قفStop بيwith me علىat الواديthe valley المحيلbarren
قف بي على الوادي المحيل
نبكيwe weep لمُندرسِover the effaced الطّلولِruins
نبكي لمُندرسِ الطّلولِ
Stop with me at the barren valley.
Stand with me in the fertile valley,
Let us weep over the effaced ruins.
Let us weep for the ruined abodes,
فعسىso perhaps نُقَضَّيwe may fulfill مَأرباًa wish
فعسى نُقَضَّي مَأرباً
وأفوزُand I may succeed يوماًone day مَّاsome (indefinite qualifier) بِسُوَليَin my desire
وأفوزُ يوماً مَّا بِسُوَليَ
Perhaps we may fulfill a wish,
Perhaps we will attain deliverance,
and I may someday attain my desire.
And one day I will attain my wish.
أناI ذوpossessed of الصَّبابَةِardent longing والجَوىand inward anguish
أنا ذو الصَّبابَةِ والجَوى
وأناand I أبوthe father of الحُزنِsorrow الطويلlong-lasting
وأنا أبو الحُزنِ الطويل
I am possessed of longing and inward anguish,
I am the one with youth and passion,
and I am the father of enduring sorrow.
And I am the one with prolonged sorrow.
ذَهَبتdeparted أحبّائيmy beloved ones الاُولىthose who
ذَهَبت أحبّائي الاُولى
همthey فيin الوغاbattle آسادُlions of قِيلِa king
هم في الوغا آسادُ قِيلِ
Gone are my beloved ones, who
My early beloved ones are gone,
in battle are a king's lions.
They lie in the earth as lions.
وهُمُand they إذاwhen جنَّdescended الدُّجىthe night-darkness
وهُمُ إذا جنَّ الدُّجى
سَجَدواprostrated themselves لِرَبّهمto their Lord الجليلthe Majestic
سَجَدوا لِرَبّهم الجليل
And when the darkness of night descended,
And when the darkness falls,
they bowed to their majestic Lord.
They prostrate to their Exalted Lord.
منof كُلّevery أبيضradiant man ماجدٍnoble
من كُلّ أبيض ماجدٍ
تهواهyou love him فيin قُللٍheights وقيلand speech
تهواه في قُللٍ وقيل
Each one a radiant, noble man,
Of every white-faced noble one,
whom you love amid the heights and in speech [wording unclear].
Whose love thrilled the hills and dunes,
قدindeed عزَّstood exalted فيin أقوالِهhis words
قد عزَّ في أقوالِه
والفِعلand deeds يوماًever عنbeyond مثيلan equal
والفِعل يوماً عن مثيل
He stood supreme in his words
His words were honored,
and deeds, ever beyond compare.
Yet never matched by deeds one day.
بادواthey perished فلاso I do not أنساهُمُforget them
بادوا فلا أنساهُمُ
فيat كلِّevery صُبحdawn أوor أصيلevening
في كلِّ صُبح أو أصيل
They perished, so I never forget them
They are gone but I do not forget them,
at any dawn or evening,
At every dawn or nightfall.
إلاّexcept إذاwhen أذَّكَّرتُI recall ماwhat
إلاّ إذا أذَّكَّرتُ ما
فَعلتdid اُميّةUmayya بالقَتيلto the slain one
فَعلت اُميّة بالقَتيل
except when I recall what
Except when I recall what
Umayya did to the slain one—
Umayyah did to the martyred one,
سِبطgrandson of النّبيthe Prophet المصطفىthe Chosen
سِبط النّبي المصطفى
وابنand son of المُطَهَّرةthe purified one البتولthe Virgin
وابن المُطَهَّرة البتول
the grandson of the chosen Prophet,
The grandson of the Chosen Prophet,
and son of the purified Virgin,
And son of the Pure and Chaste.
مُلقىًcast down علىupon حرّthe heat of الصَّعيدthe ground
مُلقىً على حرّ الصَّعيد
مُجَدَّلاًlaid low فوقupon الرُّمُولthe sands
مُجَدَّلاً فوق الرُّمُول
cast upon the scorching ground,
Thrown upon the hot ground,
laid low upon the sands.
Rolled in the sand,
لَهفيmy anguish لفرخِfor the fledgling of مُحمَّدٍMuhammad
لَهفي لفرخِ مُحمَّدٍ
لَهفيmy anguish لذيfor the possessor of المجدglory الأثيلdeep-rooted
لَهفي لذي المجد الأثيل
My grief for Muhammad's fledgling!
My craving for the chick of Mohammad,
My grief for the lord of deep-rooted glory!
My craving for the one with eternal glory.
شلواًa dismembered body علىupon الرمضاءthe scorching ground لهفيmy anguish
شلواً على الرمضاء لهفي
للمقطَّعfor the dismembered one والجديلand the fallen one
للمقطَّع والجديل
A dismembered body upon the scorching earth—my grief
I crave for him as he lies in the wilderness,
for the dismembered and fallen one!
Mutilated and dismembered.
أفديI ransom العفيَرthe dust-covered one علىupon التُّرابthe earth لهfor him
أفدي العفيَر على التُّراب له
ألاAh ياO أرضearth زوليvanish
ألا يا أرض زولي
I would ransom the dust-covered one upon the earth; for him,
I sacrifice myself for him in the dust,
ah, O earth, vanish!
Oh earth, sway!
بأبيwith my father as ransom المُخضَّبthe dyed one شيبُهhis gray hair
بأبي المُخضَّب شيبُه
بدماهwith his blood فيon اليومthe day المهولdreadful
بدماه في اليوم المهول
My father be a ransom for him whose gray hair was dyed
By my father whose white hair
with his blood on that dreadful day.
Was dyed by his blood on the momentous day.
بأبيwith my father as ransom حبيبَthe beloved of اللهGod والand the—
بأبي حبيبَ الله وال
هاديguide محمَّدٍّMuhammad الرَّسُولthe Messenger
هادي محمَّدٍّ الرَّسُول
My father be a ransom for the beloved of God and of the
By the beloved of God and the one who guides,
guide, Muhammad the Messenger.
Mohammad the Messenger.
تركوهthey left him منبوذاًcast aside ثلاثاًfor three [days]
تركوه منبوذاً ثلاثاً
بالعَرىin the open غيرَnot الغَسِيلwashed
بالعَرى غيرَ الغَسِيل
They left him cast aside for three [days],
They left him abandoned for three days,
in the open, unwashed,
Without a shroud or washing,
إلاّexcept بقانٍwith crimson منfrom دماهhis blood
إلاّ بقانٍ من دماه
مَسيلُهُits flowing خَيرthe best of المَسيلflows
مَسيلُهُ خَير المَسيل
save with the crimson of his blood,
Except for blood stains from his wounds,
whose flowing is the finest flow.
The outpouring of the best outpouring.
بأبيwith my father as ransom فديتُI ransom كَريَمهhis noble head
بأبي فديتُ كَريَمه
يعلوit rises علىupon رمحٍa spear طَويلlong
يعلو على رمحٍ طَويل
With my father I would ransom his noble head,
By my father I redeem his noble soul,
rising upon a long spear.
Raised high upon a lengthy lance.
يتلوhe recites الكتابthe Book علىupon الرّماحthe spears
يتلو الكتاب على الرّماح
فَدَيتُI ransom معدومضwithout (apparent typo) المثيلan equal
فَدَيتُ معدومض المثيل
He recites the Book upon the spears;
Reciting the Book upon the lances -
I would ransom the one without an equal.
My sacrifice for the peerless one.
بأبيwith my father as ransom فديتُI ransom بناتِthe daughters of أحمدَAhmad
بأبي فديتُ بناتِ أحمدَ
فاقداتٍbereft للكَفيلof the protector
فاقداتٍ للكَفيل
With my father I would ransom the daughters of Ahmad,
By my father I redeem Ahmad’s daughters,
bereft of their protector.
Bereft of any guardian.
تُسبىis taken captive وتأسرهاand take her captive اللِّئامthe vile ones
تُسبى وتأسرها اللِّئام
فيدتهاI ransomed her (uncertain reading) بيدِin the hand of الجَهُولthe ignorant man
فيدتها بيدِ الجَهُول
They are taken captive, and the vile imprison them;
Taken captive and imprisoned by villains,
I would ransom her [reading uncertain], in the ignorant man's hand.
In the hands of the ignorant.
رُكِّبنthey were mounted منfrom فوقabove المطاياthe riding beasts
رُكِّبن من فوق المطايا
فَوقَupon صعبٍan unruly beast لاnot ذَلُولِa docile one
فَوقَ صعبٍ لا ذَلُولِ
They were mounted upon riding beasts,
Mounted atop horses and camels,
upon unruly ones, not docile.
Upon rugged beasts with no gentleness.
تهدىis offered لآلِto the house of أميَّةٍUmayya
تهدى لآلِ أميَّةٍ
وزيادٍand Ziyad الرَّجسthe foul one الجهولthe ignorant
وزيادٍ الرَّجس الجهول
They are offered to the house of Umayya
Presented as gifts to the people of Umayyah,
and Ziyad, the foul and ignorant.
And Ziyad the despicable ignoramus.
عجباًhow strange لهاfor her تُهدىshe is offered up وهُنَّwhile they are
عجباً لها تُهدى وهُنَّ
بناتُdaughters of فاطِمَةFatima البَتُولthe Virgin
بناتُ فاطِمَة البَتُول
How strange that they are offered up, when they are
Wonders that they are gifted when they are
the daughters of Fatima the Virgin,
The daughters of Fatima the Chaste.
وَبناتُand daughters of أحَمدAhmad والوَصيّand the Trustee
وَبناتُ أحَمد والوَصيّ
لهاfor her ألاAh ياO أرضearth مِيليtilt
لها ألا يا أرض مِيلي
and daughters of Ahmad and the Trustee!
And the daughters of Ahmad and the Successor -
For them—ah, O earth, tilt!
Oh land, sway for their sake!
لَهفيmy anguish لَهُنَّfor them حواسراًbareheaded
لَهفي لَهُنَّ حواسراً
تشكوcomplaining إلىto المولىthe master العليلailing
تشكو إلى المولى العليل
My grief for them, bareheaded,
My craving for them as captives,
complaining to the ailing master—
Complaining to the Almighty Lord.
أعنيI mean عَليَّAli بنَson of الحُسينHusayn
أعني عَليَّ بنَ الحُسين
خليفةvicegerent of اللهGod الجليلthe Majestic
خليفة الله الجليل
I mean Ali son of Husayn,
I mean Ali son of Hussein,
the vicegerent of God, the Majestic.
The Caliph of God, the Majestic.
أفديهI ransom him فيamong نسوانهhis women
أفديه في نسوانه
يدعينthey call بالويلwith woe الطّوِيلprolonged
يدعين بالويل الطّوِيل
I would ransom him amid his women,
I sacrifice myself for him and his women,
who cry out with prolonged woe,
Crying with prolonged wailing,
ويَصُحنَand they cry out بالمختارto the Chosen One ياO
ويَصُحنَ بالمختار يا
جدّاهُmy grandfather! ياO خَيرَbest of الكفيلprotectors
جدّاهُ يا خَيرَ الكفيل
and call to the Chosen One: 'O
And calling upon Al-Mukhtar, saying:
grandfather, O best of protectors!
"O grandfather, O best guardian!"
ياO جدَّناour grandfather قتلواthey killed الحُسَينHusayn
يا جدَّنا قتلوا الحُسَين
وأوطأوهand had him trampled بالخيُولby horses
وأوطأوه بالخيُول
O our grandfather, they killed Husayn
"O grandfather, they killed Hussein,
and had horses trample him.
And trampled him with horses."
كانَwas الحُسَينHusayn لَناfor us إذاwhen
كانَ الحُسَين لَنا إذا
وَقَفَceased الغمامthe clouds عنfrom النُّزولdescending
وَقَفَ الغمام عن النُّزول
Husayn was for us, when
For us, Hussein was like rain
the clouds ceased to rain,
Whenever clouds gathered but did not pour.
بدلاًa substitute مِنfor الغيثِthe rain المُلثّunceasing
بدلاً مِن الغيثِ المُلثّ
فكانso he was خَصباًabundance فيamid المُحُولdroughts
فكان خَصباً في المُحُول
a substitute for the unceasing rain;
Instead of beneficial rain,
he was abundance in times of drought.
He was bounty for the farmers.
ياO جَدُّكَمgrandfather—how many (joined words) مِنof فاضِلٍa noble man
يا جَدُّكَم مِن فاضِلٍ
فيin كربلاءKarbala لَناof ours قتيلslain
في كربلاء لَنا قتيل
O grandfather, how many a noble man
O grandfather, how noble he was!
of ours lies slain in Karbala,
For us in Karbala, a martyr.
فيon يومِa day لاnot مِنany ناصرٍhelper
في يومِ لا مِن ناصرٍ
فيهon it لَناfor us يومٍa day مَهُولdreadful
فيه لَنا يومٍ مَهُول
on a day with not a single helper
On a day with no supporters for us,
for us—a dreadful day!
An ominous day.
لمnot يتركواthey left فيin كربلاKarbala—
لم يتركوا في كربلا
ءfinal letter of Karbala لناfor us اُميّةُUmayya منany ذُخُولِblood-feuds (uncertain spelling)
ء لنا اُميّةُ من ذُخُولِ
They did not leave in Karbala
The Umayyads left nothing for us in Karbala,
any vengeance against us unexacted—Umayya.
They killed our children,
قتلواthey killed بهاthere أطفالناour children
قتلوا بها أطفالنا
وبَغَواand sought مُحاربَةto wage war on الجليلthe Majestic One
وبَغَوا مُحاربَة الجليل
They killed our children there
And sought to fight against the Majestic.
and sought to wage war against the Majestic One.
As if they did not recognize us as the best tribe!
فَكأنَّهُمso it was as though they لَمdid not يَعرِفُوناknow us
فَكأنَّهُم لَم يَعرِفُونا
أنَّناthat we خيرُthe best of القَبيلthe clan
أنَّنا خيرُ القَبيل
It was as though they did not know us—
O grandfather, his supporters
that we are the finest clan.
In Karbala upon the hills.
ياO جَدُّهاgrandfather—behold (uncertain word division) أنصارُهhis supporters
يا جَدُّها أنصارُه
فيin كَربلاءKarbala علىupon التّلولِthe mounds
في كَربلاء على التّلولِ
O grandfather, behold his supporters
Whether stabbed, wounded, or piled in mounds,
in Karbala upon the mounds,
On the plains they have no equal.
ماsome بينamong مطعُونstabbed جريحٍwounded
ما بين مطعُون جريحٍ
أوor رَميلٍbloodstained أوor جَديلlaid low
أو رَميلٍ أو جَديل
some stabbed and wounded,
As if they were the full moons of Sa'd,
others bloodstained or laid low.
Approaching their setting.
قُتِلواthey were killed وَلَيسand there is not لَهُمfor them عَلىupon
قُتِلوا وَلَيس لَهُم عَلى
وَجهِthe face of البسيطةِthe earth منany مثيلequal
وَجهِ البسيطةِ من مثيل
They were killed, and they have no
Supporters of the religion of God - I sacrifice myself for them!
equal upon the face of the earth.
And supporters of the Messenger.
فكأنّهمso they seemed أقمارُmoons of سعدٍgood fortune
فكأنّهم أقمارُ سعدٍ
قدindeed دَنَتdrew near نَحوَtoward الاُفولsetting
قد دَنَت نَحوَ الاُفول
They seemed like moons of good fortune
Supporters of the chick of Mohammad,
drawing near their setting.
Of Hasan and supporters of the Chaste.
أنصارُsupporters of دِينthe religion of اللهGod أفديهمI ransom them
أنصارُ دِين الله أفديهم
وأنصارُand supporters of الرَّسولthe Messenger
وأنصارُ الرَّسول
Supporters of God's religion—I would ransom them—
Supporters of our Master Hussein,
and supporters of the Messenger,
And the proof of God, the Majestic.
أنصارsupporters of فرخِthe fledgling of مُحمّدٍMuhammad
أنصار فرخِ مُحمّدٍ
حَسَنHasan وأنصارُand supporters of البتولthe Virgin
حَسَن وأنصارُ البتول
supporters of Muhammad's fledgling,
My craving for them - they were killed and each
Hasan, and supporters of the Virgin,
Was scorched by the heat of flames.
أنصارsupporters of مولاناour master الُحسينHusayn
أنصار مولانا الُحسين
وحُجّةand the proof of اللهGod الجَليلthe Majestic
وحُجّة الله الجَليل
supporters of our master Husayn
O family of Ahmad, you are
and the Proof of God, the Majestic.
The best guide for your servants.
لَهفيmy anguish لَهمfor them قتلواthey were killed وَكلٌand each
لَهفي لَهم قتلوا وَكلٌ
كَظَّهoverwhelmed him حَرُّthe heat of الغَلِيلburning thirst
كَظَّه حَرُّ الغَلِيل
My grief for them: they were killed, and each
You are my hopes from the predicaments,
was choked by the burning of thirst.
And upon you lies the burden of the provider.
ياO آلhouse of أحمدAhmad أنتُمُyou
يا آل أحمد أنتُمُ
لِعَبيدِكمfor your servants خيرُthe best of الدّليلguides
لِعَبيدِكم خيرُ الدّليل
O house of Ahmad, you are
I praise you at my morn,
the best guide for your servants.
O my guides, along with my evening.
أنتمyou أمانيmy safety منfrom لَظىblazing fire
أنتم أماني من لَظى
وعليكمُand upon you ثِقلُthe burden of المُعيلthe man with dependents
وعليكمُ ثِقلُ المُعيل
You are my safety from the blazing fire,
So accept what I have said,
and upon you rests the burden of one with dependents.
For in you are my deeds and words.
إنّيindeed I لأحمدكُمsurely praise you صباحيin my morning
إنّي لأحمدكُم صباحي
ياO هُداتيmy guides مَعwith أصيليmy evening
يا هُداتي مَع أصيلي
Indeed, I praise you in my morning,
May the Lord of Majesty bless you,
O my guides, and in my evening.
And praise from the Majestic suffices you.
فتقبّلواso accept ماwhat قلُتهI said
فتقبّلوا ما قلُته
فَأناfor I بكمthrough you فِعليmy deed وَقيليand my words
فَأنا بكم فِعلي وَقيلي
So accept what I have said,
for through you are my deeds and words.
صَلَّىmay bless عليكُمyou ذوthe Lord of الجَلالِMajesty
صَلَّى عليكُم ذو الجَلالِ
وحسبُكمand enough for you مَدحُthe praise of الجليلthe Majestic One
وحسبُكم مَدحُ الجليل
May the Lord of Majesty bless you,
and the Majestic One's praise is enough for you.
Partial English translation: 98 of 102 Arabic lines translated.