ياO رَبعُdwelling لَوif only رَبَعواthey had tarried عَلىfor اِبنِa son of هُمومِsorrows
يا رَبعُ لَو رَبَعوا عَلى اِبنِ هُمومِ
مُستَسلِمٍresigned لِجَوىto the burning pain of الفِراقِseparation سَقيمِailing
مُستَسلِمٍ لِجَوى الفِراقِ سَقيمِ
O dwelling, if only they had tarried for a son of sorrows,
O quarter, if only they had quartered the son of worries,
resigned to separation's burning pain, ailing.
Surrendering to the agony of separation, sick,
قَدonce كُنتَyou were مَعهوداًknown بِأَحسَنِfor the finest ساكِنٍinhabitant
قَد كُنتَ مَعهوداً بِأَحسَنِ ساكِنٍ
مِنّاamong us وَأَحسَنَand the finest دِمنَةٍcampsite وَرُسومِand traces
مِنّا وَأَحسَنَ دِمنَةٍ وَرُسومِ
You were once known for the finest inhabitant
You used to be known for the best neighbor
among us, and were the fairest campsite and traces.
From us and the best blood-money and customs,
أَيّامَin the days when لِلأَيّامِthe days had فيكَwithin you غَضارَةٌfreshness
أَيّامَ لِلأَيّامِ فيكَ غَضارَةٌ
وَالدَهرُand Time فِيَّtoward me وَفيكَand toward you غَيرُnot مُليمِblameworthy
وَالدَهرُ فِيَّ وَفيكَ غَيرُ مُليمِ
In days when the days within you were verdant,
The days in you are green,
and Time was blameless toward me and you;
And fate in me and in you is not miserable,
وَظِباءُand the gazelles of أُنسِكَyour companionship لَمnot تَبَدَّلwere exchanged مِنهُمُfrom among them
وَظِباءُ أُنسِكَ لَم تَبَدَّل مِنهُمُ
بِظِباءِfor the gazelles of وَحشِكَyour wilderness ظاعِناًa departing one بِمُقيمِfor a resident
بِظِباءِ وَحشِكَ ظاعِناً بِمُقيمِ
and none of your familiar gazelles had been exchanged
And the companions of your intimacy have not changed
for your wild gazelles—a departing one for a resident.
To the companions of your solitude, complaining constantly,
مِنfrom كُلِّevery ريمٍwhite gazelle لَوif تَبَدّىit appeared قَطَّعَتtore apart
مِن كُلِّ ريمٍ لَو تَبَدّى قَطَّعَت
أَلحاظُthe glances of مُقلَتِهِits eye فُؤادَthe heart of الريمِthe gazelle
أَلحاظُ مُقلَتِهِ فُؤادَ الريمِ
Each a white gazelle who, if it appeared, would rend,
From every evildoer, if he appeared, his glances
with its eye's glances, a gazelle's heart.
Would cut the heart of the evildoer with his eyelids,
أَمّاas for الهَوىlove فَهوَit is العَذابُtorment فَإِنand if جَرَتflows
أَمّا الهَوى فَهوَ العَذابُ فَإِن جَرَت
فيهِwithin it النَوىseparation فَأَليِمُthen the most painful of كُلِّevery أَليمِpain
فيهِ النَوى فَأَليِمُ كُلِّ أَليمِ
As for love, it is torment; and if there flows
As for passion, it is torment, so if intentions
through it separation, it is the most painful of all pain.
Flowed in it, how painful for every sufferer,
أَمَرَcommanded التَجَلُّدَendurance بِالتَلَذُّذِto take delight حُرقَةٌa burning pain
أَمَرَ التَجَلُّدَ بِالتَلَذُّذِ حُرقَةٌ
أَمَرَتcommanded جُمودَthe stillness of دُموعِهِhis tears بِسُجومِto flow
أَمَرَت جُمودَ دُموعِهِ بِسُجومِ
A burning pain commanded endurance to take delight,
It ordered endurance with pleasure, burning,
and commanded his frozen tears to stream.
It ordered the stillness of its tears with burning coal,
لاno وَالطُلولِby the ruins الدارِساتِfading أَلِيَّةًan oath
لا وَالطُلولِ الدارِساتِ أَلِيَّةً
مِنfrom مُعرِقٍone deeply rooted فيamong العاشِقينَlovers صَميمِtrue-born
مِن مُعرِقٍ في العاشِقينَ صَميمِ
No—by the fading ruins, an oath
No, by the long dark nights, painful,
from one true-born and deeply rooted among lovers—
From a passionate lover, sincere,
ماnot حاوَلَتsought عَينيmy eye تَأَخُّرَa delay of ساعَةٍan hour
ما حاوَلَت عَيني تَأَخُّرَ ساعَةٍ
فَالدَمعُso tears مُذsince صارَbecame الفِراقُseparation غَريميmy creditor
فَالدَمعُ مُذ صارَ الفِراقُ غَريمي
my eye has sought not even an hour's delay:
My eyes have never tried to delay an hour,
for tears have flowed since separation became my creditor.
Since separation became my adversary,
لَمnot يَبرَحِleft البَينُseparation المُشِتُّscattering جَوانِحيmy ribs
لَم يَبرَحِ البَينُ المُشِتُّ جَوانِحي
حَتّىuntil تَرَوَّتwere steeped مِنwith هَوىًlove مَسمومِpoisoned
حَتّى تَرَوَّت مِن هَوىً مَسمومِ
Scattering separation never left my breast
Absence, the tearful, has not left my essence,
until it was steeped in poisoned love.
Until it was saturated with poisonous love,
وَإِلىand toward جَنابِthe court of أَبيAbu الحُسَينِal-Husayn تَشَنَّعَتit strained forward
وَإِلى جَنابِ أَبي الحُسَينِ تَشَنَّعَت
بِزِمامِهاat its halter كَالمُصعَبِlike a headstrong camel المَخطومِnose-reined
بِزِمامِها كَالمُصعَبِ المَخطومِ
And toward Abu al-Husayn's court it strained,
And it leaned towards my father al-Husayn's side,
at its halter, like a nose-reined, headstrong camel.
Like Mas'ab whose nose was mutilated,
جاءَتكَit came to you فيon مُعجٍswift camels خَوائِفَfearful فيunder البُرىthe nose-rings
جاءَتكَ في مُعجٍ خَوائِفَ في البُرى
وَعَوارِفٍand familiar بِالمَعلَمِwith the landmark المَأمومِsought
وَعَوارِفٍ بِالمَعلَمِ المَأمومِ
It came to you on swift camels, fearful beneath their nose-rings,
It came to you terrified in the lands,
yet familiar with the landmark they sought.
And cognizant of the guided, intended place,
مِنof كُلِّevery ناجِيَةٍfleet she-camel كَأَنَّas though أَديمَهاher hide
مِن كُلِّ ناجِيَةٍ كَأَنَّ أَديمَها
حيصَتwas stitched ظِهارَتُهُits outer layer بِجِلدِwith the skin of أَطومِa sea turtle
حيصَت ظِهارَتُهُ بِجِلدِ أَطومِ
Each a fleet she-camel, as though her hide
From every confidante, as if her skin
had its outer layer stitched with a sea turtle's skin.
Was scraped and its lining with the skin of Atum
تُنئيholds apart مِلاطَيهاher two flanks إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِستُكرِهَتshe is driven hard
تُنئي مِلاطَيها إِذا ما اِستُكرِهَت
سَعدانَةًa chest-callus كَإِدارَةِlike the round shape of الفُرزومِa cobbler's block
سَعدانَةً كَإِدارَةِ الفُرزومِ
Her two flanks are held apart whenever she is driven hard,
Smooth its fur when it feels irritation
by a chest-callus round as a cobbler's block.
Revolving like spinning of a spindle,
طَلَبَتكَthey sought you مِنof نَسلِthe offspring of الجَديلِal-Jadil وَشَدقَمٍand Shadqam
طَلَبَتكَ مِن نَسلِ الجَديلِ وَشَدقَمٍ
كومٍhigh-humped عَقائِلُchoice she-camels مِنfrom عَقائِلِchoice she-camels كومِhigh-humped
كومٍ عَقائِلُ مِن عَقائِلِ كومِ
They sought you, of the stock of al-Jadil and Shadqam,
It sought you from the lineage of Judayl and Shadaqam,
high-humped, choice she-camels from choice, high-humped stock.
Tribes of tribes of Koum,
يَنسَينَthey forget أَصواتَthe voices of الحُداةِthe camel-drivers وَنَبرَهاand their raised tones
يَنسَينَ أَصواتَ الحُداةِ وَنَبرَها
طَرَباًin delight لِأَصواتِat the cries of الصَدىthe male owl وَالبومِand owls
طَرَباً لِأَصواتِ الصَدى وَالبومِ
They forget the camel-drivers' voices and their ringing tones,
Forgetting the voices of antagonists and their vigor
delighting in the cries of the male owl and the owl.
Confused by the echoes of sound and owls,
فَأَصَبنَso they found بَحرَthe sea of نَداكَyour generosity غَيرَnot مُصَرَّدٍrationed
فَأَصَبنَ بَحرَ نَداكَ غَيرَ مُصَرَّدٍ
وِرداًas a watering place وَأُمَّand the mother of نَداكَyour generosity غَيرَnot عَقيمِbarren
وِرداً وَأُمَّ نَداكَ غَيرَ عَقيمِ
Thus they found the sea of your bounty unstinted
So they attained the sea of your call, constantly flowing,
as a watering place, and your bounty's mother not barren.
A drink, and mother of your call, not barren,
لَمّاwhen وَرَدنَthey reached حِياضَthe pools of سَيبِكَyour largesse طُلَّحاًexhausted
لَمّا وَرَدنَ حِياضَ سَيبِكَ طُلَّحاً
خَيَّمنَthey camped ثُمَّthen شَرِبنَthey drank شُربَthe drinking of الهيمِthirst-crazed camels
خَيَّمنَ ثُمَّ شَرِبنَ شُربَ الهيمِ
When they reached the pools of your largesse, exhausted,
When they arrived at the coasts of your Sibak,
they camped, then drank like thirst-crazed camels.
They camped, then drank the drink of affection,
إِنَّindeed الخَليفَةَthe caliph وَالخَليفَةَand the caliph قَبلَهُbefore him
إِنَّ الخَليفَةَ وَالخَليفَةَ قَبلَهُ
وَجَداكَthey both found you تِربَa born companion of نَصيحَةٍloyal counsel وَعَزيمِand resolve
وَجَداكَ تِربَ نَصيحَةٍ وَعَزيمِ
Indeed, the caliph and the caliph before him
Indeed, the Caliph and the Caliph before him
found you the born companion of loyal counsel and resolve.
Found you a counsel of advice and determination,
وَجَداكَthey both found you مَحموداًpraiseworthy فَلَمّاso they have not يَألُواstinted effort
وَجَداكَ مَحموداً فَلَمّا يَألُوا
لَكَfor you فيin مُفاوَضَةٍconsultation وَلاnor تَقديمِadvancement
لَكَ في مُفاوَضَةٍ وَلا تَقديمِ
They found you praiseworthy and have spared no effort
And they found you praiseworthy, but when they did not
for you in consultation or advancement.
Consult you or put you forward,
مازِلتَyou have never ceased مِنfrom هَذاthis one وَذَلِكَand that one لابِساًwearing
مازِلتَ مِن هَذا وَذَلِكَ لابِساً
حُلَلاًrobes مِنَof التَبجيلِveneration وَالتَعظيمِand exaltation
حُلَلاً مِنَ التَبجيلِ وَالتَعظيمِ
From this one and that one, you have always worn
You kept wearing from this and that, clothes
robes of veneration and exaltation.
Of veneration and reverence,
نَفسيmy soul فِداؤُكَyour ransom وَالجِبالُand the mountains وَأَهلُهاand their inhabitants
نَفسي فِداؤُكَ وَالجِبالُ وَأَهلُها
فيin طِرمِساءَdarkness مِنَof الحُروبِwars بَهيمِpitch-black
في طِرمِساءَ مِنَ الحُروبِ بَهيمِ
May my soul be your ransom, while the mountains and their people
My soul is your redemption, and the mountains and its people,
lay in a pitch-black darkness of war.
In the blackness of wars, confused,
بِالداذَوَيهِat al-Dadhawayh وَخَيزَجٍand Khayzaj وَذَواتِهاand their counterparts
بِالداذَوَيهِ وَخَيزَجٍ وَذَواتِها
عَهدٌa memory لِسَيفِكَof your sword لَمnot يَكُنwas بِذَميمِdisgraceful
عَهدٌ لِسَيفِكَ لَم يَكُن بِذَميمِ
At al-Dadhawayh, Khayzaj, and their counterparts,
With Dhul-Dhuwayh and Khayzaj and their areas,
there is a memory of your sword that is not disgraceful,
A promise to your sword, not insignificant,
بِالمُصعَبِيّينَwith the Mus'abids الَّذينَwho كَأَنَّهُمas though they were
بِالمُصعَبِيّينَ الَّذينَ كَأَنَّهُم
آسادُlions of أَغيالٍthickets وَجِنُّand jinn of صَريمِa desert waste
آسادُ أَغيالٍ وَجِنُّ صَريمِ
with the Mus'abids, who seemed
With the Mus'abiyyn, who are like
lions of thickets and jinn of a desert waste.
Lions of thickets and ghosts of evildoers,
مِثلُlike البُدورِfull moons تُضيءُshine إِلّاexcept أَنَّهاthat they
مِثلُ البُدورِ تُضيءُ إِلّا أَنَّها
قَدalready قُلنِسَتwere capped مِنfrom بَيضِهاtheir helmets بِنُجومِwith stars
قَد قُلنِسَت مِن بَيضِها بِنُجومِ
Like full moons they shone, except that they
Like planets illuminating, except they
were capped with stars from their helmets.
Were eclipsed by their whiteness with stars,
وَلّىfled بِهاbecause of it المَخذولُthe forsaken one يَعذِلُrebuking نَفسَهُhimself
وَلّى بِها المَخذولُ يَعذِلُ نَفسَهُ
مُتَمَطِّراًracing فيthrough جَيشِهِhis army المَهزومِdefeated
مُتَمَطِّراً في جَيشِهِ المَهزومِ
At that, the forsaken man fled, reproaching himself,
The defeated one escaped with them, blaming himself,
racing through his defeated army.
Raining in his defeated army,
رامواthey sought اللَتَيّاthe lesser matter وَالَّتيand the greater matter فَاِعتاقَهُمso thwarted them
راموا اللَتَيّا وَالَّتي فَاِعتاقَهُم
سَيفُthe sword of الإِمامِthe imam وَدَعوَةُand the prayer of المَظلومِthe wronged one
سَيفُ الإِمامِ وَدَعوَةُ المَظلومِ
They sought the lesser and the greater, but were thwarted by
They wanted Latyaa, and the one who liberated them
the imam's sword and the wronged man's prayer.
Was the Imam's sword and the call of the oppressed,
ناشَدتَهُمyou implored them بِاللَهِby God يَومَon the day لَقيتَهُمyou met them
ناشَدتَهُم بِاللَهِ يَومَ لَقيتَهُم
وَالخَيلُand the horses تَحتَbeneath عَجاجَةٍa dust-cloud كَالنيمِlike a neem tree
وَالخَيلُ تَحتَ عَجاجَةٍ كَالنيمِ
You implored them by God on the day you met them,
You adjured them by God the day you met them
while the horses were beneath a dust-cloud like a neem tree.
With the horses under the commotion like ostriches
وَمَنَحتَهُمand you gave them عِظَتَيكَyour two admonitions مِنfrom مُتَوَعِّرٍone stern
وَمَنَحتَهُم عِظَتَيكَ مِن مُتَوَعِّرٍ
مُتَسَهِّلٍgentle قاسيhard الفُؤادِof heart رَحيمِmerciful
مُتَسَهِّلٍ قاسي الفُؤادِ رَحيمِ
And you gave them your two admonitions, from one stern
And you gave them your advice gently
yet gentle, hard of heart yet merciful.
From a hardened heart, kind,
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen جَمَحواthey bolted هَتَكتَyou tore open بُيوتَهُمtheir houses
حَتّى إِذا جَمَحوا هَتَكتَ بُيوتَهُم
بِاللَهِby God ثُمَّthen الثامِنِthe eighth المَعصومِthe protected one
بِاللَهِ ثُمَّ الثامِنِ المَعصومِ
Until, when they bolted, you tore open their houses
Until when they gathered, your might violated their homes
by God, then by the eighth, the protected one.
By God, then the eighth infallible one,
فَتَجَرَّدَتthen were bared بيضُthe bright blades of السُيوفِthe swords لِهامِهِمfor their heads
فَتَجَرَّدَت بيضُ السُيوفِ لِهامِهِم
وَتَجَرَّدَand was bared التَوحيدُfaith in God's oneness لِلتَخريمِfor rending
وَتَجَرَّدَ التَوحيدُ لِلتَخريمِ
Then the bright swords were bared for their heads,
So the whites of the swords were bared to their necks
and faith in God's oneness was bared to rend them apart.
And the declaration of Oneness to curses,
غادَيتَهُمyou assailed them at dawn بِالمَشرِقَينِin the two Easts بِوَقعَةٍin a battle
غادَيتَهُم بِالمَشرِقَينِ بِوَقعَةٍ
صَدَعَتsplit صَواعِقُهاits thunderbolts جِبالَthe mountains of الرومِRum
صَدَعَت صَواعِقُها جِبالَ الرومِ
You struck them at dawn in the two Easts, in a battle
You went against them in the two easts in a battle
whose thunderbolts split the mountains of Rum.
Whose lightnings split the mountains of Rome,
أَخرَجتَهُمyou drove them out بَلrather أَخرَجَتهُمdrove them out فِتنَةٌa rebellion
أَخرَجتَهُم بَل أَخرَجَتهُم فِتنَةٌ
سَلَبَتهُمُit stripped them مِنof نَضرَةٍfreshness وَنَعيمِand ease
سَلَبَتهُمُ مِن نَضرَةٍ وَنَعيمِ
You drove them out—rather, a rebellion drove them out,
Rather, sedition brought them out,
stripping them of freshness and ease.
Robbing them of freshness and bliss,
نُقِلواthey were moved مِنَfrom الماءِthe water النَمويرِsweet and wholesome وَعيشَةٍand a life
نُقِلوا مِنَ الماءِ النَمويرِ وَعيشَةٍ
رَغَدٍcomfortable إِلىto الغِسلينِHell's foul washings وَالزَقّومِand the zaqqum tree
رَغَدٍ إِلى الغِسلينِ وَالزَقّومِ
They were moved from sweet water and a life
They were moved from Nu'meer water and a life
of plenty to Hell's foul washings and the zaqqum tree.
Of ease to Ghisleen and Hellfire,
وَالحَربُand war تَعلَمُknows حينَwhen تَجهَلُrages blindly غارَةٌa raid
وَالحَربُ تَعلَمُ حينَ تَجهَلُ غارَةٌ
تَغليboils عَلىover حَطَبِthe firewood of القَناspear-shafts المَحطومِshattered
تَغلي عَلى حَطَبِ القَنا المَحطومِ
War knows, when a raid runs wild,
And war knows when an ignorant raid boils
boiling over the firewood of shattered spear-shafts,
Over the firewood of the broken palm-trunks,
أَنَّthat المَناياdeaths طَوعُobedient to بَأسِكَyour might وَالوَغىand battle
أَنَّ المَنايا طَوعُ بَأسِكَ وَالوَغى
مَمزوجُthe mixed contents of كَأسِكَyour cup مِنof رَدىًdeath وَكُلومِand wounds
مَمزوجُ كَأسِكَ مِن رَدىً وَكُلومِ
that deaths obey your might, and battle
That death is subjugated by your might and havoc
is your cup's mixture of death and wounds.
Is mixed in your cup of harm and wounds,
وَالحَربُand war تَركَبُrides رَأسَهاits own head فيin مَشهَدٍa battlefield
وَالحَربُ تَركَبُ رَأسَها في مَشهَدٍ
عُدِلَwas equated السَفيهُthe fool بِهِin it بِأَلفِwith a thousand حَليمِprudent men
عُدِلَ السَفيهُ بِهِ بِأَلفِ حَليمِ
War charges headlong on a battlefield
And war rides its head in a scene
where one fool is reckoned equal to a thousand prudent men,
Where the foolish is equalized by it with a thousand wise ones,
فيat ساعَةٍan hour لَوif أَنَّthat لُقماناًLuqman بِهاin it
في ساعَةٍ لَو أَنَّ لُقماناً بِها
وَهوَand he is الحَكيمُthe sage لَصارَwould have become غَيرَnot حَكيمِwise
وَهوَ الحَكيمُ لَصارَ غَيرَ حَكيمِ
at an hour when, had Luqman been there,
In an hour, if Luqman in it
sage though he is, he would have become no sage.
While he is wise became unwise,
جَثَمَتroosted طُيورُthe birds of المَوتِdeath فيin أَوكارِهاtheir nests
جَثَمَت طُيورُ المَوتِ في أَوكارِها
فَتَرَكنَso they left طَيرَthe bird of العَقلِreason غَيرَnot جُثومِroosting
فَتَرَكنَ طَيرَ العَقلِ غَيرَ جُثومِ
The birds of death roosted in their nests,
The birds of death crouched in their nests
leaving the bird of reason unable to roost.
Leaving the birds of mind not crouching,
وَالسَيفُand the sword يَحلِفُswears أَنَّكَthat you are السَيفُthe sword الَّذيwhich
وَالسَيفُ يَحلِفُ أَنَّكَ السَيفُ الَّذي
ماnever اِهتَزَّwas brandished إِلّاwithout اِجتَثَّuprooting عَرشَthe throne of عَظيمِa mighty man
ما اِهتَزَّ إِلّا اِجتَثَّ عَرشَ عَظيمِ
The sword swears that you are the sword which
And the sword swears that you are the sword that
was never brandished without uprooting a mighty man's throne.
Did not shake except it uprooted a mighty throne,
مَشَتِwalked الخُطوبُcalamities القَهقَرىbackward لَمّاwhen رَأَتthey saw
مَشَتِ الخُطوبُ القَهقَرى لَمّا رَأَت
خَبَبيmy trot إِلَيكَtoward you مُؤَكِّداًreinforced بِرَسيمِby a brisk camel-trot
خَبَبي إِلَيكَ مُؤَكِّداً بِرَسيمِ
Calamities walked backward when they saw
When misfortunes saw my steps leading
my trot toward you reinforced by a swift camel-stride.
Insistently to you with a cool breeze,
فَزَعَتthey hurried إِلىto التَوديعِfarewell غَيرَnot لَوابِثٍlingering
فَزَعَت إِلى التَوديعِ غَيرَ لَوابِثٍ
لَمّاwhen فَزَعتُI sought refuge إِلَيكَwith you بِالتَسليمِwith greetings
لَمّا فَزَعتُ إِلَيكَ بِالتَسليمِ
They hurried to their farewells, without lingering,
They hastened farewell without staying
when I sought refuge with you, bringing greetings.
When I hastened to you in submission,
وَالدَهرُand Time أَلأَمُthe basest of مَنthose whom شَرَقتَyou choked بِلَومِهِon reproaching it
وَالدَهرُ أَلأَمُ مَن شَرَقتَ بِلَومِهِ
إِلّاexcept إِذاwhen أَشرَقتَهُyou make it choke بِكَريمِwith a generous man
إِلّا إِذا أَشرَقتَهُ بِكَريمِ
Time is the basest of those you choke on reproaching,
And time is painful to whoever you shine with blame upon
except when you make it choke with a generous man.
Except when you make it shine with generosity,
أَهبَبتَyou set blowing ليfor me ريحَthe wind of الرَجاءِhope فَأَقدَمَتso advanced
أَهبَبتَ لي ريحَ الرَجاءِ فَأَقدَمَت
هِمَميmy aspirations بِهاwith it حَتّىuntil اِستَبَحنَthey overran هُموميmy cares
هِمَمي بِها حَتّى اِستَبَحنَ هُمومي
You set the wind of hope blowing for me, and forward marched
You blew the wind of hope for me, so my determination
my aspirations with it, until they overran my cares.
Proceeded with it until my worries forgot,
أَيقَظتَyou awakened لِلكَرَمِto generosity الكِرامَthe noble بِناطِقٍwith an eloquent voice
أَيقَظتَ لِلكَرَمِ الكِرامَ بِناطِقٍ
لِنَداكَfor your bounty أَظهَرَrevealed كَنزَthe treasure of كُلِّevery قَديمِancient one
لِنَداكَ أَظهَرَ كَنزَ كُلِّ قَديمِ
You awakened the noble to generosity with an eloquent voice
You awakened generosity for the generous with a speaker
for your bounty, bringing every ancient treasure to light.
For your call who disclosed the treasure of every ancient one,
وَلَقَدand indeed نَكونُwe may be وَلاand no كَريمَgenerous man نَنالُهُwe reach him
وَلَقَد نَكونُ وَلا كَريمَ نَنالُهُ
حَتّىuntil نَخوضَwe wade through إِلَيهِtoward him أَلفَa thousand لَئيمِbase men
حَتّى نَخوضَ إِلَيهِ أَلفَ لَئيمِ
Indeed, we often cannot reach a generous man
And we do not become, and no generous person do we attain,
until we wade through a thousand base men to him.
Until we wade towards him through a thousand miserable ones,
فَسَنَنتَso you established بِالمَعروفِthrough kindness مِنfrom أَثَرِthe traces of النَدىgenerosity
فَسَنَنتَ بِالمَعروفِ مِن أَثَرِ النَدى
سُنَناًcustoms شَفَتthat healed مِنof دَهرِناour age المَذمومِblameworthy
سُنَناً شَفَت مِن دَهرِنا المَذمومِ
So through kindness, following generosity's path, you established
You instituted benevolence from the impact of dew,
customs that cured us of our blameworthy age.
Institutions that healed our condemned time,
وَسَمَit branded الوَرىhumankind بِخَصاصَةٍwith poverty فَوَسَمتَهُso you branded it
وَسَمَ الوَرى بِخَصاصَةٍ فَوَسَمتَهُ
بِسَماحَةٍwith generosity لاحَتshone عَلىon الخُرطومِthe snout
بِسَماحَةٍ لاحَت عَلى الخُرطومِ
It branded humankind with poverty, so you branded it
And you marked the world with exclusivity, so you marked it
with generosity that shone upon its snout.
With generosity that shone on the elephant's trunk,
جَلَّيتَyou excelled فيهِwithin it بِمُقلَةٍwith an eye لَمnot يُقذِهاirritated it
جَلَّيتَ فيهِ بِمُقلَةٍ لَم يُقذِها
بُخلٌmiserliness وَلَمand not تُسفَحwas shed in tears عَلىover مَعدومِa destitute man
بُخلٌ وَلَم تُسفَح عَلى مَعدومِ
You excelled in it with an eye never irritated
You uncovered in it with a glance that was not stinted by
by miserliness, nor spent in tears over a destitute man.
Stinginess and was not poured out upon non-existence,
يَقَعُoccurs اِنبِساطُthe expansion of الرِزقِsustenance فيin لَحَظاتِهاits glances
يَقَعُ اِنبِساطُ الرِزقِ في لَحَظاتِها
نَسَقاًin succession إِذاwhen وَقَعَتthey fall عَلىupon مَحرومِone deprived
نَسَقاً إِذا وَقَعَت عَلى مَحرومِ
Sustenance unfolds within its glances,
The flowing of sustenance in its glimpses flows
in succession, whenever they fall upon one deprived.
When poured upon a deprived one,
وَيَدٍand a hand يَظَلُّkeeps المالُwealth يَسقُطُdropping كَيدُهُits cunning
وَيَدٍ يَظَلُّ المالُ يَسقُطُ كَيدُهُ
فيهاwithin it سُقوطَthe dropping of الهاءِthe letter hāʾ فيin التَرخيمِvocative truncation
فيها سُقوطَ الهاءِ في التَرخيمِ
And a hand—wealth's cunning keeps falling away
And a hand the money's deceit falls in it
within it, as hāʾ drops in vocative truncation.
Falling like the letter Haa (ھ) in singing (Tarheem),
لاnot يَأمَلُhopes for المالُwealth النَجاةَescape إِذاwhen عَداassails
لا يَأمَلُ المالُ النَجاةَ إِذا عَدا
صَرفُthe vicissitudes of الزَمانِTime مُجاءَةًsuddenly بِعَديمِagainst a destitute man
صَرفُ الزَمانِ مُجاءَةً بِعَديمِ
Wealth has no hope of escape when
Say to misfortunes about me, I am
Time's vicissitudes suddenly assail a destitute man.
A neighbor of Ishaaq son of Ibraheem.
قُلsay لِلخُطوبِto calamities إِلَيكِaway with you عَنّيfrom me إِنَّنيindeed I am
قُل لِلخُطوبِ إِلَيكِ عَنّي إِنَّني
جارٌa protected neighbor لِإِسحاقَof Ishaq بنِson of إِبراهيمِIbrahim
جارٌ لِإِسحاقَ بنِ إِبراهيمِ
Tell calamities: Away from me! I am
under the protection of Ishaq ibn Ibrahim.
Partial English translation: 104 of 106 Arabic lines translated.