لَوif أَنَّindeed شامِخَlofty قَدرٍrank دافِعٌcould repel قَدَراfate
لَو أَنَّ شامِخَ قَدرٍ دافِعٌ قَدَرا
لَمwould not يُختَرَمbe cut down مَنone who لِإِعزازِfor exalting الهُدىguidance ظَهَراrose
لَم يُختَرَم مَن لِإِعزازِ الهُدى ظَهَرا
If lofty rank could ward off fate,
He who rose to exalt right guidance would not have been cut down.
وَلَيسَand no one يَعلوrises above قَراthe surface الغَبراءِof the earth مِنfrom among أَحَدٍanyone
وَلَيسَ يَعلو قَرا الغَبراءِ مِن أَحَدٍ
حَتّىuntil يَكونَhe becomes لِأَضيافِfor the guests المَنونِof death قِرىa feast
حَتّى يَكونَ لِأَضيافِ المَنونِ قِرى
No one rises above the earth’s surface
Until he becomes a feast for death’s guests.
حَوادِثٌevents لَمdid not تُمَيِّزdistinguish فيin تَصَرُّفِهاtheir course
حَوادِثٌ لَم تُمَيِّز في تَصَرُّفِها
مَنone who ضَيَّعَneglected الحَزمَprudence مِمَّنfrom one who أَكثَرَincreased الحَذَراcaution
مَن ضَيَّعَ الحَزمَ مِمَّن أَكثَرَ الحَذَرا
Events, in their course, make no distinction
Between one who neglects prudence and one who takes every precaution.
وَلَوand if مَشَتhad moved غِيَرُthe changes الدَهرِof time البَراحَopenly لَهُtoward him
وَلَو مَشَت غِيَرُ الدَهرِ البَراحَ لَهُ
لَحاوَلَتthey would have attempted مِنfrom رَداهُhis destruction مَطلَباًa goal عَسِراdifficult
لَحاوَلَت مِن رَداهُ مَطلَباً عَسِرا
Had the changes of time approached him openly,
They would have found his destruction a hard thing to seek.
وَرَدَّهاand drove them back سَيفُهُhis sword الماضيkeen مُفَلَّلَةًblunted
وَرَدَّها سَيفُهُ الماضي مُفَلَّلَةً
عَنهُfrom him وَلَكِنَّهاbut they دَبَّتcrept لَهُtoward him الخَمَراsecretly
عَنهُ وَلَكِنَّها دَبَّت لَهُ الخَمَرا
His keen sword would have driven them back, blunted,
But they crept toward him secretly.
حَتّىuntil قَضىhe fulfilled ماwhat قَضىhe fulfilled مِنof لَذَّةٍpleasure وَطَراًa desire
حَتّى قَضى ما قَضى مِن لَذَّةٍ وَطَراً
وَكَمand how often قَضَتfulfilled مِنهُthrough him آمالُthe hopes الوَرىof mankind وَطَراa desire
وَكَم قَضَت مِنهُ آمالُ الوَرى وَطَرا
Until he had taken his fill of pleasure,
And the hopes of mankind had so often been fulfilled through him.
وَراغِبٍand one averse عَنto سَريرِthe throne المُلكِof kingship فارَقَهُleft it
وَراغِبٍ عَن سَريرِ المُلكِ فارَقَهُ
فَعاضَهُso He gave him instead اللَهُGod فيin جَنّاتِهِHis gardens سُرُراthrones
فَعاضَهُ اللَهُ في جَنّاتِهِ سُرُرا
He left the throne, though he had no desire for it;
God gave him thrones in His gardens instead.
أَعظِمhow great بِهِit was حَدَثاًan event أَفضىthat led إِلىto جَدَثٍa grave
أَعظِم بِهِ حَدَثاً أَفضى إِلى جَدَثٍ
عَرّىstripped القُلوبَhearts مِنَof الأَوجالِfears حينَwhen عَراit came
عَرّى القُلوبَ مِنَ الأَوجالِ حينَ عَرا
How great an event, leading to a grave,
That stripped hearts of fear when it came!
دَمعٌa tear تَرَقرَقَwelled فيin الأَجفانِthe eyelids ثُمَّthen رَقاheld back
دَمعٌ تَرَقرَقَ في الأَجفانِ ثُمَّ رَقا
وَلَوand if تَأَخَّرَتِhad been delayed البُشرىthe glad tidings إِذاًthen لَجَرىit would have flowed
وَلَو تَأَخَّرَتِ البُشرى إِذاً لَجَرى
Tears welled in the eyelids, then held back;
Had the glad tidings been delayed, they would have flowed.
لَوif لَمthere had not تَكُنbeen لِدُموعِfor tears العَينِof the eye عاقِلَةًa restraint
لَو لَم تَكُن لِدُموعِ العَينِ عاقِلَةً
لَأَطلَقَwould have released الحُزنُgrief دَمعاًa tear طالَماlong أُسِراheld captive
لَأَطلَقَ الحُزنُ دَمعاً طالَما أُسِرا
Had there been no restraint upon the eye’s tears,
Grief would have released tears long held captive.
فَليُرغَمِso let be humbled الدَهرُtime أَنفاًits nose أَنَّthat حادِثَهُits calamity
فَليُرغَمِ الدَهرُ أَنفاً أَنَّ حادِثَهُ
أَرادَناintended us بِسُهادٍfor sleeplessness فَاِستَحالَbut turned كَرىinto sleep
أَرادَنا بِسُهادٍ فَاِستَحالَ كَرى
Let time be humbled: its calamity
Meant to give us sleeplessness but turned into sleep.
رَزِيَّةٌa loss جَلَبَتbrought نُعمىblessing وَزَندُand a firebrand هُدىًof guidance
رَزِيَّةٌ جَلَبَت نُعمى وَزَندُ هُدىً
لَمdid not يَكبُfalter إِلّاexcept كَرَجعِfor a blink الطَرفِof the eye ثُمَّthen وَرىblazed
لَم يَكبُ إِلّا كَرَجعِ الطَرفِ ثُمَّ وَرى
A loss brought blessing; the firebrand of guidance
Faltered only for the blink of an eye, then blazed.
وَصارِمٌand a sharp sword حَمَتِguarded الدُنياthe world مَضارِبُهُits blows
وَصارِمٌ حَمَتِ الدُنيا مَضارِبُهُ
ماscarcely قيلَwas it said أُغمِدَit was sheathed حَتّىbefore قيلَit was said قَدindeed شُهِراit was drawn
ما قيلَ أُغمِدَ حَتّى قيلَ قَد شُهِرا
And a sharp sword whose blows guarded the world
Was scarcely said to be sheathed before it was said to be drawn.
إِنَّindeed الزَمانَtime جَنىcommitted لَمّاwhen جَنىit committed نَدَماًa regretted wrong
إِنَّ الزَمانَ جَنى لَمّا جَنى نَدَماً
فَقامَso it rose مِنfor فِعلِهِits deed فيat once الحالِapologizing مُعتَذِرا.
فَقامَ مِن فِعلِهِ في الحالِ مُعتَذِرا
Time regretted the wrong it had done
And at once rose to apologize for its deed.
وَهَلand how يُباحُcould be violated حِمىthe sanctuary الدينِof the faith الحَنيفِthe true وَقَدwhen
وَهَل يُباحُ حِمى الدينِ الحَنيفِ وَقَد
أَلفىit found مَعَدّاًMaʿadd مُعَدّاًprepared لِلهُدىfor guidance وَزَراa refuge
أَلفى مَعَدّاً مُعَدّاً لِلهُدى وَزَرا
How could the sanctuary of the true faith be violated when
It found Maʿadd prepared as a refuge for guidance?
فَقامَso he stood مِنbefore دونِthe religion دينِof God اللَهِguarding it يَكلَؤُهُ.
فَقامَ مِن دونِ دينِ اللَهِ يَكلَؤُهُ
بِاللَهِin God مُستَنصِراًseeking help لِلحَقِّfor the truth مُنتَصِراwinning victory
بِاللَهِ مُستَنصِراً لِلحَقِّ مُنتَصِرا
He stood before God’s religion to guard it,
Seeking God’s help and winning victory for the truth.
وَقَدand already جَرىhad moved القَلَمُthe pen الأَعلىhighest بِنُصرَتِهِdecreeing his victory
وَقَد جَرى القَلَمُ الأَعلى بِنُصرَتِهِ
فَقَبلَso before يُدعىhe was called بِهِby it مُستَنصِراًthe Seeker of Victory نُصِراhe was granted victory
فَقَبلَ يُدعى بِهِ مُستَنصِراً نُصِرا
The highest pen had already decreed his victory;
Before he was called the Seeker of Victory, he was granted victory.
أَمَّتcame to خِلافَتُهُhis caliphate ريحُthe breeze النَدىof generosity يَسَراًreadily
أَمَّت خِلافَتُهُ ريحُ النَدى يَسَراً
وَظَلَّand remained نَشرُthe scent الدُناof the world مِنfrom نَشرِهاits scent عَطِراfragrant
وَظَلَّ نَشرُ الدُنا مِن نَشرِها عَطِرا
The breeze of generosity came readily to his caliphate,
And the world’s air remained fragrant with its scent.
عُرفاًwith favor وَعَرفاًand fragrance فَماso never يَنفَكُّceases آمِلُهُhis hopeful petitioner
عُرفاً وَعَرفاً فَما يَنفَكُّ آمِلُهُ
يَستَنزِلُcalling down القَطرَrain أَوor يَستَنشِقُbreathing in القُطُراperfumes
يَستَنزِلُ القَطرَ أَو يَستَنشِقُ القُطُرا
With favor and fragrance, his hopeful petitioner never ceases
To call down rain or breathe in perfume.
وَخُصَّand he was singled out بِالشَرَفِfor honor المَحضِpure الَّذيwhich اِرتَفَعَتrose
وَخُصَّ بِالشَرَفِ المَحضِ الَّذي اِرتَفَعَت
لَهُtoward it النَواظِرُeyes وَالنورِand for the light الَّذيwhich بَهَراshone
لَهُ النَواظِرُ وَالنورِ الَّذي بَهَرا
He was singled out for pure honor, toward which
Eyes rose, and for the light that shone:
نورِthe light النَبِيِّof the Prophet الَّذيwhich ماhas never زالَceased مُنتَقِلاًpassing
نورِ النَبِيِّ الَّذي ما زالَ مُنتَقِلاً
فيمَنamong those who دَعاcalled ظاهِراًopenly مِنهُمof them وَمُستَتِراand secretly
فيمَن دَعا ظاهِراً مِنهُم وَمُستَتِرا
The Prophet’s light, which has continued to pass
Among those of them who called, openly and in secret.
أَهلُpeople الصَفاof purity كَرُمَتwere noble أَعراقُهُمtheir roots وَزَكَتand were undefiled
أَهلُ الصَفا كَرُمَت أَعراقُهُم وَزَكَت
فَكُلُّso every صَفوٍpurity سِواهُمapart from them عائِدٌturns كَدَراmurky
فَكُلُّ صَفوٍ سِواهُم عائِدٌ كَدَرا
A people of purity, whose roots are noble and undefiled;
Every purity apart from theirs turns murky.
وَماand as long as بَقيremains خَلَفٌa successor مِنهُمof them فَماthen not نَقَضَتhave undone
وَما بَقي خَلَفٌ مِنهُم فَما نَقَضَت
مِنَof الهُدىguidance وَالنَدىand generosity أَيديthe hands الرَدىof death مِرَراbonds
مِنَ الهُدى وَالنَدى أَيدي الرَدى مِرَرا
So long as a successor of theirs remains, death’s hands
Cannot undo the bonds of guidance and generosity.
هُمُthey الأُلىare those أَخَذَtook اللَهُGod العُهودَthe pledges لَهُمfor them
هُمُ الأُلى أَخَذَ اللَهُ العُهودَ لَهُم
وَالناسُwhile people ذَرٌّwere motes عَلىwhether مَنone who بَرَّwas righteous أَوor فَجَراwas wicked
وَالناسُ ذَرٌّ عَلى مَن بَرَّ أَو فَجَرا
They are the ones for whom God took pledges
When people were scattered motes, whether righteous or wicked.
لِأَجلِهِمfor their sake خَلَقَHe created الدُنياthe world وَأَسكَنَهاand peopled it
لِأَجلِهِم خَلَقَ الدُنيا وَأَسكَنَها
وَذَنبُand the sin آدَمَof Adam لَولاهُمwithout them لَماwould not غُفِراhave been forgiven
وَذَنبُ آدَمَ لَولاهُم لَما غُفِرا
For their sake He created and peopled the world;
Without them, Adam’s sin would not have been forgiven.
أَئِمَّةٌimams لَمhas not يَغِبvanished عَنّاfrom us لَهُمof theirs قَمَرٌa moon
أَئِمَّةٌ لَم يَغِب عَنّا لَهُم قَمَرٌ
إِلّاwithout وَأَعقَبَناthere succeeding us مِنfrom سِنخِهِits stock قَمَراa moon
إِلّا وَأَعقَبَنا مِن سِنخِهِ قَمَرا
They are imams: no moon of theirs has vanished from us
Without another moon of the same stock succeeding it.
وَخَيرُهُمand the best of them وَأَناand I المَسؤولُam answerable ثامِنُهُمis their eighth
وَخَيرُهُم وَأَنا المَسؤولُ ثامِنُهُم
كَماjust as صَفِيُّthe chosen one أَبيهِof his father خَيرُwas the best مَنof those who وَزَراministered
كَما صَفِيُّ أَبيهِ خَيرُ مَن وَزَرا
The best of them—and I am answerable for this—is their eighth,
Just as his father’s chosen one was the best of ministers.
مَنone who ماnever يَزالُceases يُريناshowing us مِنfrom عَزائِمِهِhis resolves
مَن ما يَزالُ يُرينا مِن عَزائِمِهِ
فيin كُلِّevery ظَلماءَdarkness تَدجوdeepening أَنجُماًstars زُهُراbright
في كُلِّ ظَلماءَ تَدجو أَنجُماً زُهُرا
He continually shows us, through his resolve,
Bright stars in every deepening darkness.
عَودٌa seasoned man إِذاwhen دَولَةٌa state أَلقَتentrusts مَقالِدَهاits keys
عَودٌ إِذا دَولَةٌ أَلقَت مَقالِدَها
لِرَأيِهِto his judgment لَمhe does not يَدَعleave فيin عودِهاits renewal خَوَراweakness
لِرَأيِهِ لَم يَدَع في عودِها خَوَرا
A seasoned man: when a state entrusts its keys
To his judgment, he leaves no weakness in its renewal.
ماhe continued زالَwith earnest effort بِالجِدِّwarding off يَنفيevery كُلَّmisfortune نائِبَةٍ.
ما زالَ بِالجِدِّ يَنفي كُلَّ نائِبَةٍ
حَتّىuntil اِستَقامَstood firm بِهِthrough him الجَدُّfortune الَّذيthat عَثَراhad stumbled
حَتّى اِستَقامَ بِهِ الجَدُّ الَّذي عَثَرا
Through earnest effort he kept every misfortune away
Until, through him, the fortune that had stumbled stood firm.
رَدَّrestored الوَزيرُthe minister الأَجَلُّmost exalted العِزَّhonor مُقتَبَلاًradiant once more
رَدَّ الوَزيرُ الأَجَلُّ العِزَّ مُقتَبَلاً
وَالأَمنُand security مُنبَسِطاًspread out وَالعَدلُand justice مُنتَشِراspread abroad
وَالأَمنُ مُنبَسِطاً وَالعَدلُ مُنتَشِرا
The most exalted minister restored honor, radiant once more,
And security spread out, and justice spread abroad.
مُبَرِّحٌharsh بِالعِدىwith enemies يَأبىrefuses الإِباءُpride لَهُfor him
مُبَرِّحٌ بِالعِدى يَأبى الإِباءُ لَهُ
أَنthat يُبتَغىbe sought عِندَهُfrom him وِترٌa grievance إِذاwhen وَتَراhe has suffered one
أَن يُبتَغى عِندَهُ وِترٌ إِذا وَتَرا
He is harsh with enemies, and his pride will not allow
A grievance to go unavenged when he has suffered one.
ظُباكَyour sword edges لاwithout doubt شَكَّfrom مِنhis judgments آرائِهِwere forged طُبِعَت.
ظُباكَ لا شَكَّ مِن آرائِهِ طُبِعَت
فَماso never أَراقَتdid they shed دَماًblood إِلّاexcept مَضىit went هَدَراunavenged
فَما أَراقَت دَماً إِلّا مَضى هَدَرا
Your sword edges were surely forged from his judgments;
Whenever they shed blood, it was shed without recompense.
ياO أَوضَحَbrightest البيضِof blades عِندَwhen المُجتَلىbeheld أُثُراin signs
يا أَوضَحَ البيضِ عِندَ المُجتَلى أُثُرا
أَجَلyes وَأَشهَرُهاand their most renowned يَومَon the day الوَغىof battle أَثَراin deeds
أَجَل وَأَشهَرُها يَومَ الوَغى أَثَرا
O brightest of blades in appearance, clearest in signs,
And greatest, most renowned in deeds on the day of battle!
اِقهَرovercome أَساكَyour sorrow بِماwith what قَدindeed جَرَّit brought مِنof joy فَرَحٍ.
اِقهَر أَساكَ بِما قَد جَرَّ مِن فَرَحٍ
فَكَمfor how many قَهَرتَyou subdued عَزيزاًa mighty one قَطُّever ماwho had not قُهِراbeen subdued
فَكَم قَهَرتَ عَزيزاً قَطُّ ما قُهِرا
Overcome your sorrow with the joy it has brought,
For how many mighty men have you overcome who had never been subdued?
فَهوَfor it الأَسىis sorrow كُلَّماwhenever سَكَّنتَهُyou calm it سَكَنَتsubside
فَهوَ الأَسى كُلَّما سَكَّنتَهُ سَكَنَت
نيرانُهُits fires وَإِذاand when سَعَّرتَهُyou stoke it اِستَعَراit blazes
نيرانُهُ وَإِذا سَعَّرتَهُ اِستَعَرا
Sorrow is such that whenever you calm it, its fires subside;
When you stoke it, it blazes.
كَأَنَّas though حَظَّكَyour share مِمَّنfrom one who غابَdeparted مُحتَضَراat death
كَأَنَّ حَظَّكَ مِمَّن غابَ مُحتَضَرا
يَزيدُincreases فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday عِندَamong مَنthose who حَضَراremain
يَزيدُ في كُلِّ يَومٍ عِندَ مَن حَضَرا
It is as though your share from the one who departed at death
Grows each day among those who remain.
سارَعتَyou hastened مُنصَلِتاًsword drawn فيin أَخذِtaking بَيعَتِهِhis pledge of allegiance
سارَعتَ مُنصَلِتاً في أَخذِ بَيعَتِهِ
حَتّىuntil جَمَعتَyou united عَلَيهاupon it البَدوَthe nomads وَالحَضَراand townspeople
حَتّى جَمَعتَ عَلَيها البَدوَ وَالحَضَرا
You hastened, sword drawn, to secure his pledge of allegiance
Until you united nomads and townspeople upon it.
مُبادِرينَhastening لَهاto it مُستَعصِمينَseeking protection بِهاthrough it
مُبادِرينَ لَها مُستَعصِمينَ بِها
مِنَfrom الحَوادِثِcalamities وَالحُسنىand good fortune لِمَنfor whoever بَدَراcame first
مِنَ الحَوادِثِ وَالحُسنى لِمَن بَدَرا
They hastened to it, seeking its protection
From calamities; good fortune belongs to whoever came first.
لَمّاwhen دَعَوتُهُمُyou summoned them عِزّاًwith honor لَهاto it الجَفلىall together
لَمّا دَعَوتُهُمُ عِزّاً لَها الجَفلى
وَلَوand had سِواكَsomeone other than you دَعاsummoned ذُلّاًwith disgrace لَهاto it النَقَرىa select few
وَلَو سِواكَ دَعا ذُلّاً لَها النَقَرى
When you summoned them all to it, the general call brought honor;
Had another summoned only a few, it would have brought disgrace.
وَماand no تَمَيَّزَdistinction appeared فيهاin it مُذsince أَمَرتَyou ordered بِهاit
وَما تَمَيَّزَ فيها مُذ أَمَرتَ بِها
مَنone who يَنزِلُdwells القاعَon bare ground مِمَّنfrom one who يَسكُنُinhabits المَدَراbuilt houses
مَن يَنزِلُ القاعَ مِمَّن يَسكُنُ المَدَرا
Since you ordered it, no distinction appeared in the pledge
Between one who dwells on bare ground and one in built houses.
جاؤوكَthey came to you مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَوبٍdirection قاطِعينَcrossing فَلاand no
جاؤوكَ مِن كُلِّ أَوبٍ قاطِعينَ فَلا
تَلقىencounter العَرامِسُsturdy camels نَصّاًa swift march دونَهاbeyond it وَسُرىor night travel
تَلقى العَرامِسُ نَصّاً دونَها وَسُرى
They came to you from every direction, crossing distances;
No swift march or night journey was beyond their sturdy camels.
يُصافِحونَthey clasp يَداًa hand تَنفيthat drives away بِسَورَتِهاwith its force
يُصافِحونَ يَداً تَنفي بِسَورَتِها
كَيدَthe plots الخُطوبِof calamities وَنَستَسقيand we seek rain بِهاthrough it المَطَراrain
كَيدَ الخُطوبِ وَنَستَسقي بِها المَطَرا
They clasp a hand whose force drives away
The plots of disasters, and through which we seek rain.
تَحميit protects وَتَهميand pours forth فَلاso may it زالَتcontinue مُؤَمَّلَةًhoped for
تَحمي وَتَهمي فَلا زالَت مُؤَمَّلَةً
تُرجىlooked to لِمَنعِfor protecting ثَراءٍwealth أَوor لِرَيِّfor watering ثَرىsoil
تُرجى لِمَنعِ ثَراءٍ أَو لِرَيِّ ثَرى
It protects and pours forth; may it always inspire hope,
Looked to for the defense of wealth or the watering of soil.
لَوif لَمhad not تُمَدَّbeen extended لَكَto you الأَيديhands مَدَدتَyou would extend قَناًlances
لَو لَم تُمَدَّ لَكَ الأَيدي مَدَدتَ قَناً
عَوَّدتَهاyou accustomed them تَرِدُto reach اللَباتِthroats وَالثَغَراand frontier passes
عَوَّدتَها تَرِدُ اللَباتِ وَالثَغَرا
Had hands not been extended to you, you would have extended lances
Accustomed to reaching throats and frontier passes.
مَرىdrew out سَدادُكَyour sound judgment خِلفَdifferences الرَأيِof opinion مُجتَهِداًdiligently
مَرى سَدادُكَ خِلفَ الرَأيِ مُجتَهِداً
حَتّىuntil لَقَدindeed قَلَّbecame rare خُلفٌdisagreement وَاِستَقَلَّand diminished مِراcontention
حَتّى لَقَد قَلَّ خُلفٌ وَاِستَقَلَّ مِرا
Your sound judgment diligently drew out the best from differing views
Until disagreement grew rare and contention diminished.
وَأَيُّand which سَعيِكَof your efforts لِلإِسلامِfor Islam ماhas not حَمِدَتpraised
وَأَيُّ سَعيِكَ لِلإِسلامِ ما حَمِدَت
لَكَyou الخَلائِفُthe caliphs فيهِin it الوِردَthe beginning وَالصَدَراand the end
لَكَ الخَلائِفُ فيهِ الوِردَ وَالصَدَرا
Which of your efforts for Islam has failed to earn praise
From the caliphs, from its beginning to its end?
تَقَدَّسَتblessed be روحُthe soul مَنof one who سَمّاكَnamed you عُدَّتَهُhis mainstay
تَقَدَّسَت روحُ مَن سَمّاكَ عُدَّتَهُ
فَنِعمَhow excellent ماwhat وَرَّثَhe left الباقيfor the survivor وَماand what ذَخَراhe stored up
فَنِعمَ ما وَرَّثَ الباقي وَما ذَخَرا
Blessed be the soul of him who named you his mainstay;
How fine the support he left behind and stored up!
وَمُنتَضيكَand one who drew you as a sword وَقَدwhen لَجَّsurged الجِماحُrebellion بِمَنin one who
وَمُنتَضيكَ وَقَد لَجَّ الجِماحُ بِمَن
بَغىrose against عَلَيهِhim فَكُنتَso you were الصارِمَthe blade الذَكَراkeen
بَغى عَلَيهِ فَكُنتَ الصارِمَ الذَكَرا
He drew you like a sword when rebellion surged in one
Who rose against him; you were the keen blade.
عَضباًa sharp blade إِذاwhen شَهِدَit witnessed الهَيجاءُbattle مُضرَمَةًblazing
عَضباً إِذا شَهِدَ الهَيجاءُ مُضرَمَةً
أَفرىit cut deeply وَإِنand if شاءَhe wished إِصلاحَto set right الأُمورِaffairs فَرىhe decided
أَفرى وَإِن شاءَ إِصلاحَ الأُمورِ فَرى
A sharp sword that, when battle blazed, cut deeply,
And, when he wished to set affairs right, decided them.
وَكَيفَand how يُصبِحُcould become هَذاthis الحَقُّright مُهتَضَماًwrongfully seized
وَكَيفَ يُصبِحُ هَذا الحَقُّ مُهتَضَماً
وَقَدwhen غَداstands دونَهُbefore it ذاthis اللَيثُlion مُهتَصِراready to strike
وَقَد غَدا دونَهُ ذا اللَيثُ مُهتَصِرا
How could this right be wrongfully seized
When this lion stands before it, ready to strike?
مُظَفَّراًvictorious لَمhe has not يَزَلceased فيin مَنعِdefending حَوزَتِهِhis domain
مُظَفَّراً لَم يَزَل في مَنعِ حَوزَتِهِ
يَستَخدِمُemploying العِزَّhonor وَالتَأييدَand divine support وَالظَفَراand victory
يَستَخدِمُ العِزَّ وَالتَأييدَ وَالظَفَرا
Victorious, he has never ceased, in guarding his domain,
To employ honor, divine support, and triumph.
مُذِsince اِصطَفاكَhe chose you لَهُfor himself المَلكُthe king الرَفيعُlofty ذُرىًas a high refuge
مُذِ اِصطَفاكَ لَهُ المَلكُ الرَفيعُ ذُرىً
وَذُدتَand you drove off عَنهُfrom him العِدىenemies أَضحىhe became المَنيعَsecure ذُرىas a refuge
وَذُدتَ عَنهُ العِدى أَضحى المَنيعَ ذُرى
Since the lofty king chose you for himself as a high refuge
And you drove enemies from him, he became a secure refuge.
فَإِنand if يُفَوِّضhe entrusts إِلَيكَto you الأَمرَthe affair أَجمَعَهُall of it
فَإِن يُفَوِّض إِلَيكَ الأَمرَ أَجمَعَهُ
فَبَعدَماit is after رُقتَهُyou pleased him مَرأىًin appearance وَمُختَبَراand under trial
فَبَعدَما رُقتَهُ مَرأىً وَمُختَبَرا
If he entrusts the whole affair to you,
It is after you pleased him in appearance and in trial.
لاlet not seek يَطلُبَنَّpeople الوَرىwhat ماyou أَنتَhave secured مُحرِزُهُ.
لا يَطلُبَنَّ الوَرى ما أَنتَ مُحرِزُهُ
أَجَلُّهُمtheir greatest خَطَراًin rank مَنis one who باشَرَhas faced الخَطَراdanger
أَجَلُّهُم خَطَراً مَن باشَرَ الخَطَرا
Let people not seek what you have secured;
The greatest among them is one who has faced danger.
فَعاوَدَso turned back الخَوفُfear أَمناًto safety وَالمُباحُand open ground حِمىًto protected ground
فَعاوَدَ الخَوفُ أَمناً وَالمُباحُ حِمىً
لِبَأسِهِthrough his might وَوَفىand kept faith الدَهرُtime الَّذيthat غَدَراhad betrayed
لِبَأسِهِ وَوَفى الدَهرُ الَّذي غَدَرا
Through his might, fear turned back to safety and open ground became protected;
And time, once treacherous, kept faith.
ماno longer عادَdid صَرفُthe turns اللَياليof nights فيin إِساءَتِهِtheir harm
ما عادَ صَرفُ اللَيالي في إِساءَتِهِ
مُذsince أَحسَنَlooked kindly اللَهُGod لِلدُنياon the world بِكَthrough you النَظَراa look
مُذ أَحسَنَ اللَهُ لِلدُنيا بِكَ النَظَرا
The turns of nights no longer do harm
Since God looked kindly on the world through you.
فَأَنتَso you ياO عُدَّةَmainstay الإيمانِof faith أَوَّلُare the first مَنwhom
فَأَنتَ يا عُدَّةَ الإيمانِ أَوَّلُ مَن
يَعُدُّcounts ذاthis الدَهرُage مِنamong فَخرٍits boasts إِذاwhen فَخَراit boasts
يَعُدُّ ذا الدَهرُ مِن فَخرٍ إِذا فَخَرا
You, O mainstay of faith, are the first
Whom this age counts among its boasts when it boasts.
إِذاif جَحَدناكَwe deny you ماwhat أَولَيتَyou bestowed مِنof حَسَنٍgood
إِذا جَحَدناكَ ما أَولَيتَ مِن حَسَنٍ
فَقَدthen indeed كَفَرناكَwe are ungrateful to you وَالمَغبونُand the loser مَنis one who كَفَراwas ungrateful
فَقَد كَفَرناكَ وَالمَغبونُ مَن كَفَرا
If we deny the good you have bestowed on us,
We have shown you ingratitude; the loser is the ungrateful one.
نُثنيwe praise بِآلاءِthe blessings مَنof one who وَلّاكَappointed you نُصرَتَناto aid us
نُثني بِآلاءِ مَن وَلّاكَ نُصرَتَنا
فَشادَso rebuilt إِقدامُكَyour boldness العِزَّhonor الَّذيthat دَثَراhad decayed
فَشادَ إِقدامُكَ العِزَّ الَّذي دَثَرا
We praise the blessings of the one who appointed you to our aid;
Your boldness rebuilt the honor that had fallen into decay.
وَإِنَّand indeed آلاءَهُHis blessings ماare such that لاcannot يُحيطُencompass بِهاthem
وَإِنَّ آلاءَهُ ما لا يُحيطُ بِها
وَصفٌdescription عَلىthough أَنَّهاthey تَستَنطِقُcould make speak الحَجَراstone
وَصفٌ عَلى أَنَّها تَستَنطِقُ الحَجَرا
His blessings are beyond the reach
Of any description, though they could make stones speak.
مَدحُpraising الأَئِمَّةَthe imams شَيءٌis a thing لَيسَthat cannot يَبلُغُهُreach it
مَدحُ الأَئِمَّةَ شَيءٌ لَيسَ يَبلُغُهُ
جُهدُthe effort البَليغِof the eloquent وَإِنeven if أَنضىhe exhausts لَهُfor it الفِكَراthought
جُهدُ البَليغِ وَإِن أَنضى لَهُ الفِكَرا
Praising the imams is something beyond
Even the eloquent speaker’s effort, however much he exhausts his thought.
مَناقِبٌvirtues عَدَدَas numerous as الأَنفاسِbreaths ماhave not تَرَكَتleft
مَناقِبٌ عَدَدَ الأَنفاسِ ما تَرَكَت
لِفاخِرٍfor a boaster مِنfrom جَميعِall الناسِpeople مُفتَخَراa boast
لِفاخِرٍ مِن جَميعِ الناسِ مُفتَخَرا
Their virtues are as numerous as breaths; they have left
No cause for boasting to anyone else among mankind.
وَكَيفَand how نُدرِكُcan we encompass بِالأَشعارِwith poems وَصفَthe description عُلىًof heights
وَكَيفَ نُدرِكُ بِالأَشعارِ وَصفَ عُلىً
نَعُدُّwe count إِغراقَناour extravagance فيin وَصفِهاdescribing them حَصَراas too little
نَعُدُّ إِغراقَنا في وَصفِها حَصَرا
How can poems encompass the description of heights
When even our most extravagant praise seems too little?
لاdo not ask تَسأَلَنَّrhymes القَوافيabout عَنtheir virtues فَضائِلِهِم.
لا تَسأَلَنَّ القَوافي عَن فَضائِلِهِم
إِنif شِئتَyou wish تَعرِفُهاto know them فَاِسأَلthen ask بِهاabout them السُوَراthe suras
إِن شِئتَ تَعرِفُها فَاِسأَل بِها السُوَرا
Do not ask rhymes about their virtues;
If you wish to know them, ask the suras.
Translation model: Sol 6