كَأَنّيas though I بِنَفسيwith my soul وَهيَwhile it فيin السَكَراتِthe death throes
كَأَنّي بِنَفسي وَهيَ في السَكَراتِ
تُعالِجُstruggles أَنto تَرقىrise إِلىto اللَهَواتِthe throat's recesses
تُعالِجُ أَن تَرقى إِلى اللَهَواتِ
I seem to behold my soul in its death throes,
struggling to rise into the throat.
وَقَدand already زُمَّhas been secured رَحليmy saddle وَاِستَقَلَّتand have set out رَكائِبيmy mounts
وَقَد زُمَّ رَحلي وَاِستَقَلَّت رَكائِبي
وَقَدand already آذَنَتنيhave notified me بِالرَحيلِof departure حُداتيmy camel-drivers
وَقَد آذَنَتني بِالرَحيلِ حُداتي
My saddle has been secured, and my mounts have set out,
and my camel-drivers have announced my departure
إِلىto مَنزِلٍan abode فيهِin which عَذابٌtorment وَرَحمَةٌand mercy
إِلى مَنزِلٍ فيهِ عَذابٌ وَرَحمَةٌ
وَكَمand how many فيهِin it مِنof زَجرٍwarnings لَناfor us وَعِظاتِand admonitions
وَكَم فيهِ مِن زَجرٍ لَنا وَعِظاتِ
to an abode where there is torment and mercy.
And how many warnings and admonitions for us it holds!
وَمِنand of أَعيُنٍeyes سالَتhave flowed عَلىover وَجَناتِهاtheir cheeks
وَمِن أَعيُنٍ سالَت عَلى وَجَناتِها
وَمِنand of أَوجُهٍfaces فيin التُربِthe dust مُنعَفِراتِdust-covered
وَمِن أَوجُهٍ في التُربِ مُنعَفِراتِ
And many eyes have flowed down over their cheeks,
and many faces lie dust-covered in the earth.
وَمِنand of وارِدٍone arriving فيهِthere عَلىupon ماwhat يَسُرُّهُdelights him
وَمِن وارِدٍ فيهِ عَلى ما يَسُرُّهُ
وَمِنand of وارِدٍone arriving فيهِthere عَلىupon الحَسَراتِregrets
وَمِن وارِدٍ فيهِ عَلى الحَسَراتِ
And many a newcomer there finds what delights him,
and many a newcomer there finds regrets.
وَمِنand of عاثِرٍa stumbler ماnot إِنat all يُقالُis said لَهُto him لَعاًmay you recover!
وَمِن عاثِرٍ ما إِن يُقالُ لَهُ لَعاً
عَلىaccording to ماwhat عَهِدناwe were accustomed to قَبلُbefore فيin العَثَراتِstumbles
عَلى ما عَهِدنا قَبلُ في العَثَراتِ
And many a fallen one is never told, 'May you recover!'
as was our custom before when someone stumbled.
وَمِنand of مَلِكٍa king كانَwas السُرورُjoy مِهادَهُhis bed
وَمِن مَلِكٍ كانَ السُرورُ مِهادَهُ
مَعَwith الآنِساتِthe charming women الخُرَّدِthe virgins الخَفِراتِthe modest ones
مَعَ الآنِساتِ الخُرَّدِ الخَفِراتِ
And many a king once had joy for his bed,
with charming, virginal, modest women,
غَداًtomorrow لاnot يَذودُhe wards off الدودَthe worms عَنfrom حُرِّthe noble part of وَجهِهِhis face
غَداً لا يَذودُ الدودَ عَن حُرِّ وَجهِهِ
وَكانَand he used to يَذودُdrive off الأُسدَthe lions فيin الأَجَماتِthe thickets
وَكانَ يَذودُ الأُسدَ في الأَجَماتِ
tomorrow cannot fend worms from his noble face,
though once he drove off lions in the thickets.
وَعُوِّضَand he was given in exchange أُنساًcompanionship مِنinstead of ظِباءِthe gazelles of كِناسِهِhis covert
وَعُوِّضَ أُنساً مِن ظِباءِ كِناسِهِ
وَأَرآمِهِand his white antelopes بِالرُقشِwith speckled snakes وَالحَشَراتِand vermin
وَأَرآمِهِ بِالرُقشِ وَالحَشَراتِ
And for company he is given, in place of the gazelles of his covert
and his white antelopes, speckled snakes and vermin.
وَصارَand he came to be بِبَطنِin the belly of الأَرضِthe earth يَلتَحِفُwrapping himself in الثَرىthe soil
وَصارَ بِبَطنِ الأَرضِ يَلتَحِفُ الثَرى
وَكانَand he used to يَجُرُّtrail الوَشيَembroidered cloth وَالحَبَراتِand striped robes
وَكانَ يَجُرُّ الوَشيَ وَالحَبَراتِ
And in the belly of the earth he now wraps himself in soil,
though once he trailed embroidered cloth and striped robes.
وَلَمand did not تُغنِهِavail him أَنصارُهُhis supporters وَجُنودُهُand his soldiers
وَلَم تُغنِهِ أَنصارُهُ وَجُنودُهُ
وَلَمand did not تَحمِهِprotect him بِالبيضِwith bright swords وَالأَسَلاتِand spearpoints
وَلَم تَحمِهِ بِالبيضِ وَالأَسَلاتِ
His supporters and his soldiers availed him nothing,
nor guarded him with bright swords and spearpoints.
وَمِمّاand among what شَجانيgrieved me وَالشُجونُand sorrows كَثيرَةٌare many
وَمِمّا شَجاني وَالشُجونُ كَثيرَةٌ
ذُنوبٌsins عِظامٌgrave أَسبَلَتset flowing عَبَراتيmy tears
ذُنوبٌ عِظامٌ أَسبَلَت عَبَراتي
Among the things that grieve me—and sorrows are many—
are grave sins that have sent my tears streaming.
وَأَقلَقَنيand troubled me أَنّيthat I أَموتُshall die مُفَرِّطاًremiss
وَأَقلَقَني أَنّي أَموتُ مُفَرِّطاً
عَلىdespite أَنَّنيthat I خَلَّفتُhave outlived بَعدُby now لِداتيmy contemporaries
عَلى أَنَّني خَلَّفتُ بَعدُ لِداتي
And it troubles me that I shall die remiss,
though by now I have outlived my peers.
وَأَغفَلتُand I neglected أَمريmy affairs بَعدَهُمafter them مُتَثَبِّطاًhanging back
وَأَغفَلتُ أَمري بَعدَهُم مُتَثَبِّطاً
فَياso, oh عَجَباًwhat wonder مِنّيat me وَمِنand at غَفَلاتيmy heedless lapses
فَيا عَجَباً مِنّي وَمِن غَفَلاتي
And after them I neglected my own affairs, hanging back.
How strange I am, and how strange my heedlessness!
إِلىto اللَهِGod أَشكوI complain of جَهلَthe ignorance of نَفسيmy soul فَإِنَّهاfor it
إِلى اللَهِ أَشكو جَهلَ نَفسي فَإِنَّها
تَميلُinclines إِلىtoward الراحاتِcomforts وَالشَهَواتِand desires
تَميلُ إِلى الراحاتِ وَالشَهَواتِ
To God I complain of my soul's ignorance, for it
inclines toward comforts and desires.
وَياand oh رُبَّmany a خِلٍّfriend كُنتُI was ذاpossessing صِلَةٍkindness لَهُtoward him
وَيا رُبَّ خِلٍّ كُنتُ ذا صِلَةٍ لَهُ
يَرىconsiders أَنَّthat دَفنيmy burial مِنamong أَجَلِّthe greatest of صِلاتيmy favors
يَرى أَنَّ دَفني مِن أَجَلِّ صِلاتي
And oh, many a friend to whom I showed kindness
considers my burial one of my greatest gifts.
وَكُنتُand I was لَهُfor him أُنساًcompanionship وَشَمساًand a sun مُنيرَةًradiant
وَكُنتُ لَهُ أُنساً وَشَمساً مُنيرَةً
فَأَفرَدَنيthen he left me alone فيin وَحشَةِthe desolation of الظُلُماتِthe darkness
فَأَفرَدَني في وَحشَةِ الظُلُماتِ
I was his solace and a radiant sun,
yet he left me alone in the desolation of darkness.
سَأَضرِبُI shall pitch فُسطاطيmy tent عَلىat عَسكَرِthe encampment of البِلىdecay
سَأَضرِبُ فُسطاطي عَلى عَسكَرِ البِلى
وَأَركُزُand I shall plant فيهِin it لِلنُزولِto encamp قَناتيmy spear
وَأَركُزُ فيهِ لِلنُزولِ قَناتي
I shall pitch my tent at decay's encampment,
and plant my spear there to make my camp.
وَأَركَبُand I shall ride ظَهراًa mount لاnot يَؤوبُreturns بِراكِبٍwith a rider
وَأَركَبُ ظَهراً لا يَؤوبُ بِراكِبٍ
وَلاand not يُمتَطىis ridden إِلّاexcept إِلىtoward الهَلَكاتِdestruction
وَلا يُمتَطى إِلّا إِلى الهَلَكاتِ
And I shall ride a mount that brings no rider back,
and is ridden only toward destruction.
وَلَيسَand it is not يُرىseen إِلّاexcept بِساحَةِin the courtyard of ظاعِنٍone departing
وَلَيسَ يُرى إِلّا بِساحَةِ ظاعِنٍ
إِلىto مَصرَعِthe death-place of الفَرحاتِjoys وَالتَرَحاتِand sorrows
إِلى مَصرَعِ الفَرحاتِ وَالتَرَحاتِ
It is seen only in the courtyard of one departing
to the place where joys and sorrows fall dead.
يُسَيِّرُit conveys أَدنىthe lowliest of الناسِpeople سَيراًa journey كَسَيرِهِlike its journey
يُسَيِّرُ أَدنى الناسِ سَيراً كَسَيرِهِ
بِأَرفَعِwith the highest-ranking مَنعِيٍّone whose death is announced مِنَamong السَرَواتِthe nobles
بِأَرفَعِ مَنعِيٍّ مِنَ السَرَواتِ
It carries the lowliest of people just as it carries
the loftiest noble whose death has been announced.
فَطَوراًso at times تَراهُyou see it يَحمِلُcarrying الشُمَّlofty peaks وَالرُباand hills
فَطَوراً تَراهُ يَحمِلُ الشُمَّ وَالرُبا
وَطَوراًand at times تَراهُyou see it يَحمِلُcarrying الحَصَياتِlittle pebbles
وَطَوراً تَراهُ يَحمِلُ الحَصَياتِ
At times you see it carry lofty peaks and hills,
and at times you see it carry little pebbles.
وَرُبَّand many a حَصاةٍpebble قَدرُهاits worth فَوقَabove يَذبُلٍYadhbul
وَرُبَّ حَصاةٍ قَدرُها فَوقَ يَذبُلٍ
كَمَقبولِlike an accepted one of ماwhat يُرمىis cast مِنَof الجَمَراتِthe ritual pebbles
كَمَقبولِ ما يُرمى مِنَ الجَمَراتِ
Yet many a pebble's worth stands higher than Yadhbul,
like an accepted pebble among those cast in ritual stoning.
وَكُلُّand every صَغيرٍsmall deed كانَwas لِلّهِfor God خالِصاًsincere
وَكُلُّ صَغيرٍ كانَ لِلّهِ خالِصاً
يُرَبّيgrows in worth عَلىaccording to ماwhat جاءَhas been related فيconcerning الصَدَقاتِcharitable gifts
يُرَبّي عَلى ما جاءَ في الصَدَقاتِ
And every small deed done purely for God
grows in worth, as has been related concerning alms.
وَكُلُّand every كَبيرٍgreat deed لاnot يَكونُis لِوَجهِهِfor His sake
وَكُلُّ كَبيرٍ لا يَكونُ لِوَجهِهِ
فَمِثلُthen like رَمادٍashes طارَflew فيin الهَبَواتِdust clouds
فَمِثلُ رَمادٍ طارَ في الهَبَواتِ
And every great deed not done for His sake
is like ashes blown through clouds of dust.
وَلَكِنَّهُbut it يُرجىis hoped لِمَنfor one who ماتَdied مُحسِناًdoing good
وَلَكِنَّهُ يُرجى لِمَن ماتَ مُحسِناً
وَيُخشىand fear is felt عَلىfor مَنone who ماتَdied فيin غَمَراتِdepths of heedlessness
وَيُخشى عَلى مَن ماتَ في غَمَراتِ
Yet there is hope for one who dies doing good,
and fear for one who dies sunk in heedlessness.
وَماand not اليَومَtoday يُمتازُis distinguished التَفاضُلُthe difference in merit بَينَهُمbetween them
وَما اليَومَ يُمتازُ التَفاضُلُ بَينَهُم
وَلَكِنbut غَداًtomorrow يُمتازُis distinguished فيin الدَرَجاتِthe ranks
وَلَكِن غَداً يُمتازُ في الدَرَجاتِ
Today their differing worth is not made clear,
but tomorrow it will be clear in their ranks,
إِذاwhen رُوِّعَis terrified الخاطيthe sinner وَطارَand takes flight فُؤادُهُhis heart
إِذا رُوِّعَ الخاطي وَطارَ فُؤادُهُ
وَأُفرِخَand is dispelled رَوعُthe fear of البَرِّthe righteous one فيin الغُرُفاتِthe lofty chambers
وَأُفرِخَ رَوعُ البَرِّ في الغُرُفاتِ
when the sinner is terrified and his heart takes flight,
and the righteous one's fear is stilled in the lofty chambers.
وَماand not يَعرِفُknows الإِنسانُthe human being أَينَwhere وَفاتُهُhis death is
وَما يَعرِفُ الإِنسانُ أَينَ وَفاتُهُ
أَفيwhether on البَرِّthe land أَمor فيin البَحرِthe sea أَمor بِفَلاةِin a wilderness
أَفي البَرِّ أَم في البَحرِ أَم بِفَلاةِ
No human knows where his death will come:
on land, at sea, or in a wilderness.
فَياso O إِخوَتيmy brothers مَهماwhenever شَهِدتُمyou attend جَنازَتيmy funeral
فَيا إِخوَتي مَهما شَهِدتُم جَنازَتي
فَقومواthen stand لِرَبّيbefore my Lord وَاِسأَلوهُand ask Him نَجاتيfor my salvation
فَقوموا لِرَبّي وَاِسأَلوهُ نَجاتي
So, my brothers, whenever you attend my funeral,
stand before my Lord and ask Him for my salvation.
وَجِدّواand be earnest اِبتِهالاًin supplication فيin الدُعاءِprayer وَأَخلِصواand be sincere
وَجِدّوا اِبتِهالاً في الدُعاءِ وَأَخلِصوا
لَعَلَّperhaps إِلَهيmy God يَقبَلُwill accept الدَعَواتِthe prayers
لَعَلَّ إِلَهي يَقبَلُ الدَعَواتِ
Be earnest in pleading in prayer, and be sincere,
that perhaps my God may accept the prayers.
وَقولواand say جَميلاًsomething good إِنeven if عَلِمتُمyou know خِلافَهُits contrary
وَقولوا جَميلاً إِن عَلِمتُم خِلافَهُ
وَأَغضواand turn a blind eye عَلىto ماwhatever كانَoccurred مِنof هَفَواتيmy lapses
وَأَغضوا عَلى ما كانَ مِن هَفَواتي
Speak well of me, even if you know otherwise,
and overlook whatever lapses I have made.
وَلاand do not تَصِفونيdescribe me بِالَّذيwith that which أَناI أَهلُهُam worthy of it
وَلا تَصِفوني بِالَّذي أَنا أَهلُهُ
فَأَشقىlest I suffer وَحَلّونيand adorn me بِخَيرِwith the finest صِفاتِqualities
فَأَشقى وَحَلّوني بِخَيرِ صِفاتِ
Do not describe me as I deserve,
lest I suffer; adorn me with the finest qualities.
وَلاand do not تَتَناسَونيdeliberately forget me فَقِدماًfor long ago ذَكَرتُكُمI remembered you
وَلا تَتَناسَوني فَقِدماً ذَكَرتُكُم
وَواصَلتُكُمand I maintained bonds with you بِالبِرِّwith kindness طولَthroughout حَياتيmy life
وَواصَلتُكُم بِالبِرِّ طولَ حَياتي
And do not put me out of mind; long have I remembered you,
and maintained my bonds with you in kindness all my life.
وَبِالرَغمِand unwillingly فارَقتُI parted from الأَحِبَّةَthe loved ones مِنكُمُamong you
وَبِالرَغمِ فارَقتُ الأَحِبَّةَ مِنكُمُ
وَلَمّاand not yet تُفارِقنيhave left me بِكُمover you زَفَراتيmy sighs
وَلَمّا تُفارِقني بِكُم زَفَراتي
Unwillingly I parted from my loved ones among you,
and my sighs for you have not yet left me.
وَإِنand though كُنتُI am مَيتاًdead بَينَbetween أَيديكُمُyour hands لَقىًa discarded thing
وَإِن كُنتُ مَيتاً بَينَ أَيديكُمُ لَقىً
فَروحِيَyet my spirit حَيٌّis alive سامِعٌlistening لِنُعاتيto those announcing my death
فَروحِيَ حَيٌّ سامِعٌ لِنُعاتي
Though I lie dead before you, a discarded thing,
my spirit lives, hearing those who announce my death.
أُناجيكُمُI speak privately to you وَحياًin intimations وَإِنand though كُنتُI am صامِتاًsilent
أُناجيكُمُ وَحياً وَإِن كُنتُ صامِتاً
أَلاbehold كُلُّكُمall of you يَوماًone day إِلَيَّto me سَياتيwill come
أَلا كُلُّكُم يَوماً إِلَيَّ سَياتي
I speak privately to you in intimations, though I am silent:
behold, each of you will one day come to me.
وَلَيسَand not يَقومُstands الجِسمُthe body إِلّاexcept بِروحِهِthrough its spirit
وَلَيسَ يَقومُ الجِسمُ إِلّا بِروحِهِ
هُوَit القُطبُthe pivot وَالأَعضاءُand the limbs كَالأَدَواتِlike tools
هُوَ القُطبُ وَالأَعضاءُ كَالأَدَواتِ
The body stands only through its spirit;
it is the pivot, and the limbs are like tools.
وَلاand no بُدَّescape يَوماًone day أَنthat يَحورَit returns بِعَينِهِas its very self
وَلا بُدَّ يَوماً أَن يَحورَ بِعَينِهِ
لِيُجزىto be requited عَلىfor الطاعاتِacts of obedience وَالتَبِعاتِand transgressions
لِيُجزى عَلى الطاعاتِ وَالتَبِعاتِ
And one day it must return, the very same,
to be requited for obedience and transgressions.
وَإِلّاand if not أَكُنI am أَهلاًworthy لِفَضلٍof grace وَرَحمَةٍand mercy
وَإِلّا أَكُن أَهلاً لِفَضلٍ وَرَحمَةٍ
فَرَبِّيَthen my Lord أَهلُthe possessor of الفَضلِgrace وَالرَحَماتِand mercies
فَرَبِّيَ أَهلُ الفَضلِ وَالرَحَماتِ
And if I am not worthy of grace and mercy,
my Lord is the possessor of grace and mercies.
فَماfor not زِلتُI have ceased أَرجوto hope for عَفوَهُHis pardon وَجِنانَهُand His gardens
فَما زِلتُ أَرجو عَفوَهُ وَجِنانَهُ
وَأَحمَدُهُand I praise Him فيin اليُسرِease وَالأَزَماتِand hardships
وَأَحمَدُهُ في اليُسرِ وَالأَزَماتِ
For I have never ceased to hope for His pardon and His gardens,
and to praise Him in ease and adversity.
وَأَسجُدُand I prostrate تَعظيماًin reverence لَهُto Him وَتَذَلُّلاًand humility
وَأَسجُدُ تَعظيماً لَهُ وَتَذَلُّلاً
وَأَعبُدُهُand I worship Him فيin الجَهرِpublic وَالخَلَواتِand seclusion
وَأَعبُدُهُ في الجَهرِ وَالخَلَواتِ
I prostrate before Him in reverence and humility,
and worship Him openly and in solitude.
وَلَستُand I am not بِمُمتَنٍّclaiming a favor عَلَيهِupon Him بِطاعَتيthrough my obedience
وَلَستُ بِمُمتَنٍّ عَلَيهِ بِطاعَتي
لَهُto Him belongs المَنُّthe favor فيin التَيسيرِmaking easy لِلحَسَناتِfor good deeds
لَهُ المَنُّ في التَيسيرِ لِلحَسَناتِ
I do not count my obedience as a favor done to Him;
His is the favor of making good deeds easy.
Translation model: Sol 6.1