استخلفَappointed as successor المَنصورَal-Mansur فيin وصاتِهِhis will
استخلفَ المَنصورَ في وصاتِهِ
إِنindeed اِختيارthe choice المَرءِof a person مِنfrom حَصاتِهِhis sound judgment
إِن اِختيار المَرءِ مِن حَصاتِهِ
He named al-Mansur his successor in his will.
Al-Mansur designated him as his successor in his testament
Indeed, a man's choice springs from his judgment.
Indeed, one's choice is made from his pebbles
اِبنson أَبيهِof his father وَسِراجand the lamp بَيتِهِof his house
اِبن أَبيهِ وَسِراج بَيتِهِ
الخُلَفاءُthe caliphs لَمَحاتُglimmers زَيتِهِof his oil
الخُلَفاءُ لَمَحاتُ زَيتِهِ
His father's son and the lamp of his house,
The son of his father and the lamp of his house
the caliphs are glimmers of his oil.
The caliphs are flashes of his oil
حَبرُthe learned scholar بَنيthe sons of العَباسal-Abbas بَحرan ocean of العلمِknowledge
حَبرُ بَني العَباس بَحر العلمِ
قُطبُthe pivot of رحىthe mill of الحَربwar مَدارthe axis of السِلمِpeace
قُطبُ رحى الحَرب مَدار السِلمِ
The sage of the sons of al-Abbas, an ocean of knowledge,
The ink of the Abbasids, the sea of knowledge
the pivot of war's mill, the axis of peace.
The axis of war's mill, the orbit of peace
فَلمso he did not يَكدnearly بِالأَمرin authority يَستَقلُّtake sole charge
فَلم يَكد بِالأَمر يَستَقلُّ
حَتّىuntil تَلقّىhe encountered فِتنَةًa rebellion تُسَلُّbeing unsheathed
حَتّى تَلقّى فِتنَةً تُسَلُّ
Scarcely had he taken sole charge of affairs
So he hardly took power
when he encountered strife unsheathed against him.
When he met a sedition that makes one slip
قَدalready فَرَغhad finished الأَهلُthe family مِنwith الغَريبِthe outsider
قَد فَرَغ الأَهلُ مِن الغَريبِ
وَاِشتَغَلand became occupied القَريبthe kinsman بِالقَريبwith the kinsman
وَاِشتَغَل القَريب بِالقَريب
The family had finished with the outsider,
The strangers had their fill of him
and kinsman turned against kinsman.
And the near ones busied with the near
ثارَrose بِعَبدِin Abd اللَهِAllah ثائِرُthe surge of الحَسَدenvy
ثارَ بِعَبدِ اللَهِ ثائِرُ الحَسَد
وَزَعمand claimed الغابَthe forest أَتىhad entered غَيرَone other than الأَسَدthe lion
وَزَعم الغابَ أَتى غَيرَ الأَسَد
The surge of envy rose within Abd Allah,
The envious revolted against Abdullah
who claimed that another, not the lion, had entered the forest,
And the absent claimed the lion did not come
وَأَنand that مَروانَMarwan إِلَيهِto him سلَّماhad surrendered
وَأَن مَروانَ إِلَيهِ سلَّما
وَأَنand that يَومَthe day of الزابthe Zab يَكفيsufficed سُلَّماas a ladder
وَأَن يَومَ الزاب يَكفي سُلَّما
and that Marwan had surrendered to him,
And that Marwan surrendered to him
and that the day of the Zab sufficed as a ladder.
And that the day of Zab is enough as a ladder
اِنقَلبturned hostile العَمُّthe uncle فَصارَand became غَمّاa sorrow
اِنقَلب العَمُّ فَصارَ غَمّا
وَفَدحand grew grievous الأَمرُthe crisis بِهِthrough him وَطَمّاand overflowed
وَفَدح الأَمرُ بِهِ وَطَمّا
The uncle turned hostile and became a sorrow,
The relative became a sorrow and crashed
and through him the crisis grew grievous and overflowed.
And the matter exploded and slammed him
جاءَcame to نَصيبِينَNasibin وَقَدand had already شَقَّsplit العَصاthe staff
جاءَ نَصيبِينَ وَقَد شَقَّ العَصا
فِيمَنamong those who بَغىsought الفِتنَةَrebellion صَيداًas quarry وَعَصىand rebelled
فِيمَن بَغى الفِتنَةَ صَيداً وَعَصى
He came to Nasibin, having split the staff of unity,
Nusaybin came and the staff was split
among those who sought strife as their quarry and rebelled.
Among those who desired sedition as game and disobeyed
ماnot فلّblunted حدّهمtheir edge عَنaway from المَنصورِal-Mansur
ما فلّ حدّهم عَن المَنصورِ
سِوىexcept أَبيAbu مسلمMuslim الهَصورِthe crushing lion
سِوى أَبي مسلم الهَصورِ
None blunted their edge against al-Mansur
None of them could resist al-Mansur
except Abu Muslim, the crushing lion.
Except Abu Muslim al-Khorasani
سَلhe drew عَلَيهِagainst him سَيفَهُhis sword وَرايَهand his judgment
سَل عَلَيهِ سَيفَهُ وَرايَه
فَلمso did not تَقفstand firm لابنfor Ibn عَليٍّAli رايهa banner
فَلم تَقف لابن عَليٍّ رايه
He drew his sword and his strategy against him,
He unsheathed his sword and his banner against him
and no banner of Ibn Ali stood firm.
So the banner of the son of Ali did not stand
وَهُزِمَand was defeated الطاهِرُthe pure one يَومَon the day of النَهرِthe river
وَهُزِمَ الطاهِرُ يَومَ النَهرِ
وَعرفand learned القاهِرُthe conqueror طَعمَthe taste of القَهرِsubjugation
وَعرف القاهِرُ طَعمَ القَهرِ
The pure one was defeated on the day of the river,
And al-Tahir was defeated the day of the river
and the conqueror tasted being conquered.
And the conqueror tasted humiliation
وَمَنand whoever يُحاولseeks دَولَةًa dynasty وَمُلكاand dominion
وَمَن يُحاول دَولَةً وَمُلكا
يُلاقِmeets نُجحاًsuccess أَوor يُلاقِmeets هُلكاruin
يُلاقِ نُجحاً أَو يُلاقِ هُلكا
Whoever seeks a dynasty and dominion
And whoever aspires for a state and kingdom
meets success or meets ruin.
Will either meet success or meet demise
وَاستطردand pursued الحَينُdoom بُنوةَthe sons of الحُسنal-Hasan
وَاستطرد الحَينُ بُنوةَ الحُسن
وَاِجتَمَعواand they gathered فَاِمتَنَعواso they resisted عَلىagainst الرَسَنthe rein
وَاِجتَمَعوا فَاِمتَنَعوا عَلى الرَسَن
Then doom pursued the sons of al-Hasan.
And time drew on the sons of al-Hassan
They gathered and resisted the rein.
And they gathered and became strong in al-Rass
وَطَلَبواand they sought الأَمرauthority وَحاوَلَواand they strove for المَدىthe utmost
وَطَلَبوا الأَمر وَحاوَلَوا المَدى
وَبايَعواand they pledged allegiance to راشدَهمtheir rightly guided one مُحَمّداMuhammad
وَبايَعوا راشدَهم مُحَمّدا
They sought authority and strove for the utmost,
And they sought power and attempted
and pledged allegiance to their rightly guided Muhammad.
And pledged allegiance to their guide Muhammad
وَكانَand he was مِقداماًdaring جَريئاًbold مِحرَباa seasoned warrior
وَكانَ مِقداماً جَريئاً مِحرَبا
طاحَfell عَلىupon حَدّthe edge of الظُباsword-blades فيin يَثرِباYathrib
طاحَ عَلى حَدّ الظُبا في يَثرِبا
He was daring, bold, a seasoned warrior;
He was audacious, intrepid, battle-hardened
he fell upon the sword-edges in Yathrib.
He fell upon Khaybar in Yathrib
فَثارَthen rose إِبراهيمُIbrahim لِلثاراتِfor vengeance
فَثارَ إِبراهيمُ لِلثاراتِ
وَأَزعَجand harried المَنصورَal-Mansur بِالغاراتِwith raids
وَأَزعَج المَنصورَ بِالغاراتِ
Then Ibrahim rose for vengeance,
So Ibrahim revolted to avenge
and harried al-Mansur with raids.
And disturbed al-Mansur with raids
فُوجِئَwas taken unawares وَالجُيوشُand the armies فيon الأَطرافِthe frontiers
فُوجِئَ وَالجُيوشُ في الأَطرافِ
بِنَهضةby an uprising of الدَهماءِthe common people وَالأَشرافِand the nobles
بِنَهضة الدَهماءِ وَالأَشرافِ
He was taken unawares, with his armies on the frontiers,
He was surprised while the armies were on the outskirts
by an uprising of the common people and the nobles.
With the rise of the daring and nobles
اَضطَربwas convulsed الحِجازُthe Hijaz وَالعِراقُand Iraq
اَضطَرب الحِجازُ وَالعِراقُ
وَشَغبand stirred up trouble الغواةُthe misguided وَالمُرّاقُand the renegades
وَشَغب الغواةُ وَالمُرّاقُ
The Hijaz and Iraq were convulsed,
Hijaz and Iraq were disturbed
and the misguided and the renegades stirred up trouble.
And the rebels and the deviants clamored
فَلمbut did not تفُلَّblunt النائِباتُcalamities عَزمَهhis resolve
فَلم تفُلَّ النائِباتُ عَزمَه
وَلَمand did not يَكِلّweary عَنof لِقاءِfacing الأَزَمَهthe crisis
وَلَم يَكِلّ عَن لِقاءِ الأَزَمَه
But calamities did not blunt his resolve,
Yet seditions did not weaken his resolve
nor did he tire of confronting the crisis.
Nor did he refrain from facing the crisis
تَدارَكَhe countered الشدةَhardship بِالأَشداwith the hardiest
تَدارَكَ الشدةَ بِالأَشدا
مِنfrom كُلِّall مَنthose whom لِمثلِهاfor its like أَعدّاhe had prepared
مِن كُلِّ مَن لِمثلِها أَعدّا
He met hardship with the hardiest,
He countered severity with more severity
from all whom he had readied for its like.
Than anyone who prepared for the like of it
وَكانَand he would يَستَشيرُseek counsel فيduring المَصائِبِcalamities
وَكانَ يَستَشيرُ في المَصائِبِ
وَهُوَand he أَخوa possessor of الرَأيjudgment السَديدsound الصائِبِunerring
وَهُوَ أَخو الرَأي السَديد الصائِبِ
He would seek counsel in calamities,
He used to consult in tribulations
though he possessed sound, unerring judgment.
While he was the brother of right, felicitous opinion
أَمرٌan affair لَهُfor which كِلاهُماboth of them قَدalready شَمَّراhad both girded themselves
أَمرٌ لَهُ كِلاهُما قَد شَمَّرا
وَجَرّداand both drew السَيفَthe sword لَهُfor it بَأَخمراBakhamra
وَجَرّدا السَيفَ لَهُ بَأَخمرا
A cause for which both had girded themselves,
A matter both of them girded up for
and drawn the sword for it at Bakhamra.
And unsheathed the sword for, frowning
فَكانَso there was بَينَamong هاشمٍHashim مِنof حَربِwar
فَكانَ بَينَ هاشمٍ مِن حَربِ
ماwhat كانَhad been بَينَهاbetween them وَبَينَand between حَربِHarb
ما كانَ بَينَها وَبَينَ حَربِ
Thus war arose within Hashim,
So there was between Hashim, from war
like that between them and Harb.
What there was between them and war itself
وَكانَand there was فيat أَولِهاits beginning لِلطالبfor the claimant
وَكانَ في أَولِها لِلطالب
عَلىover قَناthe spears of المَنصورal-Mansur عِزُّthe glory of الغالِبِthe victor
عَلى قَنا المَنصور عِزُّ الغالِبِ
At first, the claimant enjoyed
In the beginning, the seeker had over al-Mansur’s channel
a victor's glory over al-Mansur's spears.
The might of the victor
لَولاbut for المَقاديرُthe decrees of fate القَديرةُmighty اليَدِof hand
لَولا المَقاديرُ القَديرةُ اليَدِ
لَأَحرَزwould have secured السَيّدُthe lord مُلكَthe dominion of السَيّدِthe lord
لَأَحرَز السَيّدُ مُلكَ السَيّدِ
But for fate's mighty hand,
Had it not been for the destined, powerful hands
one lord would have secured the other lord's realm.
The Master would have seized the rule of the Master
كَرّتcharged عَساكِرُthe armies of الإِمامthe Imam كَرّهa charge
كَرّت عَساكِرُ الإِمام كَرّه
عَلىagainst جُنودthe troops of الحَسَنِيِّthe Hasanid مُرّهbitter
عَلى جُنود الحَسَنِيِّ مُرّه
The Imam's armies launched a charge—
Al-Imam's armies were repelled in disgust
a bitter one against the Hasanid's troops.
Against the soldiers of the Hassanid in bitterness
عدتهturned him aside عَنfrom دَعوتهhis cause العَواديadversities
عدته عَن دَعوته العَوادي
وَأَسعفand aided الدَهرُtime أَولىthe worthier السَدادِin sound judgment
وَأَسعف الدَهرُ أَولى السَدادِ
Adversities turned him from his cause,
His calling diverted him from his summons
and time favored the man worthier in judgment.
And time assisted the most righteous
وَطابَand was welcome لِلشَريفto the nobleman الاستشهادُmartyrdom
وَطابَ لِلشَريف الاستشهادُ
فِيماin what يَخالhe believes أَنَّهُit is جِهادُholy struggle
فِيما يَخال أَنَّهُ جِهادُ
The nobleman welcomed martyrdom,
And martyrdom was good for the noble one
in what he believed was holy struggle.
In what he thought was jihad
فَطاحَso he fell لَمnot يَنزلdismounted عَنfrom الكُميتِthe bay horse
فَطاحَ لَم يَنزل عَن الكُميتِ
وَهَكَذاand thus أَبناءُthe sons of هَذاthis البَيتِhouse
وَهَكَذا أَبناءُ هَذا البَيتِ
He fell without dismounting his bay steed,
He fell and did not descend from his position
and such are the sons of this house.
And so are the sons of this house
وَكَثُرand became numerous القَتلىthe slain وَراحَand departed الأَسرىthe captives
وَكَثُر القَتلى وَراحَ الأَسرى
عَلىover فَواتmissing الوَفَياتِdeaths حَسرىgrieving
عَلى فَوات الوَفَياتِ حَسرى
The slain were many, and the captives departed,
Many were killed and many taken captive
grieving that death had passed them by.
To the missing of loyalties lamenting
سَيقواthey were driven إِلىto يَزيدَYazid أَوor زِيادِZiyad
سَيقوا إِلى يَزيدَ أَو زِيادِ
لَكنbut مِنfrom among القَرابَةِthe kin الأَسيادِthe lords
لَكن مِن القَرابَةِ الأَسيادِ
They were driven to a Yazid or a Ziyad,
Taken to Yazid or Ziyad
but one of their own lordly kin.
But not like the two Husseins or Karbala
فَلمso did not يَذُقtaste كَالحسنيّينlike the Hasanids البَلاaffliction
فَلم يَذُق كَالحسنيّين البَلا
وَلاnor الحُسينيّونthe Husaynids يَومon the day of كَربلاKarbala
وَلا الحُسينيّون يَوم كَربلا
None tasted affliction like the Hasanids,
They were hostile, stony-hearted, unmerciful
not even the Husaynids on Karbala's day.
His kinship did not make him have mercy on them
مُنواthey were afflicted بِقاسيwith one hard of القَلبheart لَيسَnot يَرحَمُshowing mercy
مُنوا بِقاسي القَلب لَيسَ يَرحَمُ
وَلَيسَand does not تَثنيهِrestrain him عَلَيهُمtoward them رَحِمkinship
وَلَيسَ تَثنيهِ عَلَيهُم رَحِم
They were afflicted with a hard-hearted man who showed no mercy,
Had his sons coveted his rule
and no kinship softened him toward them.
Their thirst would have been quenched by his executioner
لَوif طَمعتcoveted فيin مُلكِهِhis kingdom أَولادُهُhis children
لَو طَمعت في مُلكِهِ أَولادُهُ
شَفاهموwould have cured them مشنof (apparent typo) طَمعcovetousness جَلّادُهُhis executioner
شَفاهمو مشن طَمع جَلّادُهُ
Had his own children coveted his kingdom,
This was Abu Muslim lost in his world
his executioner would have cured them of ambition.
Deceived by their state into his world
هَذاthis is أَبوAbu مُسلمMuslim التيّاهُthe arrogant
هَذا أَبو مُسلم التيّاهُ
غرّتهdeluded him فيwithin دَولَتِهمtheir state دُنياهُhis worldly fortune
غرّته في دَولَتِهم دُنياهُ
This is Abu Muslim, the arrogant,
So his tongue went too far in violating their honors
deluded by his worldly fortune under their dynasty.
And his favors did not match his affronts
فَطالَso grew long فيagainst أَعراضِهمtheir honor لِسانهhis tongue
فَطالَ في أَعراضِهم لِسانه
وَلَمand did not يَقُمmeasure up بِمَنِّهِto his boasting of favors إِحسانُهhis good service
وَلَم يَقُم بِمَنِّهِ إِحسانُه
His tongue grew long against their honor,
And he disputed the family in the glory of fate
yet his service did not measure up to his boasting.
And his ambition competed in the chest
وَنازعand contested with الآلَthe House جَلالthe grandeur of القَدرِrank
وَنازع الآلَ جَلال القَدرِ
وَنافَستand competed هِمّتُهhis ambition فيfor الصَدرِpreeminence
وَنافَست هِمّتُه في الصَدرِ
He challenged the House's grandeur of rank,
His claim in their state was impudent
and his ambition competed for preeminence.
Had it not been for him, its sun would have been sickly
دَعواهhis claim فيin دَوعتهمtheir cause (apparent typo) عَريضَهsweeping
دَعواه في دَوعتهم عَريضَه
لَولاهwithout him ظَلتwould have remained شَمسُهاits sun مَريضَهsickly
لَولاه ظَلت شَمسُها مَريضَه
His claims upon their cause were sweeping:
Yet to the merit of the pure he was indebted
without him, its sun would have remained sickly.
For they had no love from people like them
وَهُوَand he لِفَضلِof the merit of الطاهِرينthe pure ones ناسِforgetful
وَهُوَ لِفَضلِ الطاهِرين ناسِ
وَماand what لَهُمthey have فيin الحُبlove عِندَamong الناسِthe people
وَما لَهُم في الحُب عِندَ الناسِ
He forgot the merit of the pure ones,
Nor did they owe him any service
and their place in the people's love,
And they made astounding sacrifices
وَماand what عَلواthey undertook لَهُfor him مِنof المُهمَّةthe arduous undertaking
وَما عَلوا لَهُ مِن المُهمَّة
وَبَذَلواand they expended مِنof مُدهِشاتastonishing feats of الهمّهresolve
وَبَذَلوا مِن مُدهِشات الهمّه
and the great undertaking they rose to for him,
And Ibrahim's death was ransom for their matter
and the astonishing resolve they expended,
Out of love for it
وَمَوتand the death of إِبراهيمIbrahim حَتفَdeath فيهِhis mouth (natural-death idiom)
وَمَوت إِبراهيم حَتفَ فيهِ
فِدىًin sacrifice لِأَمرِهُمfor their cause وَحُبّاًand out of love فيهِfor it
فِدىً لِأَمرِهُم وَحُبّاً فيهِ
and Ibrahim's death, breathing his last,
So the viceroy harbored malice against him
in sacrifice for their cause and in love of it.
Appearing gentle while plotting mischief
فَوغِرَso grew resentful الواليthe ruler عَلَيهِagainst him صَدراin his breast
فَوغِرَ الوالي عَلَيهِ صَدرا
يُظهِرُshowing عَطفاًaffection وَيسِرَّand concealing غَدراtreachery
يُظهِرُ عَطفاً وَيسِرَّ غَدرا
The ruler's breast burned with resentment against him,
And the claimant and petitioner
showing affection while concealing treachery.
Strutted in it proudly and arrogantly
وَصاحِبُand the champion of الدَعوةthe cause ضافيample الدَعوىin claims
وَصاحِبُ الدَعوة ضافي الدَعوى
يَرفُلُstruts فيهاin them نَخوَةًwith pride وَزَهواand vainglory
يَرفُلُ فيها نَخوَةً وَزَهوا
The champion of the cause, clothed in sweeping claims,
Blood seeks him wherever he turns
strutted in them with pride and vainglory.
Injustice is destined to be overturned
تَطلُبُهُpursues him الدِماءُblood كُلevery مَطلَبِplace of pursuit
تَطلُبُهُ الدِماءُ كُل مَطلَبِ
لاno بُدَّescape لِلظُلمfor injustice مِنfrom مُنقَلَبِa reversal
لا بُدَّ لِلظُلم مِن مُنقَلَبِ
Blood pursued him wherever he went;
So how he eluded death many times
injustice must meet its reversal.
And how he shed it on suspicions
فَكَمand how often أَدارَهاhe made it circulate عَلىtoward المَنونdeath
فَكَم أَدارَها عَلى المَنون
وَكَمand how often أَراقَهاhe spilled it عَلىon الظُنونِsuspicions
وَكَم أَراقَها عَلى الظُنونِ
How often he sent it coursing toward Death,
He who protected Umayya’s greatness
and how often he spilled it on suspicion.
Abu Ja'far was most hateful to him
هَذاthis one الَّذيwho حَمىdenied أُميَةَUmayya الكَرىsleep
هَذا الَّذي حَمى أُميَةَ الكَرى
كانَwas أَبوAbu جَعفَرJa'far مِنهُthan him أَنكَراmore cunning
كانَ أَبو جَعفَر مِنهُ أَنكَرا
He who had denied Umayya sleep—
The fox may fall into its traps
Abu Ja'far was more cunning than he.
And the moth avoids the flames
قَدmay يَقَعfall الثَعلَبُthe fox فيinto الحُبَالَهthe snare
قَد يَقَع الثَعلَبُ في الحُبَالَه
وَتَتّقِيand avoids الفَراشَةُthe moth الذُبالَهthe wick
وَتَتّقِي الفَراشَةُ الذُبالَه
A fox may fall into the snare,
Space has invalidated the cunning of the old
while a moth avoids the wick.
And its winds have uprooted the firmly rooted
أَفنىexhausted الفَضاءُthe expanse حيلَةَthe cunning of الخِراسِيthe Khurasani
أَفنى الفَضاءُ حيلَةَ الخِراسِي
وَعَصفتand raged رِياحُهُits winds بِالراسيagainst the firmly rooted
وَعَصفت رِياحُهُ بِالراسي
The expanse exhausted the Khurasani's cunning,
And time brought him to the Imam
and its winds blasted the firmly rooted.
While the soul dreads bloodshed
وَساقَهُand drove him الحَينُdoom إِلىto الإِمامِthe Imam
وَساقَهُ الحَينُ إِلى الإِمامِ
وَالنَفسand the soul تَستَجرlets itself be drawn لِلحِمامِtoward death
وَالنَفس تَستَجر لِلحِمامِ
Doom drove him to the Imam,
He came in a witnessed procession
and the soul lets itself be drawn to death.
And protected covenants
فَجاءَهُso he came to him فيin مَوكِبٍa procession مَشهودِpublicly witnessed
فَجاءَهُ في مَوكِبٍ مَشهودِ
وَفيand in مَدارِعٍtunics مِنof العُهودpledges
وَفي مَدارِعٍ مِن العُهود
He came to him in a public procession,
Wanting to punish the inviter to misguidance, though he knew not
clad in tunics made of pledges.
And every traitor meets one more treacherous
أُريدُwas intended (apparent vocalization error) بِالداعيfor the summoner الرَدىdeath وَماand did not دَرىhe know
أُريدُ بِالداعي الرَدى وَما دَرى
وَكُلُّand every غَدّارٍtraitor مُلاقٍmeets أَغدَراsomeone more treacherous
وَكُلُّ غَدّارٍ مُلاقٍ أَغدَرا
Death was intended for the summoner, though he knew it not;
So the swords of India took control of him
every traitor meets someone more treacherous.
And the Franks conquered the Frank
فَمُكِّنتso were empowered مِنهُover him سُيوفُthe swords of الهِندِIndia
فَمُكِّنت مِنهُ سُيوفُ الهِندِ
وَظَفَرand triumphed الفِرندُthe watered steel بِالفِرِندِover the brocade
وَظَفَر الفِرندُ بِالفِرِندِ
The swords of India were given power over him,
The state was afflicted in its richness
and watered steel triumphed over brocade.
And the builder fell from his building
أُصيبَتِwas struck الدَولَةُthe state فيin غِنائِهاits strength
أُصيبَتِ الدَولَةُ في غِنائِها
وَسَقَطand fell البَنّاءُthe builder مِنfrom بِنائِهاits edifice
وَسَقَط البَنّاءُ مِن بِنائِها
The state was struck in its mainstay,
The caliphs, the son of al-Mansur
and the builder fell from its edifice.
And his brilliant era, the father of eras
الخُلفاءُthe caliphs وَلدُthe offspring of المَنصورِal-Mansur
الخُلفاءُ وَلدُ المَنصورِ
وَعَصرُهُand his age الزاهيradiant أَبوthe father of العُصورِages
وَعَصرُهُ الزاهي أَبو العُصورِ
The caliphs are al-Mansur's offspring,
If his term began with blood
and his radiant age is the father of ages.
Only his severity protected it from turmoil
إِنthough اِستَهلَّتbegan بِالدِماءِwith blood مُدَّتُهhis reign
إِن اِستَهلَّت بِالدِماءِ مُدَّتُه
فَماand nothing وَقاهاshielded it from الهَيجturmoil إِلّاexcept شِدتُهhis severity
فَما وَقاها الهَيج إِلّا شِدتُه
Though his reign began in blood,
And he who rules his new kingdom
only his severity shielded it from tumult.
Leads it with silk and iron
وَمَنand whoever يَقُمestablishes بِمُلكِهِhis kingdom الجَديدِnew
وَمَن يَقُم بِمُلكِهِ الجَديدِ
يَقُدهleads it بِالحَريرِwith silk وَالحَديدِand iron
يَقُده بِالحَريرِ وَالحَديدِ
Whoever establishes his new kingdom
Do not expect leniency from the ruler in sedition
must lead it with silk and iron.
Rulers may be driven by circumstances
لاdo not تَرجُexpect فيduring الفِتنَةrebellion رِفقَthe gentleness of الوَاليthe ruler
لا تَرجُ في الفِتنَة رِفقَ الوَالي
قَدmay يُدفَعbe driven الحُكّامُthe rulers بِالأَحوالِby circumstances
قَد يُدفَع الحُكّامُ بِالأَحوالِ
Expect no gentleness from the ruler during rebellion;
Consider his remarkable days
circumstances may drive rulers onward.
And its inclusive shade in the settlements
أُنظُرlook إِلىupon أَيامِهِhis days النَواضِرِflourishing
أُنظُر إِلى أَيامِهِ النَواضِرِ
وَظِلِّهاand their shade الوَارفample فيin الحَواضِرِthe cities
وَظِلِّها الوَارف في الحَواضِرِ
Look upon his flourishing days,
Twenty years of gentle, secure rule
and their ample shade across the cities.
Bestowing bounty and auspicious fortune
عِشرونَtwenty فيin المُلكِkingship رَفَقنَthey accompanied أَمناpeace
عِشرونَ في المُلكِ رَفَقنَ أَمنا
وَفِضنَand they overflowed نَعماءَwith bounty وَسِلنَand they flowed يُمناwith good fortune
وَفِضنَ نَعماءَ وَسِلنَ يُمنا
Twenty years of kingship kept company with peace,
A caliphate whose foundations he strengthened
and overflowed with bounty and streamed with good fortune.
Then ascending in construction
خِلافَةٌa caliphate ثَبّتهاhe made it firm قَواعِداas foundations
خِلافَةٌ ثَبّتها قَواعِدا
ثُمَthen تَرقّىhe rose بِالبِناءِwith the structure صاعِداascending
ثُمَ تَرقّى بِالبِناءِ صاعِدا
A caliphate whose foundations he made firm,
More quick to pardon than the clouded sky
then raised its structure ever higher.
Than the stingiest of caliphs
أَدرُّmore abundant مِنthan صَوبthe downpour of الغَمامclouds دَخلاin revenue
أَدرُّ مِن صَوب الغَمام دَخلا
عَلىupon أَشَدthe most extreme of الخُلِفاءِthe caliphs بُخلاin miserliness
عَلى أَشَد الخُلِفاءِ بُخلا
Revenue was more abundant than the downpour of clouds
He fears Allah in the wealth of servants
upon the most miserly of caliphs.
He did not follow the world nor toy with it
يَخافُhe feared فيregarding مالِthe wealth of العِبادthe subjects اللَهGod
يَخافُ في مالِ العِباد اللَه
ماnot تَبعpursued الدُنياthe world وَلاnor تَلاهىamused himself
ما تَبع الدُنيا وَلا تَلاهى
He feared God concerning his subjects' wealth;
The tools of peace and instruments of war
he did not chase the world or indulge in diversion.
And collecting all of them is gold
لِلسلمfor peace آلاتٌtools وَلِلحَربand for war أُهَبequipment
لِلسلم آلاتٌ وَلِلحَرب أُهَب
جِماعهنtheir sum فيin المَمالكkingdoms الذَهَبgold
جِماعهن في المَمالك الذَهَب
Peace has its tools, and war its equipment;
And al-Mansur changed the course of tradition
their sum, in kingdoms, is gold.
He postponed ‘Isa and established al-Mahdi
وَحَوّلَand changed المَنصورُal-Mansur مَجرىthe course of العَهدِthe succession pledge
وَحَوّلَ المَنصورُ مَجرى العَهدِ
أَخَّرset back عيسىIsa وَأَقامand installed المَهديal-Mahdi
أَخَّر عيسى وَأَقام المَهدي
Al-Mansur changed the course of succession:
Thus his precedence was reform
he set Isa back and installed al-Mahdi.
And in his sons goodness and prosperity
فَكانَso there was فيin تَقديمهhis advancement الإِصلاحُreform
فَكانَ في تَقديمه الإِصلاحُ
وَفيand in بَنيهِhis sons الخَيرُgoodness وَالفَلاحُand prosperity
وَفي بَنيهِ الخَيرُ وَالفَلاحُ
Reform lay in advancing him,
Ask not about the ambition of minds
and goodness and prosperity in his sons.
And the rise of reason and tradition
وَلاand do not تَسَلask عَنabout هِمَّةِthe vigor of العُقولِminds
وَلا تَسَل عَن هِمَّةِ العُقولِ
وَنَهضَةِand the revival of المَعقولrational learning وَالمَنقولِand transmitted learning
وَنَهضَةِ المَعقول وَالمَنقولِ
Ask not of the vigor of minds,
And the abundance of transmitters and translators
and the revival of rational and transmitted learning,
Of Persian wisdom and Maghribi knowledge
وَكَثرَةِand the abundance of الناقِلِthe transmitter وَالمُعَرِّبِand the translator into Arabic
وَكَثرَةِ الناقِلِ وَالمُعَرِّبِ
عَنfrom حِكمَةِthe wisdom of الفُرسِthe Persians وَعِلمand the knowledge of المَغرِبِthe West
عَن حِكمَةِ الفُرسِ وَعِلم المَغرِبِ
and the abundance of transmitters and translators into Arabic,
And he accurately planned Baghdad
drawing on Persian wisdom and the knowledge of the West.
An abode for the enduring, gentle rule
وَاِختَطَّand laid out بَغدادَBaghdad عَلىwith التَسديدsound planning
وَاِختَطَّ بَغدادَ عَلى التَسديد
داراًa home لِمُلكِfor a realm of يسرٍease مَديدِlong-lasting
داراً لِمُلكِ يسرٍ مَديدِ
He laid out Baghdad with sound planning,
It was the mark of the Abbasid days
a home for a long-lasting kingdom of ease.
And festival of their rule and season
كانَتit was لِأَيامfor the days of البَهاليلthe noble lords سِمَهa hallmark
كانَت لِأَيام البَهاليل سِمَه
وَمِهرَجانَand the festival of مُلكِهمtheir kingship وَمَوسِمَهand its season of celebration
وَمِهرَجانَ مُلكِهم وَمَوسِمَه
It was the hallmark of the days of noble lords,
In it the fortunate prominent one shone
the festival of their kingship and its season of celebration.
And the far-drawing jurist was brought up
يَنجمُrises فيهاin it النابِغُthe genius السَعيدُfortunate
يَنجمُ فيها النابِغُ السَعيدُ
وَيُنجبand excels المُقتَبسthe seeker of learning البَعيدُdistant
وَيُنجب المُقتَبس البَعيدُ
There the fortunate genius rises,
and the distant seeker of learning excels.
Partial English translation: 140 of 142 Arabic lines translated.