غَرَبَتْset منكمُfrom you شُموسُsuns التّلاقيof meeting
غَرَبَتْ منكمُ شُموسُ التّلاقي
فبدتْthen appeared بعدَهاafter them نُجومُstars المآقيthe eye-corners
فبدتْ بعدَها نُجومُ المآقي
The suns of meeting with you have set;
The suns of our meeting have set,
then the stars at the eye-corners appeared in their wake.
So the stars of sorrow appeared.
جَنَّenveloped لَيلُthe night النّوىof separation عليَّover me فأمْسَتْso they became
جَنَّ لَيلُ النّوى عليَّ فأمْسَتْ
فيin جُفونيmy eyelids مُنيرةَradiant الإشراقِin shining
في جُفوني مُنيرةَ الإشراقِ
The night of separation shrouded me, and they became
The night of yearning cast darkness upon me,
radiantly bright within my eyelids.
So the dawn shines in my eyelids.
أخبرَتْناtold us حَلاوةُthe sweetness القُربِof nearness منكمْto you
أخبرَتْنا حَلاوةُ القُربِ منكمْ
أنّthat هذاthis البِعادَdistance مُرُّbitter المَذاقِin taste
أنّ هذا البِعادَ مُرُّ المَذاقِ
The sweetness of nearness to you told us
The sweetness of being close to you all
that this distance is bitter to taste.
Taught us that this distance is bitter in taste.
دكَّshattered طورَthe mount العَزاءِof solace نُورُthe light التجلّيof manifestation
دكَّ طورَ العَزاءِ نُورُ التجلّي
منكُمُfrom you للوَداعِfor farewell يومَthe day الفِراقِof parting
منكُمُ للوَداعِ يومَ الفِراقِ
The light of your manifestation shattered the Mount of Solace,
Your light of manifestation collapsed the mountain of consolation
at your farewell on the day of parting.
On the day of farewell and separation.
آنَسَتْperceived مُقلَتايَmy two eyes نارَthe fire التّنائيof separation
آنَسَتْ مُقلَتايَ نارَ التّنائي
فاِصْطَلىso warmed itself القلْبُthe heart جَذوةَthe ember الإِشتياقِof longing
فاِصْطَلى القلْبُ جَذوةَ الإِشتياقِ
My two eyes perceived the fire of separation,
My eyelids caught the fire of estrangement,
and the heart warmed itself at longing's ember.
So my heart became an ember of yearning.
أيُّهاO you المُفريwho cleaves القِفارَthe deserts بضَرْبٍwith a stride
أيُّها المُفري القِفارَ بضَرْبٍ
أحسَنَتْهُperfected it صَوارمُthe keen swords الأعناقِof necks
أحسَنَتْهُ صَوارمُ الأعناقِ
O you who cleave the wastes with a stride
O you who made the deserts flourish with one stroke,
perfected by the keen swords of necks,
With swords that cut off necks.
والمُحلّيand the adorner قِراهُhis hospitality فيin عَنبرamber اللّيْthe night (start)
والمُحلّي قِراهُ في عَنبر اللّيْ
لِnight (end) وبالزّعْفَرانِand with saffron مُحذيshoeing المَناقِthe well-fed she-camels
لِ وبالزّعْفَرانِ مُحذي المَناقِ
and adorn your hospitality in the amber of
And you who adorned the villages with the fragrance of ambergris
night, and shoe the well-fed she-camels with saffron:
And saffron, wearing the most beautiful attire.
إنْif أتَيْتَyou reach العَقيقَal-ʿAqīq عمّرَكَmay He prolong your life اللّGod (start)
إنْ أتَيْتَ العَقيقَ عمّرَكَ اللّ
هُGod (end) ووُقّيتَand may you be protected فِتنةَthe temptation الأحْداقِof the eyes
هُ ووُقّيتَ فِتنةَ الأحْداقِ
If you reach al-ʿAqīq—may God prolong your life,
If you come to Arafat, Allah will give you long life,
and may you be shielded from the temptation of those eyes—
And protect you from the temptation of gazes.
وتَراءىand appeared لكَto you الحِجازُal-Ḥijāz ولاحتْand gleamed
وتَراءى لكَ الحِجازُ ولاحتْ
بينَamong حُمرِred القِبابِdomes شُهْبُgray steeds العِراقِof Iraq
بينَ حُمرِ القِبابِ شُهْبُ العِراقِ
and al-Ḥijāz appears to you, and gleam
And you will see the Hijaz, and the meteors will shine
among the red domes the gray steeds of Iraq,
Between the red domes with the horizons of Iraq.
حيثُwhere تَلْقىyou encounter مَرابِضَresting-places العينِof wide-eyed gazelles تُبْنىbeing built
حيثُ تَلْقى مَرابِضَ العينِ تُبْنى
بينَbetween سُمرِtawny القَناspears وبيضٍand white blades رِقاقِslender
بينَ سُمرِ القَنا وبيضٍ رِقاقِ
where you find the resting-places of wide-eyed gazelles built
Where you find beds for the eyes built
between tawny spears and slender white blades,
Between the swarthy complexion and the thin stature.
وبُحوراًand seas حمَلْنَbearing غُدْرَpools حَديدٍof iron
وبُحوراً حمَلْنَ غُدْرَ حَديدٍ
وأُسوداًand lions صَحِبْنَaccompanied رُبْدَdun-gray العِتاقِthoroughbreds
وأُسوداً صَحِبْنَ رُبْدَ العِتاقِ
and seas bearing pools of iron,
With maidens who carried the betrayal of swords
and lions accompanying dun-gray thoroughbreds—
And young men who accompanied the firmness of resolve.
فِتيةٌyoung men لوif تشاءthey wished بالبيضِwith white blades حالَتْwould interpose
فِتيةٌ لو تشاء بالبيضِ حالَتْ
بينَbetween قَلبِthe heart المَشوقِof the yearning lover والأشواقِand the longings
بينَ قَلبِ المَشوقِ والأشواقِ
young men who, if they wished, could with white blades stand
Young men, if you wish, halt
between the yearning lover's heart and its longings;
Between the heart of the lover, and the most ardent longings.
منزلٌa dwelling كلّماwhenever بهin it سنحَappeared السِّرْthe herd (start)
منزلٌ كلّما به سنحَ السِّرْ
بُherd (end) تَذوبُmelt الأسودُthe lions بالإشفاقِwith apprehension
بُ تَذوبُ الأسودُ بالإشفاقِ
a dwelling where, whenever the herd appears,
A house, whenever the secret smiled in it
the lions melt with apprehension;
The dark ones melt with compassion.
ثغرُa frontier حسنٍof beauty حمَتْهُguarded it سُمرُtawny spears قُدودٍof figures
ثغرُ حسنٍ حمَتْهُ سُمرُ قُدودٍ
وظُبىand the blades أجفُنٍof eyelids ونَبْلُand the arrows حِداقِof pupils
وظُبى أجفُنٍ ونَبْلُ حِداقِ
a frontier of beauty guarded by the tawny spears of figures,
A mouth of beauty protected by the reddish cheeks
the blades of eyelids, and the arrows of pupils;
And the eyelashes of gazelles and the posture of eyebrows.
وتجلّتْand revealed themselves لكَto you الشُموسُthe suns ظَلاماًin darkness
وتجلّتْ لكَ الشُموسُ ظَلاماً
حامِلاتِbearing النُجومِthe stars فوقَabove التّراقيthe collarbones
حامِلاتِ النُجومِ فوقَ التّراقي
and suns reveal themselves to you in the darkness,
The suns seemed like darkness to you
bearing stars above their collarbones;
Carrying the stars above the hills.
ورأيتَand you saw البُدورَthe full moons تشرقُshining فيon الأرthe earth (start)
ورأيتَ البُدورَ تشرقُ في الأر
ضِearth (end) بهالاتِwith haloes عسجَدِof gold الأطواقِof necklaces
ضِ بهالاتِ عسجَدِ الأطواقِ
and you see full moons shining on the earth
And you saw the full moons shine on earth
within haloes of golden necklaces—
With halos below the train of planets.
فتلطّفْso be gentle وحَيِّand greet عنّيon my behalf خُدوراًsecluded chambers
فتلطّفْ وحَيِّ عنّي خُدوراً
هيَthey are حقّاًtruly مَصارعُthe death-places العُشّاقِof lovers
هيَ حقّاً مَصارعُ العُشّاقِ
then be gentle, and greet on my behalf secluded chambers
So be kind and bring me, from my love
that truly are the death-places of lovers,
The cheeks that are truly the death of lovers.
وغُصوناًand boughs خُضرَgreen الملابِسِin clothing سُودَblack الشthe hair (start)
وغُصوناً خُضرَ الملابِسِ سُودَ الش
شعرِhair حُمرَred الحُليّin ornaments والأوراقِand leaves
شعرِ حُمرَ الحُليّ والأوراقِ
and boughs green in clothing, black
And green branches wearing black hair
in hair, red in ornaments and leaves.
And red jewelry and papers.
وَاِتّقِand beware الضّرْبَthe blows منfrom جُفونٍeyelids مِراضٍlanguid
وَاِتّقِ الضّرْبَ من جُفونٍ مِراضٍ
واِحذَرِand beware الطّعْنَthe thrusts منfrom قُدودٍfigures رِشاقِslender
واِحذَرِ الطّعْنَ من قُدودٍ رِشاقِ
Beware the blows of languid eyelids,
And beware of hitting from sick eyelids
and beware the thrusts of slender figures.
And avoid stabbing from smooth necks.
واِخْبِرِand tell الساكنينَthe inhabitants أنّيthat I علىas to ماwhat
واِخْبِرِ الساكنينَ أنّي على ما
علِموهُthey knew it لهمْto them علىupon العهدِthe pledge باقِremaining faithful
علِموهُ لهمْ على العهدِ باقِ
And tell the dwellers that, as
And inform those who live that I am still
they have known me, I remain faithful to my pledge to them.
Loyal to the covenant I made with them.
أجّجتْstoked نارَthe fire زَفرتيof my sigh الفُرقُthe partings فيهمْconcerning them
أجّجتْ نارَ زَفرتي الفُرقُ فيهمْ
فنشاso arose الدّجنُthe gloom منfrom دُخانِthe smoke اِحتراقيof my burning
فنشا الدّجنُ من دُخانِ اِحتراقي
Partings from them stoked the fire of my sigh,
The separation kindled the fire of my sighs
and gloom arose from the smoke of my burning.
So the smoke of burning arose.
ياAh رَعىmay He cherish اللَّهُGod ليلةًa night أَلبسَتْناthat clothed us
يا رَعى اللَّهُ ليلةً أَلبسَتْنا
بعدafter فرطِthe excess العِتابِof reproach عِقدَthe necklace العِناقِof embrace
بعد فرطِ العِتابِ عِقدَ العِناقِ
Ah, may God cherish a night that clothed us,
O Allah have mercy on a night when
after excessive reproach, in the necklace of embrace.
After intense reproach, we embraced.
راقَwas pleasing عتْبُthe reproach الحبيبِof the beloved فيهاin it فرقّتْso it grew tender
راقَ عتْبُ الحبيبِ فيها فرقّتْ
مثلَlike شَكوىthe complaint المتيّمِof the love-enslaved one المُشتاقِthe yearning one
مثلَ شَكوى المتيّمِ المُشتاقِ
The beloved's reproach was sweet in it, and it grew tender
The beloved's rebuke on it caused separation
like the complaint of a yearning, love-enslaved lover.
Like the complaint of the insomniac lover.
توّجَتْcrowned هامةَthe head السُرورِof joy وحلّتْand adorned
توّجَتْ هامةَ السُرورِ وحلّتْ
خَصْرَthe waist ماضيof the past زَمانِناof our time بالنِّطاقِwith a girdle
خَصْرَ ماضي زَمانِنا بالنِّطاقِ
It crowned the head of joy and adorned
It crowned the cloud of joy and adorned
the waist of our bygone days with a girdle.
The waist of our past time with belt.
فاقَتِsurpassed الدهرَall time زينةًin beauty مثلَlike ماwhat قدindeed
فاقَتِ الدهرَ زينةً مثلَ ما قد
فازَtriumphed قَدْرُthe stature الوصيِّof the Legatee بالآفاقِacross the horizons
فازَ قَدْرُ الوصيِّ بالآفاقِ
It surpassed all time in beauty, just as
So it surpassed time in beauty, like
the Legatee's stature triumphed across the horizons.
The destiny of the trustee surpassed the horizons.
سيّدُmaster الأوصياءِof the legatees مَولىlord البَراياof all creatures
سيّدُ الأوصياءِ مَولى البَرايا
عُروةُthe handhold الدينof faith صفوةُthe chosen one الخلّاقِof the Creator
عُروةُ الدين صفوةُ الخلّاقِ
Master of the legatees, lord of all creatures,
The master of trustees, guardian of the righteous
the handhold of faith, the Creator's chosen one;
The firm handhold of religion, elite of the Creators
مَهبِطُthe descent-place الوحيof revelation مَعدِنُthe source العِلمِof knowledge والإفand bounty (start)
مَهبِطُ الوحي مَعدِنُ العِلمِ والإف
ضالِbounty (end) لاno بَلrather مُقدّرُthe ordainer الأرزاقِof livelihoods
ضالِ لا بَل مُقدّرُ الأرزاقِ
the descent-place of revelation, the source of knowledge and
The landing place of revelation, the source of knowledge and grace
bounty—no, rather, the ordainer of livelihoods;
Rather, the predestinator of livelihoods.
بدرُfull moon أفْقِof the horizon الكَمالof perfection شمسُsun المعاليof lofty honors
بدرُ أفْقِ الكَمال شمسُ المعالي
غيثُrain سحْبِfrom clouds النّوالِof bounty ليثُlion التّلاقِof battle
غيثُ سحْبِ النّوالِ ليثُ التّلاقِ
the full moon on perfection's horizon, the sun of high honors,
Full moon of the horizon of perfection, sun of glory
the rain from bounty's clouds, the lion of battle;
Rain of the clouds of bounty, lion of meetings.
ضارِبُone who strikes الشوسِthe fierce بالظُبىwith blades ضربَهُhis striking البُخavarice (start)
ضارِبُ الشوسِ بالظُبى ضربَهُ البُخ
لَavarice (end) بماضيwith the keen edge مكارمِof noble qualities الأخلاقِof character
لَ بماضي مكارمِ الأخلاقِ
striking the fierce with blades, as he strikes
Hitting the horses with spear, his ethics hit
avarice with the keen edge of noble character.
The necks with the morals of the past.
قلبُthe heart أجرىof the fleetest الأُسودِlions إذwhen يلتَقيهit meets him
قلبُ أجرى الأُسودِ إذ يلتَقيه
كوِشاحِlike the sash الخريدةِof the maiden المِقْلاقِquivering
كوِشاحِ الخريدةِ المِقْلاقِ
The heart of the fleetest lion, when it meets him,
His rule is justice in judgments, but
is like the quivering sash of a maiden.
Tyrannical in the souls of the people of discord.
حُكمُهُhis judgment العَدْلُis justice فيin القضاياcases ولكنْbut
حُكمُهُ العَدْلُ في القضايا ولكنْ
جائرٌunjust فيin نُفوسِthe minds أهلِof the people الشِقاقِof discord
جائرٌ في نُفوسِ أهلِ الشِقاقِ
His judgment is justice in disputes, but
Knower of the unseen and the witnessed,
unjust in the minds of those given to discord.
Not distracted from Him is the account of creeping ants.
عالمُknower الغَيبِof the unseen والشهادةِand the seen لاnot يَعْis hidden (start)
عالمُ الغَيبِ والشهادةِ لا يَعْ
زُبُis hidden (end) عنهُfrom him حِسابُthe count ذرٍّof motes دِقاقِtiny
زُبُ عنهُ حِسابُ ذرٍّ دِقاقِ
Knower of the unseen and the seen; never does
Everything is present in His knowledge
the count of tiny motes escape him.
So the long eras are like glimpses.
حاضرٌpresent عندto علمهِhis knowledge كلُّevery شيءٍthing
حاضرٌ عند علمهِ كلُّ شيءٍ
فطِوالُso the long spans الدُهورِof ages مثلُare like فَواقِa brief milking-interval
فطِوالُ الدُهورِ مثلُ فَواقِ
Everything is present to his knowledge,
A king, whenever he climbs to glory
so long ages are like a pause between milkings.
The rivers are for him the lowest valleys.
مَلِكٌa king كلّماwhenever رَقيhe ascends للمعاليto lofty honors
مَلِكٌ كلّما رَقي للمعالي
فلهso for him النيّراتُthe heavenly lights أدنىthe lowest المَراقيsteps of ascent
فله النيّراتُ أدنى المَراقي
A king who, whenever he ascends to lofty honors,
May Allah plant pillars in its flourishing years
finds the heavenly lights his lowest steps.
That erase the darkness of the people of hypocrisy.
سَلَّdrew للّهِfor God أنصُلاًblades فيin سَناهاtheir radiance
سَلَّ للّهِ أنصُلاً في سَناها
ماحِياتٍeffacing ظَلامَthe darkness أهلِof the people النِفاقِof hypocrisy
ماحِياتٍ ظَلامَ أهلِ النِفاقِ
He drew blades for God, whose radiance
O those stars! For how many people did the full moon
effaced the darkness of the hypocrites.
Gather its light with the eclipse of disappearance.
ياO لَهاfor them أنجُماًstars فكمْand how many بدرِa full moon قومٍof a people
يا لَها أنجُماً فكمْ بدرِ قومٍ
كوّرَتْthey rolled up نُورَهits light بكَسْفِwith an eclipse محاقِof moonless darkness
كوّرَتْ نُورَه بكَسْفِ محاقِ
What stars they are! How many a people's full moon
If they appear fearful like the trenches
have they shrouded in a moonless eclipse, rolling up its light!
Then for them are the bodies like the cliffs.
إنif تكنthey are كالثُغورِlike smiling mouths فيin الرَوعِterror تبدوthey appear
إن تكن كالثُغورِ في الرَوعِ تبدو
فلهنّthen for them الجُسومُthe bodies كالأشْداقِare like jaws
فلهنّ الجُسومُ كالأشْداقِ
If amid battle's terror they appear like smiling mouths,
The group of polytheists did not appear
then bodies are their gaping jaws.
Except they climbed the pulpits of the necks.
ماnever تَراءَتْappeared جماعةُa band الشِّركِof polytheism إلّاexcept that
ما تَراءَتْ جماعةُ الشِّركِ إلّا
خطَبَتْthey preached فيon مَنابرِthe pulpits الأعناقِof necks
خطَبَتْ في مَنابرِ الأعناقِ
No band of polytheists ever came into view
Who watered the battle of Badr and Uhud
but they preached from the pulpits of necks.
And made the centuries taste the bitterness of defeat.
مَنْwho سَقىmade drink مرْحَبَMarḥab المَنونَdeath وعَمراًand ʿAmr
مَنْ سَقى مرْحَبَ المَنونَ وعَمراً
وأذاقَand made taste القُرونَthe rival champions طَعمَthe taste الزُعاقِof bitter brine
وأذاقَ القُرونَ طَعمَ الزُعاقِ
Who made Marḥab and ʿAmr drink death,
Who permitted the forts after refusal
and made rival champions taste bitter brine;
And erased with the swords the delusions of the wrongdoers.
منْwho أباحَlaid open الحُصونَthe fortresses بعدafter اِمتناعٍresistance
منْ أباحَ الحُصونَ بعد اِمتناعٍ
ومَحاand erased بالحُسامِwith the sword زبرَthe writings الغَساقِof deep darkness
ومَحا بالحُسامِ زبرَ الغَساقِ
who laid the fortresses open after their resistance,
Who forcibly brought al-Walid in terror
and with his sword erased the writings of deep darkness;
After the glory of refusing to be shackled.
منwho أتىbrought بالوليدِal-Walīd بالرّوعِamid terror قَسْراًby force
من أتى بالوليدِ بالرّوعِ قَسْراً
بعدَafter عزِّthe might العُلاof eminence بذُلِّwith the humiliation الوَثاقِof bonds
بعدَ عزِّ العُلا بذُلِّ الوَثاقِ
who brought al-Walīd by force amid terror,
Who climbed Mount Uhud and spent the night with him
into the humiliation of bonds after exalted might;
Standing with swords of seven layers.
مَنْwho رَقيclimbed غاربَthe shoulder النّبيّof the Prophet وأمسىand came to be
مَنْ رَقي غاربَ النّبيّ وأمسى
معهwith him قائماًstanding بسَبعٍin seven طِباقِtiers
معه قائماً بسَبعٍ طِباقِ
who climbed onto the Prophet's shoulder and came to stand
Who in the dawn of drawing swords clarified a religion
with him in seven heavens, tier upon tier;
That had long been obscure and deep.
مَنwho بِفجرwith the dawn النّصالof blades أوضحillumined ديناًa faith
مَن بِفجر النّصال أوضح ديناً
طالَماfor long كانَwas قاتمdark الأعماقِin its depths
طالَما كانَ قاتم الأعماقِ
who, with the dawn of blades, illumined a faith
May Allah maintain a lance that was sharpened
whose depths had long been dark.
With a prayer like a dripping pore.
واصلَmay He continually favor اللّهُGod حُربةًa spear (as written) أضمرَتْهُthat held him within
واصلَ اللّهُ حُربةً أضمرَتْهُ
بصَلاةٍwith a blessing كقَطرَةِlike a drop المُهراقِof what is poured out
بصَلاةٍ كقَطرَةِ المُهراقِ
May God continually favor the spear that held him within,
The inheritor of the sea and army, I reached
with a blessing like a drop of what is poured forth.
The full moon as well as the sponsor of spending.
وارِثُheir البحرِto the sea والهِزَبْرِand the lion وصَلْتُand the radiant الthe
وارِثُ البحرِ والهِزَبْرِ وصَلْتُ ال
بَدرِfull moon كلّاًall alike وعارِضُand a raincloud الإنفاقِof generosity
بَدرِ كلّاً وعارِضُ الإنفاقِ
Heir to the sea, the lion, and the radiant
O Imam of guidance and who surpassed in merit
full moon alike; a raincloud of generosity.
And filled the two lofty horizons with conjunction.
ياO إمامَimam الهُدىof guidance ومَنْand one who فاقَsurpassed فضلاًin virtue
يا إمامَ الهُدى ومَنْ فاقَ فضلاً
وملاand filled الخافِقَيْنِthe two horizons بالإيتِلاقِwith brilliance
وملا الخافِقَيْنِ بالإيتِلاقِ
O imam of guidance, who excelled in virtue
I took the path toward you in passion
and filled the two horizons with brilliance,
And my wish, my riding animal and my companions.
قدindeed سلَكْتُI took الطريقَthe road نحوكَtoward you شَوقاًin longing
قد سلَكْتُ الطريقَ نحوكَ شَوقاً
ورَجائيand my hope مَطيّتيis my mount ورِفاقيand my companions
ورَجائي مَطيّتي ورِفاقي
I have taken the road toward you in longing;
Sins have captured me, what capture!
my hope is my mount and my companions.
And mistakes, so free me from my shackles.
أسرَتْنيcaptured me الذُنوبُthe sins أيّةَwhat a أسْرٍcaptivity
أسرَتْني الذُنوبُ أيّةَ أسْرٍ
والخطاياand the misdeeds فمُنَّso grant graciously فيin إطلاقيmy release
والخطايا فمُنَّ في إطلاقي
Sins have taken me captive—what a captivity!—
The beginning of my life was misguided
and misdeeds; graciously grant me release.
My master, so correct the remaining years.
أوّلُthe first part العُمرِof life بالضّلالِin error تولّىpassed away
أوّلُ العُمرِ بالضّلالِ تولّى
سيّديmy master فاِصْلِحso set right السنينَthe years البَواقيremaining
سيّدي فاِصْلِح السنينَ البَواقي
The first part of my life passed in error;
I am your slave, so employ me
my master, set right the years that remain.
And protect me from the agony of resurrection.
أناI رِقٌّam a slave بكwith you اِستَجرْتُI sought refuge فكُنْso be ليfor me
أنا رِقٌّ بك اِستَجرْتُ فكُنْ لي
منfrom أليمِthe painful العَذابِpunishment بالبعثِat resurrection واقِa protector
من أليمِ العَذابِ بالبعثِ واقِ
I am a slave; I sought refuge with you, so be for me
My poem came to you with early poetry
a shield from painful punishment at resurrection.
That appeared in the folds of paper.
زفَّescorted as a bride فِكريmy thought إليكَto you بِكرَa virgin قَريضٍpoem
زفَّ فِكري إليكَ بِكرَ قَريضٍ
برزَتْshe appeared فيin غَلائِلِthe gauzy robes الأوراقِof pages
برزَتْ في غَلائِلِ الأوراقِ
My thought has brought you a maiden poem as a bride,
Protect it from all except your glory, O meteor
who appeared in the gauzy robes of pages.
That illuminated with dawn.
صانَهاguarded her عنfrom سِوىanything other than عُلاكَyour eminence شِهابٌShihāb; a meteor
صانَها عن سِوى عُلاكَ شِهابٌ
ياO شِهاباًmeteor أضاءَthat shone بالإشْراقِwith radiance
يا شِهاباً أضاءَ بالإشْراقِ
Shihāb guarded her from all but your eminence—
So look at it with accepting eyes
O meteor that shone with radiance!
For it aspires for acceptance as the best dowry.
فاِلتفِتْso turn نحوَهاtoward her بعينِwith an eye قَبولٍof acceptance
فاِلتفِتْ نحوَها بعينِ قَبولٍ
فلهاso for her بالقَبولِthrough acceptance أسنىthe most splendid صداقِbridal dower
فلها بالقَبولِ أسنى صداقِ
So turn toward her with an accepting eye;
And peace be upon you as long as the branches swayed
your acceptance is her most splendid bridal dower.
And the leaves of trees sang.
وعليكَand upon you السلامُpeace ماas long as رقصَdanced الغُصْthe branch (start)
وعليكَ السلامُ ما رقصَ الغُصْ
نُbranch (end) وغنّتْand sang سَواجعُthe cooing birds الأوراقِof the leaves
نُ وغنّتْ سَواجعُ الأوراقِ
And peace be upon you as long as the branch dances
and the cooing birds sing among the leaves.
Partial English translation: 106 of 108 Arabic lines translated.