أثكلَتwas bereaved بِأَزهَرِهاof its radiant one
أثكلَت بِأَزهَرِها
فهرُFihr ياO لَمَعشَرِهاalas for its clansmen
فهرُ يا لَمَعشَرِها
Has it been bereaved of its radiant one—
Her eyes blossomed
Fihr? O, its clansmen!
Her splendor shone brightly
هَلdo...? تَرىyou see السَماءَthe sky هَوىfell
هَل تَرى السَماءَ هَوى
نَجمُهاits star اِبنُson of نيّرِهاits radiant one
نَجمُها اِبنُ نيّرِها
Have you seen the sky? Fallen is
Do you see the sky whose star set?
its star, the son of its radiant one.
It was the son of its bright one
هَلdo...? تَرىyou see الجِبالَthe mountains جَرىtook effect الthe
هَل تَرى الجِبالَ جَرى ال
حُكمُdecree فيin تَسيّرِهاtheir movement
حُكمُ في تَسيّرِها
Have you seen the mountains? Enacted is the
Do you see the mountains whose rule passed?
decree that sets them moving.
As they went their destined way
هَلdo...? تَرىyou see الرِياضِthe gardens ذَوىwithered الthe
هَل تَرى الرِياضِ ذَوى ال
غَضُّtender growth مِنfrom مُنَوَّرِهاtheir blossoms
غَضُّ مِن مُنَوَّرِها
Have you seen the gardens? Withered is the
Do you see the gardens whose
tender growth among their blossoms.
Freshness faded from their brilliance?
أَيُّwhich رَوضَةٍgarden عَبِقَbecame fragrant الthe
أَيُّ رَوضَةٍ عَبِقَ ال
جَوُّair مِنfrom مُعَطَّرِهاits perfumed bloom
جَوُّ مِن مُعَطَّرِها
What garden, making fragrant the
Which meadow diffused its air
air with its perfumed bloom,
With its fragrance?
أَصبَحَتawakened وَقَدand already عَرىwas stripped الthe
أَصبَحَت وَقَد عَرى ال
حِبرُadornment مِنfrom مُحبَّرِهاits adorned bloom
حِبرُ مِن مُحبَّرِها
has awakened, now stripped of
The dawn came and ink
the adornment of its adorned flowers?
Flowed from its inkstand
القُبورُthe graves تعبقُare fragrant مِنfrom
القُبورُ تعبقُ مِن
مِسكِهاits musk وَعَنبَرِهاand its ambergris
مِسكِها وَعَنبَرِها
The graves breathe the scent of
Graves smell of their
its musk and ambergris.
Musk and amber
ياO زَمانُTime لاno جَلَدٌfortitude
يا زَمانُ لا جَلَدٌ
بِعsell شَعوبُDeath أَشتَرِهاI shall buy her
بِع شَعوبُ أَشتَرِها
O Time, no fortitude remains.
Oh time, you are pitiless
Sell Death; I will buy her.
Selling nations their wants
قَدindeed فَتَكتَyou struck mercilessly وَيحَكَwoe to you فيamong
قَد فَتَكتَ وَيحَكَ في
صِبيَتيmy little children وَمُذكرِهاand their male child
صِبيَتي وَمُذكرِها
You have struck mercilessly—woe to you—among
You murdered—shame—my
my little children and their boy,
Young boys and girls
فَتكَةَthe ruthless blow of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate فيagainst
فَتكَةَ الخِلافَةِ في
فَضلِهاits Fadl وَجَعفَرِهاand its Jaʿfar
فَضلِها وَجَعفَرِها
as the caliphate struck
The murders of the caliphate in
its Fadl and its Jaʿfar.
Its heyday and pride
لَيسَthere is not فِيَّin me فيas غَرَضٍa target
لَيسَ فِيَّ في غَرَضٍ
لِلسِّهامِfor the arrows أَدَّرِهاturn them
لِلسِّهامِ أَدَّرِها
There is no target left in me
I feel no urge toward
for arrows; turn them away.
Arrows aimed my way
إِنif تَجِدyou find قُوايَmy strength فَقُلthen say
إِن تَجِد قُوايَ فَقُل
لِلخطوبِto calamities تَعتَرِهاstrike it down
لِلخطوبِ تَعتَرِها
If you find my strength, then tell
If you find me strong tell
calamities to strike it down.
Misfortunes to challenge me
سَلask فَتاةَthe maiden of مُدرِكَةٍMudrika
سَل فَتاةَ مُدرِكَةٍ
ماwhat لِقَطعِcaused the severing of أَبهَرِهاher aorta
ما لِقَطعِ أَبهَرِها
Ask the maiden of Mudrika
Ask an intelligent girl
why her aorta was severed.
Why she cuts her shiny hair
هَلdid...? نَعَتshe announced a death مُصابَthe loss of فَتىًa youth
هَل نَعَت مُصابَ فَتىً
فيهِin him طيبُpurity of عُنصُرِهاher lineage
فيهِ طيبُ عُنصُرِها
Did she announce the loss of a youth
Does she grieve for a dandy
in whom dwelt the purity of her lineage,
Whose charm was his ornament?
أَمor مُصابَthe loss of مُقتَدِرِthe master of الthe
أَم مُصابَ مُقتَدِرِ ال
حَربِwar مَعwith مُظَفَّرِهاher victorious one
حَربِ مَع مُظَفَّرِها
or the loss of her master of
Or one mighty in war
war, together with her victorious one—
Yet compassionate in victory?
صارِمَيthe two sharp swords of أُمِيَّةَUmayya فيin
صارِمَي أُمِيَّةَ في
حَربِwar against آلِthe house of أَصفَرِهاits al-Asfar
حَربِ آلِ أَصفَرِها
the two sharp swords of Umayya in
The swords of Umayya in the
battle against the house of its al-Asfar?
Wars with the yellow shawled clan
ذُقتُهاI tasted them ثَلاثَthree دَواcalamities (first part)
ذُقتُها ثَلاثَ دَوا
هٍcalamities (completion) عَلىdespite تَمَرُّرِهاtheir bitterness
هٍ عَلى تَمَرُّرِها
I tasted them—three
I tasted them three times
calamities—in all their bitterness.
As they went on their ways
مُتُّI died بَينَbetween شافِعِهاtheir even-numbered one
مُتُّ بَينَ شافِعِها
حَسرَةًfrom grief وَموتِرِهاand their odd-numbered one
حَسرَةً وَموتِرِها
I died between their even-numbered blows,
I died between its intercessor
from grief, and their odd-numbered blows,
And the death throes
إِثرَafter أَربَعfour وَكَذاand likewise الصthe (continued)
إِثرَ أَربَع وَكَذا الص
صيدُproud lords (completion) طولَthroughout أَدهُرِهاtheir ages
صيدُ طولَ أَدهُرِها
after four losses; so it is with the
After four—the death of a fawn
proud lords throughout their ages.
As long as an epoch
ماnothing ثَنىheld back مَدامِعِيَmy tears الthe
ما ثَنى مَدامِعِيَ ال
حُمرَred ones مِنfrom تَحَدّرِهاtheir pouring down
حُمرَ مِن تَحَدّرِها
Nothing held back my tears—
My red tears never ceased
the red ones—from pouring down,
To flow down my cheeks
كَالعَقيقlike carnelian تَنثُرُهُthey scatter it الthe
كَالعَقيق تَنثُرُهُ ال
حورُwide-eyed beauties بَينَbetween أَنحُرِهاtheir throats
حورُ بَينَ أَنحُرِها
like carnelian scattered by the
She sprinkles them like carnelian
wide-eyed beauties at their throats.
Among her tender necks
غيثَتِwere drenched الخُدودُthe cheeks بِعَبby ʿAbd (first part)
غيثَتِ الخُدودُ بِعَب
دِʿAbd (completion) الغنيّal-Ghani مُمطِرِهاtheir rain-bringer
دِ الغنيّ مُمطِرِها
The cheeks were drenched by ʿAbd—
The rain wet her cheeks
al-Ghani, who rained upon them.
Like a rich man’s clouds
ماتَdied مَنhe whose مَحاسِنُهُhis beauties
ماتَ مَن مَحاسِنُهُ
نُزهَةٌa delight لِمُبصِرِهاto their beholder
نُزهَةٌ لِمُبصِرِها
He died whose beauties were
He who died, his beauty
a delight to whoever beheld them.
Was a delight to behold
إِنif يَكُنit is that إِلهِيَmy God قَدhas
إِن يَكُن إِلهِيَ قَد
كَفَّنيheld me back فَلَمand did not يُرِهاshow them
كَفَّني فَلَم يُرِها
If my God has
If my God has shrouded me
held me back and not shown them to me,
And I never saw Him
فَالثَوابthen the recompense قالَHe said غَداًtomorrow
فَالثَواب قالَ غَداً
تَشتَفيyou will be healed بِمنظَرِهاby their sight
تَشتَفي بِمنظَرِها
then, as recompense, He said: “Tomorrow
The reward, He said, tomorrow
their sight will heal you.”
You will look on My face
عابَهُreproached him العِداthe enemies صِغَراًfor youth
عابَهُ العِدا صِغَراً
وَهوَwhile he فَوقَabove أَكبَرِهاtheir eldest
وَهوَ فَوقَ أَكبَرِها
His foes reproached his youth,
They blamed him for his youth
though he stood above their eldest.
Though he was their senior
إِنَّنيindeed I لأقرِنُهwould certainly match him
إِنَّني لأقرِنُه
وَحدَهُalone بِعَسكَرِهاagainst their army
وَحدَهُ بِعَسكَرِها
Indeed, I would match him,
I will yoke him to me
alone, against their army.
As my army’s commander
غادَرَتleft مَخايِلُهُhis signs of promise
غادَرَت مَخايِلُهُ
بَحرَهاits ocean لِجَعفَرِهاto its Jaʿfar
بَحرَها لِجَعفَرِها
His signs of promise left
His dreams left him for Ja’far
its ocean to its Jaʿfar.
If he had remained, from Ghadanfar
لَوif بَقىhe had remained أَخَذتI would have taken بِهِthrough him الثthe (continued)
لَو بَقى أَخَذت بِهِ الث
ثارَvengeance (completion) مِنfrom غَضَنفَرِهاits lion
ثارَ مِن غَضَنفَرِها
Had he lived, through him I would have taken
I would have taken vengeance
vengeance upon its lion.
The oldest son I see as ransom
أَكبَرُthe eldest of البَنينِthe sons أَراI deem (first part)
أَكبَرُ البَنينِ أَرا
هُhim (completion) الفِداthe ransom لَأَصغَرِهاfor their youngest
هُ الفِدا لَأَصغَرِها
The eldest of my sons—I deem
For the youngest
him the ransom for their youngest.
Oh father of boys, leave your bereavement
ياO أَباfather of البَنينَthe sons دَعِleave الثthe (continued)
يا أَبا البَنينَ دَعِ الث
ثكلَbereavement (completion) فيfor كُبَيِّرِهاtheir older little one
ثكلَ في كُبَيِّرِها
O father of sons, leave
For the eldest
bereavement for their older little one.
You were cured of it but
قَدalready شُفيتَyou were healed مِنهُof it وَلَمand not
قَد شُفيتَ مِنهُ وَلَم
تُشفَyou were healed عَنof صُغَيِّرِهاtheir younger little one
تُشفَ عَن صُغَيِّرِها
You have been healed of that, but not
Did not heal the youngest’s loss
healed of the loss of their younger little one.
It never harmed you, nor did the like,
لَمnot يَسُؤكَhe saddened you قَطُّever وَلاnor
لَم يَسُؤكَ قَطُّ وَلا
عَنَّappeared مِثلُlike مُدبِرِهاtheir wayward one
عَنَّ مِثلُ مُدبِرِها
He never saddened you, nor
Since you lost a son
did he appear like their wayward one.
You did not order it burnt
ماnot أَمَرَّهاtheir bitterest حُرقاًin burning grief
ما أَمَرَّها حُرقاً
فيin الحَشاthe entrails كَأَفجَرِهاlike their most wicked one
في الحَشا كَأَفجَرِها
Their bitterest burning grief
In ashes like tinder
in the entrails is not like grief for their most wicked.
But fate is in its righteousness
إِنّماtruly only الرَزِيَّةُcalamity فيlies in
إِنّما الرَزِيَّةُ في
بَرِّهاtheir dutiful one وَخَيِّرِهاand their good one
بَرِّها وَخَيِّرِها
Calamity truly lies in
And best interest
their dutiful and good one.
My humble home, though it denied me
خيسَتيmy thicket وَإِنalthough مَنَعَتit was defended
خيسَتي وَإِن مَنَعَت
فُلَّwas blunted نابُthe fang of قَسوَرِهاits lion
فُلَّ نابُ قَسوَرِها
My thicket, though defended—
Its door has relented
the fang of its lion was blunted.
We fear death though we can’t escape
نَحذَرُwe fear المَنونَdeath وَلاand no
نَحذَرُ المَنونَ وَلا
بُدَّescape مِنfrom مُقَدَّرِهاits appointed fate
بُدَّ مِن مُقَدَّرِها
We fear death, yet there is no
What has been destined
escape from its appointed fate.
Every piebald steed galloped
كُلُّevery أَبلَجٍradiant-faced man رَكَضَتcharged
كُلُّ أَبلَجٍ رَكَضَت
أسدُهُhis lions بِضُمَّرِهاon their lean steeds
أسدُهُ بِضُمَّرِها
For every radiant lord whose
As its owner whipped it
lions charged on their lean steeds,
Fate prevails over those
يَنفُذُtakes effect القَضاءُthe decree عَلىupon
يَنفُذُ القَضاءُ عَلى
مَنwhoever أَحَبَّwelcomed أَوor كَرِهاhated
مَن أَحَبَّ أَو كَرِها
the decree takes effect upon
Who loved or hated it
whoever welcomes it or hates it.
Live her youthful years or those
عِشlive سنيِّthe years of يافِعهاits youth
عِش سنيِّ يافِعها
أَوor سنيthe years of مُعَمِّرهاits long-lived elder
أَو سني مُعَمِّرها
Live the years of its youth
That make her hoary
or the years of its long-lived elder.
The longest life when death takes
أَطوَلُthe longest الحَياةِlife إِذاwhen
أَطوَلُ الحَياةِ إِذا
مُتَّyou die مِثلُis like أَقصَرِهاits shortest
مُتَّ مِثلُ أَقصَرِها
The longest life, once
Is like the shortest
you die, is like the shortest.
Fancy’s duration equals
مُدَّةُthe duration of الخَيالِa vision سواequal (first part)
مُدَّةُ الخَيالِ سوا
ءٌequal (completion) وَعُمرُand the lifetime of أَيسَرِهاits wealthiest man
ءٌ وَعُمرُ أَيسَرِها
A vision's span is equal
The easiest or the hardest
to the life of its wealthiest man.
Roll up your skirt, pride
شَمِّرِtuck up الذُيولَthe trailing robes فَلاfor no
شَمِّرِ الذُيولَ فَلا
فَخرَglory فيin مُجَرَّرِهاdragging them
فَخرَ في مُجَرَّرِها
Tuck up your trailing robes: there is no
Will not make you stumble
glory in dragging them.
And overtake friends, no scent
وَاِسبِقand outstrip الرِفاقَthe companions فَماfor no
وَاِسبِق الرِفاقَ فَما
رائِحٌevening traveler كَمُبكِرِهاlike their early starter
رائِحٌ كَمُبكِرِها
Outstrip your companions: no
Like the early riser’s
evening traveler equals their early starter.
Be content, for one with plenty
وَاِقتَنِعand be content فَموسِعُهاfor its wealthy man
وَاِقتَنِع فَموسِعُها
راحِلٌis departing كَمُقتِرِهاlike its poor man
راحِلٌ كَمُقتِرِها
Be content: its wealthy man
Is like one deprived
departs just like its poor man.
Why are souls blind
ماwhat ails لِأَنفُسٍsouls عمِيَتthat became blind
ما لِأَنفُسٍ عمِيَت
عَنto هُدىthe guidance of مُدَبِّرِهاtheir Governor
عَن هُدى مُدَبِّرِها
What ails souls blinded
To the guidance of their Lord?
to their Governor's guidance?
He showed the clear proof but they
أَوضَحَHe clarified الدَليلَthe proof لَهاfor them
أَوضَحَ الدَليلَ لَها
وَهيَwhile they فيare in تَحَيُّرِهاtheir bewilderment
وَهيَ في تَحَيُّرِها
He made the proof clear to them,
Continued in doubt
yet they remain bewildered.
As if He had no power
ماwhat ails لَهاthem كَأَنَّas though لَهHis is الthe
ما لَها كَأَنَّ لَه ال
أمرَcommand فيover تَخَيُّرِهاtheir choosing
أمرَ في تَخَيُّرِها
What ails them, as though His were the
To choose for them
command over their choosing?
Why do they ask when His
ماwhat ails لَهاthem تَسالُthey ask وَفيand within
ما لَها تَسالُ وَفي
هاthem (completion) بَيانُthe clear evidence of مُخبِرِهاtheir Informer
ها بَيانُ مُخبِرِها
Why do they ask, when within
Revelation informs them?
them lies their Informer's clear evidence?
If they reflected they would see
لَوif تفكّرتthey reflected رَأَتِthey would see الرthe (continued)
لَو تفكّرت رَأَتِ الر
رشدَright guidance (completion) فيin تَفَكُّرِهاtheir reflection
رشدَ في تَفَكُّرِها
If they reflected, they would see
Guidance in their reflection
right guidance in their reflection.
The human image shows
صورَةُthe form of اِبنِthe son of آدَمَAdam دَلpointed (first part)
صورَةُ اِبنِ آدَمَ دَل
لَتpointed (completion) عَلىto مصَوِّرِهاits Fashioner
لَت عَلى مصَوِّرِها
The form of Adam's son points
It was made by its Maker
to the One who fashioned it.
Who gave him perfect beauty?
مَنwho أَدَلَّهُemboldened him بَشَراًas a human
مَن أَدَلَّهُ بَشَراً
كامِلَperfect in الحُلىadornments فَرِهاvigorous
كامِلَ الحُلى فَرِها
Who emboldened him, a human being,
Adorned him and gave him grace?
perfect in adornment and vigorous?
Who built the sky? Who made
مَنwho بَنىbuilt السَماءَthe sky وَمَنand who
مَن بَنى السَماءَ وَمَن
ثَجَّpoured abundantly ماءَthe water of مُعصِرِهاits rain clouds
ثَجَّ ماءَ مُعصِرِها
Who built the sky, and who
Its water poured down?
poured the water from its rain clouds?
Who spread out the earth? Who
مَنwho دَحاspread out البَسيطَةَthe earth مَنwho
مَن دَحا البَسيطَةَ مَن
حاطَهاsurrounded it بِأَبحُرِهاwith its seas
حاطَها بِأَبحُرِها
Who spread out the earth? Who
Surrounded it with its seas?
surrounded it with its seas?
Who made its sun?
مَنwho أَتىbrought بِمُشمِسِهاits sunshine
مَن أَتى بِمُشمِسِها
مَنwho أَتىbrought بِمُقمِرِهاits moonlight
مَن أَتى بِمُقمِرِها
Who brought its sunshine?
Who made its moon?
Who brought its moonlight?
Who decrees all things
مَنwho قَضىordained الأُمورَall affairs سِوىexcept
مَن قَضى الأُمورَ سِوى
رَبِّناour Lord مُدَبِّرِهاtheir Governor
رَبِّنا مُدَبِّرِها
Who ordained all things except
But our Lord, their Planner?
our Lord, who governs them?
The stars have no power—
لاno قَضاءَpower to decree لِلشُّهُبِbelongs to the stars الزthe bright (first part)
لا قَضاءَ لِلشُّهُبِ الز
زهرِbright (completion) بلrather مُسَخِّرهاtheir Subduer
زهرِ بل مُسَخِّرها
The bright stars have no power to decree—
He has made them submissive
rather, He who subjects them does.
A clear sign for those
آيَةٌa sign مُبَيَّنَةٌmade clear
آيَةٌ مُبَيَّنَةٌ
عِندَto ذيone possessing تَبَصُّرِهاperception of it
عِندَ ذي تَبَصُّرِها
A manifest sign
With insight to see
to anyone who perceives it.
He originates all things
أَحدَثَHe brought into being الأُمورevents لِماaccording to what
أَحدَثَ الأُمور لِما
شاءَHe willed مِنof تَغَيُّرِهاtheir changes
شاءَ مِن تَغَيُّرِها
He brought events into being according to
However He wills them changed
whatever changes He willed for them.
Do not obey atheists
لاdo not تُطِعobey زَنادِقَةًheretics
لا تُطِع زَنادِقَةً
ساءَwas corrupt عَقدُthe creed of مضمَرِهاtheir inward thoughts
ساءَ عَقدُ مضمَرِها
Do not obey heretics
Whose hidden core is corrupted
whose inward creed is corrupt.
Leave them and their tongues
خَلِّهاleave them وَأَلسُنَهاand their tongues
خَلِّها وَأَلسُنَها
مُنقضاتِbreaking أَظهُرِهاtheir backs
مُنقضاتِ أَظهُرِها
Leave them and their tongues,
That contradict the clearest proofs
which break their backs.
Stay with the community—do not let
كُنbe مَعَwith الجَماعَةِthe community لاdo not
كُن مَعَ الجَماعَةِ لا
تُردَperish مَعwith مُغَرِّرِهاits deceiver
تُردَ مَع مُغَرِّرِها
Stay with the community; do not
Those who would mislead tempt you away
perish with those who mislead it.
Take the easiest path
أَسهَلَthe easiest of الطَرائِقِthe paths خُذtake
أَسهَلَ الطَرائِقِ خُذ
دَعleave سُلوكَtraveling أَوعَرِهاtheir roughest
دَع سُلوكَ أَوعَرِها
Take the easiest paths;
Leave the rougher road
leave off traveling the roughest.
He who makes his words doubtful
مَنwhoever يَشُبmixes مَقالَتَهُhis discourse
مَن يَشُب مَقالَتَهُ
بِالشُكوكِwith doubts يَعتَرِهاstrikes it down
بِالشُكوكِ يَعتَرِها
Whoever mixes his discourse
Will find them entangled
with doubts strikes it down.
Where is the era of Tubba’
أَينَwhere عَهدُthe age of تُبّعِهاits Tubbaʿ
أَينَ عَهدُ تُبّعِها
أَينَwhere عَهدُthe age of قَيصَرِهاits Caesar
أَينَ عَهدُ قَيصَرِها
Where is the age of its Tubbaʿ?
Where is Caesar’s day?
Where is the age of its Caesar?
Where are those in plenty and those
أَينَwhere ذوthe lord of النَعيمِbliss وَذوand the lord of
أَينَ ذو النَعيمِ وَذو
بُؤسِهاits misery اِبنِson of مُنذِرِهاits Mundhir
بُؤسِها اِبنِ مُنذِرِها
Where is its lord of bliss, and its lord
In misery, son of Mundhir?
of misery—its Ibn Mundhir?
Do you see tyrants whom
هَلdo...? تَرىyou see جَبابِرَةًtyrants
هَل تَرى جَبابِرَةً
أهلِكَتwere destroyed بصَرصَرِهاby its howling wind
أهلِكَت بصَرصَرِها
Do you see the tyrants
Their insolence destroyed?
destroyed by its howling wind?
Their insolence did not help them
خانَهاbetrayed them لَعَمرُكَby your life ماwhat
خانَها لَعَمرُكَ ما
كانَwas مِنof تَجَبُّرِهاtheir tyranny
كانَ مِن تَجَبُّرِها
What betrayed them, by your life,
It was their undoing
was all their mighty arrogance.
Every nation vanished
كُلُّevery أُمَّةٍnation ذَهَبَتpassed away
كُلُّ أُمَّةٍ ذَهَبَت
فيwith ذَهابِthe passing of أَعصُرِهاits ages
في ذَهابِ أَعصُرِها
Every nation passed away
When its time was done
with the passing of its ages.
God’s dominion is loftier
جَلَّexalted is مُلكthe dominion of بارِئِهاtheir Creator
جَلَّ مُلك بارِئِها
مِنfrom ثَرىearth وَمُقبِرِهاand their Burier
مِن ثَرى وَمُقبِرِها
Exalted is the dominion of Him who created them
Than earth and grave
from earth and consigns them to graves.
Then for each no escape
ثُمَّthen لاno مَحيصَescape لَهاfor them
ثُمَّ لا مَحيصَ لَها
عَنfrom لِقاءِmeeting مُنشرِهاtheir Resurrector
عَن لِقاءِ مُنشرِها
Then they have no escape
From resurrection’s encounter
from meeting the One who raises them.
That day earth will quake
ذاكَthat يَومُthe day of زَلزَلَةِthe shaking of الthe
ذاكَ يَومُ زَلزَلَةِ ال
أَرضِearth يَومthe day of مَحشَرِهاtheir gathering
أَرضِ يَوم مَحشَرِها
That is the day of the trembling of the
When all are gathered
earth, the day of their gathering.
The wicked destined for hell
فَالغُواةُso the misguided مَورِدُهاtheir destination النthe (continued)
فَالغُواةُ مَورِدُها الن
نارُFire (completion) دونَwithout مَصدَرِهاtheir exit
نارُ دونَ مَصدَرِها
The erring will arrive at the
With no way out
Fire, with no departure from it.
While the pious rest
وَالتُقاةُand the God-fearing فيin ظَلَلِthe shades of الthe
وَالتُقاةُ في ظَلَلِ ال
خُلدِeternity مَعwith مُبَشِّرِهاtheir bearer of glad tidings
خُلدِ مَع مُبَشِّرِها
The God-fearing will dwell in the shades of
In the shade, with bliss
eternity, with the bearer of their glad tidings.
I say, when I see hell flaming
قَدperhaps أَقولُI shall say حينَwhen أَرىI see النthe (continued)
قَد أَقولُ حينَ أَرى الن
نارَFire (completion) فيin تَسَعُّرِهاits blazing
نارَ في تَسَعُّرِها
I may say, when I behold the
In fury and rage
Fire in its raging blaze:
Oh intercessor of his nation
ياO شَفيعَintercessor for أُمَّتِهِhis nation
يا شَفيعَ أُمَّتِهِ
قِفstand عَلىbeside مُقَصِّرِهاits failing one
قِف عَلى مُقَصِّرِها
O intercessor for his nation,
Stand for its sinners
stand beside its failing one.
Stand! Fulfill your promise
قِفstand تُوَفِّyou will fulfill مَوعِدَهُhis promise
قِف تُوَفِّ مَوعِدَهُ
أَنتَyou غَيرnot مُنظِرِهاone who keeps it waiting
أَنتَ غَير مُنظِرِها
Stand, and fulfill his promise;
You do not delay
you will not keep it waiting.
Four things I have relinquished
قَدindeed وُتِرتُI was bereaved أَربَعَةًof four
قَد وُتِرتُ أَربَعَةً
وَهوَand it is يَومُthe day of آجِرِهاtheir Rewarder
وَهوَ يَومُ آجِرِها
I have been bereft of four,
Though I dread their loss
and this is the day of their Rewarder.
Oh son take my hand
ياO بُنَيَّmy little son خُذtake بِيَديmy hand
يا بُنَيَّ خُذ بِيَدي
أَنتَyou رِبحُthe gain of مُخسِرِهاone who suffered its losses
أَنتَ رِبحُ مُخسِرِها
My little son, take my hand;
You are the winner, I the loser
you are the gain of one who suffered its losses.
You are ahead, and white hair
أَنتَyou فيin التَقَدُّمِgoing ahead وَالشand the (continued)
أَنتَ في التَقَدُّمِ وَالش
شيبُgray-haired age (completion) فيin تَأَخُّرِهاits lagging behind
شيبُ في تَأَخُّرِها
You have gone ahead, while
Lags behind you
gray-haired age lags behind.
You are in gardens while one who fasts
أَنتَyou فيin الجنانِthe gardens of Paradise وَماand no
أَنتَ في الجنانِ وَما
صائِمٌfasting person كَمُفطِرِهاlike its fast-breaker
صائِمٌ كَمُفطِرِها
You are in the gardens of Paradise; no
Is like one who breaks the fast
fasting man equals one who breaks his fast there.
Give me fruit from your gardens
حَيِّنيgreet me بِفاكِهَةٍwith fruit
حَيِّني بِفاكِهَةٍ
مِنfrom جنِيِّthe ripe produce of مثمرِهاits fruit-bearing trees
مِن جنِيِّ مثمرِها
Greet me with fruit
From a ripening tree
freshly plucked from its bearing trees.
And give me water when thirsty
وَاِسقِنيand give me drink عَلىin ظَمأthirst
وَاِسقِني عَلى ظَمأ
مِنfrom مَعينِthe flowing spring of كَوثَرِهاits Kawthar
مِن مَعينِ كَوثَرِها
Give me drink in my thirst
From a flowing spring
from the flowing spring of its Kawthar.
Visit your father who you love dearly
زُرvisit أَباكَyour father تُحبyou love جَداًdeeply
زُر أَباكَ تُحب جَداً
أَنضَجَتit seared بِأَيسَرِهاwith its slightest
أَنضَجَت بِأَيسَرِها
Visit your father, whom you love dearly;
Whose best is easiest
even its slightest pang has seared him.
Visit Wahb, pity his plight
زُرvisit وَهَبand grant لِمُقلَتِهِto his eye
زُر وَهَب لِمُقلَتِهِ
مِنfrom كَراكَyour slumber مسهرِهاits sleepless one
مِن كَراكَ مسهرِها
Visit, and grant to his eye
Stay up with him at night
some of your slumber, for its sleepless one.
Protect the little, whose tears
صُنspare أَقَلَّthe fewest of أَدمُعِهِhis tears
صُن أَقَلَّ أَدمُعِهِ
قَدalready بَكىhe wept بِأَكثَرِهاwith most of them
قَد بَكى بِأَكثَرِها
Spare his few remaining tears;
Flowed copiously
he has wept most of them.
Put your hand on a liver that
ضَعplace يَداًa hand عَلىupon كَبِدٍa liver
ضَع يَداً عَلى كَبِدٍ
آهah مِنfrom تَفَطُّرِهاits splitting apart
آه مِن تَفَطُّرِها
Place a hand upon a liver—
Cries out from its rupture
ah, how it is torn apart!
Scold me! Nothing kept my soul
بيwithin me عَلَيكَon your account ماthat which مَنَعَprevented النthe (continued)
بي عَلَيكَ ما مَنَعَ الن
نفسَsoul (completion) مِنfrom تَصَبُّرِهاits patient endurance
نفسَ مِن تَصَبُّرِها
For you, I suffer what has kept the
From being patient over you
soul from enduring patiently.
Fihru wept with me
قَدindeed بَكَتكَwept for you فِهرُFihr مَعيwith me
قَد بَكَتكَ فِهرُ مَعي
ياO ابنَson of قُطبthe pole of مَفخَرِهاits glory
يا ابنَ قُطب مَفخَرِها
Fihr has wept for you with me,
Oh Ibn Qutb, its pride
O son of the pole of its glory,
Its full moon, its gazelle
بَدرِهاits full moon غَزالَتِهاits sun
بَدرِها غَزالَتِها
بَحرِهاits ocean كَنهوَرِهاits towering rain cloud
بَحرِها كَنهوَرِها
its full moon, its sun,
Its sea, its star
its ocean, its towering rain cloud,
Its spear, its swordsman
رُمحِهاits spear وَصارِمِهاand its sharp sword
رُمحِها وَصارِمِها
درعِهاits armor وَمِغفَرِهاand its helmet
درعِها وَمِغفَرِها
its spear and its sharp sword,
Its coat of mail and victor
its armor and its helmet.
Oh finest pearl
ياO أَجَلَّnoblest جَوهَرَةٍjewel
يا أَجَلَّ جَوهَرَةٍ
مِنamong نَفيسِthe precious جَوهَرِهاof its gems
مِن نَفيسِ جَوهَرِها
O noblest jewel
From the rarest essence
among its precious gems,
Essence of its whiteness
ياO غِرارَedge of أَبيَضِهاits gleaming sword
يا غِرارَ أَبيَضِها
ياO سِنانspearhead of جَوهَرِهاits finest steel
يا سِنان جَوهَرِها
O edge of its gleaming sword,
Purest of its essence
O spearhead of its finest steel,
Oh parchment whose beauty
ياO صَحيفَةًpage طُوِيَwas folded الthe
يا صَحيفَةً طُوِيَ ال
حُسنُbeauty بَينَbetween أَسطُرِهاits lines
حُسنُ بَينَ أَسطُرِها
O page upon which
Folds between its lines
beauty was folded between its lines,
The breeze translates from its writing
وَالنَسيمُand the breeze تَرجَمَspoke عَنof
وَالنَسيمُ تَرجَمَ عَن
رَسمِهاits trace بِأَذفَرِهاwith its strongest fragrance
رَسمِها بِأَذفَرِها
and the breeze spoke of
With its twigs
its trace through its richest scent.
How many flashes the lightning showed
كَمhow many a خَريدَةٍsecluded maiden لَمَحَflashed الthe
كَم خَريدَةٍ لَمَحَ ال
بَرقُlightning مِنfrom مُوَشّرِهاher finely notched teeth
بَرقُ مِن مُوَشّرِها
How many a secluded maiden, with
From its waving branches
lightning flashing from her finely notched teeth,
She moaned like a wounded ostrich
هِجتَهاyou stirred her كَبَثنَةَlike Bathna إِذwhen
هِجتَها كَبَثنَةَ إِذ
هاجَهاstirred her اِبنُson of مَعمَرِهاher Maʿmar
هاجَها اِبنُ مَعمَرِها
you stirred, like Bathna when
When the son of Ma'mar roused her
her Ibn Maʿmar stirred her
To weep—how strange
لِلبُكاto weeping فَواso, oh عَجَباًwhat wonder
لِلبُكا فَوا عَجَباً
مِنat سُفورِthe unveiling of مسفرِهاher radiant face
مِن سُفورِ مسفرِها
to weeping! What a wonder it is,
Her unveiled face
the unveiling of her radiant face,
The redness of her blackness
وَاِحمِرارِand the reddening of أَسوَدِهاher black parts
وَاِحمِرارِ أَسوَدِها
وَاِسوِدادِand the blackening of أَحمَرِهاher red parts
وَاِسوِدادِ أَحمَرِها
the reddening of what was black in her,
The blackness of her redness
and the blackening of what was red in her!
Woe that beauty sleeps on her cheek
تَعسهاher misery يَنُمُّpoints عَلىto
تَعسها يَنُمُّ عَلى
حُسنِهاher beauty كَمِعجَرِهاlike her head veil
حُسنِها كَمِعجَرِها
Her misery reveals
Like scabs on it
her beauty, like her head veil;
And tears wash it
وَالدُموعُand the tears تَغسِلُهُwash it
وَالدُموعُ تَغسِلُهُ
غَسلَlike washing كُحلِthe kohl of محجَرِهاher eye socket
غَسلَ كُحلِ محجَرِها
and tears wash it away
Washing away kohl
as they wash kohl from her eye socket.
The girl of culture wept for you
صِبيَةُthe children of الحِضارِthe gathering بَكَتwept
صِبيَةُ الحِضارِ بَكَت
مِنكَfor you زينَthe ornament of مَحضَرِهاtheir assembly
مِنكَ زينَ مَحضَرِها
The children of the gathering wept
Adornment of its gathering
for you, the ornament of their assembly.
You were awake during the day
كُنتَyou were فيduring النَهارِthe daytime تَعيgrasping
كُنتَ في النَهارِ تَعي
ماwhat وَعَتthey retained لأسَهرَهاfor their most wakeful one
ما وَعَت لأسَهرَها
By day you grasped
Unaware night would come
what they retained for their most wakeful one.
You were my waking to virtues
كُنتَyou were موقِظيmy awakener لِعُلاًto heights
كُنتَ موقِظي لِعُلاً
نِمتُI slept عَنaway from تَذَكُّرِهاremembering them
نِمتُ عَن تَذَكُّرِها
You used to awaken me to heights
While I forgot to remember them
whose remembrance I had slept through.
You, a youth, described white hair
كُنتَyou were يافِعاًa youth تَصِفُportraying الشthe (continued)
كُنتَ يافِعاً تَصِفُ الش
شيبَgray-haired age (completion) فيin تَوَقُّرِهاits dignity
شيبَ في تَوَقُّرِها
While still a youth, you portrayed
In all its veneration
gray-haired age in its dignity.
Your grandfather’s pulpit
قَيرَوانُKairouan جَدِّكَof your grandfather لاno
قَيرَوانُ جَدِّكَ لا
مِنبَرٌpulpit كَمنبَرِهاlike its pulpit
مِنبَرٌ كَمنبَرِها
Your grandfather's Kairouan—no
Not like his pulpit
pulpit matches its pulpit.
Egypt’s crown whose center jewel
تاجُthe crown of مِصرَEgypt مَعقِدُهُits fastening
تاجُ مِصرَ مَعقِدُهُ
كانَwas تَحتَbeneath خِنصَرِهاits little finger
كانَ تَحتَ خِنصَرِها
The fastening of Egypt's crown
Was beneath his earlobes
lay beneath its little finger.
Iraq’s poet fell short of the range
شاعِرُthe poet of العِراقِIraq كَباstumbled
شاعِرُ العِراقِ كَبا
عَنshort of مَدىthe reach of شُوَيعِرِهاits little poet
عَن مَدى شُوَيعِرِها
Iraq's poet stumbled
Of his poetry’s breadth
short of the reach of its little poet.
Ibn Arba'in fell short of the range
وَاِبنُand a man of أَربَعينَforty عَمwas blind
وَاِبنُ أَربَعينَ عَم
عَنto مَدىthe reach of حَزَوَّرِهاits strong young lad
عَن مَدى حَزَوَّرِها
And a man of forty was blind
Of his brilliance
to the reach of its strong young lad.
And kings fall short
وَالمُلوكُand the kings عاجِزَةٌwere powerless
وَالمُلوكُ عاجِزَةٌ
عنto match نُضارِthe gold of موسِرِهاits wealthy man
عن نُضارِ موسِرِها
Kings were powerless
Of their riches’ radiance
to match the gold of its wealthy man.
Many a Shii band emerged
رُبَّmany a شيعَةٍfaction ظَهَرَتrose to power
رُبَّ شيعَةٍ ظَهَرَت
بِاِقتِدارِthrough the power of مظهِرِهاthe one who raised it
بِاِقتِدارِ مظهِرِها
Many a faction rose to power
By the appearance of its leader
through the strength of the one who raised it,
Of its soldiers, authorities
منfrom جُنودهاits soldiers وَسَلاand sultans (first part)
من جُنودها وَسَلا
طينُهاits sultans (completion) وَزوّرهاand its visitors
طينُها وَزوّرها
from among its soldiers and
And counterfeiters
its sultans and its visitors.
Then destroyed, as the destroyer came
ثُمَّthen دُمِّرَتit was destroyed وَأَتىand came
ثُمَّ دُمِّرَت وَأَتى
منfrom مُدَمِّرِهاits destroyer
من مُدَمِّرِها
Then it was destroyed, and what came
From among them
was from its destroyer.
He was their lion, though he avoided
كانَwas لَيثُهاits lion وَرِعاًscrupulous
كانَ لَيثُها وَرِعاً
عَنabout avoiding أَذاةِharm to جُؤذرِهاits young gazelle
عَن أَذاةِ جُؤذرِها
Its lion was scrupulous
Hurting the meek
about harming its young gazelle,
Did men change or the noble soul change?
أَغيَرَthe most protective of الرِجالُmen وَماand not الthe
أَغيَرَ الرِجالُ وَما ال
حُرُّfreeborn man غَيرother than أَغيَرِهاtheir most protective one
حُرُّ غَير أَغيَرِها
the most protective of men; no
It is always the same
freeborn man is other than their most protective.
Then when winds of chastity blew
ثُمَّthen إِذwhen رِياحُwinds عفَتerased
ثُمَّ إِذ رِياحُ عفَت
رَسمَthe trace of مُلكِthe kingdom of حِميَرِهاits Himyar
رَسمَ مُلكِ حِميَرِها
Then, when winds erased
Erasing the kingdom of donkeys
the trace of its Himyarite kingdom,
It was deserted, and every protector
أَقفَرَتit became deserted وَكُلُّand every حِمىًsanctuary
أَقفَرَت وَكُلُّ حِمىً
آنِسٌinhabited كَمقفرِهاlike its deserted one
آنِسٌ كَمقفرِها
it lay deserted; every sanctuary,
Was like one deserted
though inhabited, is like its deserted one.
Why did my defending swords not aid me
ماwhat ails لِمُنجِداتِthe upland-going رِكاriding mounts (first part)
ما لِمُنجِداتِ رِكا
بيmy (word completion) وَماand what ails لِغُوَّرِهاits lowland-going ones
بي وَما لِغُوَّرِها
What of my upland-going
And my warring arrows?
mounts, and what of those going to the lowlands?
Though life impassions me
وَالحَياةُand life مُعجِبَتيwhat delights me
وَالحَياةُ مُعجِبَتي
ثمَّeven so مَعwith تَكَدُّرِهاits clouding
ثمَّ مَع تَكَدُّرِها
And life still delights me,
I feel bitterness in it
even amid its clouding.
Partial English translation: 237 of 238 Arabic lines translated.