance against me, you are well entitled
If you are reproachful towards me, then you are worthy
to reproach me for what vexed you, and to be gracious.
To blame as you wish, yet still show honor.
أَنتِyou الأَميرَةُthe princess فَاِسمَعيso listen لِمَقالَتيto my words
أَنتِ الأَميرَةُ فَاِسمَعي لِمَقالَتي
وَتَفَهَّميand understand مِنof بَعضِsome ماwhat لَمnot تَفهَميyou understood
وَتَفَهَّمي مِن بَعضِ ما لَم تَفهَمي
You are the princess, so listen to my words,
You are the princess, so listen to my plea,
and understand some of what you have not understood.
And comprehend some of what you have not yet understood.
إِنّيindeed I أَتوبُI repent إِلَيكِto you تَوبَةَthe repentance مُذنِبٍof a sinner
إِنّي أَتوبُ إِلَيكِ تَوبَةَ مُذنِبٍ
يَخشىfears العُقوبَةَpunishment مِنfrom مَليكٍa king مُنعِمِbeneficent
يَخشى العُقوبَةَ مِن مَليكٍ مُنعِمِ
I repent to you with the repentance of a sinner
Indeed, I repent to you with the repentance of a sinner
who fears punishment from a beneficent king,
Who fears the punishment of a beneficent sovereign,
حَتّىuntil أَنالَI attain رِضاكِyour favor حَيثُwhere عَلِمتُهُI have known it
حَتّى أَنالَ رِضاكِ حَيثُ عَلِمتُهُ
بِطَريفِwith the newly acquired ماليmy wealth وَالتَليدِand the inherited الأَقدَمِoldest
بِطَريفِ مالي وَالتَليدِ الأَقدَمِ
until I win your favor, where I know it lies,
That I may attain your contentment, wherever I know it to be,
with my newly acquired wealth and my oldest inherited riches.
Offering my new wealth and my ancient inheritance.
وَأَعوذُand I seek refuge مِنكِfrom you بِكِin you الغَداةَthis morning لِتَصفَحيso you may forgive
وَأَعوذُ مِنكِ بِكِ الغَداةَ لِتَصفَحي
عَمّاfor what جَنَيتُI committed مِنَof الذُنوبِthe sins وَتَرهَميand shower mercy
عَمّا جَنَيتُ مِنَ الذُنوبِ وَتَرهَمي
And I seek refuge from you in you this morning, that you may pardon
I seek refuge in you from you this morning, that you may forgive
the sins I have committed, and shower me with mercy.
The sins I have committed, and that you may have mercy.
إِنif تَقبَليyou accept عُذريmy excuse فَلَستُthen I am not بِعائِدٍreturning
إِن تَقبَلي عُذري فَلَستُ بِعائِدٍ
حَتّىuntil تُغادَرَare left فيin المَقابِرِthe graves أَعظُميmy bones
حَتّى تُغادَرَ في المَقابِرِ أَعظُمي
If you accept my excuse, I shall not return to my sins
If you accept my excuse, I shall never return to error
until my bones are left in the graves.
Until my bones are left behind in the graves.
لَوif كَفِّيَmy hand اليُمنىthe right سَأَتكِoffended you قَطَعتُهاI would cut it off
لَو كَفِّيَ اليُمنى سَأَتكِ قَطَعتُها
وَلَذُقتُand I would taste بَعدَafter رِضاكِyour satisfaction عَيشَthe life الأَجذَمِof one with a severed hand
وَلَذُقتُ بَعدَ رِضاكِ عَيشَ الأَجذَمِ
If my right hand offended you, I would cut it off,
If my right hand has offended you, I would cut it off,
and, once you were pleased, I would taste a one-handed man's life.
And endure, after winning your favor, the life of the maimed.
Sol 6.1