شَهِيداهُhis two witnesses إنْif لَمْnot تَظْلِمِيهِyou wrong him نُحُولُemaciation
شَهِيداهُ إنْ لَمْ تَظْلِمِيهِ نُحُولُ
وَدَمْعٌand tears لَهُof his فِيon وَجْنَتَيْهِhis two cheeks هُمُولُstreaming
وَدَمْعٌ لَهُ فِي وَجْنَتَيْهِ هُمُولُ
His two witnesses—if you do not wrong him—are emaciation,
If you do not wrong him, his martyrs, should they weep for him, their tears abundantly flowing,
and tears streaming down his cheeks.
Will it please you to hurt one whose pleasure is in your pleasure? The envious and blamer will fall short of attaining it.
أَيُرْضِيكِdoes it please you أَنْto تَضْنيcause wasting فَدامَthen may it last لَكfor you الرِّضاpleasure
أَيُرْضِيكِ أَنْ تَضْني فَدامَ لَك الرِّضا
سَيَقْصُرُwill fall short عَنْهُof it حاسِدٌan envier وَعَذُلُand a reproacher
سَيَقْصُرُ عَنْهُ حاسِدٌ وَعَذُلُ
Does it please you to make me waste away? Then may your pleasure last;
You say, after having killed his passion, "Be patient,"
an envier and a reproacher will fall short of it.
While the long passage of time continues to grow long.
تَقُولُshe says وَقَدْand already أَفنَىhas consumed هَواهاlove for her تَصَبُّرِيmy patient endurance
تَقُولُ وَقَدْ أَفنَى هَواها تَصَبُّرِي
فَوَجْدِيso my longing عَلَىover طُولِthe length الزَّمَانِof time يَطُولُlengthens
فَوَجْدِي عَلَى طُولِ الزَّمَانِ يَطُولُ
She says—love for her having exhausted my patience,
In complaining of love's torment, you have gone beyond the limits of its merit,
and my longing lengthening as time grows long—
And it is nothing but a groan and turmoil.
تَجاوَزْتَyou have exceeded فيin شَكْوَىcomplaining الْهَوىof love كُنْهَthe true extent قَدْرِهِof its measure
تَجاوَزْتَ في شَكْوَى الْهَوى كُنْهَ قَدْرِهِ
وَماand not هُوَit إلاَّexcept زَفْرَةٌa sigh وَغَلِيلُand burning thirst
وَما هُوَ إلاَّ زَفْرَةٌ وَغَلِيلُ
“In complaining of love, you have exceeded its true measure;
No eye shed a tear for it in a night made anxious upon it
it is nothing but a sigh and a burning thirst.”
Because love rested heavily upon it.
ومَاand not أَرِقَتْlay awake عَيْنٌan eye لَهاof hers فِيهِover it لَيْلَةًone night
ومَا أَرِقَتْ عَيْنٌ لَها فِيهِ لَيْلَةً
فَخَفَّso became light عَلَيْهاupon her الحُبُّlove وَهُوَthough it is ثَقِيلُheavy
فَخَفَّ عَلَيْها الحُبُّ وَهُوَ ثَقِيلُ
Yet no eye of hers has lain awake over it for a single night,
You found a way to kill me while I have no way
so love weighs lightly on her, though it is heavy.
To patience and consolation from you.
وَجَدْتِyou found إلَىto قَتْلِيkilling me سَبِيلاًa way وَلَيْسَand there is no لِيfor me
وَجَدْتِ إلَى قَتْلِي سَبِيلاً وَلَيْسَ لِي
إلىto الصَّبْرِpatience وَالسُّلْوانِand forgetting عَنْكِaway from you سَبِيلُa way
إلى الصَّبْرِ وَالسُّلْوانِ عَنْكِ سَبِيلُ
You found a way to kill me, yet I have no
So before you is my soul. Make it on the day it departs
way to patience or to forgetting you.
A gift, its bridle, when the parting from you draws nigh.
فَدُونَكِso take نَفْسِيmy soul فَاجْعَلِيthen make تُحْفَةَan offering الرَّدَىto death
فَدُونَكِ نَفْسِي فَاجْعَلِي تُحْفَةَ الرَّدَى
حُشاشَتَهاits remaining life إذْsince حانَis due مِنْكِfrom you رَحِيلُdeparture
حُشاشَتَها إذْ حانَ مِنْكِ رَحِيلُ
Take my soul, then, and make an offering to death
Great is he who gives you his love,
of its last remnant of life, now that parting from you is due.
While my abasement before you is little.
وَيَكْبُرُand grows great مَنْwhoever يُلْقِيoffers إلَيْكِto you بِوُدِّهِwith his affection
وَيَكْبُرُ مَنْ يُلْقِي إلَيْكِ بِوُدِّهِ
وإنَّand indeed هَوانِيmy humiliation فيكُمُfor you لقَلِيلُtruly slight
وإنَّ هَوانِي فيكُمُ لقَلِيلُ
And whoever offers you his affection grows great,
The passion did not increase after your departure except in well-being,
and my humiliation for your sake is indeed slight.
But my heart did not recover, you having become distant.
وماand not ازدادَhas grown إلاَّexcept صحَّةًin health بَعْدِكِsince your departure الهَوىlove
وما ازدادَ إلاَّ صحَّةً بَعْدِكِ الهَوى
وَلكنَّbut قَلْبِيmy heart ماas long as نَأَيْتِyou remain distant عَلِيلُailing
وَلكنَّ قَلْبِي ما نَأَيْتِ عَلِيلُ
Since your departure, love has only grown healthier,
No! By your life I will not pursue what is past with grief,
but my heart is ailing for as long as you are far away.
And the view of the Commander of the Faithful is good.
لَعَمْرُكِby your life لاnot أَتْبِعْتُI followed up ماwhat فاتَhas passed بِالأَسَىwith grief
لَعَمْرُكِ لا أَتْبِعْتُ ما فاتَ بِالأَسَى
وَرَأْيُand the judgment أَمِيرِof the Commander المُؤْمِنِينَof the Faithful جَمِيلُgracious
وَرَأْيُ أَمِيرِ المُؤْمِنِينَ جَمِيلُ
By your life, I will not pursue what is past with grief,
He is the religion and the world. Thus the seeker
while the Commander of the Faithful's judgment is gracious.
And the desirer have no inclination for what lies before them.
هُوَhe الدّينُfaith وَالدُّنْياand worldly life فَلَيْسso there is no لِطالِبٍfor a seeker
هُوَ الدّينُ وَالدُّنْيا فَلَيْس لِطالِبٍ
وَلاnor راغِبٍan aspirant عَمّاfrom what لَدَيْهِhe possesses مُمِيلُa cause to turn away
وَلا راغِبٍ عَمّا لَدَيْهِ مُمِيلُ
He is faith and worldly life; no seeker
O intimate friend of God! I have continued turning toward you
nor aspirant has any cause to turn from what he holds.
With the bounty of the Majestic, Who has shown favor.
سَميَّnamesake خَلِيلِof the friend اللهِof God لاmay not زِلْتَyou cease مُقْبِلاًprospering
سَميَّ خَلِيلِ اللهِ لا زِلْتَ مُقْبِلاً
عَلَيْكَupon you بِنُعْمىwith the bounty ذِيof the Lord الجَلاَلِof Majesty قَبُولُan east wind
عَلَيْكَ بِنُعْمى ذِي الجَلاَلِ قَبُولُ
Namesake of God's friend, may you ever prosper,
And the One Who named you reverent unto Him has protected you
with an east wind bearing you the Lord of Majesty's bounty.
From the unjust, hostile time; you subdue it.
وَقاكَmay He protect you الَّذِthe One who سَمّاكَnamed you مُتَّقِياًGod-fearing لَهُtoward Him
وَقاكَ الَّذِ سَمّاكَ مُتَّقِياً لَهُ
فَأَنْتَfor you مِنَover الدَّهْرِTime الغَشُومِthe ruthless تُدِيلُgrant victory
فَأَنْتَ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ الغَشُومِ تُدِيلُ
May He who named you one who fears Him protect you,
Your obedient one―glory is his neighbor,
for you grant victory over ruthless Time.
While your disobeyer cannot attain the stars, abased.
مُطِيعُكَone who obeys you أَنِّيwherever حَلَّsettles فَالْعِزُّthen glory جارُهُhis neighbor
مُطِيعُكَ أَنِّي حَلَّ فَالْعِزُّ جارُهُ
وَعاصِيكَand one who defies you لْeven if نالَreached النُّجُومَthe stars ذَلِيلُabased
وَعاصِيكَ لْ نالَ النُّجُومَ ذَلِيلُ
Whoever obeys you has glory for a neighbor wherever he settles;
Thus the eyes of justice have become elevated in their glance,
and whoever defies you is abased, even if he reaches the stars.
While the eye of tyranny in the morning is abased.
فَأَضْحَتْso became عُيُونُthe eyes الْعَدْلِof justice تَسْمُواrise بِلحْظِهاwith their gaze
فَأَضْحَتْ عُيُونُ الْعَدْلِ تَسْمُوا بِلحْظِها
وأَصْبَحَand became طَرْفُthe eye الْجَوْرِof oppression وَهُوَwhile it is كَلِيلُdull
وأَصْبَحَ طَرْفُ الْجَوْرِ وَهُوَ كَلِيلُ
So justice's eyes now lift their gaze,
The world has been illuminated through you, so its light shone,
and oppression's eye has become dull.
And you are the one who rekindles the glow of its setting sun.
أَضَاءَتْwas illuminated بِكَby you الدُّنْياthe world فَأَشْرَقَso shone brightly نُورُهاits light
أَضَاءَتْ بِكَ الدُّنْيا فَأَشْرَقَ نُورُها
وَأَنْتَand you الَّذِيthe one who يُذْكِيkindles سَناهُhis radiance أُفُولُsetting
وَأَنْتَ الَّذِي يُذْكِي سَناهُ أُفُولُ
The world was lit by you, and its light shone bright;
Every exalted person, if you are eminent, falls short,
and you are he whose radiance is kindled by sunset.
And every boastful one, if you boast, is insignificant.
فَكُلُّso every عَلاءٍeminence إِنْif سَمَوْتَyou rise مُقَصِّرٌfalls short
فَكُلُّ عَلاءٍ إِنْ سَمَوْتَ مُقَصِّرٌ
وَكُلُّand every فَخارٍpride إنْif فَخَرْتَyou take pride ضَئِيلُpaltry
وَكُلُّ فَخارٍ إنْ فَخَرْتَ ضَئِيلُ
So all eminence falls short when you rise,
Every lofty nobility from a gentle scion and lineage
and all pride is paltry when you take pride.
Points to you―rather, proves you.
وكُلُّand every سَناءٍglory مِنْof طَرِيفٍnewly acquired وتَالِدٍand inherited
وكُلُّ سَناءٍ مِنْ طَرِيفٍ وتَالِدٍ
إلَيْكَtoward you مُشِيرٌpointing بَلْrather عَلَيْكَto you دَلِيلُevidence
إلَيْكَ مُشِيرٌ بَلْ عَلَيْكَ دَلِيلُ
And all glory, newly won or inherited,
And were it not for the clan of al-'Abbas, the Prophet's uncle,
points toward you—indeed, bears witness to you.
The light of truth among them would have been extinguished.
ولَوْلاand were it not for بَنُوthe sons العَبَّاسِof al-Abbas عَمّuncle مُحَمَّدٍof Muhammad
ولَوْلا بَنُو العَبَّاسِ عَمّ مُحَمَّدٍ
لأصْبحَwould surely have become نُورُthe light الْحَقِّof truth فِيهِwithin it خُمُولُobscurity
لأصْبحَ نُورُ الْحَقِّ فِيهِ خُمُولُ
Were it not for the sons of al-Abbas, Muhammad's uncle,
To you belong God's two mountains which He chose―
the light of truth would have fallen into obscurity.
They stand by Islam when it inclines.
لَكُمْfor you جَبَلاthe two mountains اللهِof God اللَّذانِthe two which اصْطَفاهُماHe chose them both
لَكُمْ جَبَلا اللهِ اللَّذانِ اصْطَفاهُما
يَقُومانِthe two stand بالإِسْلامِin support of Islam حِينَwhen يَمِيلُit leans
يَقُومانِ بالإِسْلامِ حِينَ يَمِيلُ
God's two mountains are yours, those He chose,
Prophethood then the caliphate after it―
upholding Islam when it leans:
They have no change until the meeting.
نُبُوَّتهhis prophethood ثُمَthen الخِلافَةُthe caliphate بَعْدَهاafter it
نُبُوَّته ثُمَ الخِلافَةُ بَعْدَها
وماand no لَهُماfor them both حَتَّىuntil اللِّقاءِthe meeting حَوِيلُchange
وما لَهُما حَتَّى اللِّقاءِ حَوِيلُ
his prophethood, then the caliphate after it;
The caliphate came to you by choice, not usurpation,
and neither will be moved until the meeting.
God is in it your preserver and guardian.
أَتَتْكَcame to you اخْتِيَاراًby choice لاَnot احْتِلاباًby milking خِلافَةٌa caliphate
أَتَتْكَ اخْتِيَاراً لاَ احْتِلاباً خِلافَةٌ
لَكَfor you اللهُGod فِيهاin it حافِظٌa guardian وَوَكِيلُand trustee
لَكَ اللهُ فِيها حافِظٌ وَوَكِيلُ
The caliphate came to you willingly, not milked by force;
He who preserved it for you loved you. Truly He
in it God is your guardian and trustee.
In perfecting His bounty upon you is guaranteeing.
حَباكَfavored you بِهاwith it مَنْthe One who صانَهاpreserved it لَكَfor you إنَّهُindeed He
حَباكَ بِها مَنْ صانَها لَكَ إنَّهُ
بِإتمامِto completing نُعْماهُHis bounty عَلَيْكَupon you كَفِيلُa guarantor
بِإتمامِ نُعْماهُ عَلَيْكَ كَفِيلُ
He who kept it safe for you bestowed it on you; He indeed
And had you desisted from it, He would have led it by its halter
guarantees the completion of His bounty upon you.
To you―God chose you while it had descended.
وَلَوْand even if حِدْتَyou turned aside عَنْهاfrom it قادَهاwould lead it بِزِمَامِهاby its rein
وَلَوْ حِدْتَ عَنْها قادَها بِزِمَامِها
إلَيْكَto you اصْطِفاهُchoosing اللهِof God وَهِيَwhile it is نَزِيلُa guest
إلَيْكَ اصْطِفاهُ اللهِ وَهِيَ نَزِيلُ
Even if you turned away from it, it would be led by its rein
It rested where the King established it by His judgment,
to you by God's choosing, as a guest.
And what the King makes rest has no change.
ثَوَتْit settled حَيْثُwhere أَثْواهاlodged it المَلِيكُthe Sovereign بِحُكمِهِby His decree
ثَوَتْ حَيْثُ أَثْواها المَلِيكُ بِحُكمِهِ
وَلَيْسَand there is no لِمَاfor what أَثْوىlodged المَلِيكُthe Sovereign حَوِيلُchange
وَلَيْسَ لِمَا أَثْوى المَلِيكُ حَوِيلُ
It settled where the Sovereign lodged it by His decree,
Its yearning for you has not ceased,
and what the Sovereign has lodged cannot be moved.
As the yearning in the footsteps of the Friend for the friend.
وَلاand may not زالcease مَوْصُولاًunbroken إلَيْكَto you حَنِينُهاits yearning
وَلا زال مَوْصُولاً إلَيْكَ حَنِينُها
كَماas حَنَّyearned فِيin إثْرِthe wake الخَلِيلِof the friend خَلِيلُa friend
كَما حَنَّ فِي إثْرِ الخَلِيلِ خَلِيلُ
And may its yearning for you remain unbroken,
In order to make you comfortable, O best of creation, a sincere adviser,
as one friend yearns in another's wake.
For him in the two worlds there is great prestige.
لِيَهْنيكَmay he gladden you ياO خَيْرَbest الْبَرِيَّةof creation ناصِحٌa loyal counselor
لِيَهْنيكَ يا خَيْرَ الْبَرِيَّة ناصِحٌ
لَهُfor him خَطَرٌstanding فِيamong الْعالَمِينَall peoples جَلِيلُgreat
لَهُ خَطَرٌ فِي الْعالَمِينَ جَلِيلُ
May a loyal counselor gladden you, O best of creation,
Your patron strengthened the religion, Bakkam―
whose standing among all peoples is great.
By him your kingship is elevated and grows long.
لَقَدْindeed شَدَّstrengthened أَزْرَthe back الدِّينِof faith مَوْلاكَyour retainer بَجْكَمٌBajkam
لَقَدْ شَدَّ أَزْرَ الدِّينِ مَوْلاكَ بَجْكَمٌ
بِهِthrough him يَتَسامىrises high مُلْكُكُمْyour sovereignty وَيَطُولُand endures
بِهِ يَتَسامى مُلْكُكُمْ وَيَطُولُ
Indeed, your retainer Bajkam has strengthened the back of faith;
He is the death poured upon every betrayer―
through him your sovereignty rises high and endures.
By him the hands of misfortune, defeated, are cut off.
هُوَhe الحَتْفُdeath مَصْبُوباًpoured down علَىupon كُلِّevery ناكِثْoath-breaker
هُوَ الحَتْفُ مَصْبُوباً علَى كُلِّ ناكِثْ
يظَلُّremain بِهِthrough him أَيْدِيthe hands الشَّقاءِof misery نُحُلُwithered
يظَلُّ بِهِ أَيْدِي الشَّقاءِ نُحُلُ
He is death poured down upon every oath-breaker;
For you among the favorers there is thus no opponent,
through him the hands of misery remain withered.
And for him among the advisers there is no peer.
فَماso there is no لَكُمْfor you فِيamong المُنْعِمِينَbenefactors مُعانِدٌa rival
فَما لَكُمْ فِي المُنْعِمِينَ مُعانِدٌ
وَلَيْسَand there is no لَهُfor him فِيamong النَّاصِحِينَloyal counselors عَدِيلُan equal
وَلَيْسَ لَهُ فِي النَّاصِحِينَ عَدِيلُ
So you have no rival among benefactors,
So the kingship for you remains protected forever,
and he has no equal among loyal counselors.
Your abiding what the rising sun enjoined the high-born.
فَلاso may not زِلْتَyou cease مَحْرُوساًguarded لَكَyours is المُلْكُsovereignty دائماًalways
فَلا زِلْتَ مَحْرُوساً لَكَ المُلْكُ دائماً
بَقاؤُكَyour continued life ماas long as واصىentrusts الغُدُوَّthe morning أَصِيلُthe evening
بَقاؤُكَ ما واصى الغُدُوَّ أَصِيلُ
May you ever be guarded, with sovereignty forever yours;
For your servant whom you named―a published writ―
may you live as long as evening passes its charge to morning.
By it in the two worlds he is elevated and attacks.
لِعَبْدِكَfor your servant إذْsince سَمّاكَnamed you رَسْمٌa stipend مُشَهَّرٌwell-known
لِعَبْدِكَ إذْ سَمّاكَ رَسْمٌ مُشَهَّرٌ
بِهِthrough it يَتَسامىrises high فِيamong الْوَرَىmankind وَيَصُولُand strides proudly
بِهِ يَتَسامى فِي الْوَرَى وَيَصُولُ
Your servant, since he named you, has a well-known stipend,
And the like of you gave his writ extending his hand―
through which he rises among mankind and strides proudly.
You have not ceased giving, favoring, and conferring.
ومِثْلُكَand one like you أَعْطىgave رَسْمَهُhis stipend مُتَنَوِّلاًto a petitioner
ومِثْلُكَ أَعْطى رَسْمَهُ مُتَنَوِّلاً
فَماfor not زِلْتَyou have ceased تُعْطِيyou give مُنْعِماًbestowing favors وَتُنِيلُand grant gifts
فَما زِلْتَ تُعْطِي مُنْعِماً وَتُنِيلُ
One such as you grants a petitioner his stipend;
for you have never ceased giving graciously and bestowing gifts.
Partial English translation: 64 of 66 Arabic lines translated.