شِفاءُthe healing of الهُدىguidance ياO سَيفَهُits sword العَضبَkeen-edged أَنthat تُشفاyou be healed
شِفاءُ الهُدى يا سَيفَهُ العَضبَ أَن تُشفا
وَكَفُّand the averting of الخُطوبِcalamities المُدلَهِمَّةِdark and ominous أَنthat تُكفاyou be protected
وَكَفُّ الخُطوبِ المُدلَهِمَّةِ أَن تُكفا
Guidance is healed, O its keen sword, when you are healed,
The cure of guidance, O sword of wrath, is that you heal,
And dark calamities are stayed when you are spared.
And stopping the crushing misfortunes is that you stop.
فَجاوَزتَso may you surpass أَقصىthe utmost عُمرِlifespan of نوحٍNoah مُعَوَّضاًbeing recompensed
فَجاوَزتَ أَقصى عُمرِ نوحٍ مُعَوَّضاً
عَنِin exchange for العامِthe year مِنamong أَعوامِthe years of مُدَّتِهِhis span أَلفاa thousand
عَنِ العامِ مِن أَعوامِ مُدَّتِهِ أَلفا
May you surpass the utmost span of Noah's life, receiving
You have surpassed the utmost age of Noah, compensated
A thousand years for each year of his span.
A thousand years from the years of his term.
حَياةُthe life of بَنيthe children of الدُنياthe world حَياتُكَyour life سالِماًin good health
حَياةُ بَني الدُنيا حَياتُكَ سالِماً
فَلاso may not بُدِّلَbe changed الإِسلامُIslam مِنfrom قُوَّةٍstrength ضَعفاweakness
فَلا بُدِّلَ الإِسلامُ مِن قُوَّةٍ ضَعفا
The life of this world's children is your life in health;
The life of the children of this world is your life in peace,
So may Islam never exchange strength for weakness.
So Islam was not changed from strength into weakness.
أَنَمتَyou put to sleep عُيونَthe eyes of الخَلقِcreation بَعدَafter سُهادِهاtheir sleeplessness
أَنَمتَ عُيونَ الخَلقِ بَعدَ سُهادِها
كَذاthus كُلُّevery جَفنٍeyelid مُذsince تَأَلَّمتَyou suffered ماnot أَغفاslept
كَذا كُلُّ جَفنٍ مُذ تَأَلَّمتَ ما أَغفا
You lulled creation's eyes to sleep after their sleeplessness;
You made sleep the eyes of people after their wakefulness.
So it was with every eyelid: since you suffered, none had slept,
Thus every eyelid since you became ill has not slept.
إِلىuntil أَنthat وَقاكَprotected you اللَهُGod لُطفاًout of kindness بِخَلقِهِto His creation
إِلى أَن وَقاكَ اللَهُ لُطفاً بِخَلقِهِ
فَلاso may not عَدِمواthey lack مِنهُfrom Him تَبارَكَblessed is He ذاthis اللُطفاkindness
فَلا عَدِموا مِنهُ تَبارَكَ ذا اللُطفا
Until God shielded you, out of kindness to His creatures;
Until God protected you gently for the sake of His creation,
May they never lack this kindness from Him—blessed is He.
So they did not miss the blessings of the Lord of gentleness.
وَأَمَّنَهُمand He reassured them فيكَconcerning you المَخاوِفَthe fears كُلَّهاall of them
وَأَمَّنَهُم فيكَ المَخاوِفَ كُلَّها
كَماjust as أَمِنواthey were safe فيin ظِلِّكَyour shade الجَورَinjustice وَالعَسفاand oppression
كَما أَمِنوا في ظِلِّكَ الجَورَ وَالعَسفا
And He freed them from every fear concerning you,
And He secured them against all fears in you,
Just as beneath your shade they were safe from injustice and oppression.
As they felt safe in your shade from injustice and despotism.
فَسُرَّتso were gladdened قُلوبٌhearts شافَهَتكَspoke directly to you بِسِرِّهاof their secret
فَسُرَّت قُلوبٌ شافَهَتكَ بِسِرِّها
عَلىdespite أَنَّهُthe fact that it ماnot كانَwas فيماin what مَضىpassed يَخفاhidden
عَلى أَنَّهُ ما كانَ فيما مَضى يَخفا
So hearts rejoiced, telling you their secret face to face,
Hearts were delighted which confided their secrets in you,
Though it had never been hidden in the past.
Despite it had not been hidden in the past.
أَيُجحَدُcan it be denied? ماwhat توليهِyou bestow it آلاءُthe bounties of مُنعِمٍa benefactor
أَيُجحَدُ ما توليهِ آلاءُ مُنعِمٍ
إِذاwhen جارَoppresses صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الدَهرِtime كانَhe becomes لَهُagainst it صَرفاa counterforce
إِذا جارَ صَرفُ الدَهرِ كانَ لَهُ صَرفا
Can what you bestow be denied—the bounties of a benefactor
Can the favours of a Benefactor be denied
Who turns aside time's vicissitudes whenever they oppress?
If the course of fate changed, it would have a change?
وَذوand one with الأَمَلِhope المَغضوضِcast down قَدhas now عادَreturned طامِحاًaspiring
وَذو الأَمَلِ المَغضوضِ قَد عادَ طامِحاً
فَأَوفىso he rose عَلىto النُعمىgood fortune وَذوand one with النَذرِa vow قَدhas وَفّاfulfilled it
فَأَوفى عَلى النُعمى وَذو النَذرِ قَد وَفّا
And one whose hope had been cast down now aspires again;
And he of disappointed hope has come back ambitious,
He has risen to good fortune, and the maker of a vow has fulfilled it.
So the grateful fulfilled and the vow-maker has fulfilled.
فَلَوso if لَمnot تَكُنyou were فيناamong us لَمُتناwe would have died مَخافَةًfrom fear
فَلَو لَم تَكُن فينا لَمُتنا مَخافَةً
وَلَوand if عَدِمَتكَwere deprived of you الأَرضُthe earth لَمnot تَأمَنِbe safe from الخَسفاsubsidence
وَلَو عَدِمَتكَ الأَرضُ لَم تَأمَنِ الخَسفا
Had you not been among us, we would have died of fear;
Had there not been fear of death within us,
And had the earth lacked you, it would not have been safe from sinking.
And had the earth lacked you, it would not have felt safe from sinking.
أَلَستَdo you not تَرىsee النَبتَthe plants الَّذيthat أَطلَعَbrought forth الحَياthe rain
أَلَستَ تَرى النَبتَ الَّذي أَطلَعَ الحَيا
إِذاif ماever جَفاforsakes صَوبُthe downpour of الحَياrain تُربَهُits soil جَفّاit dries up
إِذا ما جَفا صَوبُ الحَيا تُربَهُ جَفّا
Do you not see the plants that rain brings forth?
Do you not see the vegetation that the snake brought out?
When rain's downpour forsakes their soil, they wither.
When the snake turns away, its soil dries.
فَلاso may not فَلَّتِblunt الأَيّامُthe days عَزماًa resolve مَضاؤُهُwhose keenness
فَلا فَلَّتِ الأَيّامُ عَزماً مَضاؤُهُ
شَفىcured الحَقَّtruth مِنof أَدوائِهِits ailments بَعدَafter أَنthat أَشفاit neared death
شَفى الحَقَّ مِن أَدوائِهِ بَعدَ أَن أَشفا
May days never blunt a resolve whose keenness
So the firm-willed days did not swerve, their purpose cured
Cured truth of its ailments after it had neared death.
Truth from its diseases after it had cured.
وَلاand may not سَكَنَتfall still ريحُthe wind of المُظَفَّرِal-Muzaffar إِنَّهاfor it
وَلا سَكَنَت ريحُ المُظَفَّرِ إِنَّها
إِذاwhen عَصَفَتblows fiercely كانَbecome المُلوكُthe kings بِهاby it عَصفاchaff
إِذا عَصَفَت كانَ المُلوكُ بِها عَصفا
Nor may the wind of al-Muzaffar fall still; for
Nor did the wind of victory abate, it surely
When it rages, kings become chaff in its blast.
Storms while kings are with it stormed.
وَلاand may not بَرِحَتcease نيرانُهُhis fires كُلَّماwhenever طَغَتsurge
وَلا بَرِحَت نيرانُهُ كُلَّما طَغَت
سُيولُthe torrents of الرَدىdeath تَطفوfloat عَلَيهاabove them وَلاand not تُطفاbe quenched
سُيولُ الرَدى تَطفو عَلَيها وَلا تُطفا
And may his fires never cease, whenever
Nor its fires cease whenever the floods of destruction raged,
Death's torrents surge, to float above them, never quenched.
The torrents of havoc float upon them and do not extinguish.
لِشَكواكَbecause of your illness أَخفىhid الجَوُّthe sky عَنّاfrom us غَمامَهُits clouds
لِشَكواكَ أَخفى الجَوُّ عَنّا غَمامَهُ
زَماناًfor a time فَمُذso once عوفيتَyou recovered أَظهَرَrevealed ماwhat أَخفاit had hidden
زَماناً فَمُذ عوفيتَ أَظهَرَ ما أَخفا
Because of your illness, the sky hid its clouds from us
Due to your complaints, the atmosphere concealed its clouds from us
For a time; once you recovered, it revealed what it had hidden.
For a time, so when you recovered, it showed what it had hidden.
أَرادَwished يُريناto show us اللَهُGod جاهَكَyour standing عِندَهُwith Him
أَرادَ يُرينا اللَهُ جاهَكَ عِندَهُ
وَمَنand who مِنكَthan you أَولىworthier بِالمَحَبَّةِof love وَالزُلفاand nearness
وَمَن مِنكَ أَولى بِالمَحَبَّةِ وَالزُلفا
God wished to show us your standing with Him;
God wanted to show us your high status with Him,
And who is worthier than you of love and nearness?
And who is worthier of love and closeness than you?
ظَهَرتَyou appeared فَظَلَّتso remained نِعمَتانِtwo blessings أَظَلَّتاboth cast shade
ظَهَرتَ فَظَلَّت نِعمَتانِ أَظَلَّتا
وَإِنand though كُنتَyou were لِلإِمحالِagainst drought عَنfrom أَرضِناour land أَنفاmore effective at banishing
وَإِن كُنتَ لِلإِمحالِ عَن أَرضِنا أَنفا
You appeared; two blessings remained, casting their shade,
Two blessings appeared so you stayed, and though
Though you were the surer banisher of drought from our land.
You were too high to be on our land, you were selfless.
فَدَتmay ransom أَنفُسُthe souls of الأَملاكِkings نَفساًa soul شَريفَةًnoble
فَدَت أَنفُسُ الأَملاكِ نَفساً شَريفَةً
إِذاwhen اِنفَرَدَتit stands apart عَنهُمfrom them فَسائِرُهُمthen all the rest of them أَكفاequals
إِذا اِنفَرَدَت عَنهُم فَسائِرُهُم أَكفا
May kings' souls ransom a noble soul,
The souls of angels would ransom a noble soul
Apart from which all the rest of them are equals,
If it isolated itself from them while the rest of them sufficed.
وَطَودَand a mountain of فَخارٍglory فَخرُthe pride of مَنthose who عَزَّare mighty مِنهُمُamong them
وَطَودَ فَخارٍ فَخرُ مَن عَزَّ مِنهُمُ
وَطالَand rose high مَحَلّاًin rank أَنthat يَكونَbe لَهُfor him الحِفاreverent care
وَطالَ مَحَلّاً أَن يَكونَ لَهُ الحِفا
And a mountain of glory: the pride of those mighty among them
The glory of the eminent humbled whoever of them was eminent,
And lofty in rank is to show him reverent care;
And the high-ranked longed to have precedence.
أَشَدَّهُمُthe strongest of them كَفّاًin repelling لِنائِبَةٍagainst a calamity عَرَتthat struck
أَشَدَّهُمُ كَفّاً لِنائِبَةٍ عَرَت
وَأَنداهُمُand the most generous of them إِنif سيلَhe is asked مَكرُمَةًfor a noble gift كَفّاof hand
وَأَنداهُمُ إِن سيلَ مَكرُمَةً كَفّا
The strongest of them in warding off a calamity that strikes,
The strongest of them to ward off an affliction that occurred,
And the most generous-handed when asked for a noble gift;
And the most generous if a wave of favors gushed forth.
وَأَروَعَand a noble man عَفّىeclipsed فيin التَجاوُزِforgiveness وَالتُقىand piety
وَأَروَعَ عَفّى في التَجاوُزِ وَالتُقى
عَلىbeyond مَنthose who عَفاpardoned بَعدَafter اِقتِدارٍgaining power وَمَنand those who عَفّاwere chaste
عَلى مَن عَفا بَعدَ اِقتِدارٍ وَمَن عَفّا
And a noble man who, in forgiveness and piety, eclipsed
And most clement in pardoning and piety
Those who pardoned after gaining power, and those who were chaste.
Toward those who pardoned after ability and those who pardoned.
لَقَدindeed مَلَأَتhave filled أَخبارُهُhis tidings وَهِباتُهُand his gifts
لَقَد مَلَأَت أَخبارُهُ وَهِباتُهُ
أُنوفَthe noses of الوَرىhumankind عَرفاًwith fragrance وَأَيدِيَهُمand their hands عُرفاwith bounty
أُنوفَ الوَرى عَرفاً وَأَيدِيَهُم عُرفا
His tidings and his gifts have indeed filled
Indeed your news and grants have filled
People's noses with fragrance, and their hands with bounty.
The noses of mankind with honor and their hands with bounty.
فَياso O مَنyou whose سَقَتناgave us to drink الأَمنَsecurity وَالعَدلَand justice وَالغِنىand wealth
فَيا مَن سَقَتنا الأَمنَ وَالعَدلَ وَالغِنى
عَلىupon ظَمَإٍthirst أَيّامُthe days of دَولَتِهِhis reign صِرفاunmixed
عَلى ظَمَإٍ أَيّامُ دَولَتِهِ صِرفا
O you, whose security, justice, and wealth were poured for us
So O you who quenched us with security, justice and wealth
Pure in our thirst by the days of your reign;
In the days of your rule which alternate between ease and hardship.
وَياذاand O possessor of المَعاليlofty virtues لاnot يُعَدِّدُenumerates فَضلَهاtheir excellence
وَياذا المَعالي لا يُعَدِّدُ فَضلَها
مَقالٌspeech أَيُفنيcan he exhaust? البَحرَthe sea وارِدُهُone who comes to it غَرفاby scooping
مَقالٌ أَيُفني البَحرَ وارِدُهُ غَرفا
O master of lofty virtues, their excellence cannot be counted
O you whose glories cannot be counted in speech,
By speech; can one who draws from the sea exhaust it, scoop by scoop?
Can the sea drain the water poured into it in cupped hands?
وَعَجزُand the inability of المَساعيendeavors أَنto تَنالَattain أَقَلَّهاthe least of them
وَعَجزُ المَساعي أَن تَنالَ أَقَلَّها
كَعَجزِlike the inability of القَوافيrhymes أَنto تُحيطَencompass بِهاthem وَصفاin description
كَعَجزِ القَوافي أَن تُحيطَ بِها وَصفا
And endeavors' failure to attain even the least of them
And the inability of efforts to obtain even a little of it
Is like the failure of rhymes to encompass them in description.
Is like the inability of poems to encompass it in description.
لَئِنeven if جِئتَyou came فيin أُخرىthe latter days of الزَمانِtime مُعَقِّباًas a successor
لَئِن جِئتَ في أُخرى الزَمانِ مُعَقِّباً
فَمَجدُكَyet your glory لاnot يَقفوfollows وَلَكِنَّهُbut it يُقفاis followed
فَمَجدُكَ لا يَقفو وَلَكِنَّهُ يُقفا
Though you came in time's latter days, following others,
If you come back in the later era, following,
Your glory does not follow: it is followed.
Your glory follows but does not keep pace, rather it surpasses.
وَلاand no خُلفَdispute أَنَّthat الدَهرَtime عادَturned back بِوَجهِهِwith its face
وَلا خُلفَ أَنَّ الدَهرَ عادَ بِوَجهِهِ
إِلَيكَtoward you إِلىuntil أَنthat صارَbecame قُدّامُهُits front خَلفاthe back
إِلَيكَ إِلى أَن صارَ قُدّامُهُ خَلفا
Nor can it be disputed that time turned its face
And it is inevitable that fate will turn its face
Toward you, until its front became its back.
Back to you until its front has become its back.
رَأىit saw مُعجِزاتٍmiracles مِنكَfrom you ياO عُدَّةَthe strength of الهُدىguidance
رَأى مُعجِزاتٍ مِنكَ يا عُدَّةَ الهُدى
تَطَلَّبَهاit sought them فيin العالَمينَthe worlds فَماbut did not أَلفاfind
تَطَلَّبَها في العالَمينَ فَما أَلفا
It saw miracles in you, O guidance's strength,
It saw miracles from you, O mainstay of guidance,
That it sought throughout the worlds, yet never found.
Which it sought in both worlds but did not find.
وَكَمand how many طالِبٍa seeker of ذاthis المَجدَglory حاوَلَtried عَطفَهُto bend it
وَكَم طالِبٍ ذا المَجدَ حاوَلَ عَطفَهُ
فَلَمّاbut when أَبىit refused عِزّاًin pride ثَنىhe turned دونَهُshort of it عِطفاhis side
فَلَمّا أَبى عِزّاً ثَنى دونَهُ عِطفا
How many a seeker of this glory tried to bend it toward him,
And how many desiring this glory tried to gain its good graces
But when it proudly refused, he turned his shoulder away, unable to reach it.
But when it refused with pride, he turned aside, bent in humility.
أَباحَتكَlaid open to you أَقطارُthe regions of البِلادِthe lands عَزائِمٌresolves
أَباحَتكَ أَقطارُ البِلادِ عَزائِمٌ
كَفَينَthey spared السُيوفَthe swords السَلَّbeing drawn وَالجَحفَلَand the great army الزَحفاthe advance
كَفَينَ السُيوفَ السَلَّ وَالجَحفَلَ الزَحفا
Resolves laid the farthest reaches of the lands open to you,
The borders of the countries made you accessible to firm resolutions
Sparing swords their drawing, and the host its advance.
That sheathed swords and softened the hardened heart.
وَأَمطَتكَand mounted you أَطرافُthe tips of الأَسِنَّةِspearheads رُتبَةًa rank
وَأَمطَتكَ أَطرافُ الأَسِنَّةِ رُتبَةً
تَوَدُّwish الثُرَيّاthe Pleiades أَنto تَدومَremain لَهاfor her إِلفاa companion
تَوَدُّ الثُرَيّا أَن تَدومَ لَها إِلفا
And spearheads set you astride a rank
And the edges of tongues gave you a position
That the Pleiades wish would remain their companion forever;
That the Pleiades desire to last for it as a familiar friend.
مُحَرَّمَةًinviolate لَمnot تَرضَaccept قَبلَكَbefore you راكِباًa rider
مُحَرَّمَةً لَم تَرضَ قَبلَكَ راكِباً
وَأَحرِand how fitting بِهاfor it مِنfrom بَعدِafterward أَنto تَمنَعَrefuse الرِدفاa rider behind
وَأَحرِ بِها مِن بَعدِ أَن تَمنَعَ الرِدفا
Inviolate, it accepted no rider before you,
Sacrosanct, which before you no rider accepted
And how fitting that it should thereafter refuse a rider behind you!
And more sacred after you forbade getting on behind.
وَلَوand if شِئتَyou wished تَدويخَto subdue المَمالِكِthe kingdoms سُرعَةًswiftly
وَلَو شِئتَ تَدويخَ المَمالِكِ سُرعَةً
لَكُنتَyou would be بِهاto them أَغرىmore avidly attached مِنَthan النارِfire بِالحَلفاto esparto grass
لَكُنتَ بِها أَغرى مِنَ النارِ بِالحَلفا
Had you wished to subdue kingdoms swiftly,
Had you wished to quickly overtake the kingdoms,
You would fasten on them more fiercely than fire on esparto grass.
You would have been readier than fire for the oath.
لَقَدindeed عَجَزَتwere unable أَربابُهاtheir lords أَنto تَعُزَّهاdefend them
لَقَد عَجَزَت أَربابُها أَن تَعُزَّها
مَتىwhenever شِئتَهاyou desired them وَالضَيمُand humiliation بِالعَجزِby helplessness لاnot يُنفاbe repelled
مَتى شِئتَها وَالضَيمُ بِالعَجزِ لا يُنفا
Their lords have indeed proved unable to defend them
Indeed their masters were unable to make them strong
Whenever you desire them; humiliation is not dispelled by helplessness.
Whenever you willed them while the victim cannot remove the oppression.
وَلَوand if حَزَمواthey had been prudent أَعطَوكَthey would give you شَطرَhalf of الَّذيwhat حَوَواthey possessed
وَلَو حَزَموا أَعطَوكَ شَطرَ الَّذي حَوَوا
فَذَلِكَfor that فَوقَmore than النِصفِhalf أَنthat تَأخُذَyou take النِصفاhalf
فَذَلِكَ فَوقَ النِصفِ أَن تَأخُذَ النِصفا
Had they been prudent, they would have given you half of what they possessed;
Had they been resolute, they would have given you half of what they possessed,
For your taking half would be worth more than half.
Yet that is beyond half that you take half.
تَمَهَّلتَyou took your time عِلماًknowing أَنَّهاthat they لَكَare yours دونَهُمrather than theirs
تَمَهَّلتَ عِلماً أَنَّها لَكَ دونَهُم
وَمُلتَمِسُand a seeker of المَمنوعِwhat is withheld يَأخُذُهُtakes it خَطفاby snatching
وَمُلتَمِسُ المَمنوعِ يَأخُذُهُ خَطفا
You took your time, knowing they were yours rather than theirs;
You were forebearing, knowing that they are for you against them
While the seeker of what is withheld takes it by snatching.
While the seeker of the forbidden takes it suddenly.
أَبَحتَنِيَyou granted me الإيسارَwealth عِلماًknowing بِأَنَّنيthat I
أَبَحتَنِيَ الإيسارَ عِلماً بِأَنَّني
سَيَبقىwill endure عَلىthrough الأَيّامِthe days ماwhat أودِعُI entrust to الصُحفاthe pages
سَيَبقى عَلى الأَيّامِ ما أودِعُ الصُحفا
You granted me wealth, knowing that
You allowed me affluence, knowing that
What I commit to the pages will endure through the ages.
What I entrust to pages will remain over days.
مَواهِبُgifts لاnot أَدرىI know إِذاwhen أَناI شِمتُهاbehold them
مَواهِبُ لا أَدرى إِذا أَنا شِمتُها
أَصَوبَis it a downpour of? بَنانٍfingertips شِمتُI beheld أَوor دِيَماًsteady rainclouds وُطفاdense
أَصَوبَ بَنانٍ شِمتُ أَو دِيَماً وُطفا
Gifts: when I behold them, I cannot tell
Gifts which I do not know if I sensed
Whether I behold a downpour from fingers or dense clouds of steady rain.
The aroma of musk or lasting perfume.
فَلاso may not يُلزِمَنّيoblige me شُكرُهاgratitude for them حَملَto carry ثِقلِهِits weight
فَلا يُلزِمَنّي شُكرُها حَملَ ثِقلِهِ
فَمَنfor who ليfor me بِشِعرٍwith verse حامِلٍbearing مِنهُof it ماwhat خَفّاis light
فَمَن لي بِشِعرٍ حامِلٍ مِنهُ ما خَفّا
So let gratitude for them not oblige me to bear its weight;
So thanking for them does not oblige me to bear their weight,
For who will give me verse that bears even its lightest part?
For who do I have of poetry bearing what it concealed lightly?
وَقَدand indeed حافَwronged دَهرٌtime أَلحَقَcaused to catch up الأَبعَدينَthe most distant بيwith me
وَقَد حافَ دَهرٌ أَلحَقَ الأَبعَدينَ بي
وَعَدلُكَand your justice لاnot يَرضىconsents وَفَضلُكَand your bounty بيtoward me أَحفاmore solicitous
وَعَدلُكَ لا يَرضى وَفَضلُكَ بي أَحفا
And time has wronged me, letting the farthest behind catch up with me;
And time has come that joined the distant ones to me
Your justice does not accept it, and your bounty is more solicitous of me.
While your justice does not accept and your favor distinguished me.
لَعَمريby my life لَقَدindeed خُوِّلتُI was granted ماwhat دونَهُbeneath it الغِنىwealth
لَعَمري لَقَد خُوِّلتُ ما دونَهُ الغِنى
وَفيand in عُشرِa tenth of مِعشارِa tenth of الَّذيwhat نِلتُI received ماwhat كَفّاsuffices
وَفي عُشرِ مِعشارِ الَّذي نِلتُ ما كَفّا
By my life, I have been granted what surpasses wealth;
By my life, I have indeed been given less than affluence
And a tenth of a tenth of what I received would have sufficed.
And in a tenth of a tenth of what I attained sufficed me.
وَماand not حامِليdriving me أَنto أَستَزيدَask for more مُصَرِّحاًopenly
وَما حامِلي أَن أَستَزيدَ مُصَرِّحاً
سِوىexcept أَنَفيmy pride أَنthat يَجدَعَcut off الدَهرُtime ليfor me أَنفاa nose
سِوى أَنَفي أَن يَجدَعَ الدَهرُ لي أَنفا
Nothing drives me to ask openly for more,
And I have no motive to ask for more declaring,
Except my pride, lest time cut off my nose.
Except my self-esteem that time split my nose.
تُقارِبُdraw near بَعضُsome of الخَيلِthe horses فيin السَبقِthe race بَعضَهاothers of them
تُقارِبُ بَعضُ الخَيلِ في السَبقِ بَعضَها
وَلَنand will never يُلحَقَbe overtaken الطِرفُthe noble steed الَّذيthat يَسبِقُoutstrips الطَرفاthe glance
وَلَن يُلحَقَ الطِرفُ الَّذي يَسبِقُ الطَرفا
Some horses draw close to others in the race,
Some horses are close in the race, while
But the noble steed that outruns the eye will never be overtaken.
The lead will not be reached by whoever lags behind.
أَناI السابِقُthe front-runner المُهديpresenting إِلَيكَto you غَرائِباًrare wonders
أَنا السابِقُ المُهدي إِلَيكَ غَرائِباً
تَدُلُّpoint مَعانيهاtheir meanings عَلىto جَوهَرٍa jewel شَفّاexcelled
تَدُلُّ مَعانيها عَلى جَوهَرٍ شَفّا
I am the front-runner, offering you rare wonders
I am the leader guiding you to strange wonders
Whose meanings reveal a jewel of surpassing worth.
Whose meanings point to an eloquent core.
فَمَيِّزso distinguish مَديحاًa panegyric لَنwill never يَزالَcease صَريحُهُits pure strain
فَمَيِّز مَديحاً لَن يَزالَ صَريحُهُ
عَلىto ذيthe possessor of العُلاgreatness ماas long as عاشَlives شاعِرُهُits poet وَقفاexclusively dedicated
عَلى ذي العُلا ما عاشَ شاعِرُهُ وَقفا
So distinguish a panegyric whose pure strain shall remain
Distinguish eulogy that will remain straightforward for
Dedicated to the lord of greatness as long as its poet lives.
The eminent as long as its poet lives and stands firm.
أَأَترُكُshall I abandon? ذاthis الغَيمَcloud الرُكامَmassed مُعَرَّضاًoffered freely
أَأَترُكُ ذا الغَيمَ الرُكامَ مُعَرَّضاً
لِمَنto whoever رامَseeks جَدواهُits bounty وَأَنتَجِعُand seek الهِفّاa rainless cloud
لِمَن رامَ جَدواهُ وَأَنتَجِعُ الهِفّا
Should I abandon this massed cloud, freely offered
Shall I leave this accumulated cloud exposed
To whoever seeks its bounty, and go seeking a rainless cloud?
To whoever intended its collection while I moan?
بِبُرئِكَthrough your recovery عافىhealed اللَهُGod مِنof عِلَلِthe ailments of المُنىhopes
بِبُرئِكَ عافى اللَهُ مِن عِلَلِ المُنى
وَمِنand from مِنَنِthe favors of القَومِthe people الأُلىwho بَخِلواwere miserly أَعفاHe spared us
وَمِن مِنَنِ القَومِ الأُلى بَخِلوا أَعفا
Through your recovery, God healed us of hope's ailments,
By your probity, God cured illnesses of wishes,
And spared us the favors of those people who were miserly.
And from the favors of ungenerous people who were stingy and veiled.
فَلاso may not زِلتَyou cease to be لِلراجينَfor the hopeful فيin كُلِّevery أَزمَةٍcrisis
فَلا زِلتَ لِلراجينَ في كُلِّ أَزمَةٍ
حَياةًlife وَلِلأَعداءِand for enemies حَيثُwherever اِنتَحَواthey turn حَتفاdeath
حَياةً وَلِلأَعداءِ حَيثُ اِنتَحَوا حَتفا
May you ever be, for those who hope, in every crisis,
So you always were for seekers in every crisis,
Life, and for enemies, wherever they turn, death.
Life, and for enemies wherever they went, death.