يا راغباً نزعت به الآمالُ

يا راغباً نزعت به الآمالُ

يا راهباً قذفتْ به الأوجالُ

يا راهباً قذفتْ به الأوجالُ

O seeker, whom hopes have carried away,

O you whose hopes were plucked away,

O fearful one, whom terrors have flung about,

O you made desolate by tribulation,

ذهب النوالُ فما يُحسُّ نوالُ

ذهب النوالُ فما يُحسُّ نوالُ

وعفا الفعالُ فَما يحسُّ فعالُ

وعفا الفعالُ فَما يحسُّ فعالُ

Bounty is gone; no bounty is felt.

Bounty has gone, so bounty is not felt,

And noble deeds have faded; no noble deed is felt.

Deeds have ceased, so deeds are not accomplished,

أودى الزمانُ بمن يعلّم أهلهُ

أودى الزمانُ بمن يعلّم أهلهُ

كيف النعيمُ فكيف ينعم بالُ

كيف النعيمُ فكيف ينعم بالُ

Time has destroyed the one who taught its people

Time has destroyed those who teach their people

What bliss is; how, then, can any mind find ease?

What bliss is, so how can they enjoy comfort?

سلبَ الزمانُ جمالَه عن نفسهِ

سلبَ الزمانُ جمالَه عن نفسهِ

فغدا وراحَ وما عليه جمالُ

فغدا وراحَ وما عليه جمالُ

Time stripped its beauty from itself,

Time has robbed his beauty from himself,

So it passed morning and evening with no beauty upon it.

So he came and went with no beauty left,

ذهَب الذي ذهبتْ يداهُ وفيهما

ذهَب الذي ذهبتْ يداهُ وفيهما

للراغبين مناله ومصالُ

للراغبين مناله ومصالُ

Gone is he whose two hands have gone, and in them

Gone is he whose hands the hopeful grasped,

Lay his bounty and might for those who sought them.

And found through them attainment and rest,

ذهب الذي نالتْ يداه من العلا

ذهب الذي نالتْ يداه من العلا

ما لا ينالُ من المديحِ مقالُ

ما لا ينالُ من المديحِ مقالُ

Gone is he whose hands attained such heights

Gone is he whose hands grasped the heights,

As no utterance of praise can reach.

That none can grasp in praise however expressed,

يا سوءتا للأرض كيف تماسكَتْ

يا سوءتا للأرض كيف تماسكَتْ

وقد استُزيلَ وحقُّها الزلزالُ

وقد استُزيلَ وحقُّها الزلزالُ

Shame on the earth! How has it held together,

Oh how base is the earth that it still holds firm!

When he was taken away, and an earthquake was its due?

Though rightfully it should shake and quake,

وكفَى من الزلزالِ بعد محمدٍ

وكفَى من الزلزالِ بعد محمدٍ

أنْ لَيْسَ يُعْرَفُ بعده إفضالُ

أنْ لَيْسَ يُعْرَفُ بعده إفضالُ

And enough upheaval after Muhammad

After Muhammad, enough earthquake to know,

Is that generosity is unknown after him.

No favor comes that to his can compare,

ذهب الذي كان الصيامُ شعارَه

ذهب الذي كان الصيامُ شعارَه

ولضيفهِ الإنزالِ والآكالُ

ولضيفهِ الإنزالِ والآكالُ

Gone is he whose hallmark was fasting,

Gone is he who fasts were his banner raised,

While his guest had lodging and food.

Food for guests poured down, gifts unstinting,

فكأنه رمضانُ في إخباتِه

فكأنه رمضانُ في إخباتِه

وكأنه في جوده شوّالُ

وكأنه في جوده شوّالُ

He was like Ramadan in his humble devotion,

So that he was Ramadan in his seclusion,

And like Shawwal in his generosity.

And in his generosity like Shawwal’s feast,

ذهب الذي أوصاه آدمُ إذ مضَى

ذهب الذي أوصاه آدمُ إذ مضَى

بعياله فهمُ عليه عيالُ

بعياله فهمُ عليه عيالُ

Gone is he whom Adam, as he departed, entrusted

Gone is he whom Adam advised ere he died,

With his dependents; upon him they all depended.

To care for his household, his dear dependents,

ذهب الذي ما كان يمطل وعدَه

ذهب الذي ما كان يمطل وعدَه

وله إذا جارى السماحَ مِطالُ

وله إذا جارى السماحَ مِطالُ

Gone is he who never delayed fulfilling his promise,

Gone is he who never delayed his promise,

And had a long reach when he raced generosity.

Who, when moved to kindness, had gifts overflowing,

أودى محمدٌ بنُ نصرٍ بعدما

أودى محمدٌ بنُ نصرٍ بعدما

ضُربت به في سروه الأمثالُ

ضُربت به في سروه الأمثالُ

Muhammad ibn Nasr has died, after

Muhammad ibn Nasr, after whom were modeled,

His nobility had become proverbial.

In his nobility, morals and manners excelling,

ملكٌ تنافست العلا في عمرهِ

ملكٌ تنافست العلا في عمرهِ

وتنافستْ في يومِه الآجالُ

وتنافستْ في يومِه الآجالُ

A king: lofty honors vied throughout his life,

A king whose life all heights strove to outvie,

And the appointed deaths vied on his final day.

Whose day contended with fates intervening,

من لم يعاين سيرَ نعشِ محمدٍ

من لم يعاين سيرَ نعشِ محمدٍ

لم يدرِ كيف تسيَّرُ الأجبالُ

لم يدرِ كيف تسيَّرُ الأجبالُ

Whoever did not witness the passage of Muhammad's bier

Who saw not his bier as it moved along,

Did not know how mountains are made to move.

Knows not how mountains themselves walked in mourning,

يا حفرةً غلبتْ عليه جَنّةً

يا حفرةً غلبتْ عليه جَنّةً

كانت به وبنفسِها تختالُ

كانت به وبنفسِها تختالُ

O grave-pit that won him from a garden

Oh grave that triumphed over a garden!

That gloried in him and in itself!

With him it boasted and preened in its glory,

الآن أيقن من يشكُّ ويمتري

الآن أيقن من يشكُّ ويمتري

أن البقاعَ من البقاعِ تُدالُ

أن البقاعَ من البقاعِ تُدالُ

Now whoever doubts and questions knows for certain

Now all doubters and waverers are sure,

That tracts of earth win victory over other tracts.

Sites themselves shift in their rising and falling,

إمّا أصيب فللنجومِ مغاورٌ

إمّا أصيب فللنجومِ مغاورٌ

تغتالُهُنّ وللجبالِ زوالُ

تغتالُهُنّ وللجبالِ زوالُ

If indeed he was struck down, the stars too have caverns

The stars have hiding places if misfortune strikes,

That steal them away; mountains, too, must vanish.

And mountains themselves cannot avoid their crumbling,

ولقد يُعزّينا عليه أنَّهُ

ولقد يُعزّينا عليه أنَّهُ

وافى كمالَ العُمرِ منهُ كمالُ

وافى كمالَ العُمرِ منهُ كمالُ

And indeed it consoles us in his loss that

We're consoled that he met his full life's span,

His perfection matched the fullness of his life.

For life's completeness from him was not stolen,

أسدٌ مضى وتخلفتْ أشبالُه

أسدٌ مضى وتخلفتْ أشبالُه

وعليَّ أن تستأسِدَ الأشبالُ

وعليَّ أن تستأسِدَ الأشبالُ

A lion has passed away, and his cubs remain;

A lion has gone and his cubs remain,

And I must see that the cubs become lions.

And the cubs must now become lions emboldened,

ولمَا حَظيتُ بعُرفه ولقد جَرَتْ

ولمَا حَظيتُ بعُرفه ولقد جَرَتْ

بوفاتِه مِحنٌ عليَّ ثِقالُ

بوفاتِه مِحنٌ عليَّ ثِقالُ

And I had not yet enjoyed his bounty, yet there befell me

When I gained his companionship, though his loss,

With his death, heavy trials.

Brought hardships heavy upon me that linger,

وخلوتُ ممّا نالهُ من مالِه

وخلوتُ ممّا نالهُ من مالِه

غيري وقد شقيتْ به الأموالُ

غيري وقد شقيتْ به الأموالُ

And I had none of what was gained from his wealth

I was left out of wealth he dispensed,

By others, though wealth itself had suffered through him.

While through it others were lavished with riches,

ولمَا عرضتُ له فخاب تعرُّضي

ولمَا عرضتُ له فخاب تعرُّضي

لكن عففتُ وألحف السؤَّالُ

لكن عففتُ وألحف السؤَّالُ

It was not that I sought him and my appeal failed;

When I sought from him, disappointed went I,

Rather, I held back while petitioners pressed their pleas.

Yet I was patient, no begging or taking,

وذخرتُه للدّهرِ أعلمُ أنه

وذخرتُه للدّهرِ أعلمُ أنه

كالحصنِ فيه لمنْ يؤول مآلُ

كالحصنِ فيه لمنْ يؤول مآلُ

And I kept him in reserve against time, knowing that

I stored him for fortune, knowing for sure,

He was like a fortress, with refuge for whoever sought it.

Like a fortress he'll be for whoever comes after,

وتمتعتْ نفسي بروحِ رجائه

وتمتعتْ نفسي بروحِ رجائه

زمناً طويلاً والتمتعُ مالُ

زمناً طويلاً والتمتعُ مالُ

And my soul enjoyed the refreshing breath of hope in him

My soul enjoyed the life breath of his care,

For a long time; enjoyment itself is wealth.

For so long, and to gain satisfaction is wealth,

فرأيتُه كالشمسِ إن هي لم تُنل

فرأيتُه كالشمسِ إن هي لم تُنل

فضياؤها والرفقُ فيه يُنالُ

فضياؤها والرفقُ فيه يُنالُ

So I saw him as the sun: though it cannot be reached,

I saw him as the sun—if it you never grasp,

Its light, and the benefit it holds, can be gained.

Its radiance gently, subtly comes forward,

والحقُّ يأمرُ أن يقال وحقُّه

والحقُّ يأمرُ أن يقال وحقُّه

أنْ لا يخالفَ أمره القُوّالُ

أنْ لا يخالفَ أمره القُوّالُ

And truth commands that it be spoken; its due

Truth commands I speak—and truth of him—

Is that the speaker not disobey its command.

No speaker should oppose what truth has commanded,

لهفي لفقدِكَ يا محمدُ إنه

لهفي لفقدِكَ يا محمدُ إنه

فُقدت به النفحات والأنفالُ

فُقدت به النفحات والأنفالُ

My grief at losing you, Muhammad! Indeed,

My longing for you, O Muhammad,

With that loss, breaths of bounty and gifts were lost.

Has taken fragrant sighs and bounty left barren,

باللَّهِ أقسم أن عُمرك ما انقضى

باللَّهِ أقسم أن عُمرك ما انقضى

حتّى انقضى الإحسانُ والإجمالُ

حتّى انقضى الإحسانُ والإجمالُ

By God, I swear your life did not end

By God I swear, your life had not yet ceased,

Until beneficence and graciousness had ended.

When kindness and favor completely retreated,

صلّى الغُدوُّ عليك والآصالُ

صلّى الغُدوُّ عليك والآصالُ

وتغمدتكَ بظلّها الأظلالُ

وتغمدتكَ بظلّها الأظلالُ

May mornings and evenings pray blessings upon you,

Dawn's first light sends its blessings always to you,

And may shadows enfold you in their shade.

And the darkest shadows guard you in your grave clothes,

وبكتك أوعيةُ الدموع وتارةً

وبكتك أوعيةُ الدموع وتارةً

غيثٌ كعَرفك مُسبلٌ هطَّالُ

غيثٌ كعَرفك مُسبلٌ هطَّالُ

And may the vessels of tears weep for you, and sometimes

The earth showed clemency to your radiant cheek,

Rain like your bounty, cascading in torrents.

Meeting requests, however difficult, gently,

وعفا الثَرى عن حُرّ وجهٍ لم يزلْ

وعفا الثَرى عن حُرّ وجهٍ لم يزلْ

حُرَّ اللقاء إذا عرا السؤّالُ

حُرَّ اللقاء إذا عرا السؤّالُ

And may the soil spare a noble face that never ceased

Your hand's limbs stayed composed, which forever,

To offer a gracious welcome whenever petitioners came.

Through its gifts, composed all beings' limbs,

وتماسكت أوصال كفّ لم تزلْ

وتماسكت أوصال كفّ لم تزلْ

بنوالها تتماسك الأوصالُ

بنوالها تتماسك الأوصالُ

And may the joints of a hand hold together—a hand that ever

O jewel of the world and its inhabitants,

Through its bounty kept other limbs together.

Orament of one who else no jewel could summon,

يا زينةَ الدنيا وزينةَ أهلِها

يا زينةَ الدنيا وزينةَ أهلِها

وثمالَ من أعيا عليه ثمالُ

وثمالَ من أعيا عليه ثمالُ

O adornment of the world and of its people,

After you affairs spun out of control,

And refuge of one who could find no refuge!

And ruin crept forward to seize and to maim,

حالتْ بدارِك بعدَك الأحوالُ

حالتْ بدارِك بعدَك الأحوالُ

وتغوّلتْ بقطينها الأغوالُ

وتغوّلتْ بقطينها الأغوالُ

Circumstances in your home have changed since your passing,

Your palace garden weeps for your voice,

And ghouls have preyed upon its dwellers.

For the shapes your breaths gave its blooms' praising,

وبكاك مِنْ بستانِ قصركِ زاهرٌ

وبكاك مِنْ بستانِ قصركِ زاهرٌ

لثناك من نفحاتِه أشكالُ

لثناك من نفحاتِه أشكالُ

And from your palace garden a blossom wept for you,

Your doves weep, their songs turned to laments,

Whose fragrant breaths were akin to praise of you.

Such as makes the hoopoe join in their grieving,

وبكت حمائمُه وعاد غناؤها

وبكت حمائمُه وعاد غناؤها

نوحاً يُهاجُ بمثلِهِ البلبال

نوحاً يُهاجُ بمثلِهِ البلبال

And its doves wept, and their song became

Help me bear it that your dwellings now lie waste,

Lamentation, the like of which stirs anguish.

While for others still stand, peopled and graced,

أعزِرْ عليَّ بمنزلاتِك أن غدتْ

أعزِرْ عليَّ بمنزلاتِك أن غدتْ

ولهنَّ دونك عامرٌ وحلالُ

ولهنَّ دونك عامرٌ وحلالُ

How grievous to me that your dwellings now stand

Help me bear it that your horses now weep,

With occupants and settlers other than you!

Saddles and bridles weep for them in turn,

أعزِزْ عليَّ بصافناتك أن غدتْ

أعزِزْ عليَّ بصافناتك أن غدتْ

تبكي السروجُ لهنّ والأجلالُ

تبكي السروجُ لهنّ والأجلالُ

How grievous to me that your poised steeds now

Help me bear it that your intimates weep,

Have saddles and saddlecloths weeping for them!

Hope itself weeps for them and yearns,

أعززْ عليَّ بعارفاتك أن غدتْ

أعززْ عليَّ بعارفاتك أن غدتْ

يبكي الرجاءُ لهنَّ والتأمالُ

يبكي الرجاءُ لهنَّ والتأمالُ

How grievous to me that your kindnesses now

Help me bear it that your friends are aggrieved,

Have hope and expectation weeping for them!

While through them your dear self was disgraced,

أعززْ عليَّ بأصدقائك أن غدوا

أعززْ عليَّ بأصدقائك أن غدوا

ولشخصكَ الغالي بهم إخلالُ

ولشخصكَ الغالي بهم إخلالُ

How grievous to me that your friends now stand

The weights of all noble deeds, now cast off,

With your precious person absent from their midst!

When you set, O sun, all weights were misplaced!

أصِقالَ كل مروءةٍ مجفوةٍ

أصِقالَ كل مروءةٍ مجفوةٍ

ما للمروءةِ مذ أَفَلْتَ صِقالُ

ما للمروءةِ مذ أَفَلْتَ صِقالُ

O polish of every neglected noble virtue,

After one who fought and boldly contended,

Noble virtue has had no polish since you set.

You've become dust, heaped up or scattered,

أصبحتَ بعدَ منَافح ومَجامرٍ

أصبحتَ بعدَ منَافح ومَجامرٍ

لثرىً يُهالُ عليك أو ينهالُ

لثرىً يُهالُ عليك أو ينهالُ

After fragrant wafts and incense-burners, you now belong

As for your degraded grave goods laid bare,

To soil heaped upon you or tumbling down.

Let them go, all hidden things will be bared,

أمَّا وحليتُك المُذالةُ للبِلى

أمَّا وحليتُك المُذالةُ للبِلى

فاذهبْ فكلُّ مصونةٍ ستُذالُ

فاذهبْ فكلُّ مصونةٍ ستُذالُ

Indeed, by your beauty, left exposed to decay,

Go, for every cherished thing will be laid low.