بين اللوى فالجِزْعِ فالمتثلّمِ

بين اللوى فالجِزْعِ فالمتثلّمِ

دِمَنٌ خلَتْ من بعدِ أمّ الهيثَمِ

دِمَنٌ خلَتْ من بعدِ أمّ الهيثَمِ

Between al-Liwa, al-Jizʿ, and al-Mutathallim

Between the twisting valleys, the rock cliffs, and the barren land,

lie campsite traces, deserted since Umm al-Haytham left:

There are traces of a mounted party who had traveled

آثارُ ركب مُدلِجينَ ترحّلوا

آثارُ ركب مُدلِجينَ ترحّلوا

من مُنجدٍ قَصْداً لها أو مُتهِمِ

من مُنجدٍ قَصْداً لها أو مُتهِمِ

the traces of night-traveling riders who departed,

From Munjid heading towards it or suspecting it,

whether bound for Najd or Tihama, seeking her.

And I stood by it for a time, gazing longingly,

ولقد وقفتُ بها وقوف متيّمٍ

ولقد وقفتُ بها وقوف متيّمٍ

زمناً أُسائلُها فلم تتكلّمِ

زمناً أُسائلُها فلم تتكلّمِ

And indeed I stood there as one enslaved by love,

Questioning it but it did not speak,

for a time, questioning them, but they did not speak.

I cried sincere tears for it continuously,

وسقيتُها الدمعَ المصونَ تأسفاً

وسقيتُها الدمعَ المصونَ تأسفاً

صِرْفاً وطوراً مثل لون العِظْلِمِ

صِرْفاً وطوراً مثل لون العِظْلِمِ

In sorrow I watered them with tears held back,

Like the color of intense darkness.

pure, and at times like the color of indigo.

O caravan of Mecca, here is the greeting of a passionate lover,

يا ركبَ مكةَ ها تحيةَ عاشقٍ

يا ركبَ مكةَ ها تحيةَ عاشقٍ

مُضنًى نحيفِ الجسمِ صبٍّ مغرمِ

مُضنًى نحيفِ الجسمِ صبٍّ مغرمِ

O caravan of Mecca, take a lover's greeting,

Wasted away, slender in body, constant in love,

worn down, thin of body, yearning and enamored,

For a gazelle, similar in appearance to a gazelle,

لغزالةٍ مثلِ الغزالةِ منظراً

لغزالةٍ مثلِ الغزالةِ منظراً

حوراءَ تسكنُ في هضابِ يَلمْلمِ

حوراءَ تسكنُ في هضابِ يَلمْلمِ

to a gazelle, like the sun in appearance,

A beautiful maid, dwelling in the hills of Yalamlam,

with eyes of deep black and clear white, dwelling in Yalamlam's hills;

Seductive, with languid eyelids, coy,

هيفاءَ ساحرةِ الجفونِ غريرةٍ

هيفاءَ ساحرةِ الجفونِ غريرةٍ

غرّاءَ مرشَفُها لذيذُ المَطْعَم

غرّاءَ مرشَفُها لذيذُ المَطْعَم

slender-waisted, with bewitching eyelids, innocent,

Of smooth skin, sweet taste,

radiant-faced, her lips delightful to taste.

In her mouth a pearl, and on her cheek

في ثغرها دُرٌّ وفي وجَناتِها

في ثغرها دُرٌّ وفي وجَناتِها

وردٌ نضيرٌ أحمرٌ كالعندمِ

وردٌ نضيرٌ أحمرٌ كالعندمِ

Pearls are in her mouth, and on her cheeks

A fresh, red rose like pomegranate seeds.

are roses, fresh and red as crimson dye.

If that honored caravan does not convey to you my greetings,

إن لم يبلّغْكَ التحيةَ ذلك الر

إن لم يبلّغْكَ التحيةَ ذلك الر

كْبُ المُجِدُّ السيرَ مني فاعلمي

كْبُ المُجِدُّ السيرَ مني فاعلمي

If the greeting is not brought to you by that cara-

Then know that they neither stayed at Miná nor reached Muna,

van hastening on its way—from me—then know:

Nor in it did they spend time or drink from Zamzam.

لا عرّسوا بمنًى ولا بلغوا المُنى

لا عرّسوا بمنًى ولا بلغوا المُنى

فيها الزمانَ ولا سُقوا من زمزَمِ

فيها الزمانَ ولا سُقوا من زمزَمِ

May they not halt by night at Mina, nor attain their wishes

O critic, enough! My heart saw enough of her,

there, ever, nor be given drink from Zamzam.

So cease blaming every passionate lover.

يا عاذليّ كفى فؤادي ما رأى

يا عاذليّ كفى فؤادي ما رأى

منها فكُفّا لوم كلِّ متيّمِ

منها فكُفّا لوم كلِّ متيّمِ

O my two reprovers, my heart has seen enough

I will surely put aside playfulness

of her; so cease blaming every love-enslaved soul.

And travel on a reddish-black steed,

فلأتركنّ اللهو عنّي جانباً

فلأتركنّ اللهو عنّي جانباً

ولأرحلنّ على جوادٍ أدهمِ

ولأرحلنّ على جوادٍ أدهمِ

So I shall surely cast diversion aside,

Whose neighing sounds as if bells are in its throat,

and surely journey on a black steed,

As black as a raven of darkest feathers,

هزجِ الصّهيلِ كأنّ في حُلقومِه

هزجِ الصّهيلِ كأنّ في حُلقومِه

جرَساً وأسودَ كالغرابِ الأسحمِ

جرَساً وأسودَ كالغرابِ الأسحمِ

melodious in its neighing, as though within its throat

Pure black as if the blackness of its face

were a bell, and black as a jet-black raven;

Were a moon appearing in a dark night,

صافي السوادِ كأن غرّةَ وجهه

صافي السوادِ كأن غرّةَ وجهه

بدرٌ بدا في جنحِ ليلٍ مظلمِ

بدرٌ بدا في جنحِ ليلٍ مظلمِ

pure in its blackness, as though its forehead blaze

Or blond, whose glow was like a star

were a full moon appearing in the wing of a dark night.

In the middle of densest dust,

أو أشقرٍ نهدٍ أقبّ لهيبُه

أو أشقرٍ نهدٍ أقبّ لهيبُه

كالنجمِ في وسطِ الغبارِ الأقتَمِ

كالنجمِ في وسطِ الغبارِ الأقتَمِ

Or a chestnut, strong of build and lean-bellied, whose flame

It swoops down as an eagle swoops on its prey,

is like a star amid the dusky dust;

Its ears not the least bit droopy.

يهوي كما تهوي العُقاب لصيدها

يهوي كما تهوي العُقاب لصيدها

ومقدّم الأذنَيْنِ ليس بأصْلمِ

ومقدّم الأذنَيْنِ ليس بأصْلمِ

it swoops as an eagle swoops upon its prey,

Or red, like cheeks, its hue makes it seem

with ears set forward, not cropped.

Dyed in blood from the beauty of its color,

أو أحمرٍ مثلِ الخدودِ تخالُه

أو أحمرٍ مثلِ الخدودِ تخالُه

من حسن صِبغتِه تسرْبَل بالدمِ

من حسن صِبغتِه تسرْبَل بالدمِ

Or a red one, like cheeks, which you would think

Sound of limb, well-proportioned, hot-blooded,

from its lovely coloring had clothed itself in blood;

Smooth like glass that was well annealed.

وافي الضلوع مهذبٍ في جنسه

وافي الضلوع مهذبٍ في جنسه

جَذلانَ كالنّشوانِ حرّ أرثَم

جَذلانَ كالنّشوانِ حرّ أرثَم

ample-ribbed, well-bred among its kind,

Or white, appearing to all beholders

joyous as one tipsy, noble, white on the upper lip.

In every aspect when it shows itself as a gray old man,

أو أبلجٍ يبدو بكل نموذج

أو أبلجٍ يبدو بكل نموذج

للناظرين إذا تراءَى شيظَمِ

للناظرين إذا تراءَى شيظَمِ

Or a white-blazed one, displaying every exemplary form

Until I can kiss the hand of the ink that surpassed

to onlookers when it comes in sight—a towering steed—

Mankind and rose above the stars,

حتى أقبّل راحة الحَبرِ الذي

حتى أقبّل راحة الحَبرِ الذي

فاقَ الورى وعلا علوّ الأنجُمِ

فاقَ الورى وعلا علوّ الأنجُمِ

until I kiss the palm of the scholar who

The memorizer, the excellent, the secret, the approved,

surpassed mankind and rose to the height of the stars:

The pure, the refiner, the generous, the noble,

الحافظِ النّدْبِ السّريّ المرتضى ال

الحافظِ النّدْبِ السّريّ المرتضى ال

علَمِ الزكيّ اللوذعي الأكرمِ

علَمِ الزكيّ اللوذعي الأكرمِ

the Hafiz, gallant, noble, esteemed, the

The scholar, the master, the righteous, the chosen, the vigilant, the prominent,

eminent one, pure, perceptive, most generous;

He gave generously and lavishly so that his palm

العالمِ المولي الأبيّ المصطفى ال

العالمِ المولي الأبيّ المصطفى ال

يقِظِ العلي علا السُها المتقدمِ

يقِظِ العلي علا السُها المتقدمِ

the learned benefactor, proud-spirited, chosen, the

And the sea share equally in generosity.

watchful, exalted, risen above al-Suha, foremost.

Sweet to those loyal to him, gentle,

أعطى وأسرفَ في العطاءِ فكفُّه

أعطى وأسرفَ في العطاءِ فكفُّه

والبحرُ يقتسمانِ نسبة توأمِ

والبحرُ يقتسمانِ نسبة توأمِ

He gave and was lavish in giving, so his palm

And to those hostile to him, bitter like aloes.

and the sea share the kinship of twins.

He opposed evil deeds, so they lagged behind,

حُلوِ المذاقِ لمنْ يوالي ليّنٍ

حُلوِ المذاقِ لمنْ يوالي ليّنٍ

ولمَن يعاديه كطعمِ العَلقمِ

ولمَن يعاديه كطعمِ العَلقمِ

Sweet to the taste and gentle to those loyal to him,

While he progressed, for he is the best pioneer.

but to his enemies like the taste of colocynth.

The craving camels hastened to him earnestly

بكَرَ العِدا نحو العُلا فتأخّروا

بكَرَ العِدا نحو العُلا فتأخّروا

عنها وأدلجَ فهو خيرُ مقدَّمِ

عنها وأدلجَ فهو خيرُ مقدَّمِ

His rivals set off early toward glory, yet fell

Hoping to obtain from him the best spoils.

short of it; he traveled by night, so he is the finest leader.

A banner that humiliates wealth through his generosity

سارَتْ إليه اليَعمَلاتُ قواصِداً

سارَتْ إليه اليَعمَلاتُ قواصِداً

تَتْرى فحلّتْ عندَ أفضلِ مَغنَمِ

تَتْرى فحلّتْ عندَ أفضلِ مَغنَمِ

Sturdy she-camels journeyed toward him, intent on him,

Nobly and kindly toward the visit of the honored.

one after another, and halted at the finest bounty.

And I came to him with what an enemy had done to me,

علَمٌ يُهينُ المال طولَ زمانِه

علَمٌ يُهينُ المال طولَ زمانِه

كرماً وبرّاً عند زَورِ مكرَّمِ

كرماً وبرّاً عند زَورِ مكرَّمِ

An eminent man who scorns wealth throughout his life,

The act of an ungrateful criminal.

in generosity and kindness, before honored visitors.

My hand kissed his generous hand humbly

ولقد غدوتُ بما أتَتْهُ مُديةٌ

ولقد غدوتُ بما أتَتْهُ مُديةٌ

من فعلِ جاني أنعُمٍ لا مجرمِ

من فعلِ جاني أنعُمٍ لا مجرمِ

And indeed I have come with what a knife has done:

To get from its blessings what it hoped for,

the deed of a reaper of favors, not a criminal.

And to win from his gift the most ample spoils.

قامتْ تقبّلُ راحةً مزنيّةً

قامتْ تقبّلُ راحةً مزنيّةً

للحافظِ الحَبْرِ الإمامِ الأكرمِ

للحافظِ الحَبْرِ الإمامِ الأكرمِ

It rose to kiss a palm like a rain-cloud,

But the crowding of veiled women impeded its winning

of the Hafiz, the scholar, the most generous imam,

As they won the most generous veiled one.

لتنالَ من نعمائِها ما أمّلَت

لتنالَ من نعمائِها ما أمّلَت

وتفوزَ من هبةٍ بأوفَرِ مغنَم

وتفوزَ من هبةٍ بأوفَرِ مغنَم

to gain from its bounty what it had hoped for

So it fell at a foot belonging to him,

and win the richest prize from a gift.

Since its only goal was to take precedence in high position.

فحمى ازدحامُ اللاثِميها فوزَها

فحمى ازدحامُ اللاثِميها فوزَها

معهمْ وقد ظفروا بأكرمِ مَلثَمِ

معهمْ وقد ظفروا بأكرمِ مَلثَمِ

But the crowd of those kissing it barred its success

It sought refuge in it from the disappointment of its hopes

among them, though they had won the noblest place to kiss.

When the act of a slanderer had kissed it.

فهوَتْ الى قدم له ما دأبُها

فهوَتْ الى قدم له ما دأبُها

إلا استباقُ للعُلى بتقدمِ

إلا استباقُ للعُلى بتقدمِ

So it descended to a foot of his, whose habit is nothing

And since the foot was not qualified for favors

but racing toward glory, taking the lead.

Like the hands or for acts of kindness,

عاذَتْ بها من خيبةٍ لمرامها

عاذَتْ بها من خيبةٍ لمرامها

إذ قبّلَتْها فِعلةَ المتذمّمِ

إذ قبّلَتْها فِعلةَ المتذمّمِ

It sought refuge there from failure in its quest,

It was not content with its disappointment, unlike its Lord's forbearance,

when it kissed it, as one claiming protection.

So it protected what it possessed of the scent of blood,

والرِّجْلُ لما لم تؤهَّلْ للندى

والرِّجْلُ لما لم تؤهَّلْ للندى

مثل اليَدينِ ولا لبَذْلِ الأنعُمِ

مثل اليَدينِ ولا لبَذْلِ الأنعُمِ

And since the foot had not been fitted for generosity

Giving it drink from a protected, prohibiting sword

like the two hands, nor for bestowing favors,

Sheltering behind sharp blades from others.

لم ترضَ خيبتَها كشيمةِ ربّها

لم ترضَ خيبتَها كشيمةِ ربّها

فحمَتْ بما ملكَتْهُ من عِطرِ الدّمِ

فحمَتْ بما ملكَتْهُ من عِطرِ الدّمِ

it refused the knife's disappointment, true to its master's nature,

The cheeks of the polished sword wished they had won

so it protected it with what it possessed: the perfume of blood.

What it got from that red dye.

سَقياً لها شرُفَتْ بنَيْلِ ممنّعٍ

سَقياً لها شرُفَتْ بنَيْلِ ممنّعٍ

عن غيرها بظُبى الصّوارمِ مُحتمي

عن غيرها بظُبى الصّوارمِ مُحتمي

May rain bless it! It gained honor by attaining something guarded,

So its beauty would be complete with its clothing,

kept from others, sheltered by the edges of keen swords.

And it would shine from it in every dark night.

ودّتْ خدودُ الغيدِ لو ظفِرَتْ بما

ودّتْ خدودُ الغيدِ لو ظفِرَتْ بما

نالته من ذاك الصِّباغِ العَندَمي

نالته من ذاك الصِّباغِ العَندَمي

The cheeks of graceful women wished they could win what

Your right hand glories in the throng of uproar

it won of that crimson dye,

From Lahzam or Mikhazam.

كيما يتمّ جمالُها بِلباسِه

كيما يتمّ جمالُها بِلباسِه

فيُضيءُ منها كلُّ ليلٍ مظلِم

فيُضيءُ منها كلُّ ليلٍ مظلِم

so their beauty might be perfected by wearing it

And it became forbidden to the flames when

and every dark night be brightened by them.

It was given blood, becoming prohibited in the sacred month.

قد فاخَرْت يُمناك ما شرَفْتَ من

قد فاخَرْت يُمناك ما شرَفْتَ من

عُددِ الوغى من لهذَمٍ أو مِخذَمِ

عُددِ الوغى من لهذَمٍ أو مِخذَمِ

What you ennobled has rivaled your right hand in glory,

So glory in the honor you were given, through which

among war's weapons, whether a keen spear or a cutting sword;

You were singled out in merits, and submit!

وغدت محرّمةً على النيران إذ

وغدت محرّمةً على النيران إذ

سُقِيَتْ دماً أضحتْ به في محرَمِ

سُقِيَتْ دماً أضحتْ به في محرَمِ

and it became forbidden to the flames, since

it was watered with blood through which it entered a sacred sanctuary.

فافخَرْ إمامَ العصرِ بالشرفِ الذي

فافخَرْ إمامَ العصرِ بالشرفِ الذي

أوتيتَه فردَ الفضائلِ واسْلَمِ

أوتيتَه فردَ الفضائلِ واسْلَمِ

So take pride, imam of the age, in the honor

you were granted, peerless in virtues; fare well.