أَصابَattained المُجاهِدُthe fighter عُقبىthe fate of الشَهيدِthe martyr
أَصابَ المُجاهِدُ عُقبى الشَهيدِ
وَأَلقىand laid down عَصاهُhis staff المُضافُthe hard-pressed one الشَريدthe exile
وَأَلقى عَصاهُ المُضافُ الشَريد
The fighter has met the martyr's fate.
The mujahid attained the rank of martyr,
And the hard-pressed exile has laid down his staff.
And cast off his staff, dispossessed and exiled.
وَأَمسىand became جَماداًinert matter عَدُوُّthe enemy of الجُمودِstagnation
وَأَمسى جَماداً عَدُوُّ الجُمودِ
وَباتَand lay عَلىin القَيدِbondage خَصمُthe opponent of القُيودfetters
وَباتَ عَلى القَيدِ خَصمُ القُيود
And the foe of stagnation has become inert matter.
His enemy, inertness, became inanimate,
And the enemy of fetters lies bound.
While he who had freed the fettered spent the night fettered.
حَداهُdrove him onward السِفارُjourneying إِلىto مَنزِلٍan abode
حَداهُ السِفارُ إِلى مَنزِلٍ
يُلاقيmeets الخَفيفَthe swift-footed عَلَيهِupon it الوَئيدthe slow-footed
يُلاقي الخَفيفَ عَلَيهِ الوَئيد
Journeying drove him onward to an abode
Exile urged him on to an abode
where the slow-footed meet the swift.
Where the blithe spirit meets the woeful corpse.
فَقَرَّso he settled إِلىat موعِدٍan appointed meeting صادِقٍunfailing
فَقَرَّ إِلى موعِدٍ صادِقٍ
مُعِزُّexalting اليَقينِcertainty مُذِلُّhumbling الجُحودdenial
مُعِزُّ اليَقينِ مُذِلُّ الجُحود
So he rested at an unfailing appointed meeting,
So he came closer to a trustworthy appointment-
exalting certainty, humbling denial.
The meeting that confirms certainty and humbles denial.
وَباتَand lay الحَوارِيُّthe disciple مِنamong صاحِبَيهِhis two companions
وَباتَ الحَوارِيُّ مِن صاحِبَيهِ
شَهَيدَينِtwo martyrs أَسرىjourneyed by night إِلَيهِمto them شَهيدa martyr
شَهَيدَينِ أَسرى إِلَيهِم شَهيد
And the disciple lay with his two companions—
Thus the disciple spent the night between two martyred companions-
two martyrs; a martyr journeyed to them by night.
Martyrs to whom a martyr flowed gently between arms and shoulders.
تَسَرَّبَslipped in فيbetween مَنكِبَيthe two shoulders of مُصطَفىMustafa
تَسَرَّبَ في مَنكِبَي مُصطَفى
كَأَمسِas yesterday وَبَينَand between ذِراعَيthe two arms of فَريدFarid
كَأَمسِ وَبَينَ ذِراعَي فَريد
He slipped between Mustafa's shoulders,
So blessed be your grave that hoarded treasures,
as of old, and between Farid's arms.
Observed rights, and kept covenants!
فَياso, O لَكَfor you قَبراًa grave أَكَنَّsheltered الكُنوزَthe treasures
فَيا لَكَ قَبراً أَكَنَّ الكُنوزَ
وَساجَand fenced in الحُقوقَthe rights وَحاطَand guarded العُهودthe covenants
وَساجَ الحُقوقَ وَحاطَ العُهود
What a grave you are, that sheltered treasures,
Indeed, they sheathed in you the sharpest sword;
fenced in rights and guarded covenants!
O grave, have you a scabbard more faithful than they?
لَقَدindeed غَيَّبواthey concealed فيكَin you أَمضىthe keenest of السُيوفِswords
لَقَد غَيَّبوا فيكَ أَمضى السُيوفِ
فَهَلare, then أَنتَyou ياO قَبرُgrave أَوفىthe most faithful of الغُمودsheaths
فَهَل أَنتَ يا قَبرُ أَوفى الغُمود
They have concealed in you the keenest swords;
Three creeds in one hollow
are you, then, O grave, the most faithful of sheaths?
That pound mountains and raze iron to dust;
ثَلاثُthree عَقائِدَconvictions فيin حُفرَةٍa pit
ثَلاثُ عَقائِدَ في حُفرَةٍ
تَدُكُّshatter الجِبالَthe mountains وَتوهيand weaken الحَديدiron
تَدُكُّ الجِبالَ وَتوهي الحَديد
Three convictions in a single pit
They sat and became a sturdy foundation
shatter mountains and weaken iron.
Upon which the splendid structure was erected.
قَعَدنَthey settled فَكُنَّand so became الأَساسَthe foundation المَتينَfirm
قَعَدنَ فَكُنَّ الأَساسَ المَتينَ
وَقامَand arose عَلَيهاupon them البِناءُthe edifice المَشيدlofty
وَقامَ عَلَيها البِناءُ المَشيد
They settled and became the firm foundation,
Do not forget the favors of yesterday-
and upon them rose the lofty edifice.
Lo! Yesterday is the foundation of existence.
فَلاso do not تَنسَforget أَمسِyesterday وَآلاءَهُand its blessings
فَلا تَنسَ أَمسِ وَآلاءَهُ
أَلاtake heed إِنَّindeed أَمسِyesterday أَساسُthe foundation of الوُجودexistence
أَلا إِنَّ أَمسِ أَساسُ الوُجود
So do not forget yesterday and its blessings;
Were it not for decay in the corners of tombs
indeed, yesterday is the foundation of existence.
No antiquity would manifest itself to be renewed.
وَلَولاand were it not for البِلىdecay فيin زَواياthe corners of القُبورِgraves
وَلَولا البِلى في زَوايا القُبورِ
لَماthere would not ظَهَرَتhave appeared جِدَّةٌfreshness لِلمُهودfor cradles
لَما ظَهَرَت جِدَّةٌ لِلمُهود
Were it not for decay in the corners of graves,
Whoever seeks the qualities from their treasure,
no freshness would appear for cradles.
Let them know that creed is an ancient treasure,
وَمَنand whoever طَلَبَseeks الخُلقَcharacter مِنfrom كَنزِهِits treasury
وَمَن طَلَبَ الخُلقَ مِن كَنزِهِ
فَإِنَّthen indeed العَقيدَةَconviction كَنزٌa treasure عَتيدready at hand
فَإِنَّ العَقيدَةَ كَنزٌ عَتيد
And whoever seeks character in its treasury,
Learned through steadfastness or constancy-
conviction is a treasure ready at hand.
The coolness of men, and the passion of the ardent.
تَعَلَّمَlearned بِالصَبرِthrough patience أَوor بِالثَباتِthrough steadfastness
تَعَلَّمَ بِالصَبرِ أَو بِالثَباتِ
جَليدُthe hardy among الرِجالِmen وَغَيرُand those other than الجَليدthe hardy
جَليدُ الرِجالِ وَغَيرُ الجَليد
Through patience or steadfastness, lessons were learned
Hounded by politics from youth,
by the hardy among men and those less hardy.
The hounded one deserves to take his rest.
طَريدَO exile of السِياسَةِpolitics مُنذُsince الشَبابِyouth
طَريدَ السِياسَةِ مُنذُ الشَبابِ
لَقَدindeed آنَthe time has come أَنthat يَستَريحَshould rest الطَريدthe exile
لَقَد آنَ أَن يَستَريحَ الطَريد
O exile of politics since youth,
You encountered its wiles,
the time has come for the exile to rest.
And nothing contrives cunning like politics.
لَقيتَyou met الدَواهِيَcalamities مِنthrough كَيدِهاits scheming
لَقيتَ الدَواهِيَ مِن كَيدِها
وَماand no كَالسِياسَةِlike politics داهٍschemer يَكيدplots
وَما كَالسِياسَةِ داهٍ يَكيد
You met calamities through its scheming;
You took on what no soul can endure
no schemer plots like politics.
And exceeded the utmost effort.
حَمَلتَyou laid a burden عَلىupon النَفسِthe soul ماwhat لاnot يُطاbe borne (continued)
حَمَلتَ عَلى النَفسِ ما لا يُطا
قُend of 'be borne' وَجاوَزَتِand exceeded المُسَتَطاعَwhat is possible الجُهودthe efforts
قُ وَجاوَزَتِ المُسَتَطاعَ الجُهود
You laid upon your soul what could not be borne,
You were tossed into the fire like pure gold
and your efforts went beyond the possible.
And exiled like the unique pearl.
وَقُلِّبتَand you were turned فيin النارِthe fire مِثلَlike النُضاgold (continued)
وَقُلِّبتَ في النارِ مِثلَ النُضا
رِend of 'gold' وَغُرِّبتَand you were exiled مِثلَlike الجُمانِthe pearl الفَريدsolitary
رِ وَغُرِّبتَ مِثلَ الجُمانِ الفَريد
And you were turned in the fire like gold,
Do you remember when you were under the banner
and exiled like a solitary pearl.
Of the prophet, eminent in status, restraining the multitudes?
أَتَذكُرُdo you remember إِذwhen أَنتَyou تَحتَbeneath اللِواءِthe banner
أَتَذكُرُ إِذ أَنتَ تَحتَ اللِواءِ
نَبيهَeminent المَكانَةِin standing لِجَمَّto a vast العَديدmultitude
نَبيهَ المَكانَةِ لِجَمَّ العَديد
Do you remember when you stood beneath the banner,
When you looked upon the two banks,
eminent in standing before a vast multitude?
Perhaps the countryside beckoned to you and the floodplains stirred;
إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic) تَطَلَّعتَyou appeared فيalong الشاطِئَينِthe two banks
إِذا ما تَطَلَّعتَ في الشاطِئَينِ
رَباswelled الريفُthe countryside وَاِفتَنَّand grew inventive فيكَin your honor الصَعيدUpper Egypt
رَبا الريفُ وَاِفتَنَّ فيكَ الصَعيد
Whenever you appeared along the two riverbanks,
The wind shook your shoulders
the countryside swelled, and Upper Egypt grew inventive in your honor.
And the earth slid from the jostling throng.
وَهَزَّand shook النَدِيُّthe assembly لَكَfor you المَنكِبَينِthe two shoulders
وَهَزَّ النَدِيُّ لَكَ المَنكِبَينِ
وَراحَand began الثَرىthe earth مِنfrom زِحامٍcrowding يَميدto sway
وَراحَ الثَرى مِن زِحامٍ يَميد
And the assembly shook its shoulders for you,
Missives pouring with elegant prose
and the earth began to sway beneath the throng.
And making one forget the epistles of Abdel Hamid.
رَسائِلُletters تُذريcast aside بِسَجعِwith the rhymed prose of البَديعِBadiʿ
رَسائِلُ تُذري بِسَجعِ البَديعِ
وَتُنسيand make one forget رَسائِلَthe letters of عَبدِʿAbd الحَميدal-Hamid
وَتُنسي رَسائِلَ عَبدِ الحَميد
Letters that eclipsed Badiʿ's rhymed prose,
The elders of sanctuaries know them like hadith
and made one forget the letters of ʿAbd al-Hamid.
While the youth memorize them like chanting.
يَعيهاabsorb them شُيوخُthe elders of الحِمىthe homeland كَالحَديثِlike hadith
يَعيها شُيوخُ الحِمى كَالحَديثِ
وَيَحفَظُهاand memorize them النَشءُthe young حِفظَas one memorizes النَشيدthe song
وَيَحفَظُها النَشءُ حِفظَ النَشيد
The homeland's elders absorb them like hadith,
Why then did events deny them?
and the young memorize them as they do a song.
The passage of time and the passing of generations?
فَماso what بالُهاis their condition نَكِرَتهاdisowned them الأُمورُevents
فَما بالُها نَكِرَتها الأُمورُ
وَطولُand the length of المَدىtime وَاِنتِقالُand the shifting of الجُدودfortunes
وَطولُ المَدى وَاِنتِقالُ الجُدود
What has become of them, disowned by events,
The people forgot the recent past;
by length of time and the changing fortunes?
Will its narratives have someone to repeat them?
لَقَدindeed نَسِيَforgot القَومُthe people أَمسِyesterday القَريبَrecent
لَقَد نَسِيَ القَومُ أَمسِ القَريبَ
فَهَلso is there لِأَحاديثِهِfor its tales مِنany مُعيدone to recount anew
فَهَل لِأَحاديثِهِ مِن مُعيد
The people have forgotten the recent past;
They say: What business has Abou Nasser
is there anyone to recount its tales anew?
With the Turks or the Indians?
يَقولونَthey say ماwhat concern لِأَبيfor Abu ناصِرٍNasir
يَقولونَ ما لِأَبي ناصِرٍ
وَلِلتُركِand with the Turks ماwhat شَأنُهُis his concern وَالهُنودand the Indians
وَلِلتُركِ ما شَأنُهُ وَالهُنود
They say, 'What has Abu Nasir to do
Why take on the concerns of kin
with the Turks—and what concern has he with the Indians?
And the concerns of distant people?
وَفيمَand why تَحَمَّلَdid he shoulder هَمَّthe cares of القَريبِthose nearby
وَفيمَ تَحَمَّلَ هَمَّ القَريبِ
مِنَamong المُسلِمينَthe Muslims وَهَمَّand the cares of البَعيدthose far away
مِنَ المُسلِمينَ وَهَمَّ البَعيد
And why did he shoulder the cares of those nearby,
So I said: How does it harm you
among Muslims, and the cares of those far away?'
If the Muslims have a rightly-guided leader?
فَقُلتُso I said وَماand what ضَرَّكُمharmed you أَنthat يَقومَshould arise
فَقُلتُ وَما ضَرَّكُم أَن يَقومَ
مِنَamong المُسلِمينَthe Muslims إِمامٌa leader رَشيدrightly guided
مِنَ المُسلِمينَ إِمامٌ رَشيد
I said, 'What harm did it do you that there should arise
Do you think it too much they have one
among Muslims a rightly guided leader?
When the ancients left heirs to the iron?
أَتَستَكثِرونَdo you begrudge لَهُمfor them واحِداًa single one
أَتَستَكثِرونَ لَهُم واحِداً
وَلّىhas departed القَديمُthe old one نَصيرَchampion of الحَديدiron
وَلّى القَديمُ نَصيرَ الحَديد
Do you begrudge them a single man,
He strove to reconcile hearts
now that the old champion of iron has departed?
And did not return to the guidance of the Revered Book.
سَعىhe strove لِيُؤَلِّفَto unite بَينَbetween القُلوبِthe hearts
سَعى لِيُؤَلِّفَ بَينَ القُلوبِ
فَلَمand did not يَعدُgo beyond هَديَthe guidance of الكِتابِthe Book المَجيدglorious
فَلَم يَعدُ هَديَ الكِتابِ المَجيد
He strove to bring hearts together,
He tightened the bonds of religion in his land
never going beyond the guidance of the glorious Book.
And called the unbelievers to God.
يَشُدُّhe strengthens عُراthe bonds of الدينِreligion فيin دارِهِhis home
يَشُدُّ عُرا الدينِ في دارِهِ
وَيَدعوand calls إِلىto اللَهِGod أَهلَthe people of الجُحودdenial
وَيَدعو إِلى اللَهِ أَهلَ الجُحود
He strengthens the bonds of religion at home,
And the people, even beyond the wastelands,
and calls the people of denial to God.
Have preachers who sing and missionaries who guide.
وَلِلقَومِand those people have حَتّىeven وَراءَbeyond القِفارِthe deserts
وَلِلقَومِ حَتّى وَراءَ القِفارِ
دُعاةٌpreachers تُغَنّىare celebrated in song وَرُسلٌand emissaries تَشيدextol
دُعاةٌ تُغَنّى وَرُسلٌ تَشيد
And those people have, even beyond the deserts,
May God reward a beneficent king
preachers celebrated in song, and emissaries extolling.'
Merciful of heart and kind of vein,
جَزىmay reward اللَهُGod مَلكاًa king مِنَamong المُحسِنينthe beneficent
جَزى اللَهُ مَلكاً مِنَ المُحسِنين
رَؤوفُcompassionate الفُؤادِof heart رحيمُmerciful الوَريدthe vein
رَؤوفُ الفُؤادِ رحيمُ الوَريد
May God reward a king among the beneficent,
As if eloquence in his days
compassionate of heart, with mercy in his veins.
Was like the sciences in the shade of the Rightly Guided,
كَأَنَّas though البَيانَeloquence بِأَيّامِهِin his days
كَأَنَّ البَيانَ بِأَيّامِهِ
أَوِor العِلمَlearning تَحتَbeneath ظِلالِthe shade of الرَشيدal-Rashid
أَوِ العِلمَ تَحتَ ظِلالِ الرَشيد
As though eloquence in his days,
Healing the wounds of the generous
or learning, were beneath al-Rashid's shade.
And seeking them out in the corners of exile.
يُداويheals نَداهُhis bounty جِراحَthe wounds of الكِرامِthe noble
يُداوي نَداهُ جِراحَ الكِرامِ
وَيُدرِكُهُمand reaches them فيin زَواياthe corners of اللُحودburial niches
وَيُدرِكُهُم في زَوايا اللُحود
His bounty heals the wounds of the noble,
He sheltered your family from their time
and reaches them in the corners of their burial niches.
And showed them favor in terrible tribulation.
أَجارَhe sheltered عِيالَكَyour dependents مِنfrom دَهرِهِمtheir harsh times
أَجارَ عِيالَكَ مِن دَهرِهِم
وَجامَلَهُمand treated them kindly فيin البَلاءِthe affliction الشَديدsevere
وَجامَلَهُم في البَلاءِ الشَديد
He sheltered your dependents from their harsh times,
The orphaned girl under his care
and treated them kindly in their severe affliction.
And he wiped away the tears of the orphan boy.
تَوَلّىhe cared for الوَليدَةُthe little girl فيin يُتمِهاher orphanhood
تَوَلّى الوَليدَةُ في يُتمِها
وَكَفكَفَand wiped away بِالعَطفِwith tenderness دَمعَthe tears of الوَليدthe little boy
وَكَفكَفَ بِالعَطفِ دَمعَ الوَليد
He cared for the little girl in her orphanhood,
Greetings Abou Nasser in the dust
and tenderly wiped away the little boy's tears.
That makes the dust envy the meadows.
سَلامٌpeace أَباO Abu ناصِرٍNasir فيin التُرابthe dust
سَلامٌ أَبا ناصِرٍ في التُراب
يُعيرُlends التُرابَthe dust رَفيفَthe flutter of الوُرودroses
يُعيرُ التُرابَ رَفيفَ الوُرود
Peace, Abu Nasir, within the dust,
You went far and the mail between us grew distant;
lending the dust the flutter of roses.
Can there be mail between the living and the dead?
بَعُدتَyou have gone far وَعَزَّand became difficult إِلَيكَto you البَريدُthe courier
بَعُدتَ وَعَزَّ إِلَيكَ البَريدُ
وَهَلand is there بَينَbetween حَيٍّa living person وَمَيتٍand a dead person بَريدa courier
وَهَل بَينَ حَيٍّ وَمَيتٍ بَريد
You have gone far, and a courier can hardly reach you;
Yes, between us are the messengers of memories
and is there a courier between the living and the dead?
And the past that haunts and the tears that flow,
أَجَلyes بَينَناbetween us رُسلُmessengers of الذِكرَياتِmemories
أَجَل بَينَنا رُسلُ الذِكرَياتِ
وَماضٍand a past يُطيفُthat hovers وَدَمعٌand tears يَجودflow freely
وَماضٍ يُطيفُ وَدَمعٌ يَجود
Yes: between us are the messengers of memories,
And thoughts-if life has tamed them-
a past that hovers, and tears that flow freely,
Still loiter in the valley of annihilation.
وَفِكرٌand thought وَإِنalthough عَقَلَتهُhas fettered it الحَياةُlife
وَفِكرٌ وَإِن عَقَلَتهُ الحَياةُ
يَظَلُّkeeps بِواديin the valley of المَناياdeath يَرودroaming
يَظَلُّ بِوادي المَنايا يَرود
and thought which, though life has fettered it,
Yes, between us is the perpetual saddle-wood
keeps roaming the valley of death.
Though its rider does not return.
أَجَلyes بَينَناbetween us الخُشُبُthe wooden biers الدائِباتُtirelessly busy
أَجَل بَينَنا الخُشُبُ الدائِباتُ
وَإِنeven though كانَwas راكِبُهاtheir rider لاdoes not يُعودreturn
وَإِن كانَ راكِبُها لا يُعود
Yes: between us are the tireless wooden biers,
Time has passed as it followed after tears,
though their rider never returns.
Established in governing the deserts.
مَضىpassed الدَهرُtime وَهيَwhile they are وَراءَbeyond الدُموعِthe tears
مَضى الدَهرُ وَهيَ وَراءَ الدُموعِ
قِيامٌstanding بِمُلكِin the kingdom of الصَحارىthe deserts قُعودsitting
قِيامٌ بِمُلكِ الصَحارى قُعود
Time has passed, while they, beyond the tears,
How often it has borne downpours that pour
stand in the desert kingdom, yet remain seated.
And how often it has nurtured creeping insects!
وَكَمand how much حَمَلَتthey bore مِنof صَديدٍpus يَسيلُflowing
وَكَم حَمَلَت مِن صَديدٍ يَسيلُ
وَكَمand how many وَضَعَتthey brought forth مِنof حِناشٍsnakes وَدودand worms
وَكَم وَضَعَت مِن حِناشٍ وَدود
And how much oozing pus they have borne,
I conjure you by death-will you tell me:
and how many snakes and worms they have brought forth!
Are you wretched in it or happy?
نَشَدتُكَI adjure you بِالمَوتِby death إِلّاto (in an adjuration) أَبَنتَmake clear
نَشَدتُكَ بِالمَوتِ إِلّا أَبَنتَ
أَأَنتَare you شَقِيٌّwretched بِهِthrough it أَمor سَعيدhappy
أَأَنتَ شَقِيٌّ بِهِ أَم سَعيد
I adjure you by death: tell me plainly,
And how can the stranger be called a man
are you wretched in it, or happy?
A guest of forebears, lodging at ancestral homes?
وَكَيفَand how يُسَمّىis called الغَريبَa stranger اِمرُؤٌa man
وَكَيفَ يُسَمّى الغَريبَ اِمرُؤٌ
نَزيلُa lodger with الأُبُوَّةِthe fathers ضَيفُa guest of الجُدودthe forefathers
نَزيلُ الأُبُوَّةِ ضَيفُ الجُدود
And how can a man be called a stranger,
How can it be said of the neighbor of ghosts
lodging with his fathers, a guest of his forefathers?
The neighbor of endings, the one and only?
وَكَيفَand how يُقالُis it said لِجارِof the neighbor of الأَوائِthe earliest ones (continued)
وَكَيفَ يُقالُ لِجارِ الأَوائِ
لِend of 'the earliest ones' جارِthe neighbor of الأَواخِرِthe latest ones ناءٍfar away وَحيدalone
لِ جارِ الأَواخِرِ ناءٍ وَحيد
And how can the neighbor of the earliest generations,
the neighbor of the latest, be called far away and alone?
Partial English translation: 92 of 94 Arabic lines translated.