نعاهُannounced his death للفضلِto excellence والعلياءِand eminence والنسبand lineage
نعاهُ للفضلِ والعلياءِ والنسب
ناعيهhis death's herald للأرضِto the earth والأفلاكِand the heavenly spheres والشهبand the shooting stars
ناعيه للأرضِ والأفلاكِ والشهب
His death was announced to excellence, eminence, and lineage,
They eulogized him for his nobility, excellence and lineage
by his herald, to earth, the heavenly spheres, and the shooting stars.
His eulogizer eulogized him for the earth, the heavens and the meteors
ندباًin lamentation وشرعاًand by sacred law وجوبthe obligation of الحزنsorrow حينwhen مضىhe passed away
ندباً وشرعاً وجوب الحزن حين مضى
فأيّthen what حزنgrief وقلبand heart فيهconcerning him لمdid not يجبthrob
فأيّ حزن وقلب فيه لم يجب
Lamenting, and making sorrow a sacred duty when he passed—
With weeping and legally obligated grief when he passed away
what grief, what heart, did not throb over him?
So what grief when the heart did not respond?
نعمyes إلىto الأرضthe earth ينعىis mourned والسماءِand heaven علىfor
نعم إلى الأرض ينعى والسماءِ على
فقيدكمyour lost one ياO سراةَleaders of المجدِglory والحسبand noble descent
فقيدكم يا سراةَ المجدِ والحسب
Yes, to earth and heaven the lament is raised for
Yes, he is eulogized on earth and in the heavens
your lost one, O leaders of glory and noble descent.
For your loss, O company of glory and merit
بالعلمwith learning والعملand deeds المبرورِrighteous قدindeed ملئتwas filled
بالعلم والعمل المبرورِ قد ملئت
أرضٌearth بكمthrough you وسماءٌand heaven عنfrom أبٍa father فأبthen a father
أرضٌ بكم وسماءٌ عن أبٍ فأب
With learning and righteous deeds have been filled
With knowledge and blessed work you have filled
earth and heaven through you, father after father.
An earth through you and a heaven from an exemplary father
مقدمٌgiven precedence ذكرُmention of ماضيكمyour departed one ووارثهand his heir
مقدمٌ ذكرُ ماضيكم ووارثه
فيin الوقتthe age تقديمَas the precedence of بسمِin the name of اللهGod فيin الكتبbooks
في الوقت تقديمَ بسمِ الله في الكتب
Mention of your departed one and his heir takes precedence
The mention of your past and your heir
in this age, as 'In God's name' comes first in books.
Comes first, saying "In the name of God" at the start of books
آهاًalas لمجتهدٍfor one striving فيin العلمlearning يندُبهmourns him
آهاً لمجتهدٍ في العلم يندُبه
منone who باتَspent the night مجتهداًstriving فيin الحزنsorrow والحرَبand bereavement
من باتَ مجتهداً في الحزن والحرَب
Ah, for the tireless scholar, mourned
Alas! A diligent scholar in knowledge eulogized
by one who spends the night striving in sorrow and bereavement.
By one who stayed diligent in grief and wars
بيناwhile وفودthe delegations of الندىbounty منهلةgiven their fill منناًfavors
بينا وفود الندى منهلة منناً
إذsuddenly نازلتناassailed us اللياليthe nights فيهconcerning him عنfrom كثبclose quarters
إذ نازلتنا الليالي فيه عن كثب
While bounty's visitors drank their fill of favors,
While caravans of dew were hosted by us
the nights suddenly assailed us through him at close quarters.
Nights descended upon us, gathered closely
وأقبلتand came نوَبُthe calamities of الأيامِthe days ثائرةًsurging
وأقبلت نوَبُ الأيامِ ثائرةً
إذwhen كانhe was عوْناًa help علىagainst الأيامِthe days والنوَبand calamities
إذ كان عوْناً على الأيامِ والنوَب
And the calamities of the days came surging forth,
And waves of days came raging
though he had been a help against days and calamities.
When he was a helper against days and misfortunes
ففاجأتناthen surprised us يدُthe hand of التفريقِseparation مسفرةًunveiling
ففاجأتنا يدُ التفريقِ مسفرةً
عنrevealing سفرةٍa journey طالgrew long فيهاwithin it شجوُthe sorrow of مرتقبone awaiting
عن سفرةٍ طال فيها شجوُ مرتقب
Then the hand of separation surprised us, unveiling
So the hand of separation surprised us barefaced
a journey in which the watcher's sorrow lingered long.
Revealing a feast in which prolonged sorrow was expected
وجاءَناand reached us عنconcerning إمامٍan imam مبتدأthe beginning of خبرٍa report
وجاءَنا عن إمامٍ مبتدأ خبرٍ
لكنbut بهthrough it السمعُhearing منصوبٌwas set علىupon النُصبaffliction
لكن به السمعُ منصوبٌ على النُصب
An initial report about an imam reached us,
And news came to us of an Imam's beginning
yet by it our hearing was set upon affliction.
But hearing of it was declaimed with grammatical objects
قالتspoke دمشقُDamascus بدمعwith the tears of النهرِthe river وأخبراًand—oh, the news!
قالت دمشقُ بدمع النهرِ وأخبراً
فزعتI sought refuge فيهconcerning it بآماليwith my hopes إلىin الكذِبfalsehood
فزعت فيه بآمالي إلى الكذِب
Damascus spoke with the river's tears—ah, that news!
Damascus said, with the tears of a river, reporting the news
With my hopes, I sought refuge in believing it false.
I was alarmed and my hopes rushed to disbelief
حتىuntil إذاwhen لمdid not يدَعْleave ليfor me صدقهُits truth أملاًany hope
حتى إذا لم يدَعْ لي صدقهُ أملاً
شرقتُI choked بالدمعon tears حتىuntil كادَalmost يشرقchoked بيon me
شرقتُ بالدمع حتى كادَ يشرق بي
Until, when its truth left me no hope,
Until no hope left for me to believe its truth
I choked on tears till the tears almost choked on me.
I cried with tears until I almost cried blood
وكلمتناand addressed us سيوفُthe swords of الكتبthe letters قائلةًsaying
وكلمتنا سيوفُ الكتب قائلةً
ماnot السيفُthe sword أصدقُtruer أنباءَin tidings منthan الكتبbooks
ما السيفُ أصدقُ أنباءَ من الكتب
And the swords of letters spoke to us, saying:
And books' swords spoke to us saying
'The sword is no truer in its tidings than books.'
No sword relates news more truthful than books
وقالand said موتُthe death of فتىthe young man of الأنصارِthe Ansar مغتبطاًexulting
وقال موتُ فتى الأنصارِ مغتبطاً
اللهGod أكبرُis greatest كلّall الحسنِbeauty فيamong العرَبthe Arabs
الله أكبرُ كلّ الحسنِ في العرَب
And the death of the young man of the Ansar said, exulting:
And the youth of Ansar's death said, rejoicing
'God is greatest! All beauty is among the Arabs.'
God is the Greatest! All goodness among Arabs
لقدindeed طوىfolded away الموتُdeath منfrom ذاكَthat الفرندِdamascened blade حلىornaments
لقد طوى الموتُ من ذاكَ الفرندِ حلى
كانتwere حلىthe ornaments of الدّينreligion والأحكامand judgments والرتبand ranks
كانت حلى الدّين والأحكام والرتب
Death has indeed folded away ornaments from that damascened blade,
Indeed death folded the adornments of that virtuous one
ornaments that had adorned religion, judgments, and ranks.
Which were the adornments of religion, laws and positions
وخصّand singled out مغنىthe abode of دمشقDamascus الحزنُsorrow متصلاًunceasing
وخصّ مغنى دمشق الحزنُ متصلاً
بفرقتينwith two partings أباتتهاmade it spend the night علىin وصَبpain
بفرقتين أباتتها على وصَب
Unceasing sorrow singled out Damascus's abode,
And Damascus' eulogy was specifically sorrowful
with two partings that left it to spend the night in pain.
With two detachments it refused over roughness
كادتalmost رياحُthe winds of الأسىanguish والحزنِand sorrow تعكسهاoverturned it
كادت رياحُ الأسى والحزنِ تعكسها
حتىeven الغصونthe branches بهاwithin it معكوسةinverted العذبin their tips
حتى الغصون بها معكوسة العذب
The winds of anguish and sorrow almost overturned it,
The winds of anguish and grief almost reflected it
even the branches there have their tips turned downward.
Until its branches were inverted in sweetness
والجامعand the congregational mosque الرَّحبspacious أضحىbecame صدرُهُits breast حرِجاًconstricted
والجامع الرَّحب أضحى صدرُهُ حرِجاً
والنسرand the eagle ضمَّfolded جناحيهits two wings منfrom الرّهبdread
والنسر ضمَّ جناحيه من الرّهب
And the spacious mosque's breast grew constricted,
And the vast mosque's chest became distressed
and the eagle folded its two wings in dread.
And the eagle folded its wings in awe
وللمدارسand for the schools همٌّgrief كادalmost يدرسهاeffaced them
وللمدارس همٌّ كاد يدرسها
لولاwere it not for تداركthe intervention of أبناءٍsons لهof his نُجبnoble
لولا تدارك أبناءٍ له نُجب
The schools were seized by grief that almost effaced them,
The schools had worries that almost ruined them
had his noble sons not come to their rescue.
If not for the intervention of its choice descendants
منwho للهدىfor guidance والندىand bounty لولاbut for بنوهhis sons ومنand who
من للهدى والندى لولا بنوه ومن
للفضلfor excellence يسحبtrails أذيالاًhems علىover السحبthe clouds
للفضل يسحب أذيالاً على السحب
Who would uphold guidance and bounty, but for his sons, and who
Who of guidance and dew, if not for his sons? And who
would uphold excellence, trailing hems above the clouds?
Of merit drags its train over the clouds?
منwho للفتوَّةِfor chivalry والفتوىand legal counsel مجانسةkindred
من للفتوَّةِ والفتوى مجانسة
فيin الصيغتينthe two word-forms وفيand in الآدابmanners والأدبand learning
في الصيغتين وفي الآداب والأدب
Who will uphold chivalry and legal counsel, kindred
Who of chivalry and juristic rulings frequented
in their two word-forms, and in manners and learning?
In both forms, etiquette and literary taste?
منْwho للتواضعِfor humility حيثwhere القدرstature فيis in صعدٍascent
منْ للتواضعِ حيث القدر في صعدٍ
علىabove النجومِthe stars وحيثand where العلمlearning فيis in صببdescent
على النجومِ وحيث العلم في صبب
Who will uphold humility, as stature rises
Who of humility where destiny is in ascents
above the stars, and learning flows downward?
Above the stars and where knowledge is in outpouring?
منْwho للتصانيفِfor scholarly writings فيهاin them زينةٌadornment وهدىًand guidance
منْ للتصانيفِ فيها زينةٌ وهدىً
ورجمand stoning باغٍa rebel فياthen O للهGod منwhat شهبshooting stars
ورجم باغٍ فيا لله من شهب
Who will uphold writings filled with adornment and guidance,
Who of authorship in which is adornment and guidance
and the stoning of a rebel—God, what shooting stars!
And pelting an insolent one? By God, what a meteor!
أمضىsharper منthan النصلِa blade فيin نصرِdefending الهدَىguidance فإذاand when
أمضى من النصلِ في نصرِ الهدَى فإذا
سلَّتwere drawn نِصالthe blades of العِدَىthe enemies أوقىmore protective منthan اليلبarmor
سلَّت نِصال العِدَى أوقى من اليلب
Sharper than a blade in defending guidance; and when
More conclusive than a blade in supporting guidance so when
the enemies' blades are drawn, more protective than armor.
The blades of injustice were drawn, he was firmer than a mountain
ذوpossessed of همَّةٍaspiration فيfor العُلىeminence والعلمِand learning قدindeed بلغتْhas reached
ذو همَّةٍ في العُلى والعلمِ قد بلغتْ
فوقabove السماكal-Simak وماand never تنفكُّceases فيin دَأَبtireless effort
فوق السماك وما تنفكُّ في دَأَب
A man whose aspiration for eminence and learning has reached
Of lofty aspiration and knowledge he reached
above al-Simak, and never ceases its toil.
Above the highest heaven and does not cease in diligence
حتَّىuntil رأىsaw العلمlearning شفعthe counterpart of الشافعيّal-Shafi'i بهِin him
حتَّى رأى العلم شفع الشافعيّ بهِ
وقالَand said مِنْfrom ذاthis one وذاand that one أدركتُI attained مطلبيmy goal
وقالَ مِنْ ذا وذا أدركتُ مطلبي
Until learning saw in him al-Shafi'i's counterpart,
Until he saw that knowledge interceded through Al-Shafi'i
and said, 'From this one and that I have attained my goal.'
And he said “From this one I have attained my request”
منwho للتهجُّدfor night prayer أوor منwho للدُّعَاfor supplication بسطتwere outstretched
من للتهجُّد أو من للدُّعَا بسطت
بهfor it وبالجودِand for generosity فيناamong us راحتاthe two palms of تعبweariness
به وبالجودِ فينا راحتا تعب
Who will uphold night prayer, or supplication? Outstretched
Who spread comfort and generosity through devotions and supplications
for it and for bounty among us were two weary palms.
I yearn for every dignified one of his sons who cried
منwho للمدائحِfor praises فيهof him قدindeed حلَتbecame sweet وصفَتand pure
من للمدائحِ فيه قد حلَت وصفَت
كأنَّماas though افترَّsmiled منهاthrough them الطرسُthe page عنrevealing شنبbright teeth
كأنَّما افترَّ منها الطرسُ عن شنب
Who will compose praises of him, so sweet and pure,
And that is right, facing the pond and drinking place
as though through them the page smiled, revealing bright teeth?
And every wilderness in the curtains, I said to it
لهفيmy sorrow لنظَّامِfor composers of مدحٍpraise فكرُthe thought of أجمهعمall of them (apparent typo)
لهفي لنظَّامِ مدحٍ فكرُ أجمهعم
بالهمِّthrough grief لاnot بالذَّكاthrough brilliance أمسىbecame أباAbu (father of) لهبLahab (flame)
بالهمِّ لا بالذَّكا أمسى أبا لهب
Alas for the composers of praise! The thought of them all
O sister of the best brother, O daughter of the best father
has become Abu Lahab through grief, not brilliance.
To Al-Hussain the journey of Ali concluded so no
كأنَّas though أيديهموtheir hands تبتwere ruined أسىًby grief فغدتand so became
كأنَّ أيديهمو تبت أسىً فغدت
منfrom عيِّthe speechlessness of أقلامِهاtheir pens حمَّالةَa bearer of الحطبfirewood
من عيِّ أقلامِها حمَّالةَ الحطب
As though their hands were ruined by grief, and became
Congratulating O you who left worry through triumph
through their pens' speechlessness, bearers of firewood.
After Imam Ali we have no loyalty
لهفيmy sorrow علىfor الطهرpurity فيin عرْضٍhonor وفيand in سمةٍbearing
لهفي على الطهر في عرْضٍ وفي سمةٍ
وفيand in لسانٍspeech وفيand in حكمٍjudgment وفيand in غضبanger
وفي لسانٍ وفي حكمٍ وفي غضب
Alas for purity in honor and in bearing,
To time or kinship through lineage
in speech, in judgment, and in anger.
O you who lasted while praise spreads him
محجبٌveiled غيرnot ممنوعِwithheld الندَىin bounty بسنَاby the radiance of
محجبٌ غير ممنوعِ الندَى بسنَا
عليائِهhis eminence ومهيبand awe-inspiring غيرnot محتجبsecluded
عليائِه ومهيب غير محتجب
Veiled, though his bounty is not withheld, by the radiance
You remained while the days destroyed us
of his eminence; awe-inspiring, yet not secluded.
Sleep in the abode of unending bliss
أضحىbecame لسبكِthrough casting فخارٍglory منfrom محاسنهhis virtues
أضحى لسبكِ فخارٍ من محاسنه
علىover العراقIraq فخارpride غيرnot منتقبveiled
على العراق فخار غير منتقب
From casting glory out of his virtues arose
While we are in the fire of unceasing grief
a pride over Iraq that wore no veil.
Who can join me to Egypt where you gathered us
آهاًalas لمرتحلٍfor one departing عناfrom us وأنعمهُand his favors
آهاً لمرتحلٍ عنا وأنعمهُ
مثلlike الحقائبِsaddlebags للمثنينfor the praisers والحقبand the ages
مثل الحقائبِ للمثنين والحقب
Ah, for one departing from us, while his favors
Even the bowels of the earth, so what rapture is in it!
are like saddlebags for his praisers and for the ages.
How strange is the state for me, a heart in Egypt and
إيمانfaith حبٍّof love إلىtoward الأوطانِthe native lands حرَّكهُmoved him
إيمان حبٍّ إلى الأوطانِ حرَّكهُ
حتَّىuntil قضىcompleted نحبهhis allotted term ياO طولlength of منتحبlamentation
حتَّى قضى نحبه يا طول منتحب
A faith of love moved him toward his native lands,
My body in Damascus and the tear of my eye in Aleppo
until he met his death—oh, how long the lament!
Despite the elegies after praising you, they do not
لهفيmy sorrow لكلِّfor each وقورٍdignified one منof بنيهhis sons بكىwho wept
لهفي لكلِّ وقورٍ من بنيه بكى
وهوand he الصوابrectitude بصوبwith the downpour of الواكِفdripping السربstreaming
وهو الصواب بصوب الواكِف السرب
Alas for each dignified son of his who wept,
Comfort us as we are amidst clamoring days
he, rectitude itself, with a downpour of streaming tears.
No connection remains between our livers and worry
وكلُّand every باديةٍwoman appearing فيwithin الحجبveils قلنَthey (women) said لهاto her
وكلُّ باديةٍ في الحجب قلنَ لها
ياO أختَsister of خيرthe finest أخٍbrother ياO بنتَdaughter of خيرthe finest أبfather
يا أختَ خير أخٍ يا بنتَ خير أب
And every woman appearing behind veils—they said to her:
No, and poetry has no cause for it
'O sister of the finest brother, O daughter of the finest father!'
As for poetry, were it not for your progeny, its
إلىat الحسينal-Husayn انتهىended مسرىthe night journey of عليّAli فلاso may not
إلى الحسين انتهى مسرى عليّ فلا
هنأتyou rejoice ياO خارجيّKharijite الهمّsorrow بالغلبin victory
هنأت يا خارجيّ الهمّ بالغلب
Ali's night journey ended at al-Husayn; may you never
Markets would be stagnant and deprived of pull
rejoice in victory, O Kharijite sorrow!
The Chief Justice consoles for the Imam of piety
بعدَafter الإمامImam عليٍّAli لاno ولاءَloyalty لناfor us
بعدَ الإمام عليٍّ لا ولاءَ لنا
منfrom الزَّمانtime ولاnor قربَىkinship منfrom النسبlineage
من الزَّمان ولا قربَى من النسب
After Imam Ali, no loyalty is shown us
In merit, he instructed the commandments for progeny
by time, nor any kinship by lineage.
You are in the ranks of the high for whom the sea
ياO ثاوياًone resting والثَّنىand praise والحمدُand acclaim ينشرهُrevive him
يا ثاوياً والثَّنى والحمدُ ينشرهُ
بقيتَyou remained أنتَyou وأفنتْناand destroyed us يدُthe hand of الكربsorrow
بقيتَ أنتَ وأفنتْنا يدُ الكرب
O you at rest, whom praise and acclaim revive,
Spoke of in wonder
you remain, while sorrow's hand has consumed us.
The aura of your father in knowledge, piety and generosity
نمْsleep فيin مقامِan abode of نعيمٍbliss غيرِnot منقطعٍending
نمْ في مقامِ نعيمٍ غيرِ منقطعٍ
ونحنُwhile we فيare in نارِthe fire of حزنٍsorrow غيرnot متَّئِبashamed
ونحنُ في نارِ حزنٍ غير متَّئِب
Sleep in an abode of bliss that never ends,
Did not disappear from us
while we burn in the fire of sorrow that knows no shame.
Your abundant goodness poured forth, O Judge of Judges
منwho ليfor me بمصرwith Egypt التيwhich ضمَّتكَembraced you تجمعنَاunites us
من لي بمصر التي ضمَّتكَ تجمعنَا
ولوeven if بطونthe wombs of الثَّرىthe soil فيهاwithin it فياthen O طربيmy joy
ولو بطون الثَّرى فيها فيا طربي
Who will grant me Egypt, which embraced you, to unite us,
Flowing with a tail over your resting place
even in the wombs of its soil—oh, my joy!
And every shining one from us walked to you
ماhow أعجبَwondrous الحالthe state ليI have قلبٌa heart بمصرَin Egypt وفيand in
ما أعجبَ الحال لي قلبٌ بمصرَ وفي
دمشقَDamascus جسمِيmy body ودمعُand the tears of العينِthe eye فيare in حلبAleppo
دمشقَ جسمِي ودمعُ العينِ في حلب
How strange my state! My heart is in Egypt, while in
Greetings, every one with a grieving heart and depressed
Damascus is my body, and my eye's tears are in Aleppo.
God's greetings we direct to you and follow with
بالرُّغمagainst the will of منَّاus مراثٍelegies بعدafter مدحكpraising you لاnot
بالرُّغم منَّا مراثٍ بعد مدحك لا
تُسلَىto be forgotten ونحنُwhile we معwith الأيَّامِthe days فيare in صخبuproar
تُسلَى ونحنُ مع الأيَّامِ في صخب
Against our will come elegies after your praises, never
After your remoteness, there is no profit in life
to be forgotten, while we clamor against the days.
And lighten the grief, we will join those who
ماno بينَbetween أكبادناour livers والهمّand sorrow فاصلةٌgap
ما بينَ أكبادنا والهمّ فاصلةٌ
كلاَّno indeed ولاnor لِصَنيعِfor the crafting of الشعرِverse منany سببmeans
كلاَّ ولا لِصَنيعِ الشعرِ من سبب
No gap lies between our livers and sorrow;
Passed away and spent nights of ancient calamities
no, nor any means for the crafting of verse.
If he does not travel to us, we will travel to him
أمَّاas for القريضُverse فلولاbut for نسلكُمyour offspring كسدتْwould stagnate
أمَّا القريضُ فلولا نسلكُم كسدتْ
أسواقهُits markets وغدتْand become مقطوعةَcut off from الجلبincoming wares
أسواقهُ وغدتْ مقطوعةَ الجلب
As for verse, but for your offspring, there would stagnate
Over our days, the golden and shooting stars
its markets, cut off from incoming wares.
We are shadows made of dust
قاضيjudge of القضاةِthe judges عزاءًconsolation عنfor the loss of إمامan imam of تقىpiety
قاضي القضاةِ عزاءً عن إمام تقى
بالفضلِconcerning excellence أوصىenjoined care وصاياthe injunctions of المرءِa man بالعَقبconcerning offspring
بالفضلِ أوصى وصايا المرءِ بالعَقب
O Chief Judge, take solace for an imam of piety,
So the return of dust to dust is no wonder
who commended excellence as a man commends his offspring.
فأنتَfor you فيin رتبthe ranks of العلياeminence وماand what وسعتthey encompass
فأنتَ في رتب العليا وما وسعت
بحرٌa sea تحدَّثspoke عنهabout him البحرthe sea بالعجبin wonder
بحرٌ تحدَّث عنه البحر بالعجب
For you, in eminence's ranks and all they embrace,
are a sea of which the sea itself speaks in wonder.
ماnot غابَvanished عنَّاfrom us سرَىjourneyed by night شخصa bodily form لوالدِهof his father
ما غابَ عنَّا سرَى شخص لوالدِه
وعلمهُand his learning والتُّقىand piety والجودand generosity لمdid not يغبvanish
وعلمهُ والتُّقى والجود لم يغب
His father has not vanished from us: his bodily form journeyed by night,
but his learning, piety, and bounty have not vanished.
جادتْmay drench ثراكَyour soil أباO father of الحكَّامthe judges سحبُclouds of حياًlife-giving rain
جادتْ ثراكَ أبا الحكَّام سحبُ حياً
تخطوstride بذيلٍwith a train علىover مثواكyour resting place منسحبtrailing
تخطو بذيلٍ على مثواك منسحب
May clouds of life-giving rain drench your soil, O father of judges,
striding with a train trailing over your resting place.
وسارَand may travel نحوكَtoward you منَّاfrom us كلُّevery شارقةٍsunrise
وسارَ نحوكَ منَّا كلُّ شارقةٍ
سلامthe greeting of كلُّevery شجيّsorrowful القلبin heart مكتئبdejected
سلام كلُّ شجيّ القلب مكتئب
And may there travel toward you from us, with every sunrise,
the greeting of everyone heart-sore and dejected.
تحيةُthe greeting of اللهGod نهدِيهاwe offer it وتتْبعهاand follows it
تحيةُ الله نهدِيها وتتْبعها
فبعدَfor after بُعدِكِyour departure ماno فيin العيشِlife منany أربdesire
فبعدَ بُعدِكِ ما في العيشِ من أرب
We offer God's greeting, and after it comes this:
for after your departure there is no desire left for life.
وخفِّفand lighten الحزنsorrow إنَّاindeed we لاحقونwill join بمنthe one who
وخفِّف الحزن إنَّا لاحقون بمن
مضَىpassed away فأمضَىand so sharpened شَبَاةthe cutting edge of الحادثcalamity الأشِبtangled
مضَى فأمضَى شَبَاة الحادث الأشِب
And lighten sorrow: we shall join the one who
passed away, sharpening the edge of tangled calamity.
إنif لمdoes not يسرْjourney نحوَناtoward us سِرناwe shall journey إليهِtoward him علىupon
إن لم يسرْ نحوَنا سِرنا إليهِ على
أيَّامناour days واللياليand the nights الذَّهبgolden والشهبand silver-white
أيَّامنا والليالي الذَّهب والشهب
If he does not journey toward us, we shall journey toward him upon
our golden days and silver-white nights.
إنَّاindeed we منfrom التُّربِdust أشباحfigures مخلقةfashioned
إنَّا من التُّربِ أشباح مخلقة
فلاso no عجيبٌwonder مآلthe return of التُّربِdust للتُّربto dust
فلا عجيبٌ مآل التُّربِ للتُّرب
We are figures fashioned from dust;
so it is no wonder that dust should return to dust.
Partial English translation: 93 of 110 Arabic lines translated.