نَبَاٌnews أتىcame... ففزِعْتُso I was alarmed كالتّمْتَامِlike a stammerer
نَبَاٌ أتى... ففزِعْتُ كالتّمْتَامِ
أَلِدُI give birth to الكَلامَspeech – أسىin grief – لِغَيْرِwithout تَمَامِcompletion
أَلِدُ الكَلامَ – أسى – لِغَيْرِ تَمَامِ
News came... and I started in fright, like a stammerer,
I give birth—in grief—to speech left incomplete.
أَhas...? مَضَىpassed on؟... أَhas...? رَاحَgone؟... أَhas...? مَاتَdied قبلَbefore لِقائِهِmeeting him؟
أَ مَضَى؟... أَ رَاحَ؟... أَ مَاتَ قبلَ لِقائِهِ؟
أَcan...? يَمُوتُdie فِيin صَمْتِsilence أبُوAbu هَمَّامِHammam؟
أَ يَمُوتُ فِي صَمْتِ أبُو هَمَّامِ؟
Has he passed on?... Has he gone?... Has he died before I could meet him?
Can Abu Hammam die in silence?
وعَصَاهُand his staff؟.. راَحتْit went، أمْor مَضَىhe departed مِنْfrom دُونِهاwithout it
وعَصَاهُ؟.. راَحتْ، أمْ مَضَى مِنْ دُونِها
لَمْdid not يصْطَحِبْهَاtake it with him بعْدَafter إِلْفِcompanionship دَوَامِcontinuance؟
لَمْ يصْطَحِبْهَا بعْدَ إِلْفِ دَوَامِ؟
And his staff? Has it gone too, or did he leave without it,
Not taking it along after their enduring companionship?
والعِلْمُand learning.. مَنْwho للعِلْمِfor learning بَعْدِafter رَحِيلِهِhis departure،
والعِلْمُ.. مَنْ للعِلْمِ بَعْدِ رَحِيلِهِ،
والشِّعْرِand poetry؟ مَنْwho لِنَوائِبِfor the calamities of الأيَّامِdays؟
والشِّعْرِ؟ مَنْ لِنَوائِبِ الأيَّامِ؟
And learning—who is there for learning after his departure,
And poetry? Who will face the calamities of days?
وَنَدَاهُand his bounty فيin "دَارِHouse of العلُومِthe Sciences"... أَhave...? أَمْسَكَتْwithheld their rain
وَنَدَاهُ في "دَارِ العلُومِ"... أَ أَمْسَكَتْ
سُحُبُthe clouds of الفضَائِلِvirtues بعدَafter طُولِa long duration of سجَامِdownpour؟
سُحُبُ الفضَائِلِ بعدَ طُولِ سجَامِ؟
And his bounty at Dar al-Ulum—have
The clouds of virtue withheld their rain after pouring so long?
قَدْindeed أيْنَعَتْripened فيهاin it عُقُولٌminds شَادَهَاhe built them up
قَدْ أيْنَعَتْ فيها عُقُولٌ شَادَهَا
ونَمَتْand grew، فَأَعْجَلَهَاso hastened them الرَّدىdeath بِفِطَامِwith weaning!!
ونَمَتْ، فَأَعْجَلَهَا الرَّدى بِفِطَامِ!!
Minds he had nurtured ripened there
And grew; then death weaned them too soon!
لَوْif only كَانَhad أَمْهَلَهُgranted him respite قَلِيلاًa little حَينُهُhis death
لَوْ كَانَ أَمْهَلَهُ قَلِيلاً حَينُهُ
وَإِذَنْand then رَجَوْتُI would have hoped بِهِthrough it لقاءto meet هُمَامِa noble man
وَإِذَنْ رَجَوْتُ بِهِ لقاء هُمَامِ
Had his appointed hour granted him a little respite,
I could then have hoped to meet that noble man.
لَوْif only كَانَit had been... يَاO حَرْفَparticle of امْتِنَاعٍimpossibility، خَلْفَهُbehind it
لَوْ كَانَ... يَا حَرْفَ امْتِنَاعٍ، خَلْفَهُ
وَلَهِيmy anguish عَلَىover فُقْدَانِهِhis loss وَهُيَامِيand my distraught longing
وَلَهِي عَلَى فُقْدَانِهِ وَهُيَامِي
“If only...” O particle of impossibility, behind which lie
My anguish over his loss and my distraught longing.
أَبْكِيI weep... وَمَاbut what جَدْوَىuse الدُّمُوعِtears وَقَدْwhen already مَضَىhe has gone؟
أَبْكِي... وَمَا جَدْوَى الدُّمُوعِ وَقَدْ مَضَى؟
مَاwhat حِيلَتِيmy recourse.. وَالدَّمْعُwhen tears خَيْرُthe best of كَلاَمِيmy speech؟
مَا حِيلَتِي.. وَالدَّمْعُ خَيْرُ كَلاَمِي؟
I weep... but what use are tears, now he is gone?
What recourse have I, when tears are my finest speech?
أَبْكِيI weep.. وَأَعْلَمُand I know أَنَّthat دَمْعِيَmy tears مَاhowever much جَرَىflowed
أَبْكِي.. وَأَعْلَمُ أَنَّ دَمْعِيَ مَا جَرَى
لَنْwill not أَجْتَنِيI reap مِنْهُfrom it سِوَىexcept آلاَمِيmy pains
لَنْ أَجْتَنِي مِنْهُ سِوَى آلاَمِي
I weep, and know that however much my tears may flow,
I shall reap from them nothing but my pain.
أَبْكِيI weep.. وَذَاand here is سَيْلُthe torrent of المنُونِdeath غَزَاinvaded الحِمَىthe sanctuary
أَبْكِي.. وَذَا سَيْلُ المنُونِ غَزَا الحِمَى
وَأَتَىand came عَلَيْهِupon it.. فَأُغْرِقَتْso were drowned أَحْلاَمِيmy dreams
وَأَتَى عَلَيْهِ.. فَأُغْرِقَتْ أَحْلاَمِي
I weep—and here is death's torrent, which invaded the sanctuary
And laid it waste—so my dreams were drowned.
أَبْكِيI weep.. وَدَمْعِيand my tears فِيهِfor him خَيْرُthe best قَصِيدَةٍpoem
أَبْكِي.. وَدَمْعِي فِيهِ خَيْرُ قَصِيدَةٍ
وَقَصَائِدِيand my poems فِيهِfor him بِغَيْرِwithout خِتَامِan ending
وَقَصَائِدِي فِيهِ بِغَيْرِ خِتَامِ
I weep, and my tears for him are the finest poem,
And my poems for him have no ending.
أَبْكِيI weep.. وَأُمِّيand my mother قَدْalready بَكَتْهُwept for him وَأُمُّهُand his mother
أَبْكِي.. وَأُمِّي قَدْ بَكَتْهُ وَأُمُّهُ
وَبَنَاتُهَاand her daughters يَنْدُبْنَlament أيَّwhat a حُسَامِkeen sword!!
وَبَنَاتُهَا يَنْدُبْنَ أيَّ حُسَامِ!!
I weep; my mother has mourned him, and his mother,
And her daughters lament—what a sword!
يَاO أمُّmother.. يَاO لُغَةَlanguage of البَيَانِeloquence وَسِحْرِهِand its magic
يَا أمُّ.. يَا لُغَةَ البَيَانِ وَسِحْرِهِ
لاَno ثُكْلَbereavement إلاَّexcept ثُكْلكِyour bereavement ابنَa son of كِرَامِnoble people
لاَ ثُكْلَ إلاَّ ثُكْلكِ ابنَ كِرَامِ
O mother, O language of eloquence and its magic,
No bereavement is like your loss of a son of noble men.
فَلأَنْتِfor you indeed أَبْكَىthe most tearful مَنْof those who بَكَاهُmourned him.. لِبِرِّهِfor his filial devotion
فَلأَنْتِ أَبْكَى مَنْ بَكَاهُ.. لِبِرِّهِ
وَجِهَادِهِand his striving وَبَيَانِهِand his eloquence المتَسَامِيexalted
وَجِهَادِهِ وَبَيَانِهِ المتَسَامِي
For you weep most among his mourners, for his devotion,
And his striving and his exalted eloquence.
وَلأَنْتِand you indeed أحْرَىmore deserving بِالعَزَاءِof consolation.. فَإِنْfor if بَكَىweeps
وَلأَنْتِ أحْرَى بِالعَزَاءِ.. فَإِنْ بَكَى
لِبُكَاكِbecause of your weeping نَجْلُكِyour son لَمْnot يَكُنwould be بمُلامِblameworthy
لِبُكَاكِ نَجْلُكِ لَمْ يَكُن بمُلامِ
And you most deserve consolation; for if
Your son weeps because you weep, he cannot be blamed.
وإذَاand if بَكَىweeps الشِّعْرُpoetry الرَّصِينُstately، وَلَمْand not يُطِقْcould bear
وإذَا بَكَى الشِّعْرُ الرَّصِينُ، وَلَمْ يُطِقْ
صَبْراًpatience.. وَنَادَىand cries out –لَمْnot يَكُنْwould be بِحَرَامِforbidden:
صَبْراً.. وَنَادَى –لَمْ يَكُنْ بِحَرَامِ:
And if stately poetry weeps, unable
To be patient, and cries out—there is no sin in it:
وَاثُكْلَalas for the bereavement of مُنْسَرِحٍMunsarih (poetic meter)/ مَضَىhas gone رُبَّانُهُits helmsman
وَاثُكْلَ مُنْسَرِحٍ/ مَضَى رُبَّانُهُ
مَنْwho ذَاis it سُيُبْحِرُwill sail بَعْدَهُafter him بِسَلاَمِin safety؟
مَنْ ذَا سُيُبْحِرُ بَعْدَهُ بِسَلاَمِ؟
Alas for Munsarih! Its helmsman has gone;
Who will sail safely after him?
يَتَهَيَّبُstand in awe of الشُّعَرَاءُthe poets سَطْوَةِthe force of مَوْجِهِits waves
يَتَهَيَّبُ الشُّعَرَاءُ سَطْوَةِ مَوْجِهِ
وَالموْجُand the waves يَفْزَعُtremble مِنْbefore أَبِيAbu هَمَّامِHammam
وَالموْجُ يَفْزَعُ مِنْ أَبِي هَمَّامِ
Poets stand in awe of the force of its waves,
And the waves tremble before Abu Hammam.
أَرْضَاهُhe appeased it حَتَّىuntil انْقَادَyielded جَامِحُهُits unruly force لَهُto him
أَرْضَاهُ حَتَّى انْقَادَ جَامِحُهُ لَهُ
وَطَغَىand it raged فَأَلْجَمَهُso he bridled it بِغَيْرِwithout لِجَامِa bridle
وَطَغَى فَأَلْجَمَهُ بِغَيْرِ لِجَامِ
He appeased it until its unruliness yielded to him;
And when it raged, he bridled it without a bridle.
وَإِذَاand if بَكَىmourns الرَّجُلَthe man الجهَادُstriving، فَكَمْfor how many حَمَىhe defended
وَإِذَا بَكَى الرَّجُلَ الجهَادُ، فَكَمْ حَمَى
ثَغْراًa frontier تَثَاقَلَheld back عَنْهُfrom it كُلُّevery مُحَامِdefender
ثَغْراً تَثَاقَلَ عَنْهُ كُلُّ مُحَامِ
And if striving mourns the man—how often he defended
A frontier from which every defender held back!
دَفَعَتْrepelled بِهِthrough him العَرَبِيَّةُArabic اسْتِخْفَافَthe scorn of مَنْthose who
دَفَعَتْ بِهِ العَرَبِيَّةُ اسْتِخْفَافَ مَنْ
ضَلُّواthey went astray فَقَامَso he rose بِذَاكَto that task خَيْرَthe best قِيَامِfulfillment
ضَلُّوا فَقَامَ بِذَاكَ خَيْرَ قِيَامِ
Through him, Arabic repelled the scorn of those
Who went astray; he carried out that task most ably.
فَاسْأَلْso ask بِهِabout him أَهْلَthe people of الضَّلاَلَةِerror.. إِنَّهُمْindeed they
فَاسْأَلْ بِهِ أَهْلَ الضَّلاَلَةِ.. إِنَّهُمْ
ذَاقُواْthey tasted بِسَاحَتِهِمْin their arena أَمَرَّthe bitterest طَعَامِfood
ذَاقُواْ بِسَاحَتِهِمْ أَمَرَّ طَعَامِ
So ask the people of error about him: they
Tasted the bitterest food in their own arena.
كَانَhe was البقِيَّةَthe remnant مِنْof رِجَالٍmen زَلْزَلُواْthey shook
كَانَ البقِيَّةَ مِنْ رِجَالٍ زَلْزَلُواْ
عَرْشاًa throne لَهُمْof theirs فِيin يَقْظَةٍwakefulness ومَنَامِand sleep
عَرْشاً لَهُمْ فِي يَقْظَةٍ ومَنَامِ
He was what remained of men who shook
Their throne, in waking and in sleep.
وَاسْأَلْand ask بِهِabout him "حُرّاًa “free man”" تَحَرَّرَfreed themselves أَهْلُهُhis people
وَاسْأَلْ بِهِ "حُرّاً" تَحَرَّرَ أَهْلُهُ
مِنْfrom أَصْلِهِمْtheir roots وَتَقَيَّدُواْand they bound themselves بِحُطَامِto worldly dross
مِنْ أَصْلِهِمْ وَتَقَيَّدُواْ بِحُطَامِ
And ask about him a “free man” whose people freed themselves
From their roots and bound themselves to worldly dross.
جَعَلُواْthey made العَدُوَّthe enemy أخاًa brother وَأَهْلَهُمُand their own people عِدىًenemies
جَعَلُواْ العَدُوَّ أخاً وَأَهْلَهُمُ عِدىً
فَالحرُّso the “free man” فِيهِمْamong them قَاطِعُone who severs الأَرْحَامِkinship ties
فَالحرُّ فِيهِمْ قَاطِعُ الأَرْحَامِ
They made the enemy a brother and their own people enemies;
Among them, the “free man” is one who severs kinship ties,
وَالحرُّand the “free man” مَنْone who فِيin القَيْدِchains –قَيْدthe chains of عَدُوِّهِhis enemy
وَالحرُّ مَنْ فِي القَيْدِ –قَيْد عَدُوِّهِ
يَدْعُوcalls الوَرَىhumankind لِعِبَادَةِto the worship of الأَصْنَامِidols
يَدْعُو الوَرَى لِعِبَادَةِ الأَصْنَامِ
And the “free man” is one in chains—his enemy's chains—
Calling humankind to worship idols.
وَاسْأَلْand ask بِهِabout him الأَدَبَliterature المصَفَّىrefined وَالهدَىand guidance
وَاسْأَلْ بِهِ الأَدَبَ المصَفَّى وَالهدَى
فيin الرَّأْيِjudgment.. وَالإِنْعَامَand bounty فيin الإلْهَامِinspiration
في الرَّأْيِ.. وَالإِنْعَامَ في الإلْهَامِ
And ask refined literature about him, and guidance
In judgment, and bounty in inspiration.
فَلَقَدْfor indeed مَضَىhe has gone... وَكِتَابُهُbut his book حَيٌّalive فَتىًa youth
فَلَقَدْ مَضَى... وَكِتَابُهُ حَيٌّ فَتىً
لاَnot يُبْتَلَىis afflicted بِالموْتِby death وَالأَسْقَامِand sicknesses
لاَ يُبْتَلَى بِالموْتِ وَالأَسْقَامِ
For he has gone, but his book lives, youthful,
Unafflicted by death or sickness.
وَالموتُand death مَوْتُthe death of الصَّالحاتِgood works فَإِنْso if حَيَتْthey live
وَالموتُ مَوْتُ الصَّالحاتِ فَإِنْ حَيَتْ
وتَنَاسَلَتْand multiply نَابَتْthey stand in عَنِfor الأَجْسَامِbodies
وتَنَاسَلَتْ نَابَتْ عَنِ الأَجْسَامِ
And death is the death of good works; if they live
And multiply, they take the place of bodies.
يَاO أَيُّهَاyou العَلَمُthe eminent figure المسَافِرُtraveling فيthrough الْمُدَىthe far reaches
يَا أَيُّهَا العَلَمُ المسَافِرُ في الْمُدَى
أوْغَلْتَyou ventured far حِينَwhen صَحِبْتَyou joined رَكْبَthe caravan of حِمَامِdeath
أوْغَلْتَ حِينَ صَحِبْتَ رَكْبَ حِمَامِ
O towering figure, traveling through the far reaches,
You ventured far when you joined death's caravan.
وَتَرَكْتَand you left خَلْفَكَbehind you شِيعَةًa following لَكَof yours أَيْقَنَتْbecame certain
وَتَرَكْتَ خَلْفَكَ شِيعَةً لَكَ أَيْقَنَتْ
سَتَعِيشُwill live بَعْدَكَafter you غُرْبَةَthe estrangement of الأَيْتَامِorphans
سَتَعِيشُ بَعْدَكَ غُرْبَةَ الأَيْتَامِ
And you left behind you followers who knew for certain
They would live after you in the loneliness of orphans.
وَرِثُواْthey inherited كِتَابَكَyour book عَنْكَfrom you فَهْوَso it is عَزَاؤُهُمْtheir consolation
وَرِثُواْ كِتَابَكَ عَنْكَ فَهْوَ عَزَاؤُهُمْ
والحُبَّand love، وَهْوَand it is بِضَاعَةُthe stock-in-trade of الإِسْلاَمِIslam
والحُبَّ، وَهْوَ بِضَاعَةُ الإِسْلاَمِ
They inherited your book from you; it is their consolation,
And love, which is Islam's stock-in-trade.
سَيَظَلُّwill remain عِلْمُكَyour learning بَعْدَafter فَقْدِكَyour loss قِسْمَةًa shared portion
سَيَظَلُّ عِلْمُكَ بَعْدَ فَقْدِكَ قِسْمَةً
فيamong النَّاسِpeople مِثْلَlike نَوَائِبِthe calamities of الأَيَّامِdays
في النَّاسِ مِثْلَ نَوَائِبِ الأَيَّامِ
Your learning, after your loss, will remain a portion shared
Among people, like the calamities of days.
وَيَظَلُّand will remain ذِكْرُكَyour memory كَالأَرِيجِlike fragrance تَضَوَّعَتْbecame fragrant
وَيَظَلُّ ذِكْرُكَ كَالأَرِيجِ تَضَوَّعَتْ
بِهِwith it كُلُّevery عَابِرَةٍpassing one مِنَof الأَنْسَامِthe breezes
بِهِ كُلُّ عَابِرَةٍ مِنَ الأَنْسَامِ
And your memory will remain like fragrance, perfuming
Every passing breeze.
فيin كُلِّevery نَادٍgathering مِنْكَfrom you تَغْدُوsets out in the morning نَسْمَةٌa breeze
في كُلِّ نَادٍ مِنْكَ تَغْدُو نَسْمَةٌ
وتَرُوحُand returns in the evening أُخْرَىanother فيat ابْتِداًa beginning وَخِتَامِand an ending
وتَرُوحُ أُخْرَى في ابْتِداً وَخِتَامِ
In every gathering, one breeze from you goes forth,
And another returns, at beginning and end.
فَعَلَيْكَso upon you رَحْمَةُthe mercy of رَبِّنَاour Lord يَاO ابْنَson of العُلاَthe heights
فَعَلَيْكَ رَحْمَةُ رَبِّنَا يَا ابْنَ العُلاَ
وأَخَand brother of الهدَىguidance والمجدِand glory وَالإِقْدَامِand daring
وأَخَ الهدَى والمجدِ وَالإِقْدَامِ
So may our Lord's mercy be upon you, O son of the heights,
And brother of guidance, glory, and daring.
أَفْنَيْتُI exhausted دَمْعِيmy tears فيin رِثَائِكُمُmourning you وَلَنْand never will
أَفْنَيْتُ دَمْعِي في رِثَائِكُمُ وَلَنْ
تَفْنَىcome to an end الشُّجُونُsorrows وَحُرْقَتِيand my burning grief وَكِلاَمِيand my wounds
تَفْنَى الشُّجُونُ وَحُرْقَتِي وَكِلاَمِي
I have exhausted my tears in mourning you, yet never
Will my sorrows, my burning grief, or my wounds fade.
فَدَعِso let المدَامِعَthe tears مِنْfrom عُيُونِthe eyes of قَصَائِدِيmy poems
فَدَعِ المدَامِعَ مِنْ عُيُونِ قَصَائِدِي
تُقْرِيكَoffer you hospitality فَيْضَthe outpouring of تحيَّتِيmy greeting وَسَلاَمِيand my peace
تُقْرِيكَ فَيْضَ تحيَّتِي وَسَلاَمِي
So let the tears from the eyes of my poems
Offer you, as hospitality, the flood of my greeting and peace.
Translation model: Sol 6.1