أَجَلyes أَيُّهاO الرَبعُthe dwelling الَّذيwhose خَفَّdwindled آهِلُهits inhabitants
أَجَل أَيُّها الرَبعُ الَّذي خَفَّ آهِلُه
لَقَدindeed أَدرَكَتattained فيكَin you النَوىseparation ماwhat تُحاوِلُهit seeks
لَقَد أَدرَكَت فيكَ النَوى ما تُحاوِلُه
Yes, O dwelling whose inhabitants have dwindled,
O quarter that has faded and its inhabitants have gone
separation has indeed achieved in you what it seeks.
In you, purpose found what it seeks
وَقَفتُI stood وَأَحشائيand my innards مَنازِلُdwellings لِلأَسىfor sorrow
وَقَفتُ وَأَحشائي مَنازِلُ لِلأَسى
بِهِat it وَهوَand it قَفرٌa wilderness قَدalready تَعَفَّتwere effaced مَنازِلُهits dwellings
بِهِ وَهوَ قَفرٌ قَد تَعَفَّت مَنازِلُه
I stood, my innards dwellings for sorrow,
I stood still while my insides were homes to sorrow
there, in a wasteland whose dwellings had been effaced.
For it while it was desolate with its homes collapsing
أُسائِلُكُمI ask you all ماwhat بالُهُits condition حَكَمَhas ruled البِلىdecay
أُسائِلُكُم ما بالُهُ حَكَمَ البِلى
عَلَيهِover it وَإِلّاand otherwise فَاِترُكونيthen leave me أُسائِلُهI question it
عَلَيهِ وَإِلّا فَاِترُكوني أُسائِلُه
I ask you: what ails it, that decay has ruled
I ask you why decay has ruled over it
over it? Otherwise, leave me to question it.
Else leave me be asking it
لَقَدindeed أَحسَنَdid well الدَمعُtears المُحاماةَthe defense بَعدَماafter
لَقَد أَحسَنَ الدَمعُ المُحاماةَ بَعدَما
أَساءَdid harm الأَسىsorrow إِذwhen جاوَرَdwelt beside القَلبَthe heart داخِلُهinside it
أَساءَ الأَسى إِذ جاوَرَ القَلبَ داخِلُه
Tears indeed defended well, after
Indeed, after wrongdoing dwelled inside the heart
sorrow did harm when it lodged within the heart.
Tears defended well
دَعاcalled شَوقُهُits longing ياO ناصِرَchampion الشَوقِof longing دَعوَةًa call
دَعا شَوقُهُ يا ناصِرَ الشَوقِ دَعوَةً
فَلَبّاهُso answered it طَلُّthe drizzle الدَمعِof tears يَجريflows وَوابِلُهand their downpour
فَلَبّاهُ طَلُّ الدَمعِ يَجري وَوابِلُه
The heart's longing cried, "O champion of longing!"
Its longing called, O fulfiller of longing, a call
The drizzle of tears answered it, flowing, and their downpour too.
So the downpour of tears responded profusely
بِيَومٍon a day تُريكَshow you المَوتَdeath فيin صورَةِthe form النَوىof separation
بِيَومٍ تُريكَ المَوتَ في صورَةِ النَوى
أَواخِرُهُits final hours مِنfrom حَسرَةٍanguish وَأَوائِلُهand its first hours
أَواخِرُهُ مِن حَسرَةٍ وَأَوائِلُه
On a day when death in separation's guise was shown to you
A day you will see death in the form of purpose
by its final hours and its first, through anguish.
Its latter fraught with regret and its beginning
وَقَفناwe stood عَلىon جَمرِembers الوَداعِof farewell عَشِيَّةًone evening
وَقَفنا عَلى جَمرِ الوَداعِ عَشِيَّةً
وَلاand no قَلبَheart إِلّاexcept وَهوَand it تَغليboil مَراجِلُهits cauldrons
وَلا قَلبَ إِلّا وَهوَ تَغلي مَراجِلُه
We stood one evening upon farewell's embers,
We stood on the embers of farewell one evening
and every heart's cauldrons were boiling.
With every heart boiling and its pots
وَفيand in الكِلَّةِthe canopy الصَفراءِyellow جُؤذَرُan oryx calf رَملَةٍof a sand dune
وَفي الكِلَّةِ الصَفراءِ جُؤذَرُ رَملَةٍ
غَداset off مُستَقِلّاًdeparting وَالفِراقُand separation مُعادِلُهhis fellow rider
غَدا مُستَقِلّاً وَالفِراقُ مُعادِلُه
And in the yellow canopy, an oryx calf of the sands
Our she-camels, we have saddened them by our worries
set off, with separation riding beside him.
Until we thought they were his she-camels
تَيَقَّنتُI knew for certain أَنَّthat البَينَparting أَوَّلُthe first فاتِكٍkiller
تَيَقَّنتُ أَنَّ البَينَ أَوَّلُ فاتِكٍ
بِهِagainst him مُذsince رَأَيتُI saw الهَجرَestrangement وَهوَand it يُغازِلُهcourts him
بِهِ مُذ رَأَيتُ الهَجرَ وَهوَ يُغازِلُه
I knew for certain that parting would be the first to kill
When the night takes off its dress, you see them
him, ever since I saw estrangement courting him.
Responding with their saddlebags from every side
يُعَنِّفُنيhe reproaches me أَنthat ضِقتُI was constrained ذَرعاًin endurance بِنَأيِهِby his distance
يُعَنِّفُني أَن ضِقتُ ذَرعاً بِنَأيِهِ
وَيَجزَعُand he frets أَنthat ضاقَتgrew tight عَلَيهِupon him خَلاخِلُهُhis anklets
وَيَجزَعُ أَن ضاقَت عَلَيهِ خَلاخِلُهُ
He reproaches me for being unable to bear his distance,
To the pole of life, who if I praised people for his virtues
yet frets when his anklets grow tight upon him.
Their palms would not encompass his merits
أَتَتكَthey came to you أَميرَO commander المُؤمِنينَof the faithful وَقَدand already أَتىhad worn down
أَتَتكَ أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ وَقَد أَتى
عَلَيهاupon them المَلاthe open land أَدماثُهُits soft tracts وَجَراوِلُهand its stony tracts
عَلَيها المَلا أَدماثُهُ وَجَراوِلُه
They came to you, Commander of the Faithful, worn down
Of might, benevolence, generosity and piety
by the open land, its soft ground and its stony tracts.
Are dependants whose provisions are his traits
وَصَلنَthey joined السُرىnight travel بِالوَخدِto swift striding فيin كُلِّevery صَحصَحٍflat expanse
وَصَلنَ السُرى بِالوَخدِ في كُلِّ صَحصَحٍ
وَبِالسُهُدِand to wakefulness المَوصولِunbroken وَالنَومُand sleep خاذِلُهforsaking it
وَبِالسُهُدِ المَوصولِ وَالنَومُ خاذِلُه
They joined night travel to swift striding across every flat expanse,
Remove the darkness of injustice from the face of a nation
and to unbroken wakefulness, with sleep forsaking it.
Lit for it by the setting star of truth
رَواحِلُناour mounts قَدalready بَزَّناwrested from us الهَمُّanxiety أَمرَهاtheir control
رَواحِلُنا قَد بَزَّنا الهَمُّ أَمرَها
إِلىuntil أَنthat حَسِبناwe thought أَنَّهُنَّthat they رَواحِلُهits mounts
إِلى أَن حَسِبنا أَنَّهُنَّ رَواحِلُه
Our mounts—anxiety wrested control of them from us,
The caliphate sought refuge in his steadfastness and gathered
until we imagined they were its mounts.
Around its bosom his spears and swords
إِذاwhen خَلَعَstripped off اللَيلُthe night النَهارَthe day رَأَيتَهاyou saw them
إِذا خَلَعَ اللَيلُ النَهارَ رَأَيتَها
بِإِرقالِهاat their swift trot مِنfrom كُلِّevery وَجهٍdirection تُقابِلُهthey face it
بِإِرقالِها مِن كُلِّ وَجهٍ تُقابِلُه
Whenever night stripped off the day, you saw them
She came to him providing while it was as though
trotting swiftly, from every direction they faced,
She had been corresponding with him before undoubtedly
إِلىtoward قُطُبِthe axis الدُنياof the world الَّذيwho لَوif بِفَضلِهِwith his excellence
إِلى قُطُبِ الدُنيا الَّذي لَو بِفَضلِهِ
مَدَحتُI praised بَنيthe sons الدُنياof the world كَفَتهُمwould suffice for them فَضائِلُهhis virtues
مَدَحتُ بَني الدُنيا كَفَتهُم فَضائِلُه
toward the world's axis: were I, with his excellence,
With al-Mu'tasim billah, through whom the bonds of religion were protected
to praise the world's sons, his virtues would suffice for them.
And its means converged around him
مَنِone for whom البَأسُcourage وَالمَعروفُand kindness وَالجودُand generosity وَالتُقىand piety
مَنِ البَأسُ وَالمَعروفُ وَالجودُ وَالتُقى
عِيالٌdependents عَلَيهِupon him رِزقُهُنَّtheir sustenance شَمائِلُهhis qualities
عِيالٌ عَلَيهِ رِزقُهُنَّ شَمائِلُه
One for whom courage, kindness, generosity, and piety
God cared through him for the subjects with mercy
are dependents, his qualities their sustenance.
Whose worldliness does not make it abandon him
جَلاcleared ظُلُماتِthe darkness الظُلمِof injustice عَنfrom وَجهِthe face أُمَّةٍof a nation
جَلا ظُلُماتِ الظُلمِ عَن وَجهِ أُمَّةٍ
أَضاءَshone لَهاfor her مِنfrom كَوكَبِthe star الحَقِّof truth آفِلهُits vanished light
أَضاءَ لَها مِن كَوكَبِ الحَقِّ آفِلهُ
He cleared the darkness of injustice from a nation's face;
So they became in the morning, with their hearts pouring unto him
the star of truth that had set shone for her.
And his mercy pouring upon them, its reach
وَلاذَتand sought refuge بِحُقوَيهِat his two flanks الخِلافَةُthe caliphate وَاِلتَقَتand gathered
وَلاذَت بِحُقوَيهِ الخِلافَةُ وَاِلتَقَت
عَلىaround خِدرِهاher curtained chamber أَرماحُهُhis spears وَمَناصِلُهand his blades
عَلى خِدرِها أَرماحُهُ وَمَناصِلُه
The caliphate sought refuge at his flanks, and gathered
He stood up so justice stood up in every town
around her curtained chamber were his spears and blades.
As an orator, and kingship's knot was untied
أَتَتهُshe came to him مُغِذّاًhastening قَدalready أَتاهاhe came to her كَأَنَّهاas though she
أَتَتهُ مُغِذّاً قَد أَتاها كَأَنَّها
وَلاand no شَكَّdoubt كانَتshe had been قَبلَbefore ذاكَthat تُراسِلُهcorresponding with him
وَلا شَكَّ كانَت قَبلَ ذاكَ تُراسِلُه
She came to him, who had hastened to her, as though
He unsheathed the sword of truth until it was as though
—and without doubt—she had been corresponding with him before then.
Its scabbard was soft iron and its straps
بِمُعتَصِمٍthrough al-Mu'tasim بِاللَهِin God قَدalready عُصِمَتwere safeguarded بِهِby him
بِمُعتَصِمٍ بِاللَهِ قَد عُصِمَت بِهِ
عُرىthe bonds الدينِof faith وَاِلتَفَّتand entwined عَلَيهاaround them وَسائِلُهhis means of support
عُرى الدينِ وَاِلتَفَّت عَلَيها وَسائِلُه
Through al-Mu'tasim bi'llah, by whom were safeguarded
We approved despite the nights his rule
the bonds of faith, his means of support entwining around them.
And is there one to repeal what the Lord of the Throne decrees?
رَعىpreserved اللَهُGod فيهِin him لِلرَعِيَّةِfor the subjects رَأفَةًcompassion
رَعى اللَهُ فيهِ لِلرَعِيَّةِ رَأفَةً
تُزايِلُهُleaves him الدُنياthe world وَلَيسَتand it does not تُزايِلُهleave him
تُزايِلُهُ الدُنيا وَلَيسَت تُزايِلُه
God preserved in him compassion for his subjects;
Indeed, the time has come for one to guide his unsullied heart
the world may leave him, but that compassion never does.
To the edge of a blade in God's hand, its worker
فَأَضحَواso they came to be وَقَدand already فاضَتoverflowed إِلَيهِtoward him قُلوبُهُمtheir hearts
فَأَضحَوا وَقَد فاضَت إِلَيهِ قُلوبُهُم
وَرَحمَتُهُand his mercy فيهِمamong them تَفيضُoverflows وَنائِلُهand his bounty
وَرَحمَتُهُ فيهِم تَفيضُ وَنائِلُه
Thus they came to be, their hearts overflowing toward him,
And how many covenant-breakers whose hopes
while his mercy and his bounty overflowed among them.
Were ruined by it and whose falsehood for your truth was demolished
وَقامَand he arose فَقامَso arose العَدلُjustice فيin كُلِّevery بَلدَةٍtown
وَقامَ فَقامَ العَدلُ في كُلِّ بَلدَةٍ
خَطيباًas a preacher وَأَضحىand became المُلكُkingship قَدalready شَقَّbroke through بازِلُهits camel's fang
خَطيباً وَأَضحى المُلكُ قَد شَقَّ بازِلُه
He arose, and justice arose in every town,
You enabled him from your mercy's breadth forgiveness
as a preacher; kingship's camel-fang had broken through.
And pardon when your fighter enabled you to fight him
وَجَرَّدَand unsheathed سَيفَthe sword الحَقِّof truth حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّهُas though it
وَجَرَّدَ سَيفَ الحَقِّ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ
مِنَfrom السَلِّunsheathing مودٍperishing غِمدُهُits scabbard وَحَمائِلُهand its sword-straps
مِنَ السَلِّ مودٍ غِمدُهُ وَحَمائِلُه
He unsheathed the sword of truth until it seemed
And acknowledging the sin clothed his soul
its scabbard and straps had perished from unsheathing.
And his body when his tribes did not clothe him
رَضيناwe were content عَلىin رَغمِdefiance of اللَياليthe nights بِحُكمِهِwith his rule
رَضينا عَلى رَغمِ اللَيالي بِحُكمِهِ
وَهَلand is there دافِعٌany repeller أَمراًa command وَذوand the Lord العَرشِof the Throne قائِلُهits speaker
وَهَل دافِعٌ أَمراً وَذو العَرشِ قائِلُه
We were content with his rule, in defiance of the nights;
When a betrayer seeks betrayal through betrayal
can anyone repel a command spoken by the Lord of the Throne?
It is right that his dishonorable acts shame him
لَقَدindeed حانَis doomed مَنwhoever يُهديoffers سُوَيداءَthe core قَلبِهِof his heart
لَقَد حانَ مَن يُهدي سُوَيداءَ قَلبِهِ
لِحَدِّto the point سِنانٍof a spearhead فيin يَدِthe hand اللَهِof God عامِلُهits shaft
لِحَدِّ سِنانٍ في يَدِ اللَهِ عامِلُه
Doomed indeed is whoever offers his heart's core
If he undertakes travels, then white tombs
to the point of a spear whose shaft is in God's hand.
And waterways of death are his destinations
وَكَمand how many ناكِثٍa breaker لِلعَهدِof the covenant قَدalready نَكَثَتbroke faith بِهِwith him
وَكَم ناكِثٍ لِلعَهدِ قَد نَكَثَت بِهِ
أَمانيهِhis hopes وَاِستَخذىand was humbled لِحَقِّكَbefore your truth باطِلُهhis falsehood
أَمانيهِ وَاِستَخذى لِحَقِّكَ باطِلُه
How many a covenant-breaker has been betrayed
And if he builds walls against himself
by his hopes, his falsehood humbled before your truth!
Then those are his shackles, not his strongholds
فَأَمكَنتَهُso you gave him access مِنto رُمَّةِthe rope العَفوِof pardon رَأفَةًout of compassion
فَأَمكَنتَهُ مِن رُمَّةِ العَفوِ رَأفَةً
وَمَغفِرَةًand out of forgiveness إِذwhen أَمكَنَتكَwere within your reach مَقاتِلُهhis vital spots
وَمَغفِرَةً إِذ أَمكَنَتكَ مَقاتِلُه
Then, in compassion, you gave him hold of pardon's rope,
Unless make him know you are angry
and in forgiveness, when his vital spots lay within your grasp.
And leave him be, for fear is undoubtedly his killer
وَحاطَand protected لَهُfor him الإِقرارُacknowledgment بِالذَنبِof the sin روحَهُhis soul
وَحاطَ لَهُ الإِقرارُ بِالذَنبِ روحَهُ
وَجُثمانَهُand his body إِذwhen لَمdid not تَحُطهُprotect him قَبائِلُهhis tribes
وَجُثمانَهُ إِذ لَم تَحُطهُ قَبائِلُه
Acknowledgment of his sin preserved his soul for him,
Through Abu Ishaq's prosperity, the Almighty's hand reached long
and his body too, when his tribes failed to protect him.
And the channel of religion stood up, its shoulder strengthened
إِذاwhen مارِقٌa renegade بِالغَدرِthrough treachery حاوَلَattempts غَدرَةًa betrayal
إِذا مارِقٌ بِالغَدرِ حاوَلَ غَدرَةً
فَذاكَthen that one حَرِيٌّis deserving أَنthat تَئيمَbecome widowed حَلائِلُهhis wives
فَذاكَ حَرِيٌّ أَن تَئيمَ حَلائِلُه
When a renegade seeks through treachery to commit betrayal,
He is a sea, whichever coast you come to him from
he deserves to have his wives made widows.
Its shores are benevolence and generosity
فَإِنthen if باشَرَenters الإِصحارَthe open desert فَالبيضُthen white blades وَالقَناand spears
فَإِن باشَرَ الإِصحارَ فَالبيضُ وَالقَنا
قِراهُhis guest-feast وَأَحواضُand the pools المَناياof death مَناهِلُهhis watering places
قِراهُ وَأَحواضُ المَنايا مَناهِلُه
If he takes to the open desert, bright swords and spears
He grew accustomed to extending his palm until if
are his welcome feast, and death's pools his watering places.
He folded it for clasping, his fingers would not respond to him
وَإِنand if يَبنِhe builds حيطاناًwalls عَلَيهِaround him فَإِنَّماthen merely
وَإِن يَبنِ حيطاناً عَلَيهِ فَإِنَّما
أُولَئِكَthose عُقّالاتُهُhis fetters لاnot مَعاقِلُهhis strongholds
أُولَئِكَ عُقّالاتُهُ لا مَعاقِلُه
And if he builds walls around himself, they are only
If there was nothing in his palm but his soul
his fetters, not his strongholds.
He would give it generously, so let its asker beware of God
وَإِلّاand otherwise فَأَعلِمهُthen tell him بِأَنَّكَthat you ساخِطٌare displeased
وَإِلّا فَأَعلِمهُ بِأَنَّكَ ساخِطٌ
وَدَعهُand leave him فَإِنَّfor indeed الخَوفَfear لاno شَكَّdoubt قاتِلُهhis killer
وَدَعهُ فَإِنَّ الخَوفَ لا شَكَّ قاتِلُه
Otherwise, tell him that you are displeased,
A bestowal, if the one made bashful by it could avoid it
and leave him: fear will surely kill him.
He would become, among people, one who blames him
بِيُمنِthrough the blessing أَبيof Abu إِسحاقَIshaq طالَتgrew long يَدُthe hand العُلىof glory
بِيُمنِ أَبي إِسحاقَ طالَت يَدُ العُلى
وَقامَتand stood upright قَناةُthe spear الدينِof faith وَاِشتَدَّand grew strong كاهِلُهits shoulder
وَقامَت قَناةُ الدينِ وَاِشتَدَّ كاهِلُه
Through Abu Ishaq's blessing, glory's hand has grown long,
When a hopeful person designates its plenty as his wishes
faith's spear has straightened, and its shoulder has grown strong.
His gifts until his hopeful one becomes hopeful
هُوَhe اليَمُّthe sea مِنfrom أَيِّwhichever النَواحيdirections أَتَيتَهُyou approach him
هُوَ اليَمُّ مِن أَيِّ النَواحي أَتَيتَهُ
فَلُجَّتُهُthen his depths المَعروفُkindness وَالجودُand generosity ساحِلُهhis shore
فَلُجَّتُهُ المَعروفُ وَالجودُ ساحِلُه
He is the sea: from whichever side you approach him,
Distractions that stir the heart, if not for their connection
his depths are kindness, and generosity his shore.
To the merit of defending God, their whisperer allures him
تَعَوَّدَhe grew accustomed بَسطَto opening الكَفِّthe hand حَتّىuntil لَوif أَنَّهُthat he
تَعَوَّدَ بَسطَ الكَفِّ حَتّى لَو أَنَّهُ
ثَناهاbent it لِقَبضٍfor closing لَمdid not تُجِبهُrespond to him أَنامِلُهhis fingertips
ثَناها لِقَبضٍ لَم تُجِبهُ أَنامِلُه
He is so accustomed to an open hand that if
The imam of guidance and the son of guidance, what felicity
he bent it to close, his fingertips would not obey him.
Which the ode hastened unto you and its sayer
وَلَوand if لَمnot يَكُنthere were فيin كَفِّهِhis palm غَيرُother than روحِهِhis soul
وَلَو لَم يَكُن في كَفِّهِ غَيرُ روحِهِ
لَجادَhe would give generously بِهاwith it فَليَتَّقِso let him fear اللَهَGod سائِلُهhis petitioner
لَجادَ بِها فَليَتَّقِ اللَهَ سائِلُه
And if nothing were in his palm but his soul,
Your hope for the usurper is readily ample wealth
he would give it away; let his petitioner fear God.
And the first day of meeting you is its fulfiller
عَطاءٌbounty لَوِif اِسطاعَcould الَّذيthe one who يَستَميحُهُseeks his generosity
عَطاءٌ لَوِ اِسطاعَ الَّذي يَستَميحُهُ
لَأَصبَحَhe would become مِنfrom بَينِamong الوَرىmankind وَهوَand he عاذِلُهhis reproacher
لَأَصبَحَ مِن بَينِ الوَرى وَهوَ عاذِلُه
Such bounty that, if the man who seeks his generosity could,
he would stand among mankind reproaching him.
إِذاwhen آمِلٌa hopeful man ساماهُvies with him قَرطَسَhits the bull's-eye فيin المُنىwishes
إِذا آمِلٌ ساماهُ قَرطَسَ في المُنى
مَواهِبَهُhis gifts حَتّىuntil يُؤَمِّلَhopes آمِلُهhis petitioner
مَواهِبَهُ حَتّى يُؤَمِّلَ آمِلُه
When a hopeful man vies with him, he hits the mark amid those wishes,
with his gifts, until his petitioner hopes anew.
لُهىًlavish gifts تَستَثيرُstir القَلبَthe heart لَولاbut for اِتِّصالُهاtheir connection
لُهىً تَستَثيرُ القَلبَ لَولا اِتِّصالُها
بِحُسنِwith the goodness دِفاعِof protection اللَهِof God وُسوِسَwould be driven mad سائِلُهhis petitioner
بِحُسنِ دِفاعِ اللَهِ وُسوِسَ سائِلُه
Lavish gifts that stir the heart—were they not joined
with God's gracious protection, his petitioner would be driven mad.
إِمامَO imam الهُدىof guidance وَاِبنَand son الهُدىof guidance أَيُّwhat فَرحَةٍjoy
إِمامَ الهُدى وَاِبنَ الهُدى أَيُّ فَرحَةٍ
تَعَجَّلَهاhas hastened to gain it فيكَin you القَريضُpoetry وَقائِلُهand its speaker
تَعَجَّلَها فيكَ القَريضُ وَقائِلُه
O imam of guidance, son of guidance, what joy
poetry and its speaker have hastened to find in you!
رَجاؤُكَhope in you لِلباغيfor the seeker الغِنىof wealth عاجِلُthe immediate part الغِنىof wealth
رَجاؤُكَ لِلباغي الغِنى عاجِلُ الغِنى
وَأَوَّلُand the first يَومٍday مِنof لِقائِكَmeeting you آجِلُهits deferred share
وَأَوَّلُ يَومٍ مِن لِقائِكَ آجِلُه
Hope in you is immediate wealth for the wealth-seeker;
the first day of meeting you is its deferred share.
Partial English translation: 74 of 84 Arabic lines translated.