عَفاbecame effaced مِنof آلِthe folk of فاطِمَةَFatimah الجِواءُal-Jiwa
عَفا مِن آلِ فاطِمَةَ الجِواءُ
فَيُمنٌand Yumn فَالقَوادِمُand al-Qawadim فَالحِساءُand al-Hisa'
فَيُمنٌ فَالقَوادِمُ فَالحِساءُ
Al-Jiwa, once home to Fatimah's folk, lies effaced,
The gusts from Fatima's folk blew gently,
And Yumn, al-Qawadim, and al-Hisa',
Bringing calm, then broth, then succor.
فَذوand Dhu هاشٍHash فَميثُand the soft ground of عُرَيتِناتٍ'Uraytinat
فَذو هاشٍ فَميثُ عُرَيتِناتٍ
عَفَتهاeffaced them الريحُthe wind بَعدَكَafter you وَالسَماءُand the sky's rain
عَفَتها الريحُ بَعدَكَ وَالسَماءُ
And Dhu Hash, and the soft ground of 'Uraytinat—
Then came the valiant one with flowing locks,
The wind and the sky's rain have effaced them since you left.
Wind swept his honor after you and the heavens.
فَذِروَةُand Dhurwah فَالجِنابُand al-Jinab كَأَنَّas though خُنسَsnub-nosed الthe
فَذِروَةُ فَالجِنابُ كَأَنَّ خُنسَ ال
نِعاجِwild cows الطاوِياتِthe lean ones بِهاin it المُلاءُcloaks
نِعاجِ الطاوِياتِ بِها المُلاءُ
And Dhurwah and al-Jinab—as though the snub-nosed
The peak, the distance as though Khnas' doe
Lean wild cows there were cloaks.
Fill their bellies with foliage in the groves.
يَشِمنَthey watch بُروقَهُits lightning وَيَرُشُّand sprinkles أَريَhoney of الthe
يَشِمنَ بُروقَهُ وَيَرُشُّ أَريَ ال
جَنوبِsouth wind عَلىupon حَواجِبِهاtheir brows العَماءُthe cloud
جَنوبِ عَلى حَواجِبِها العَماءُ
They watch its lightning, and it sprinkles the honey of the
He sniffs its lightning and drizzles on the sand dunes
South wind upon their brows—the cloud.
Of the south, on their severe brows.
فَلَمّاthen when أَنthat تَحَمَّلَstruck camp آلُthe folk of لَيلىLayla
فَلَمّا أَن تَحَمَّلَ آلُ لَيلى
جَرَتran بَينيbetween me وَبَينَهُمُand between them الظِباءُthe gazelles
جَرَت بَيني وَبَينَهُمُ الظِباءُ
Then, when Layla's folk struck camp,
When the clan of Layla bore it
Gazelles ran between me and them.
Enmity flowed between me and them.
جَرَتran سُنُحاًfrom left to right فَقُلتُso I said لَهاto them أَجيزيpass on
جَرَت سُنُحاً فَقُلتُ لَها أَجيزي
نَوىًa separation مَشمولَةٌnorth-wind swept فَمَتىso when اللِقاءُthe reunion
نَوىً مَشمولَةٌ فَمَتى اللِقاءُ
They ran from left to right; I told them, 'Pass on!'
It flowed smoothly so I said to it: grant
A parting swept by the north wind—when shall we meet?
Safe passage though laden, when shall we meet?
تَحَمَّلَstruck camp أَهلُهاher people مِنهاfrom it فَبانواand departed
تَحَمَّلَ أَهلُها مِنها فَبانوا
عَلىupon آثارِthe tracks of مَنthose who ذَهَبَdeparted العَفاءُobliterating dust
عَلى آثارِ مَن ذَهَبَ العَفاءُ
Her people struck camp from there and departed;
Its people bore it and so did appear
Dust covers the tracks of those who left.
In the footsteps of those honorable folk.
كَأَنَّas though أَوابِدَwild-roaming ones الثيرانِthe bulls فيهاin it
كَأَنَّ أَوابِدَ الثيرانِ فيها
هَجائِنُwhite, purebred camels فيin مَغابِنِهاtheir skin folds الطِلاءُpitch
هَجائِنُ في مَغابِنِها الطِلاءُ
As though the wild-roaming bulls there
As though the ruins there
Were white, purebred camels, with pitch in their skin folds.
Are caravans hiding in their circles.
لَقَدindeed طالَبتُهاI pursued her وَلِكُلِّand for every شَيءٍthing
لَقَد طالَبتُها وَلِكُلِّ شَيءٍ
وَإِنand even if طالَتlasted long لَجاجَتُهُpersistence in it اِنتِهاءُan end
وَإِن طالَت لَجاجَتُهُ اِنتِهاءُ
Indeed, I have pursued her; yet everything,
I sought it though all things end
However long one persists in it, has an end.
If persistence is prolonged, endings come.
تَنازَعَهاvied over her المَهاthe oryxes شَبَهاًin resemblance وَدُرُّand pearls of الthe
تَنازَعَها المَها شَبَهاً وَدُرُّ ال
نُحورِthroats وَشاكَهَتand shared likeness فيهاin her الظِباءُthe gazelles
نُحورِ وَشاكَهَت فيها الظِباءُ
Oryxes vie in resembling her, as do the pearls at
They shared its moons and fawns’ necks
Throats; gazelles, too, share her likeness.
And gazelles frolicked in them.
فَأَمّاthen as for ماwhat فُوَيقَjust above العِقدِthe necklace مِنهاof her
فَأَمّا ما فُوَيقَ العِقدِ مِنها
فَمِنthen from أَدماءَa pale gazelle مَرتَعُهاher pasture الخَلاءُthe open waste
فَمِن أَدماءَ مَرتَعُها الخَلاءُ
As for what lies just above her necklace,
As for what was strung on its necklace
It comes from a pale gazelle whose pasture is the open waste.
It is from human veins its pasture is the wild.
وَأَمّاand as for المُقلَتانِthe two eyes فَمِنthen from مَهاةٍan oryx
وَأَمّا المُقلَتانِ فَمِن مَهاةٍ
وَلِلدُرِّand to pearls belongs المَلاحَةُloveliness وَالصَفاءُand clarity
وَلِلدُرِّ المَلاحَةُ وَالصَفاءُ
As for her two eyes, they come from an oryx,
As for the two ear-drops they are from a doe
And to pearls belong her loveliness and clarity.
And the pearls have luster and purity.
فَصَرِّمso sever حَبلَهاher bond إِذsince صَرَّمَتهُshe severed it
فَصَرِّم حَبلَها إِذ صَرَّمَتهُ
وَعادىand barred أَنthat تُلاقيهاyou meet her العَداءُdistance
وَعادى أَن تُلاقيها العَداءُ
So sever her bond, since she has severed it,
Sever its ties as she severed them
And distance has barred your meeting her,
And avoid meeting her with enmity.
بِآرِزَةِon one firm in الفَقارَةِthe backbone لَمdid not يَخُنهاbetray her
بِآرِزَةِ الفَقارَةِ لَم يَخُنها
قِطافٌa lagging stride فيamong الرِكابِthe mounts وَلاnor خَلاءُbalking
قِطافٌ في الرِكابِ وَلا خَلاءُ
On a firm-spined she-camel never betrayed
No secret gathering for its noble-one
By a lagging stride among mounts, nor by balking.
Nor privacy diminished its glory.
كَأَنَّas though الرَحلَthe saddle مِنهاon her فَوقَabove صَعلٍa small-headed one
كَأَنَّ الرَحلَ مِنها فَوقَ صَعلٍ
مِنَof الظِلمانِthe male ostriches جُؤجُؤُهُhis breast هَواءُhollow
مِنَ الظِلمانِ جُؤجُؤُهُ هَواءُ
As though her saddle rested on a small-headed
As though the travel supplies upon it
Male ostrich, his breast hollow.
Above the saddle-cloth murmur in the dark.
أَصَكَّknock-kneed مُصَلَّمِcropped الأُذُنَينِthe two ears أَجنىbore ripe fruit
أَصَكَّ مُصَلَّمِ الأُذُنَينِ أَجنى
لَهُfor him بِالسِيِّat al-Siyy تَنُّومٌtannum plants وَآءُand a' plants
لَهُ بِالسِيِّ تَنُّومٌ وَآءُ
Knock-kneed and cropped-eared; ripe fruit is borne
Deafening the large-eared one, leaning
For him at al-Siyy by tannum and a' plants.
Silently towards it, murmuring.
أَذَلِكَis it that أَمor شَتيمُugly الوَجهِof face جَأبٌa sturdy wild ass
أَذَلِكَ أَم شَتيمُ الوَجهِ جَأبٌ
عَلَيهِon him مِنfrom عَقيقَتِهِhis birth coat عِفاءُlong, thick hair
عَلَيهِ مِن عَقيقَتِهِ عِفاءُ
Is it that, or an ugly-faced, sturdy wild ass,
Is it this or insult to the cheek brings
Covered in the long hair of his birth coat?
Aversion upon it from its grace?
تَرَبَّعَgrazed in spring صارَةًSarah حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle
تَرَبَّعَ صارَةً حَتّى إِذا ما
فَنىran out الدُحلانُthe waterholes عَنهُaround him وَالإِضاءُand the pools
فَنى الدُحلانُ عَنهُ وَالإِضاءُ
He grazed Sarah in spring; when at last
It squatted squarely until dusk faded
The waterholes and pools about him ran dry,
And illumination parted from it.
تَرَفَّعَmoved upward لِلقَنانِtoward al-Qanan وَكُلِّand every فَجٍّpass
تَرَفَّعَ لِلقَنانِ وَكُلِّ فَجٍّ
طَباهُlured him الرِعيُthe grazing مِنهُin it وَالخَلاءُand open country
طَباهُ الرِعيُ مِنهُ وَالخَلاءُ
He moved up toward al-Qanan and every pass
It rose to the jars and every valley
Whose grazing and open country lured him.
Summoned it from pasture and the wild.
فَأَورَدَهاso brought her to water حِياضَthe pools of صُنَيبِعاتِSunaybi'at
فَأَورَدَها حِياضَ صُنَيبِعاتِ
فَأَلفاهُنَّand found them لَيسَnot بِهِنَّin them ماءُwater
فَأَلفاهُنَّ لَيسَ بِهِنَّ ماءُ
He brought her to the pools of Sunaybi'at,
He brought it to springs in Saniyya
And found them without water.
Where it found no water within them.
فَشَجَّso cut through بِهاwith her الأَماعِزَthe rocky ground فَهيَand she تَهويplunges
فَشَجَّ بِها الأَماعِزَ فَهيَ تَهوي
هُوِيَّthe plunging of الدَلوِthe bucket أَسلَمَهاlet it go الرِشاءُthe rope
هُوِيَّ الدَلوِ أَسلَمَها الرِشاءُ
He cut across the rocky ground with her, and she plunged
He stirred goats with it, they bleated
Like a bucket let go by its rope.
As buckets surrendered themselves to sprinkling.
فَلَيسَso not لَحاقُهُhis pursuit كَلَحاقِlike the pursuit of إِلفٍa mate
فَلَيسَ لَحاقُهُ كَلَحاقِ إِلفٍ
وَلاnor كَنَجائِهاlike her flight مِنهُfrom him نَجاءُa flight
وَلا كَنَجائِها مِنهُ نَجاءُ
His pursuit is no pursuit of a mate,
Its coming is unlike a dear one's coming
Nor is any flight like her flight from him.
Nor does its deliverance resemble salvation.
وَإِنand if مالاthe two turned لِوَعثٍtoward soft ground خاذَمَتهُshe kept pace with him
وَإِن مالا لِوَعثٍ خاذَمَتهُ
بِأَلواحٍwith limb-bones مَفاصِلُهاtheir joints ظِماءُlean and dry
بِأَلواحٍ مَفاصِلُها ظِماءُ
If the two turned toward soft ground, she kept pace with him
And if they inclined to an old tent its
With planklike limbs whose joints were lean and dry.
Partitions creak, the ropes are taut.
يَخِرُّfalls نَبيذُهاher flung-up grit عَنfrom حاجِبَيهِhis brows
يَخِرُّ نَبيذُها عَن حاجِبَيهِ
فَلَيسَso there is not لِوَجهِهِfor his face مِنهُfrom it غِطاءُa covering
فَلَيسَ لِوَجهِهِ مِنهُ غِطاءُ
The grit she flung up fell from his brows,
Its wine flows down its brows
So none of it veiled his face.
And its face lacks any mask.
يُغَرِّدُbrays بَينَamong خُرمٍwaterholes مُفضِياتٍopen and spacious
يُغَرِّدُ بَينَ خُرمٍ مُفضِياتٍ
صَوافٍclear لَمnot تُكَدِّرهاhave muddied them الدِلاءُthe buckets
صَوافٍ لَم تُكَدِّرها الدِلاءُ
He brays among open waterholes,
It chirps between pure crevices
Clear, never muddied by buckets.
Unclouded by turbidity.
يُفَضِّلُهُgives him the advantage إِذاwhen اِجتَهَداthe two strive عَلَيهِat it
يُفَضِّلُهُ إِذا اِجتَهَدا عَلَيهِ
تَمامُfullness of السِنِّage مِنهُin him وَالذَكاءُand mature vigor
تَمامُ السِنِّ مِنهُ وَالذَكاءُ
What gives him the edge, when both strain at the race,
When they contend, its age and intellect
Is his full maturity and vigor.
Make it superior over them.
كَأَنَّas though سَحيلَهُhis braying فيat كُلِّevery فَجرٍdawn
كَأَنَّ سَحيلَهُ في كُلِّ فَجرٍ
عَلىover أَحساءِthe waterholes of يَمؤودٍYam'ud دُعاءُa supplication
عَلى أَحساءِ يَمؤودٍ دُعاءُ
As though his braying at every dawn
As though its foal at every dawn
Over Yam'ud's waterholes were a supplication.
Upon al-Yam'ouda wishes for rain.
فَآضَthen became كَأَنَّهُas though he رَجُلٌa man سَليبٌstripped bare
فَآضَ كَأَنَّهُ رَجُلٌ سَليبٌ
عَلىon عَلياءَa height لَيسَnot لَهُfor him رِداءُa cloak
عَلى عَلياءَ لَيسَ لَهُ رِداءُ
Then he became like a man stripped bare,
It came bare like a captive man
On a height, with no cloak.
Without garb upon the summit.
كَأَنَّas though بَريقَهُhis gleam بَرَقانُthe gleam of سَحلٍa white cloth
كَأَنَّ بَريقَهُ بَرَقانُ سَحلٍ
جَلاscoured عَنfrom مَتنِهِits surface حُرُضٌwashing alkali وَماءُand water
جَلا عَن مَتنِهِ حُرُضٌ وَماءُ
His gleam is like the gleam of a white cloth,
As though its lightning is a bare-flanked steed
Its surface scoured by washing alkali and water.
Whose bridle and water are manifest.
فَلَيسَso not بِغافِلٍheedless عَنهاof her مُضيعٍneglecting
فَلَيسَ بِغافِلٍ عَنها مُضيعٍ
رَعِيَّتَهُhis charge إِذاwhen غَفَلَgrow heedless الرِعاءُthe herdsmen
رَعِيَّتَهُ إِذا غَفَلَ الرِعاءُ
He is not heedless of her, nor one to neglect
It is not neglectful of it though the shepherd
His charge when the herdsmen grow heedless.
Is distracted, it guards its flock.
وَقَدand sometimes أَغدوI go at dawn عَلىto ثُبَةٍa company كِرامٍnoble
وَقَد أَغدو عَلى ثُبَةٍ كِرامٍ
نَشاوىdrunk واجِدينَpossessing لِماof what نَشاءُwe desire
نَشاوى واجِدينَ لِما نَشاءُ
And sometimes I go at dawn to a noble company,
I came upon a noble and generous company
Drunk, possessing whatever we desire.
Seeking what we desire.
لَهُمthey have راحٌwine وَراوُوقٌand a wine-strainer وَمِسكٌand musk
لَهُم راحٌ وَراوُوقٌ وَمِسكٌ
تُعَلُّare moistened repeatedly بِهِwith it جُلودُهُمُtheir skins وَماءُand water
تُعَلُّ بِهِ جُلودُهُمُ وَماءُ
They have wine, a wine-strainer, and musk
They have ease, carpets, and musk
That moistens their skins, and water.
Their skins are perfumed with water.
يَجُرّونَthey trail البُرودَthe striped cloaks وَقَدand already تَمَشَّتhas spread
يَجُرّونَ البُرودَ وَقَد تَمَشَّت
حُمَيّاthe heat of الكَأسِthe cup فيهِمthrough them وَالغِناءُand song
حُمَيّا الكَأسِ فيهِم وَالغِناءُ
They trail their striped cloaks, as there spreads
They pass the mugs while song
Through them the wine-cup's heat and song.
Meanders among the slain.
تَمَشّىmoves بَينَamong قَتلىthe slain قَدalready أُصيبَتhave been struck
تَمَشّى بَينَ قَتلى قَد أُصيبَت
نُفوسُهُمُtheir souls وَلَمand not تُهرَقhas been spilled دِماءُblood
نُفوسُهُمُ وَلَم تُهرَق دِماءُ
It moves among the slain, whose
It wandered among the dead who though struck
Souls are struck, though no blood is spilled.
Their souls were not drained of blood.
وَماand not أَدريI know وَسَوفَand soon إِخالُI think أَدريI shall know
وَما أَدري وَسَوفَ إِخالُ أَدري
أَقَومٌare they men آلُthe folk of حِصنٍHisn أَمor نِساءُwomen
أَقَومٌ آلُ حِصنٍ أَم نِساءُ
I do not know—and soon, I think, shall know—
I know not, will know, are they the clan
Are Hisn's folk men, or women?
Of Hissan or are they women?
فَإِنand if قالواthey say النِساءُthe women مُخَبَّآتٍsecluded
فَإِن قالوا النِساءُ مُخَبَّآتٍ
فَحُقَّthen is due لِكُلِّto every مُحصَنَةٍsheltered woman هِداءُa bridal escort
فَحُقَّ لِكُلِّ مُحصَنَةٍ هِداءُ
If they say, 'Women kept secluded,'
If they say adorned women
Then each sheltered woman deserves a bridal escort.
Then the right of the chaste is gifts.
وَإِمّاor else أَنthat يَقولَshould say بَنوthe sons of مَصادٍMasad
وَإِمّا أَن يَقولَ بَنو مَصادٍ
إِلَيكُمaway with you إِنَّناindeed we قَومٌa people بِراءُfree of obligation
إِلَيكُم إِنَّنا قَومٌ بِراءُ
Or let the sons of Masad say,
Or the clan of Masad will say
'Away with you! We are people under no obligation.'
We are an innocent tribe.
وَإِمّاor else أَنthat يَقولواthey say قَدindeed وَفَيناwe fulfilled
وَإِمّا أَن يَقولوا قَد وَفَينا
بِذِمَّتِناour pledge فَعادَتُناso our custom الوَفاءُfaithfulness
بِذِمَّتِنا فَعادَتُنا الوَفاءُ
Or let them say, 'We have fulfilled
Or they will say we have kept our oath
Our pledge, for faithfulness is our custom.'
And our ways are faithfulness.
وَإِمّاor else أَنthat يَقولواthey say قَدindeed أَبَيناwe refused
وَإِمّا أَن يَقولوا قَد أَبَينا
فَشَرُّso the worst مَواطِنِstances of الحَسَبِhonor الإِباءُrefusal
فَشَرُّ مَواطِنِ الحَسَبِ الإِباءُ
Or let them say, 'We have refused'—
Or they will say we refused
And refusal is the worst ground for honor.
And refusing duty is most contemptible.
فَإِنَّfor indeed الحَقَّthe claim مَقطَعُهُits settlement ثَلاثٌthree
فَإِنَّ الحَقَّ مَقطَعُهُ ثَلاثٌ
يَمينٌan oath أَوor نِفارٌarbitration أَوor جِلاءُclear proof
يَمينٌ أَو نِفارٌ أَو جِلاءُ
For a claim has three ways of settlement:
Truth's place is thus threefold:
An oath, arbitration, or clear proof.
Oath, abandonment, or withdrawal.
فَذَلِكُمُso those for you مَقاطِعُsettlements of كُلِّevery حَقٍّclaim
فَذَلِكُمُ مَقاطِعُ كُلِّ حَقٍّ
ثَلاثٌthree كُلُّهُنَّall of them لَكُمfor you شِفاءُa remedy
ثَلاثٌ كُلُّهُنَّ لَكُم شِفاءُ
Those, then, are the settlements of every claim:
That is the place of every right—
Three, each one a remedy for you.
Three, all for you, remedies.
فَلاso not مُستَكرَهونَcoerced لِماover what مَنَعتُمyou withheld
فَلا مُستَكرَهونَ لِما مَنَعتُم
وَلاnor تُعطونَyou give إِلّاexcept أَنthat تَشاؤواyou choose
وَلا تُعطونَ إِلّا أَن تَشاؤوا
You are not coerced over what you withhold,
You are not blamed for what you forbid
Nor do you give unless you choose.
Nor give but when you desire.
جِوارٌprotection شاهِدٌa witness عَدلٌjust عَلَيكُمagainst you
جِوارٌ شاهِدٌ عَدلٌ عَلَيكُم
وَسِيّانِand alike are الكَفالَةُsurety وَالتَلاءُand pledged protection
وَسِيّانِ الكَفالَةُ وَالتَلاءُ
The pledge of protection is a just witness against you,
A witnessing neighbor, justice upon you,
And surety and pledged protection are alike.
And guarantors are equal to creditors.
بِأَيِّby whichever الجيرَتَينِof the two protections أَجَرتُموهُyou sheltered him
بِأَيِّ الجيرَتَينِ أَجَرتُموهُ
فَلَمso not يَصلُحis fitting لَكُمfor you إِلّاexcept الأَداءُrepayment
فَلَم يَصلُح لَكُم إِلّا الأَداءُ
Under either form of protection you granted him,
To which two neighbors did you assign him?
Nothing befits you but repayment.
Only fulfillment suited you.
وَجارٍand a protected neighbor سارَjourneyed مُعتَمِداًrelying إِلَيكُمtoward you
وَجارٍ سارَ مُعتَمِداً إِلَيكُم
أَجاءَتهُdrove him المَخافَةُfear وَالرَجاءُand hope
أَجاءَتهُ المَخافَةُ وَالرَجاءُ
And a neighbor journeyed toward you, relying on you,
A neighbor traveled trusting in you
Driven by fear and hope.
Fear and hope came to him.
فَجاوَرَso lived under protection مُكرَماًhonored حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle
فَجاوَرَ مُكرَماً حَتّى إِذا ما
دَعاهُcalled him الصَيفُsummer وَاِنقَطَعَand ended الشِتاءُwinter
دَعاهُ الصَيفُ وَاِنقَطَعَ الشِتاءُ
He lived under your protection, honored, until
He dwelt honored until summer called him
Summer called him and winter ended.
And winter had gone.
ضَمِنتُمyou guaranteed مالَهُhis property وَغَداand became جَميعاًentirely
ضَمِنتُم مالَهُ وَغَدا جَميعاً
عَلَيكُمyour liability نَقصُهُits loss وَلَهُand his النَماءُits increase
عَلَيكُم نَقصُهُ وَلَهُ النَماءُ
You guaranteed his property, and it all became
You guaranteed his wealth—collectively
Your liability for loss, while its increase was his.
Its loss was upon you as was its growth.
وَلَولاand were it not أَنthat يَنالَbefall أَباAbu طَريفٍTarif
وَلَولا أَن يَنالَ أَبا طَريفٍ
إِسارٌcaptivity مِنfrom مَليكٍa king أَوor لِحاءُreproach
إِسارٌ مِن مَليكٍ أَو لِحاءُ
Were it not that Abu Tarif might suffer
Had it not been that humiliation would strike Abu Turaif
Captivity at a king's hands, or reproach,
From a possessive or adhesive one,
لَقَدindeed زارَتvisited بُيوتَthe houses of بَنيthe sons of عُلَيمٍ'Ulaym
لَقَد زارَت بُيوتَ بَني عُلَيمٍ
مِنَof الكَلِماتِwords آنِيَةٌvessels مِلاءُfull
مِنَ الكَلِماتِ آنِيَةٌ مِلاءُ
The houses of the sons of 'Ulaym would surely have been visited
The houses of Bani Ulaim would be visited
By vessels brimming with words.
By vessels filled with words.
فَتُجمَعso would be joined أَيمُنُright hands مِنّاfrom us وَمِنكُمand from you
فَتُجمَع أَيمُنُ مِنّا وَمِنكُم
بِمُقسَمَةٍon a battlefield تَمورُsurges بِهاin it الدِماءُblood
بِمُقسَمَةٍ تَمورُ بِها الدِماءُ
Then right hands, ours and yours, would meet
Our oaths from us and you will be gathered
On a battlefield where blood surges.
By a pact the blood-ties nourish.
سَتَأتيwill reach آلَthe folk of حِصنٍHisn حَيثُwherever كانواthey are
سَتَأتي آلَ حِصنٍ حَيثُ كانوا
مِنَamong المُثُلاتِexemplary punishments باقِيَةٌan enduring one ثِناءُtwofold
مِنَ المُثُلاتِ باقِيَةٌ ثِناءُ
Hisn's folk, wherever they are, will be reached
There will come to the clan of Hissan wherever they were
By an enduring, twofold exemplary punishment.
From examples lasting glory.
فَلَمso not أَرَI saw مَعشَراًa people أَسَرواtook captive هَدِيّاًa protected man
فَلَم أَرَ مَعشَراً أَسَروا هَدِيّاً
وَلَمand not أَرَI saw جارَa protected neighbor of بَيتٍa house يُستَباءُtaken as booty
وَلَم أَرَ جارَ بَيتٍ يُستَباءُ
I have never seen a people take a protected man captive,
I saw no band prouder of a gift
Nor seen a house's protected neighbor taken as booty.
Nor a house's neighbor held greater in honor.
وَجارُand the protected neighbor of البَيتِthe house وَالرَجُلُand the man المُناديcalling out
وَجارُ البَيتِ وَالرَجُلُ المُنادي
أَمامَbefore الحَيِّthe tribe عَقدُهُماtheir covenants سَواءُequal
أَمامَ الحَيِّ عَقدُهُما سَواءُ
The house's protected neighbor and the man calling out
A house's neighbor and its caller
Before the tribe have equal covenants.
In front of the tribe their pact is equal.
أَبىrefused الشُهَداءُthe witnesses عِندَكَwith you مِنfrom مَعَدٍّMa'add
أَبى الشُهَداءُ عِندَكَ مِن مَعَدٍّ
فَلَيسَso not لِماfor what تَدِبُّyou scheme stealthily لَهُtoward it خَفاءُconcealment
فَلَيسَ لِما تَدِبُّ لَهُ خَفاءُ
The witnesses from Ma'add beside you refuse it;
The martyrs with you refused from Ma'd
What you stealthily pursue is not concealed.
There is no concealment for its creeping.
تُلَجلِجُyou roll in your mouth مُضغَةًa morsel فيهاin it أَنيضٌraw flesh
تُلَجلِجُ مُضغَةً فيها أَنيضٌ
أَصَلَّتhas rotted فَهيَso it تَحتَbeneath الكَشحِthe flank داءُa sickness
أَصَلَّت فَهيَ تَحتَ الكَشحِ داءُ
You roll a morsel in your mouth, with raw flesh still in it;
It churns venom—though fresh
It has rotted, and is a sickness beneath your flank.
It sprouted beneath the armpit a disease.
غَصِصتَyou choked بِنيئِهاon its raw flesh فَبَشِمتَso suffered surfeit عَنهاfrom it
غَصِصتَ بِنيئِها فَبَشِمتَ عَنها
وَعِندَكَand you have لَوif أَرَدتَyou wished لَهاfor it دَواءُa remedy
وَعِندَكَ لَو أَرَدتَ لَها دَواءُ
You choked on its raw flesh, then turned away, sick with surfeit;
You spat some out yet left therein
Yet you have a remedy for it, if you wish.
Though you could have cured it if you wished.
وَإِنّيand I لَوif لَقيتُكَmet you فَاِجتَمَعناand we came together
وَإِنّي لَو لَقيتُكَ فَاِجتَمَعنا
لَكانَsurely there would be لِكُلِّfor every مُندِيَةٍsweat-raising disgrace لِقاءُa confrontation
لَكانَ لِكُلِّ مُندِيَةٍ لِقاءُ
And if I met you and we came together,
If I met you and we gathered
Every sweat-raising disgrace would meet its answer.
Every complainant would have her meeting.
فَأُبرِئُso I would heal موضِحاتِbone-baring wounds of الرَأسِthe head مِنهُon him
فَأُبرِئُ موضِحاتِ الرَأسِ مِنهُ
وَقَدand sometimes يَشفيcures مِنَof الجَرَبِmange الهِناءُmedicinal pitch
وَقَد يَشفي مِنَ الجَرَبِ الهِناءُ
Then I would heal his wounds that lay the skull bare,
I would absolve those who wash their hair of it
For pitch sometimes cures mange.
Though scratching may cure scabies.
فَمَهلاًso hold back آلَfolk of عَبدِ'Abd اللَهِAllah عَدّواcount
فَمَهلاً آلَ عَبدِ اللَهِ عَدّوا
مَخازِيَdisgraces لاnot يُدَبُّis crept through لَهاfor them الضَراءُconcealing brush
مَخازِيَ لا يُدَبُّ لَها الضَراءُ
So hold back, folk of 'Abd Allah: count
Wait, O clan of Abdullah, count
Disgraces that need no stalking through cover.
Missteps with no harm can touch.
أَروناshow us سُنَّةًa practice لاno عَيبَfault فيهاin it
أَرونا سُنَّةً لا عَيبَ فيها
يُسَوّىis applied equally بَينَناbetween us فيهاin it السَواءُfairness
يُسَوّى بَينَنا فيها السَواءُ
Show us a practice without fault,
Show us a tradition with no fault
In which justice treats us equally.
Making equal between us the level ground.
فَإِنand if تَدعواyou abandon السَواءَfairness فَلَيسَthen not بَينيbetween me
فَإِن تَدعوا السَواءَ فَلَيسَ بَيني
وَبَينَكُمُand between you بَنيsons of حِصنٍHisn بَقاءُendurance
وَبَينَكُمُ بَني حِصنٍ بَقاءُ
If you abandon fairness, no lasting bond remains between me
If you leave the level ground no pact remains between
And you, sons of Hisn.
The clan of Hissan and I.
وَيَبقىand remains بَينَناbetween us قَذَعٌvicious invective وَتُلفَواand you will be found
وَيَبقى بَينَنا قَذَعٌ وَتُلفَوا
إِذاًthen قَوماًa people بِأَنفُسِهِمto themselves أَساؤواdid wrong
إِذاً قَوماً بِأَنفُسِهِم أَساؤوا
Vicious invective will remain between us, and you will be found
Severance will remain between us
Then to be a people who have wronged themselves.
A people evil to themselves.
وَتوقَدand will be kindled نارُكُمyour fire شَرَراًsparks وَيُرفَعand will be raised
وَتوقَد نارُكُم شَرَراً وَيُرفَع
لَكُمfor you فيin كُلِّevery مَجمَعَةٍgathering لِواءُa banner
لَكُم في كُلِّ مَجمَعَةٍ لِواءُ
Your fire will blaze in sparks, and there will be raised
Your fire will spark embers
For you, in every gathering, a banner.
And for you in every assembly a banner will rise.
Sol 6.1