أَرأَيتhave you seen حِكمةَthe wisdom سيِّدِthe master الكُرماءِthe generous
أَرأَيت حِكمةَ سيِّدِ الكُرماءِ
وعَرفتَand have you known شيخَthe elder السَّداةِthe benefactors الحُكَماءِthe wise
وعَرفتَ شيخَ السَّداةِ الحُكَماءِ
Have you seen the wisdom of the master of the generous,
and known the elder of the wise benefactors?
تلكthat السياسةُstatesmanship حَزْمُهاits resolve ودهاؤُهَاand its shrewdness
تلك السياسةُ حَزْمُها ودهاؤُهَا
ناهيكmore than enough for you منof حزمٍresolve وفَرْطِand an abundance of دَهاءِshrewdness
ناهيك من حزمٍ وفَرْطِ دَهاءِ
Such is statesmanship—its resolve and its shrewdness:
what resolve, what surpassing shrewdness!
مُرْcommand ياO محمدُMuhammad وَاقْضِand judge مالَكyou have no عَائِبٌfault-finder
مُرْ يا محمدُ وَاقْضِ مالَك عَائِبٌ
فيin كلِّevery أمرٍcommand ترتضيyou approve وقضاءِand judgment
في كلِّ أمرٍ ترتضي وقضاءِ
Command, Muhammad, and judge; none can fault you
in any command or judgment you approve.
وَلرُبَّماand often خَفِيَwas hidden الصّوابُthe right course فأسفَرتْthen revealed
وَلرُبَّما خَفِيَ الصّوابُ فأسفَرتْ
عنهfrom it وُجوهُthe facets الرأيِof counsel بعدafter خَفاءِconcealment
عنه وُجوهُ الرأيِ بعد خَفاءِ
And often the right course lay hidden, then
the facets of counsel revealed it after concealment.
بَدأbegan النبيُّthe Prophet بغيرِwith others than منthose who كانواthey had been لهfor him
بَدأ النبيُّ بغيرِ من كانوا له
خَيْرَthe best الصَّحابةِthe companions عندat كُلِّevery بَلاءِtrial
خَيْرَ الصَّحابةِ عند كُلِّ بَلاءِ
The Prophet began with others than those who had been his
best companions in every trial,
يرجوhe hopes for مَوَدَّتَهمtheir affection وَيَبنيand he builds منهمُfrom them
يرجو مَوَدَّتَهم وَيَبني منهمُ
لِلدّينِfor the faith صَرحَan edifice أمانةٍof trustworthiness وَوفاءِand loyalty
لِلدّينِ صَرحَ أمانةٍ وَوفاءِ
hoping for their affection and building from them
for the faith an edifice of trustworthiness and loyalty.
أعطىhe gave أباAbu سُفيانَSufyan وَابْنَيْهِand his two sons فماand how
أعطى أبا سُفيانَ وَابْنَيْهِ فما
أنْدَىbountiful سَجاياthe qualities الواهبِthe giver المِعْطَاءِthe lavish
أنْدَى سَجايا الواهبِ المِعْطَاءِ
He gave Abu Sufyan and his two sons—how
bountiful are the qualities of the lavish giver!
وَحباand he granted حَكيماًHakim ماwhat أرادَhe desired ثلاثةًthree times
وَحبا حَكيماً ما أرادَ ثلاثةً
ونهىand he restrained هَواهُhis craving فكانَso it was خيرَthe finest حِباءِgift
ونهى هَواهُ فكانَ خيرَ حِباءِ
And he granted Hakim what he desired three times,
and checked his craving; that was the finest gift.
وأصابَهاand he received them مِئَةًa hundred لهfor him منof نفعهاtheir benefit
وأصابَها مِئَةً له من نفعها
ماwhat جَلَّwas too great عنfor عَدٍّnumbering وعنand for إحْصاءِreckoning
ما جَلَّ عن عَدٍّ وعن إحْصاءِ
And he received a hundred of them; their benefit to him
surpassed all numbering and reckoning.
قالhe said ارْعَويْتُI have come to my senses فلستُso I will not أرزأُtake anything from بَعدَهاafter it
قال ارْعَويْتُ فلستُ أرزأُ بَعدَها
أحداًanyone وآلَىand he swore حِلفَةَan oath الأُمناءِof the trustworthy
أحداً وآلَى حِلفَةَ الأُمناءِ
He said, 'I have come to my senses; after this I will take nothing from
anyone,' and swore an oath of the trustworthy.
يُدْعَىhe is invited لِيأخذَto take منfrom أبيAbu بكرٍBakr ومنand from
يُدْعَى لِيأخذَ من أبي بكرٍ ومن
عُمَرٍUmar فماyet not يَزدادُhe grows غيرَexcept إباءِrefusal
عُمَرٍ فما يَزدادُ غيرَ إباءِ
He is invited to take from Abu Bakr and from
Umar, yet his refusal only grows firmer.
ياO وَيْحَalas للعبّاسِfor al-Abbas يَغلبُovercomes حِلْمَهُhis forbearance
يا وَيْحَ للعبّاسِ يَغلبُ حِلْمَهُ
أنْthat كانhe was دُونَbelow مَراتبِthe ranks الرُؤساءِof the chiefs
أنْ كان دُونَ مَراتبِ الرُؤساءِ
Alas for al-Abbas! His forbearance is overcome
by his standing below the chiefs in rank.
أبْدَىhe voiced الشكاةَthe complaint فكانso was صُنْعُthe action مُحمّدٍof Muhammad
أبْدَى الشكاةَ فكان صُنْعُ مُحمّدٍ
صُنْعَthe action الطبيبِof a physician يُريدُhe seeks حَسْمَeradication الدَّاءِthe disease
صُنْعَ الطبيبِ يُريدُ حَسْمَ الدَّاءِ
He voiced his complaint; Muhammad's response
was a physician's work, seeking to eradicate the disease.
قالhe said اقْطَعُواcut off, all of you هذاthis اللِّسانِthe tongue بنفحةٍwith a gift
قال اقْطَعُوا هذا اللِّسانِ بنفحةٍ
عَنّيfrom me وتلكand that سَجِيَّةُthe nature العُظماءِof the great
عَنّي وتلك سَجِيَّةُ العُظماءِ
He said, 'Cut off this tongue with a gift
from me'—such is the nature of the great.
صَفوانُSafwan أسلمَembraced Islam فانجلتْso cleared غَمراتُهhis engulfing delusions
صَفوانُ أسلمَ فانجلتْ غَمراتُه
وأفاقَand he came to his senses بعدafter غَوايةٍwaywardness وغَباءِand foolishness
وأفاقَ بعد غَوايةٍ وغَباءِ
Safwan embraced Islam, and his engulfing delusions cleared;
and he came to his senses after waywardness and foolishness.
لمّاwhen رأىhe saw الإسلامَIslam يَسطعُshines brightly نُورُهits light
لمّا رأى الإسلامَ يَسطعُ نُورُه
كَرِهَhe loathed الضلالَerror وضَاقَand chafed بالظلماءِat darkness
كَرِهَ الضلالَ وضَاقَ بالظلماءِ
When he saw Islam's light shining brightly,
he loathed error and chafed at darkness.
ومَشىand he walked علىalong الأثرِthe trail الكريمِthe noble يَزِينُهadorns him
ومَشى على الأثرِ الكريمِ يَزِينُه
خُلُقُthe character الهُداةِof the guides ومَظهرُand the bearing الحُنَفاءِof the upright monotheists
خُلُقُ الهُداةِ ومَظهرُ الحُنَفاءِ
And he walked along the noble trail, adorned by
the character of guides and the bearing of upright monotheists.
صَفوانُSafwan سِرْwalk فيin نُورِthe light ربِّكَof your Lord إنّهindeed He
صَفوانُ سِرْ في نُورِ ربِّكَ إنّه
يَهْديكَHe guides you فيin سَيْرٍtravel وفيand in إسراءِnight travel
يَهْديكَ في سَيْرٍ وفي إسراءِ
Safwan, walk in your Lord's light, for He
guides you on your journey and in night travel.
ياO زَيْدُZayd قُمْattend بالأمرِto the task وَاكْتُبْand write وَاجْتَنِبْand avoid
يا زَيْدُ قُمْ بالأمرِ وَاكْتُبْ وَاجْتَنِبْ
خَطَأthe error الغُواةِof the misguided وكَبْوَةَand the stumble الجُهَلاءِof the ignorant
خَطَأ الغُواةِ وكَبْوَةَ الجُهَلاءِ
O Zayd, attend to the task, write, and avoid
the error of the misguided and the stumble of the ignorant.
أحْصِcount الرجالَthe men وآتِand give كُلّاًeach حَقَّهُhis due
أحْصِ الرجالَ وآتِ كُلّاً حَقَّهُ
ممّاfrom what أفاءَhas bestowed as spoils اللهُGod ذُوpossessor of الآلاءِblessings
ممّا أفاءَ اللهُ ذُو الآلاءِ
Count the men and give each his due
from what God, Possessor of blessings, has bestowed as spoils.
ماhow أكرمnoble الأنصارَthe Ansar والصَّحْبَand the companions الأُلىwho
ما أكرم الأنصارَ والصَّحْبَ الأُلى
حُرِمُواthey were deprived فَمِنso much صَبرٍpatience ومنand much إغضاءِforbearance
حُرِمُوا فَمِن صَبرٍ ومن إغضاءِ
How noble the Ansar and the companions who
were deprived—what patience, what forbearance!
نزلواthey submitted علىto حُكمِthe judgment النبيِّof the Prophet وسَرَّهمand gladdened them
نزلوا على حُكمِ النبيِّ وسَرَّهم
ماwhat كانthere was منof ثقةٍtrust وحُسنِand good رَجاءِhope
ما كان من ثقةٍ وحُسنِ رَجاءِ
They submitted to the Prophet's judgment and were gladdened
by the trust and good hope that prevailed.
قَومٌa people رساwas firmly anchored الإيمانُfaith مِلءَfilling قُلوبِهِمtheir hearts
قَومٌ رسا الإيمانُ مِلءَ قُلوبِهِم
وسَماand soared عَنabove الشَّهواتِdesires والأهواءِand whims
وسَما عَن الشَّهواتِ والأهواءِ
A people—faith lay firmly anchored, filling their hearts,
and soared above desires and whims.
لاdoes not تَملكُcontrol الدنياthe world عليهمover them أمرَهمtheir affairs
لا تَملكُ الدنيا عليهم أمرَهم
فيin شِدّةٍhardship منof دَهرهِمtheir lifetime ورَخاءِand prosperity
في شِدّةٍ من دَهرهِم ورَخاءِ
The world has no command over their affairs,
in the hardship and prosperity of their days.
ماwhat ضرَّharm befell مَنْone who يَسخوgives generously بِمُهجةِwith the lifeblood نفسِهِof his soul
ما ضرَّ مَنْ يَسخو بِمُهجةِ نفسِهِ
أنْthat لاnot يفوزَhe wins منfrom امرئٍa person بِسَخاءِgenerosity
أنْ لا يفوزَ من امرئٍ بِسَخاءِ
What harm comes to one who freely gives his own lifeblood
if he receives no generosity from another?
نالواthey attained بفضلِby the grace اللهِof God عندin the presence of رسولهِHis Messenger
نالوا بفضلِ اللهِ عند رسولهِ
ماwhat لمdid not يَنَلْattain أحدٌanyone منof النَّعماءِblessings
ما لم يَنَلْ أحدٌ من النَّعماءِ
By God's grace, in His Messenger's presence they attained
blessings no one else had attained.
إنّindeed الثّناءَthe praise إلىto الرجالِthe men يَسوقُهhe conveys it
إنّ الثّناءَ إلى الرجالِ يَسوقُه
لأجلُّis surely nobler منthan إبلٍcamels تُساقُare driven وشَاءِand sheep
لأجلُّ من إبلٍ تُساقُ وشَاءِ
Indeed, the praise he conveys to men
is surely nobler than camels driven forth and sheep.
خَسِرَwas ruined الذيthe one who آذَىhurt النَّبيَّthe Prophet بِقولِهِby his words
خَسِرَ الذي آذَى النَّبيَّ بِقولِهِ
ظَلَمhe wronged الرجالَthe men ولجَّand persisted فيin الإيذاءِcausing harm
ظَلَم الرجالَ ولجَّ في الإيذاءِ
Ruined is he who hurt the Prophet by saying,
'He wronged the men,' and persisted in causing harm.
أثِمَsinned المنافقُthe hypocrite إنّهاindeed it is لَكبيرةٌsurely a grave sin
أثِمَ المنافقُ إنّها لَكبيرةٌ
وكذاكَand likewise يَأثمُsins نَاطِقُone who utters العَوْراءِvile speech
وكذاكَ يَأثمُ نَاطِقُ العَوْراءِ
The hypocrite sinned—surely it is a grave sin;
and likewise sins the one who utters vile speech.
صبراًbe patient رسولَMessenger اللهِof God لستَyou are not بأوّلٍthe first
صبراً رسولَ اللهِ لستَ بأوّلٍ
ماwhat حِيلةُrecourse الحُكماءِthe wise فيagainst السُّفهاءِthe fools
ما حِيلةُ الحُكماءِ في السُّفهاءِ
Patience, Messenger of God! You are not the first.
What recourse have the wise against fools?
مُوسىMoses أخوكَyour brother أُصيبَwas struck منby أعدائهِhis enemies
مُوسى أخوكَ أُصيبَ من أعدائهِ
بأشَدِّwith the severest ماwhat تَرمِيhurl قُوَىthe forces الأعداءِof the enemies
بأشَدِّ ما تَرمِي قُوَى الأعداءِ
Moses, your brother, was struck by his enemies
with the worst that enemy forces could hurl.
إنif أنتَyou لمnot تَعدلْact justly فمنthen who ذاthe one يُرتجىcan be hoped for
إن أنتَ لم تَعدلْ فمن ذا يُرتجى
للعدلِfor justice تحتbeneath القُبَّةِthe dome الزّرقاءِthe blue
للعدلِ تحت القُبَّةِ الزّرقاءِ
If you are not just, who can be looked to
for justice beneath the blue dome?
نَفَرroused الحِفاظُzeal for honor بخالدٍin Khalid ورفيقهِand his companion
نَفَر الحِفاظُ بخالدٍ ورفيقهِ
والموتُand death مُصغٍlistening والمهندُand the Indian-steel sword راءِwatching
والموتُ مُصغٍ والمهندُ راءِ
Zeal for honor roused Khalid and his companion,
while death listened and the Indian-steel sword watched.
لولاكَbut for you إذwhen جاوزْتَyou surpassed أبعدَthe furthest غايةٍlimit
لولاكَ إذ جاوزْتَ أبعدَ غايةٍ
فيin الحِلمِforbearance جاوزَhe would have crossed غايةَthe bounds الأحياءِof the living
في الحِلمِ جاوزَ غايةَ الأحياءِ
But for you, who surpassed the furthest limit
of forbearance, he would have crossed the bounds of the living.
قُلتَyou said اسْكُناbe still, you two لاdo not تقْتُلاَهُkill him, you two فإنّهfor he
قُلتَ اسْكُنا لا تقْتُلاَهُ فإنّه
سيكونُhe will become رأسَthe head الشِّيعةِof the faction النّكراءِthe monstrous
سيكونُ رأسَ الشِّيعةِ النّكراءِ
You said, 'Be still, you two; do not kill him, for he
will become the head of a monstrous faction.
يغلونَthey go to extremes فيin دينِthe religion الإلهِof God فَيخرجُواand so they leave
يغلونَ في دينِ الإلهِ فَيخرجُوا
مِنهُfrom it خُروجَlike the departure السَّهمِof the arrow يومَon a day رِمَاءِof shooting
مِنهُ خُروجَ السَّهمِ يومَ رِمَاءِ
They will go to extremes in God's religion and pass
out of it like an arrow on a day of shooting.
لاlet not يذكرِsay الأقوامُthe peoples أنّthat محمداًMuhammad
لا يذكرِ الأقوامُ أنّ محمداً
يَجزِيhe repays الأُلىthose who صَحبُوهthey accompanied him شرَّthe worst جَزاءِrecompense
يَجزِي الأُلى صَحبُوه شرَّ جَزاءِ
Let people not say that Muhammad
repays those who accompanied him with the worst recompense.'
تِلكَthat النُّبُوَّةُprophethood ياO مُحمّدُMuhammad فَاضْطَلِعْso shoulder
تِلكَ النُّبُوَّةُ يا مُحمّدُ فَاضْطَلِعْ
منهاof it بأعباءٍwith burdens علىupon أعْباءِburdens
منها بأعباءٍ على أعْباءِ
Such is prophethood, Muhammad; so shoulder
its burdens upon burdens.
أدِّبْtrain in good conduct وعلِّمْand teach تِلكَthat مدرسةُthe school الهُدَىof guidance
أدِّبْ وعلِّمْ تِلكَ مدرسةُ الهُدَى
فُتِحتْhas been opened وأنتand you are مؤدِّبُthe educator العُلماءِof the learned
فُتِحتْ وأنت مؤدِّبُ العُلماءِ
Form character and teach: that school of guidance
has been opened, and you are the educator of the learned.
Translation model: Sol 6.1