أَماis there not لِجَميلٍfor a good deed عِندَكُنَّwith you women ثَوابُa reward
أَما لِجَميلٍ عِندَكُنَّ ثَوابُ
وَلاnor لِمُسيءٍfor a wrongdoer عِندَكُنَّwith you women مَتابُa repentant return
وَلا لِمُسيءٍ عِندَكُنَّ مَتابُ
Is there no reward with you for a good deed,
Is there no reward for one who's kind,
nor, with you, a way back for a wrongdoer?
No punishment for one unrefined,
لَقَدindeed ضَلَّwent astray مَنwhoever تَحويholds هَواهُhis love خَريدَةٌa shy virgin
لَقَد ضَلَّ مَن تَحوي هَواهُ خَريدَةٌ
وَقَدand indeed ذَلَّwas humbled مَنwhoever تَقضيrules عَلَيهِover him كَعابُa nubile maiden
وَقَد ذَلَّ مَن تَقضي عَلَيهِ كَعابُ
Surely astray is he whose love a shy maiden holds,
Lost is he whose love enslaves his mind,
and humbled is he whom a nubile maiden commands.
Debased is he whom conceit makes blind,
وَلَكِنَّنيbut I وَالحَمدُand praise لِلَّهِto God حازِمٌresolute
وَلَكِنَّني وَالحَمدُ لِلَّهِ حازِمٌ
أَعِزُّI stand proud إِذاwhen ذَلَّتbowed low لَهُنَّto them women رِقابُnecks
أَعِزُّ إِذا ذَلَّت لَهُنَّ رِقابُ
But I—praise be to God—am resolute;
But thank God, I'm one who's firm and wise,
I stand proud when necks bow low to them.
Exalted when others lowly rise,
وَلاand not تَملِكُpossesses الحَسناءُthe beautiful woman قَلبِيَmy heart كُلَّهُall of it
وَلا تَملِكُ الحَسناءُ قَلبِيَ كُلَّهُ
وَإِنand even if شَمِلَتهاenveloped her رِقَّةٌtenderness وَشَبابُand youth
وَإِن شَمِلَتها رِقَّةٌ وَشَبابُ
No beautiful woman possesses all my heart,
No fair maid fully holds my heart,
even if tenderness and youth envelop her.
Though graced with charm and youth's fine art,
وَأَجريand I run فَلاso not أُعطيI give الهَوىdesire فَضلَthe slack of مِقوَديmy rein
وَأَجري فَلا أُعطي الهَوى فَضلَ مِقوَدي
وَأَهفوand I slip وَلاand not يَخفىis hidden عَلَيَّfrom me صَوابُwhat is right
وَأَهفو وَلا يَخفى عَلَيَّ صَوابُ
I run, but give desire no slack in my rein,
I give desire no rein to guide my pace,
and I may stray, yet what is right is never hidden from me.
Wisdom's ways never from my sight erase,
إِذاif الخِلُّthe close friend لَمnot يَهجُركَforsakes you إِلّاexcept مَلالَةًout of weariness
إِذا الخِلُّ لَم يَهجُركَ إِلّا مَلالَةً
فَلَيسَthen there is no لَهُfor him إِلّاexcept الفِراقَparting عِتابُreproach
فَلَيسَ لَهُ إِلّا الفِراقَ عِتابُ
If a close friend forsakes you only out of weariness,
If friends adopt disdain and keep their distance,
then parting is the only reproach for him.
Only leave-taking avenges their resistance,
إِذاif لَمnot أَجِدI find مِنin خُلَّةٍa friendship ماwhat أُريدُهُI want it
إِذا لَم أَجِد مِن خُلَّةٍ ما أُريدُهُ
فَعِنديthen I have لِأُخرىfor another عَزمَةٌresolve ورِكابُand riding camels
فَعِندي لِأُخرى عَزمَةٌ ورِكابُ
If I find not in a friendship what I seek,
If I desire what I don't find in friends,
I have resolve and riding camels for another.
I firmly turn my zeal to other ends,
وَلَيسَand there is no فِراقٌparting ماas long as اِستَطَعتُI am able فَإِنbut if يَكُنthere is
وَلَيسَ فِراقٌ ما اِستَطَعتُ فَإِن يَكُن
فِراقٌparting عَلىin حالٍany circumstance فَلَيسَthen there is no إِيابُreturn
فِراقٌ عَلى حالٍ فَلَيسَ إِيابُ
There is no parting while I can prevent it; but should there be
Parting is not what I can't withstand,
a parting under any circumstances, there is no return.
If it be parting, then no tie's at hand,
صَبورٌpatient وَلوand even if لَمnot تَبقَremains مِنّيof me بَقِيَّةٌa remnant
صَبورٌ وَلو لَم تَبقَ مِنّي بَقِيَّةٌ
قَؤولٌoutspoken وَلَوand even if أَنَّthat السُيوفَthe swords جَوابُan answer
قَؤولٌ وَلَو أَنَّ السُيوفَ جَوابُ
I am patient, even if no remnant of me remains;
Enduring, even if naught of me remain,
outspoken, even if swords are the answer;
Resolute, though swords be my attain,
وَقورٌdignified وَأَحداثُand the calamities of الزَمانِtime تَنوشُنيassail me
وَقورٌ وَأَحداثُ الزَمانِ تَنوشُني
وَلِلمَوتِand death has حَوليaround me جيئَةٌa coming وَذَهابُand a going
وَلِلمَوتِ حَولي جيئَةٌ وَذَهابُ
dignified, though time's calamities assail me,
Serene, though the days' changes unpredictable,
and death comes and goes around me.
Around me death moves, arrival and enable,
وَأَلحَظُand I observe أَحوالَthe conditions of الزَمانِtime بِمُقلَةٍwith an eye
وَأَلحَظُ أَحوالَ الزَمانِ بِمُقلَةٍ
بِهاin it الصُدقُtruth صِدقٌtruth وَالكِذابُand falsehood كِذابُfalsehood
بِها الصُدقُ صِدقٌ وَالكِذابُ كِذابُ
I observe the turns of time with an eye
With penetrating eyes, people's states I trace,
in which truth is truth and falsehood is falsehood.
The truthful, truthful, the liar's lying laid bare.
بِمَنin whom يَثِقُtrusts الإِنسانُa person فيماin what يَنوبُهُbefalls him
بِمَن يَثِقُ الإِنسانُ فيما يَنوبُهُ
وَمِنand from أَينَwhere لِلحُرِّfor the free man الكَريمِthe noble صِحابُcompanions
وَمِن أَينَ لِلحُرِّ الكَريمِ صِحابُ
In whom can a person trust amid what befalls him,
In whom can man trust during his plight?
and where can a free and noble man find companions?
Where can the noble free find brothers upright?
وَقَدand indeed صارَhas become هَذاthis الناسُpeople إِلّاexcept أَقَلَّهُمa few of them
وَقَد صارَ هَذا الناسُ إِلّا أَقَلَّهُم
ذِئاباًwolves عَلىupon أَجسادِهِنَّtheir bodies ثِيابُclothes
ذِئاباً عَلى أَجسادِهِنَّ ثِيابُ
These people have become, all but a few of them,
Mankind, save for a few, have all become
wolves with clothes upon their bodies.
Like wolves whose clothes their bodies o'ercome.
تَغابَيتُI feigned foolishness عَنbefore قَوميmy people فَظَنّواso they assumed غَباوَتيmy foolishness
تَغابَيتُ عَن قَومي فَظَنّوا غَباوَتي
بِمَفرِقِupon the crown of أَغباناthe most foolish of us حَصىًpebbles وَتُرابُand dust
بِمَفرِقِ أَغبانا حَصىً وَتُرابُ
I feigned foolishness before my people, and they thought me foolish;
I shun my tribe, so they think me wild,
pebbles and dust upon the crown of the most foolish of us!
As mindless as pebbles strewn for miles,
وَلَوand if عَرَفونيthey knew me حَقَّthe true extent of مَعرِفَتيmy knowledge بِهِمof them
وَلَو عَرَفوني حَقَّ مَعرِفَتي بِهِم
إِذاًthen عَلِمواthey would know أَنّيthat I شَهِدتُI was present وَغابواand they were absent
إِذاً عَلِموا أَنّي شَهِدتُ وَغابوا
Had they known me as well as I know them,
Had they known me, as I truly am,
they would have known I was present while they were absent.
They'd know I'm present though from sight I'm banned
وَماand not كُلُّevery فَعّالٍdoer يُجازىis repaid بِفِعلِهِfor his deed
وَما كُلُّ فَعّالٍ يُجازى بِفِعلِهِ
وَلاand not كُلُّevery قَوّالٍtalker لَدَيَّby me يُجابُis answered
وَلا كُلُّ قَوّالٍ لَدَيَّ يُجابُ
Not every doer is repaid for his deed,
Not all who act receive due remompense,
nor does every talker receive an answer from me.
Nor all who speak have my attentions,
وَرُبَّand many a كَلامٍword مَرَّpassed فَوقَabove مَسامِعيmy ears
وَرُبَّ كَلامٍ مَرَّ فَوقَ مَسامِعي
كَماjust as طَنَّbuzzed فيin لَوحِthe blaze of الهَجيرِmidday heat ذُبابُa fly
كَما طَنَّ في لَوحِ الهَجيرِ ذُبابُ
Many a word has passed above my ears
Much talk has passed my ears, no more retained
as a fly buzzed in the blaze of midday heat.
Than buzzings marked on parchment that's stained.
إِلىto اللَهِGod أَشكوI complain أَنَّناthat we بِمَنازِلٍin dwellings
إِلى اللَهِ أَشكو أَنَّنا بِمَنازِلٍ
تَحَكَّمُrule فيover آسادِهِنَّtheir lions كِلابُdogs
تَحَكَّمُ في آسادِهِنَّ كِلابُ
To God I complain that we dwell in places
To God I plead, we dwell in houses
where dogs rule over their lions.
Where dogs control what rises and rouses!
تَمُرُّpass اللَياليthe nights لَيسَthere is no لِلنَفعِfor doing good مَوضِعٌplace
تَمُرُّ اللَيالي لَيسَ لِلنَفعِ مَوضِعٌ
لَدَيَّwith me وَلاnor لِلمُعتَفينَfor those seeking gifts جَنابُa haven
لَدَيَّ وَلا لِلمُعتَفينَ جَنابُ
The nights pass; there is no place for doing good
Nights pass me by, no place for betterment,
with me, nor a haven for those seeking gifts.
No rest for those who repent and atonement,
وَلاnor شُدَّwas fastened ليfor me سَرجٌa saddle عَلىupon ظَهرِthe back of سابِحٍa swift steed
وَلا شُدَّ لي سَرجٌ عَلى ظَهرِ سابِحٍ
وَلاnor ضُرِبَتwere pitched ليfor me بِالعَراءِin the open قِبابُdomed tents
وَلا ضُرِبَت لي بِالعَراءِ قِبابُ
No saddle has been fastened for me on a swift steed's back,
No steed a saddle bears to race the dawn,
nor have domed tents been pitched for me in the open;
No tents are pitched where first light's gently drawn.
وَلاnor بَرَقَتflashed ليfor me فيin اللِقاءِcombat قَواطِعٌcleaving swords
وَلا بَرَقَت لي في اللِقاءِ قَواطِعٌ
وَلاnor لَمَعَتgleamed ليfor me فيin الحُروبِwars حِرابُspears
وَلا لَمَعَت لي في الحُروبِ حِرابُ
no cleaving swords have flashed for me in combat,
No swords in battle flash along my defense,
nor have spears gleamed for me in war.
No helmets in war for my head commence,
سَتَذكُرُwill remember أَيّاميmy days نُمَيرٌNumayr وَعامِرٌand Amir
سَتَذكُرُ أَيّامي نُمَيرٌ وَعامِرٌ
وَكَعبٌand Ka'b عَلىdespite عِلّاتِهاits failings وَكِلابُand Kilab
وَكَعبٌ عَلى عِلّاتِها وَكِلابُ
Numayr and Amir will remember my days,
Of my days Nu'm and 'Amir will tell,
and Ka'b, despite its failings, and Kilab.
While dogs on their ruins romp and yell.
أَناI الجارُthe neighbor لازاديnot my provisions بَطيءٌslow عَلَيهُمُto them
أَنا الجارُ لازادي بَطيءٌ عَلَيهُمُ
وَلاnor دونَbefore ماليmy wealth لِلحَوادِثِagainst calamities بابُa door
وَلا دونَ مالي لِلحَوادِثِ بابُ
I am the neighbor: my provisions are never slow to reach them,
To foes, my goods are slow to pare down,
nor does any door bar access to my wealth in times of calamity.
Nor are my assets the door where disasters march in.
وَلاand not أَطلُبُI seek العَوراءَthe weak spot مِنهُمin them أُصيبُهاI strike it
وَلا أَطلُبُ العَوراءَ مِنهُم أُصيبُها
وَلاnor عَورَتيmy weak spot لِلطالِبينَto seekers تُصابُis struck
وَلا عَورَتي لِلطالِبينَ تُصابُ
I do not seek their weak spot to strike it,
I seek no weakness of theirs to obtain,
nor can those who seek my weak spot strike it.
Nor do I expose my own weak spot lain,
وَأَسطوand I strike وَحُبّيand love for me ثابِتٌfirm فيin صُدورِهِمtheir breasts
وَأَسطو وَحُبّي ثابِتٌ في صُدورِهِم
وَأَحلَمُand I forbear عَنtoward جُهّالِهِمtheir fools وَأُهابُand I am feared
وَأَحلَمُ عَن جُهّالِهِم وَأُهابُ
I strike forcefully, yet love for me stays firm in their breasts,
Continues my esteem in their souls to dwell,
and I forbear their fools, yet am held in awe.
While their ignorance I suffer and quell,
بَنيsons of عَمِّناour uncle ماwhat يَصنَعُdoes السَيفُthe sword فيin الوَغىbattle
بَني عَمِّنا ما يَصنَعُ السَيفُ في الوَغى
إِذاwhen فُلَّis blunted مِنهُof it مَضرِبٌa striking edge وَذُبابُand a point
إِذا فُلَّ مِنهُ مَضرِبٌ وَذُبابُ
Sons of our uncle, what can a sword do in battle
O kinsmen, of what use in battle fray,
when its striking edge and point are blunted?
Are swords, when hands that wield them give way?
بَنيsons of عَمِّناour uncle لاdo not تُنكِرواdeny الحَقَّthe truth إِنَّناindeed we
بَني عَمِّنا لا تُنكِروا الحَقَّ إِنَّنا
شِدادٌstrong عَلىagainst غَيرِanything but الهَوانِhumiliation صِلابُunyielding
شِدادٌ عَلى غَيرِ الهَوانِ صِلابُ
Sons of our uncle, do not deny the truth: we are
O kinsmen, deny not the truth, when we
strong and unyielding against everything but humiliation.
Are firm, unyielding to any decree,
بَنيsons of عَمِّناour uncle نَحنُwe السَواعِدُthe forearms وَالظُبىand the sword-edges
بَني عَمِّنا نَحنُ السَواعِدُ وَالظُبى
وَيوشِكُand it is imminent يَوماًone day أَنthat يَكونَthere be ضِرابُan exchange of blows
وَيوشِكُ يَوماً أَن يَكونَ ضِرابُ
Sons of our uncle, we are the forearms and the sword-edges,
O kinsmen, we are the arms, staunch and hardy,
and a day of exchanging blows may soon come.
Soon with force, not words, we will parley,
وَإِنَّand indeed رِجالاًmen ماnot اِبنَكُمyour son كَاِبنِlike the son of أُختِهِمtheir sister
وَإِنَّ رِجالاً ما اِبنَكُم كَاِبنِ أُختِهِم
حَرِيّونَdeserving أَنthat يُقضىjudgment be given لَهُمin their favor وَيُهابواand they be feared
حَرِيّونَ أَن يُقضى لَهُم وَيُهابوا
And men—your son is not like their sister's son—
You're not like your sister's son indeed,
deserve a judgment in their favor and to be held in awe.
If you refuse when called, while we heed,
فَعَنthen on أَيِّwhat عُذرٍexcuse إِنif دُعواthey were called وَدُعيتُمand you were called
فَعَن أَيِّ عُذرٍ إِن دُعوا وَدُعيتُم
أَبَيتُمyou refused بَنيsons of أَعمامِناour uncles وَأَجابواand they answered
أَبَيتُم بَني أَعمامِنا وَأَجابوا
By what excuse, then, if they and you were called,
I claim only what God knows as my right,
did you refuse, sons of our uncles, while they answered?
Ali's abode for the gentle is light,
وَماand not أَدَّعيI claim مايَعلَمُwhat he knows اللَهُGod غَيرَهُits contrary
وَما أَدَّعي مايَعلَمُ اللَهُ غَيرَهُ
رِحابُcourtyards عَلِيٍّAli لِلعُفاةِfor seekers of bounty رِحابُspacious
رِحابُ عَلِيٍّ لِلعُفاةِ رِحابُ
I make no claim that God knows to be otherwise:
His actions the seeker bountifully reward,
Ali's courtyards are spacious for seekers of bounty;
His wealth is for those who request and applaud,
وَأَفعالُهُand his deeds لِلراغِبينَtoward those who seek كَريمَةٌgenerous
وَأَفعالُهُ لِلراغِبينَ كَريمَةٌ
وَأَموالُهُand his wealth لِلطالِبينَfor petitioners نِهابُfree spoil
وَأَموالُهُ لِلطالِبينَ نِهابُ
his deeds are generous toward those who seek,
But an obstinate man with a blade arose,
and his wealth is spoil for those who ask.
And darker than night in my eyes he shows,
وَلَكِنbut نَباfailed to cut مِنهُfrom him بِكَفَّيَّin my two hands صارِمٌa keen sword
وَلَكِن نَبا مِنهُ بِكَفَّيَّ صارِمٌ
وَأَظلَمَand grew dark فيin عَينَيَّmy two eyes مِنهُfrom him شِهابُa meteor
وَأَظلَمَ في عَينَيَّ مِنهُ شِهابُ
But a keen sword from him failed to cut in my hands,
He cut me off, while death hastens ahead,
and a meteor from him grew dark in my eyes.
To mortality already has triumph been wed,
وَأَبطَأَand he delayed عَنّيin reaching me وَالمَناياwhile death's decrees سَريعَةٌswift
وَأَبطَأَ عَنّي وَالمَنايا سَريعَةٌ
وَلِلمَوتِand death has ظُفرٌa claw قَدalready أَطَلَّappeared وَنابُand a fang
وَلِلمَوتِ ظُفرٌ قَد أَطَلَّ وَنابُ
He delayed reaching me, while death's decrees were swift,
If not old love we count as true,
and death had already bared a claw and a fang.
Nor kinship between men as glue,
فَإِنthen if لَمnot يَكُنthere is وُدٌّaffection قَديمٌold نَعُدُّهُwe count it
فَإِن لَم يَكُن وُدٌّ قَديمٌ نَعُدُّهُ
وَلاnor نَسَبٌkinship بَينَbetween الرِجالِmen قُرابُclose
وَلا نَسَبٌ بَينَ الرِجالِ قُرابُ
If there is no old affection we can reckon,
Safest for Islam not to abandon me,
nor close kinship between men,
When in it refuge and shelter I see,
فَأَحوَطُthen safer لِلإِسلامِfor Islam أَنthat لاnot يُضيعَنيhe abandon me
فَأَحوَطُ لِلإِسلامِ أَن لا يُضيعَني
وَليand I have عَنكَon your behalf فيهِin it حَوطَةٌprotection وَمَنابُand a deputy's role
وَلي عَنكَ فيهِ حَوطَةٌ وَمَنابُ
then it is safer for Islam that he not abandon me,
But resignation in me lives on,
and in it I keep guard on your behalf and stand in your stead.
So either way may the mirage be gone,
وَلَكِنَّنيbut I راضٍcontent عَلىin كُلِّevery حالَةٍcondition
وَلَكِنَّني راضٍ عَلى كُلِّ حالَةٍ
لِيُعلَمَso it may be known أَيُّwhich الحالَتَينِof the two conditions سَرابُa mirage
لِيُعلَمَ أَيُّ الحالَتَينِ سَرابُ
Yet I am content in every circumstance,
I accept from you even bare minimum love,
so it may be known which of the two conditions is a mirage.
Nothing less gives me shelter above,
وَماand not زِلتُI have ceased أَرضىI am content بِالقَليلِwith little مَحَبَّةًout of love
وَما زِلتُ أَرضى بِالقَليلِ مَحَبَّةً
لَدَيكَwith you وَماand there is no دونَbefore الكَثيرِabundance حِجابُveil
لَدَيكَ وَما دونَ الكَثيرِ حِجابُ
I have always been content with little, out of love,
I seek to preserve affection's delight,
from you, though no veil bars the way to abundance.
Thinking of you gives to other loves flight,
وَأَطلُبُand I seek إِبقاءًout of regard عَلىfor الوُدِّaffection أَرضَهُhis land
وَأَطلُبُ إِبقاءً عَلى الوُدِّ أَرضَهُ
وَذِكريand mention of me مُنىًwishes فيin غَيرِهاplaces other than it وَطِلابُand pursuit
وَذِكري مُنىً في غَيرِها وَطِلابُ
To preserve affection, I seek his land,
Such pure love, reward never takes heed,
while elsewhere my name is an object of longing and pursuit.
Nor against it can punishment stampede,
كَذاكَthus الوِدادُaffection المَحضُpure لايُرتَجىis not hoped for لَهُfor it
كَذاكَ الوِدادُ المَحضُ لايُرتَجى لَهُ
ثَوابٌreward وَلاnor يُخشىis feared عَلَيهِon its account عِقابُpunishment
ثَوابٌ وَلا يُخشى عَلَيهِ عِقابُ
Such is pure affection: for it one expects no
I feared estrangement, but we're joined together,
reward, nor fears punishment on its account.
Each day stirs a new storm and tether,
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI was أَخشىfearing الهَجرَestrangement وَالشَملُwhile our company جامِعٌwas united
وَقَد كُنتُ أَخشى الهَجرَ وَالشَملُ جامِعٌ
وَفيand in كُلِّevery يَومٍday لَفتَةٌa glance وَخِطابُand speech
وَفي كُلِّ يَومٍ لَفتَةٌ وَخِطابُ
I feared estrangement even when we were together,
Now between us lies the might of kings,
with a glance and a word each day;
Around me the sea swells and heaves and flings!
فَكَيفَthen how وَفيماwhile in what بَينَناis between us مُلكُthe realm of قَيصَرٍCaesar
فَكَيفَ وَفيما بَينَنا مُلكُ قَيصَرٍ
وَلِلبَحرِand the sea has حَوليaround me زَخرَةٌa swelling وَعُبابُand surging waves
وَلِلبَحرِ حَولي زَخرَةٌ وَعُبابُ
how much more, then, with Caesar's realm between us,
Having given my soul, should I now dread
and the sea around me swelling and surging?
Rebuke's bitter nails that tear and shred?
أَمِنis it from بَعدِafter بَذلِoffering النَفسِone's life فيماfor what تُريدُهُyou desire it
أَمِن بَعدِ بَذلِ النَفسِ فيما تُريدُهُ
أُثابُI am rewarded بِمُرِّwith the bitterness of العَتبِreproach حينَwhen أُثابُI am rewarded
أُثابُ بِمُرِّ العَتبِ حينَ أُثابُ
After offering my life for what you desire,
Would that you be gentle, though life is harsh,
am I rewarded, when I am rewarded, with bitter reproach?
Would that you accept me, though people are harsh,
فَلَيتَكَso would that you تَحلوbe sweet وَالحَياةُwhile life مَريرَةٌis bitter
فَلَيتَكَ تَحلو وَالحَياةُ مَريرَةٌ
وَلَيتَكَand would that you تَرضىbe pleased وَالأَنامُwhile mankind غِضابُare angry
وَلَيتَكَ تَرضى وَالأَنامُ غِضابُ
Would that you were sweet to me, though life be bitter,
Would that our bond flourish and thrive,
and would that you were pleased, though all mankind be angry;
While around me the world splits and rives!
وَلَيتَand would that الَّذيwhat بَينيbetween me وَبَينَكَand between you عامِرٌflourishing
وَلَيتَ الَّذي بَيني وَبَينَكَ عامِرٌ
وَبَينيand between me وَبَينَand between العالَمينَall the world خَرابُruin
وَبَيني وَبَينَ العالَمينَ خَرابُ
would that what lies between me and you were flourishing,
while what lies between me and all the world lay in ruins.
Partial English translation: 88 of 90 Arabic lines translated.