لَقدindeed طالَhas grown long لُبثِيmy stay بالحِمىin the sanctuary لمnot أُكَلّمِI speak
لَقد طالَ لُبثِي بالحِمى لم أُكَلّمِ
وَعِيلَand was exhausted اصطِبارِيmy endurance فيin الهَوىlove وَتَكَتُّمِيand my secrecy
وَعِيلَ اصطِبارِي في الهَوى وَتَكَتُّمِي
Long indeed have I stayed in the sanctuary without speaking,
and my endurance in love and my secrecy have failed.
وفيand in ذلكَthat المَغنىdwelling فتاةٌa maiden كريمَةٌnoble
وفي ذلكَ المَغنى فتاةٌ كريمَةٌ
إِلىto خَيرِthe finest أَصلٍlineage فيin العَشِيرَةِthe clan تَنتَميshe belongs
إِلى خَيرِ أَصلٍ في العَشِيرَةِ تَنتَمي
And in that dwelling is a noble maiden,
who belongs to the finest lineage in the clan.
هِيَshe الشَّمسُthe sun فيin نُورٍradiance وَرِفعَةِand loftiness of مَنصبٍstation
هِيَ الشَّمسُ في نُورٍ وَرِفعَةِ مَنصبٍ
وَتَفقِدُand lacks مِنهاfrom her الشَّمسُthe sun حُسنَthe beauty of التَبَسُّمِsmiling
وَتَفقِدُ مِنها الشَّمسُ حُسنَ التَبَسُّمِ
She is the sun in radiance and exalted station,
but the sun lacks the beauty of her smile.
وَتَسقِيand she pours بِعَينَيهاwith her two eyes وَرِقَّةِand the gentleness of لَفظِهاher speech
وَتَسقِي بِعَينَيها وَرِقَّةِ لَفظِها
عَتيقَةَaged خَمرٍwine لاnot تُدارُis passed around عَلىto فَمِa mouth
عَتيقَةَ خَمرٍ لا تُدارُ عَلى فَمِ
Through her eyes and the gentleness of her speech she pours
aged wine that is never passed to a mouth.
وَتِلكَand that one الَّتيwho لاnot تُمسِكُholds back العَينُthe eye دَمعَهاits tears
وَتِلكَ الَّتي لا تُمسِكُ العَينُ دَمعَها
عَلىover فائِتٍwhat is lost مِنof عَهدِهاher time المُتَقَدِّمِearlier
عَلى فائِتٍ مِن عَهدِها المُتَقَدِّمِ
And she is the one for whom the eye cannot restrain its tears,
over what is lost of her earlier days.
وَقدand indeed طالَماfor so long أَرجُوI hope اللياليthe nights تَرُدُّwill restore لِيto me
وَقد طالَما أَرجُو الليالي تَرُدُّ لِي
مَعاهِدَhaunts of أُنسٍcompanionship طالَlasted long مِنهاfrom them تَنَعُّمِيmy enjoyment
مَعاهِدَ أُنسٍ طالَ مِنها تَنَعُّمِي
For long I have hoped that the nights would restore to me
haunts of companionship in which I long enjoyed bliss.
أَأَشكُوshould I lament اللياليthe nights أَمor نِكايَةَthe harm inflicted by قَومِناour people
أَأَشكُو الليالي أَم نِكايَةَ قَومِنا
فَليسَfor it is not أذاهاtheir harm مِنthan أَذاهُمtheir harm بأعظَمِany greater
فَليسَ أذاها مِن أَذاهُم بأعظَمِ
Should I lament the nights or the harm our people cause?
For the nights' harm is no greater than theirs.
ولمّاand when رَأَيناwe saw قومَناour people وَسُراتناand our chiefs
ولمّا رَأَينا قومَنا وَسُراتنا
سِراعاًhastening إِلىtoward غِرّاتِناour unguarded moments بالتَهَجُّمِwith assault
سِراعاً إِلى غِرّاتِنا بالتَهَجُّمِ
And when we saw our people and our chiefs
rushing to attack us in our unguarded moments,
وَأَيقَنَand became certain أَصحابِيmy companions بِأَنَّthat مُقامَناour remaining
وَأَيقَنَ أَصحابِي بِأَنَّ مُقامَنا
عَلىin مِثلِa state like هَذاthis مَحضُsheer عَجزٍhelplessness مُوَهَّمِimagined
عَلى مِثلِ هَذا مَحضُ عَجزٍ مُوَهَّمِ
and my companions knew for certain that our remaining
in such a state was sheer imagined helplessness,
وَبالبَصرَةِand in Basra الفَيحاءِthe spacious قَومٌpeople نَعُدُّهُمwe regard them
وَبالبَصرَةِ الفَيحاءِ قَومٌ نَعُدُّهُم
لَناfor us مَعقِلاًa stronghold نأوِيwe seek shelter إِلَيهِin it وَنَحتَمِيand we seek protection
لَنا مَعقِلاً نأوِي إِلَيهِ وَنَحتَمِي
while in spacious Basra were people whom we regarded
as a stronghold for us, where we seek shelter and protection,
رَحَلناwe departed عَلىon مُستَحسَنَاتٍfine سَوابِقٍfleet
رَحَلنا عَلى مُستَحسَنَاتٍ سَوابِقٍ
مَطاياmounts وَأَلواحِand the planks of السّفينِships المُنَظَّمِwell-constructed
مَطايا وَأَلواحِ السّفينِ المُنَظَّمِ
we departed on fine, fleet
mounts and the planks of well-constructed ships.
فَجِئناso we came إِلىto أَكنافِthe shelter of قَومٍa people أَعِزَّةٍmighty
فَجِئنا إِلى أَكنافِ قَومٍ أَعِزَّةٍ
مَتىwhenever جاءَcomes to نادِيهِمtheir assembly أَخُوa man of البُؤسِmisery يَنعَمِhe finds ease
مَتى جاءَ نادِيهِم أَخُو البُؤسِ يَنعَمِ
Thus we came beneath the shelter of a mighty people:
whenever a man in misery enters their assembly, he finds ease.
فَرُوعُscions الهُداةِthe guides الغُرِّthe radiant مِنfrom آلthe house of هاشمٍHashim
فَرُوعُ الهُداةِ الغُرِّ مِن آل هاشمٍ
فهلso is there مِثلُlike هذاthis الأَصلِlineage أَصلٌa lineage لِمنتَميfor one tracing descent
فهل مِثلُ هذا الأَصلِ أَصلٌ لِمنتَمي
Scions of the radiant guides from the house of Hashim—
is there a lineage like this for anyone claiming descent?
بِهِمthrough them يَستَقِرُّstands firm المُلكُsovereignty إنif خَفَّgrows unsteady عَرشُهُits throne
بِهِم يَستَقِرُّ المُلكُ إن خَفَّ عَرشُهُ
فأَعظِمso how mighty بِهِمthey are لِلمُلكِfor sovereignty طَوداًas a mountain وَأَكرِمِand how noble
فأَعظِم بِهِم لِلمُلكِ طَوداً وَأَكرِمِ
Through them sovereignty stands firm if its throne wavers.
What a mighty and noble mountain they are for sovereignty!
وَهُمand they لِفُرُوعِfor the branches of المجدِglory أَصلٌa root مُؤَثَّلٌfirmly established
وَهُم لِفُرُوعِ المجدِ أَصلٌ مُؤَثَّلٌ
وَإِنعامُهُمand their bounty جَارٍflows عَلىto كُلِّevery مُنعِمِbenefactor
وَإِنعامُهُم جَارٍ عَلى كُلِّ مُنعِمِ
And they are a firmly rooted stock for the branches of glory,
and their bounty flows to every benefactor.
أَتيناهُمُwe came to them كَيso that نَستَجِيرَwe seek refuge وَنَحتَمِيand we seek protection
أَتيناهُمُ كَي نَستَجِيرَ وَنَحتَمِي
لِوَقعٍbecause of a blow عَظيمٍmighty هائِلِterrifying الخَطبِthe calamity مُؤلِمِpainful
لِوَقعٍ عَظيمٍ هائِلِ الخَطبِ مُؤلِمِ
We came to them to seek refuge and protection
because of a mighty blow, a dreadful and painful calamity.
فقابَلَناso received us مِنهُمfrom among them بَشيرٌa bearer of glad tidings وَنَجدَةٌand succor
فقابَلَنا مِنهُم بَشيرٌ وَنَجدَةٌ
هُمامٌa valiant man أَبىrefused فيin المَجدِglory غيرَanything but التَقَدُّمِthe foremost place
هُمامٌ أَبى في المَجدِ غيرَ التَقَدُّمِ
Then from among them a bearer of glad tidings and a source of succor received us—
a valiant man who would accept only the foremost place in glory.
تَصاغَرَdwindled ماwhat جِئناwe came لَهُfor it وهوَand it لَمnot يَكُنwas
تَصاغَرَ ما جِئنا لَهُ وهوَ لَم يَكُن
صَغِيراًsmall لدىto غيرِanyone other than الهُمامِthe valiant man المُفَخَّمِthe exalted
صَغِيراً لدى غيرِ الهُمامِ المُفَخَّمِ
What we had come for dwindled, though it had not been
small to anyone but that exalted, valiant man.
وَلِمand why لاnot يُهِينَنَّsurely belittles العَظائِمَgreat trials سَيِّدٌa lord
وَلِم لا يُهِينَنَّ العَظائِمَ سَيِّدٌ
كرِيمٌnoble نماهُbegot him أَكرَمٌone most noble بَعدَafter أَكرَمِone most noble
كرِيمٌ نماهُ أَكرَمٌ بَعدَ أَكرَمِ
And why should a lord not make great trials seem small—
a noble man sprung from noblest forebear after noblest forebear?
أَخُوa man of هِمَّةٍhigh aspiration تَأبىrejects الفَواضِلَbounties مَغنَماًas a prize
أَخُو هِمَّةٍ تَأبى الفَواضِلَ مَغنَماً
وَلكنand yet تَرىsees العَلياءَlofty glory أَكبَرَthe greatest مَغنَمِprize
وَلكن تَرى العَلياءَ أَكبَرَ مَغنَمِ
A man of aspiration that rejects bounties as its prize,
but sees lofty glory as the greatest prize.
يكادُalmost يَذُوبُmelts الخَصمُthe adversary مِنfrom هَيبَةٍawe لَهُof him
يكادُ يَذُوبُ الخَصمُ مِن هَيبَةٍ لَهُ
إِذاwhen ماever جَلاhe bares مِنout of غَيرَةٍjealous zeal عَينَthe eye of أَرقَمِa speckled serpent
إِذا ما جَلا مِن غَيرَةٍ عَينَ أَرقَمِ
His adversary almost melts from awe of him
whenever, in jealous zeal, he bares the eye of a speckled serpent.
وَيَذهَبُand departs هَمُّthe anxiety of الوَفدِthe delegation مِنfrom نُورِthe light of وَجهِهِhis face
وَيَذهَبُ هَمُّ الوَفدِ مِن نُورِ وَجهِهِ
لِماbecause of what راقَpleases فيهِin it مِنof حَياًmodesty وَتَكَرُّمِand generosity
لِما راقَ فيهِ مِن حَياً وَتَكَرُّمِ
And the delegation's cares vanish at the radiance of his face,
for the pleasing modesty and generosity within it.
أَقَرَّadmitted الأَعادِيthe enemies بَعدَafter جَهدٍstruggle بِأَنَّهُthat he
أَقَرَّ الأَعادِي بَعدَ جَهدٍ بِأَنَّهُ
فَريدٌpeerless فَعَضُّواso they bit أصبعَthe finger of المُتَنَدِّمِthe remorseful
فَريدٌ فَعَضُّوا أصبعَ المُتَنَدِّمِ
His enemies admitted, after much struggle, that he
was peerless; so they bit their fingers in remorse.
بآرائِهِthrough his counsels تَلقىfind الأُمُورُaffairs نَجاحَهاtheir success
بآرائِهِ تَلقى الأُمُورُ نَجاحَها
ويَبشِرُand brightens وَجهُthe face of المُلكِsovereignty بَعدَafter التَجَهُّمِscowling
ويَبشِرُ وَجهُ المُلكِ بَعدَ التَجَهُّمِ
Through his counsels affairs find success,
and the face of sovereignty smiles after scowling.
وَمُذand since شَكَتِcomplained الأَحساءُal-Ahsa عِندَbefore إِمامهاits imam
وَمُذ شَكَتِ الأَحساءُ عِندَ إِمامها
وكانَand there was لَهُin him عَطفٌcompassion عَلىfor كُلِّevery مُسلِمِMuslim
وكانَ لَهُ عَطفٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُسلِمِ
And when al-Ahsa laid its complaint before its imam—
and he had compassion for every Muslim—
خليفَةُthe caliph of دِينِthe religion of اللَّهِGod فِيناamong us وَظِلُّهُand His shade
خليفَةُ دِينِ اللَّهِ فِينا وَظِلُّهُ
عَلَىover مُنجِدٍa highland dweller فيin أَيِّany أَرضٍland وَمُتهِمِand a lowland dweller
عَلَى مُنجِدٍ في أَيِّ أَرضٍ وَمُتهِمِ
the caliph of God's religion among us, and His shade
over highland and lowland dwellers, in whatever land—
تَدارَكَهاhe came to its aid مِنهُfrom him بِأَشهَمَwith one most gallant باسِلٍfearless
تَدارَكَها مِنهُ بِأَشهَمَ باسِلٍ
هُمامٍa valiant man لأَخطارِfor the perils of العُلاgreatness ذِيpossessed of تَجَشُّمِreadiness to brave hardship
هُمامٍ لأَخطارِ العُلا ذِي تَجَشُّمِ
he came to its aid with a most gallant, fearless man from his side,
a valiant man who braves the perils of greatness.
فأَصبَحَso became وادِيهاits valley خَصِيباًfertile وَوَجهُهاand its face
فأَصبَحَ وادِيها خَصِيباً وَوَجهُها
صَبيحاًradiant وَمَنand whoever فيهاin it بِبالٍwith a mind مُنَعَّمِat ease
صَبيحاً وَمَن فيها بِبالٍ مُنَعَّمِ
So its valley became fertile, and its face
radiant, while all within it enjoyed peace of mind.
أَياO طالِبَseeker of الفَضلِthe distinction الَّذيwhich كُنتَyou had نِلتَهُyou attained it
أَيا طالِبَ الفَضلِ الَّذي كُنتَ نِلتَهُ
بِسَعيthrough striving أَغَرٍّradiant لَمnot يَكُنwas بِمُذَمَّمِat all blameworthy
بِسَعي أَغَرٍّ لَم يَكُن بِمُذَمَّمِ
O seeker of the distinction you had attained
through radiant striving that was never blameworthy,
هَنيئاًmay it bring joy لَكَto you القَدرُthe rank الجَليلُexalted لأَنَّهُfor it
هَنيئاً لَكَ القَدرُ الجَليلُ لأَنَّهُ
أَتىcame عَنfrom أَميرِthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful بأنعُمِwith the blessings of
أَتى عَن أَميرِ المُؤمِنينَ بأنعُمِ
may your exalted rank bring you joy, for it
came from the Commander of the Faithful with the blessings of
رضاهُhis approval وَأَعطاهُand gave him السِيادَةَlordship أَهلهاits rightful holders
رضاهُ وَأَعطاهُ السِيادَةَ أَهلها
وَإِنand although لمnot يُقَدِّمhe promoted غيرَexcept قَرمٍa noble chief مُقَدَّمِpreeminent
وَإِن لم يُقَدِّم غيرَ قَرمٍ مُقَدَّمِ
his approval; and the rightful holders of lordship bestowed it upon him,
though he has advanced none but a preeminent nobleman.
فَإِنso if يُعطِكِhe grants you السُلطانُthe sultan رُتبَةَthe rank of سَيِّدٍa lord
فَإِن يُعطِكِ السُلطانُ رُتبَةَ سَيِّدٍ
تَدُوسُyou tread عَلىupon هامِthe heads of الثُّرَيّاthe Pleiades بِمَنسِمِwith a camel's hoof
تَدُوسُ عَلى هامِ الثُّرَيّا بِمَنسِمِ
So if the sultan grants you a lord's rank,
you tread upon the Pleiades' crowns with a camel's hoof.
فلمfor he did not يُعطِهاgrant it إِلاexcept to حقيقاًone worthy مُسَوَّداًmade a lord
فلم يُعطِها إِلا حقيقاً مُسَوَّداً
بفِعلٍthrough a deed كريمٍnoble أَوor بِجَدٍّthrough a forefather مُكَرَّمِhonored
بفِعلٍ كريمٍ أَو بِجَدٍّ مُكَرَّمِ
For he has granted it only to one worthy and recognized as a lord,
through a noble deed or an honored forefather.
فكمfor how many لَكَyou have مِنof جَدٍّa forefather كَريمٍnoble وَمِنand of أَبٍa father
فكم لَكَ مِن جَدٍّ كَريمٍ وَمِن أَبٍ
تَمَنَّىlonged البراياmankind مَسَّto touch نَعلَيهِhis two sandals بِالفَمِwith the mouth
تَمَنَّى البرايا مَسَّ نَعلَيهِ بِالفَمِ
How many noble forefathers and fathers you have,
whose two sandals people have longed to touch with their mouths!
أَقَرَّacknowledged البَراياmankind أَنَّthat إِدراكَattaining فَضلِكُمyour excellence
أَقَرَّ البَرايا أَنَّ إِدراكَ فَضلِكُم
مُحَالٌimpossible فلمso it did not يَخطُرcross the mind وَلَوeven if بِالتَوَهُّمِin imagination
مُحَالٌ فلم يَخطُر وَلَو بِالتَوَهُّمِ
Mankind has acknowledged that attaining your excellence
is impossible; it has never entered the mind, even in imagination.
وَمَنand who ذاis the one يُساويequals أَهلَthe people of بَيتِa house of نُبُوَّةٍprophethood
وَمَن ذا يُساوي أَهلَ بَيتِ نُبُوَّةٍ
شَهِدناwe witnessed ثَناهُمtheir praise بِالكِتابِin the Book المُعَظَّمِthe revered
شَهِدنا ثَناهُم بِالكِتابِ المُعَظَّمِ
And who can equal the people of a prophetic house,
whose praise we have witnessed in the revered Book?
وَلِيand I have فِيكَfor you حُبٌّlove صادِقٌsincere لَستُI do not أَبتَغِيI seek
وَلِي فِيكَ حُبٌّ صادِقٌ لَستُ أَبتَغِي
عليهِfor it جَزاءًa reward غيرَexcept قُربِكَcloseness to you فاعلَمِso know
عليهِ جَزاءً غيرَ قُربِكَ فاعلَمِ
And my love for you is sincere; I do not seek
any reward for it but closeness to you; know this.
وَفِيمَنand for anyone سِواكُمother than you لاnot أُحَبِّرُI craft مِدحَةًa praise-poem
وَفِيمَن سِواكُم لا أُحَبِّرُ مِدحَةً
أَبَتrefused ذاكَthat آبائِيmy forefathers وَيَأبَىand refuses تَكَرُّمِيmy nobility
أَبَت ذاكَ آبائِي وَيَأبَى تَكَرُّمِي
And for anyone but you I craft no poem of praise;
my forefathers refused that, and my nobility refuses it.
وَفِيكُمand about you إِذاwhen أَنشَدتُI recited شَرَّفتُI ennobled مَنطِقيmy speech
وَفِيكُم إِذا أَنشَدتُ شَرَّفتُ مَنطِقي
وَشَرَّفتُand I ennobled أَقلامِيmy pens وَكَفِّيand my palm وَمِعصَمِيand my wrist
وَشَرَّفتُ أَقلامِي وَكَفِّي وَمِعصَمِي
And when I recite of you, I ennoble my speech,
and ennoble my pens, my palm, and my wrist.
Translation model: Sol 6.1