تَغَيَّرَhas changed الرَسمُthe traces مِنof سَلمىSalma بِأَحفارِat Ahfar
تَغَيَّرَ الرَسمُ مِن سَلمى بِأَحفارِ
وَأَقفَرَتand became deserted مِنof سُلَيمىSulayma دِمنَةُthe darkened campsite الدارِthe dwelling
وَأَقفَرَت مِن سُلَيمى دِمنَةُ الدارِ
The traces left by Salma at Ahfar have changed,
The ruins have changed since Salma's passing,
And the dwelling's old site is empty of Sulayma.
And the house is desolate without Sulaima.
وَقَدand once تَكونُshe would be بِهاin it سَلمىSalma تُحَدِّثُنيtalking to me
وَقَد تَكونُ بِها سَلمى تُحَدِّثُني
تَساقُطَthe falling of الحَليِornaments حاجاتيmy needs وَأَسراريand my secrets
تَساقُطَ الحَليِ حاجاتي وَأَسراري
And Salma once would be there, speaking to me
If only Salma were here to tell me,
Of my needs and secrets, her words cascading like ornaments.
Relating the loss of my jewelry and secrets.
ثُمَّthen اِستَبَدَّtook sole possession بِسَلمىof Salma نِيَّةٌa destination قَذَفٌfar off
ثُمَّ اِستَبَدَّ بِسَلمى نِيَّةٌ قَذَفٌ
وَسَيرُand the journey of مُنقَضِبِcut free of الأَقرانِcoupling-ropes مِغيارِswift-running
وَسَيرُ مُنقَضِبِ الأَقرانِ مِغيارِ
Then a far-off destination took sole hold of Salma,
Yet ill intention took hold of Salma,
And the march of a swift mount cut free of coupling-ropes.
And the caravan of time moved on.
كَأَنَّas though قَلبيmy heart غَداةَon the morning of البَينِparting مُقتَسَمٌdivided
كَأَنَّ قَلبي غَداةَ البَينِ مُقتَسَمٌ
طارَتflew off بِهِwith it عُصَبٌbands شَتّىscattered لِأَمصارِto cities
طارَت بِهِ عُصَبٌ شَتّى لِأَمصارِ
As though my heart, on the morning of parting, were divided;
As if after our separation, my heart
Scattered bands flew off with it to cities.
Was ripped to shreds, scattered to the lands.
وَلَوand if تَلُفُّwould unite النَوىseparation مَنwhomever قَدmay تُشَوِّفَهُit brings him into view
وَلَو تَلُفُّ النَوى مَن قَد تُشَوِّفَهُ
إِذاًthen قَضَيتُI would have fulfilled لُباناتيmy yearnings وَأَوطاريand my desires
إِذاً قَضَيتُ لُباناتي وَأَوطاري
And if distance could unite those it may bring into view,
If only fate would bring together those I long for,
Then I would have fulfilled my yearnings and desires.
I would finish my rites and journeys.
ظَلَّتkept ظِباءُgazelles بَنيthe sons of البَكّاءِal-Bakka' تَرصُدُهُlying in wait for it
ظَلَّت ظِباءُ بَني البَكّاءِ تَرصُدُهُ
حَتّىuntil اِقتَنَصنَthey hunted it down عَلىat بُعدٍa distance وَإِضرارِand close approach
حَتّى اِقتَنَصنَ عَلى بُعدٍ وَإِضرارِ
The gazelles of Banu al-Bakka' kept lying in wait for it,
The she-wolves of the howling tribe wait to ambush him,
Until they hunted it down, from far away and close at hand.
Until they seize him from afar, by evil and harm.
وَمَهمَهٍand a vast desert طامِسٍtrackless تُخشىare feared غَوائِلُهُits perils
وَمَهمَهٍ طامِسٍ تُخشى غَوائِلُهُ
قَطَعتُهُI crossed it بِكَلوءِon an ever-watchful one العَينِthe eye مِسهارِwakeful at night
قَطَعتُهُ بِكَلوءِ العَينِ مِسهارِ
And many a trackless waste whose perils were feared
A grim, frightening disaster I fear its calamities-
I crossed on one watchful of eye, wakeful through the night,
I cut through it with my tears flowing free.
بِحُرَّةٍon a noble she-camel كَأَتانِlike a boulder الضَحلِthe shallows أَضمَرَهاmade her lean
بِحُرَّةٍ كَأَتانِ الضَحلِ أَضمَرَها
بَعدَafter الرَبالَةِplumpness تَرحاليmy journeys وَتَسياريand my travels
بَعدَ الرَبالَةِ تَرحالي وَتَسياري
A noble she-camel, like a rock in shallow water, thinned
With a pregnancy like a pregnant she-camel,
After her plumpness by my journeys and travels.
After my travels and journeying far,
أُختِsister of الفَلاةِthe desert إِذاwhen شُدَّتwere fastened مَعاقِدُهاher bindings
أُختِ الفَلاةِ إِذا شُدَّت مَعاقِدُها
زَلَّتslipped قُوىthe plied strands of النِسعِthe girth عَنoff كَبداءَa broad-bellied camel مِسفارِfar-traveling
زَلَّت قُوى النِسعِ عَن كَبداءَ مِسفارِ
A sister of the desert: when her fastenings were tied,
When the sister of desolation ties her bonds,
The plied girth-strands slipped off that broad-bellied traveler.
The powers of birth fail, no baby delivered.
كَأَنَّهاas though she were بُرجُa tower of رومِيٍّa Roman يُشَيِّدُهُhe raises it high
كَأَنَّها بُرجُ رومِيٍّ يُشَيِّدُهُ
لُزَّwas bound together بِجَصٍّwith plaster وَآجُرٍّand bricks وَأَحجارِand stones
لُزَّ بِجَصٍّ وَآجُرٍّ وَأَحجارِ
As though she were a tower raised high by a Roman,
As if she were a Roman tower built
Bound together with plaster, bricks, and stones,
With bricks, stones and rocks galore,
أَوor مُقفِرٌa solitary wild bull خاضِبُstained of الأَظلافِcloven hooves قادَbrought forth لَهُfor him
أَو مُقفِرٌ خاضِبُ الأَظلافِ قادَ لَهُ
غَيثٌrain تَظاهَرَfell successively فيon مَيثاءَsoft ground مِبكارِearly-growing
غَيثٌ تَظاهَرَ في مَيثاءَ مِبكارِ
Or a solitary, hoof-stained wild bull, for whom pasture was brought
Or an abandoned place, dust covered,
By rain upon rain on soft ground, early to put forth growth.
Where rain has gathered in a soggy marsh.
فَباتَso he spent the night فيby جَنبِthe side of أَرطاةٍan arta shrub تُكَفِّئُهُbuffeting him
فَباتَ في جَنبِ أَرطاةٍ تُكَفِّئُهُ
ريحٌa wind شَآمِيَّةٌSyrian هَبَّتblew بِأَمطارِwith rain
ريحٌ شَآمِيَّةٌ هَبَّت بِأَمطارِ
He spent the night beside an arta shrub, buffeted
She spends the night by sandy dunes that shelter her
By a Syrian wind that blew with rain.
From the north wind's pouring showers.
يَجولُhe roams لَيلَتَهُhis whole night وَالعَينُand the rain-cloud تَضرِبُهُlashes him
يَجولُ لَيلَتَهُ وَالعَينُ تَضرِبُهُ
فيهاduring it بِغَيثٍwith rain أَجَشِّhoarse الرَعدِthunder نَثّارِscattering showers
فيها بِغَيثٍ أَجَشِّ الرَعدِ نَثّارِ
He roamed all night while the rain-cloud lashed him
She tosses and turns all night, her eyes
Throughout it, with a scattering rainstorm of hoarse thunder.
Pelted by heavy rains and rumbling thunder.
إِذاwhenever أَرادَhe wanted بِهاduring it التَغميضَto close his eyes أَرَّقَهُkept him awake
إِذا أَرادَ بِها التَغميضَ أَرَّقَهُ
سَيلٌa torrent يَدِبُّcreeping بِهَدمِby eroding التُربِthe soil مَوّارِsurging
سَيلٌ يَدِبُّ بِهَدمِ التُربِ مَوّارِ
Whenever he tried to close his eyes that night, he was kept awake
When she tries sleeping, a torrent keeps her awake,
By a surging flood, creeping on and tearing the soil away.
Gushing through and eroding the soil.
كَأَنَّهُas though he were إِذwhen أَضاءَlit up البَرقُthe lightning بَهجَتَهُhis beauty
كَأَنَّهُ إِذ أَضاءَ البَرقُ بَهجَتَهُ
فيin أَصفَهانِيَّةٍan Isfahani robe أَوor مُصطَليwarming himself at نارِa fire
في أَصفَهانِيَّةٍ أَو مُصطَلي نارِ
As though, when lightning lit his splendid form, he stood
As if when lightning illuminates her joy,
In an Isfahani robe, or warming himself by a fire.
She is a lamp, shining bright with fire.
أَمّاas for السَراةُthe back فَمِنthen of ديباجَةٍbrocade لَهَقٍdazzling white
أَمّا السَراةُ فَمِن ديباجَةٍ لَهَقٍ
وَبِالقَوائِمِand on the legs مِثلُlike الوَشمِtattooing بِالنارِwith fire
وَبِالقَوائِمِ مِثلُ الوَشمِ بِالنارِ
As for his back, it was of dazzling-white brocade,
Her tent is of smooth silk,
And his legs bore marks like tattoos made with fire.
Its poles branded as if by fire.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen اِنجابَlifted عَنهُfrom him اللَيلُthe night وَاِنكَشَفَتand cleared
حَتّى إِذا اِنجابَ عَنهُ اللَيلُ وَاِنكَشَفَت
سَماؤُهُhis sky عَنfrom أَديمٍearth's surface مُصحِرٍopen عاريbare
سَماؤُهُ عَن أَديمٍ مُصحِرٍ عاري
Until, when the night lifted from him and there cleared
Until night departs, the sky clears of
The sky above him, revealing bare, open ground,
Its dark cover, bare and naked.
آنَسَdetected صَوتَthe sound of قَنيصٍhunters أَوor أَحَسَّbecame aware بِهِمof them
آنَسَ صَوتَ قَنيصٍ أَو أَحَسَّ بِهِم
كَالجِنِّlike jinn يَهفونَrushing مِنfrom جَرمٍJarm وَأَنمارِand Anmar
كَالجِنِّ يَهفونَ مِن جَرمٍ وَأَنمارِ
He heard the sound of hunters, or sensed their presence,
She hears a voice or senses them like
Like jinn rushing about, from Jarm and Anmar.
Jinns creeping, fleeing some crime.
فَاِنصاعَthen he darted away كَالكَوكَبِlike the star الدُرّيءِbrilliant مَيعَتُهُhis rush
فَاِنصاعَ كَالكَوكَبِ الدُرّيءِ مَيعَتُهُ
غَضبانَangry يَخلِطُmixing مِنof مَعجٍswerving وَإِحضارِand galloping
غَضبانَ يَخلِطُ مِن مَعجٍ وَإِحضارِ
Then he darted away, his rush like a brilliant star's,
So she stirs, angrily mixing
Furious, mingling swerves with headlong galloping.
Accusations and excuses.
فَأَرسَلوهُنَّthen they released them يُذرينَscattering التُرابَthe dust كَماjust as
فَأَرسَلوهُنَّ يُذرينَ التُرابَ كَما
يُذريscatters سَبائِخَtufts of قُطنٍcotton نَدفُcarding أَوتارِbowstrings
يُذري سَبائِخَ قُطنٍ نَدفُ أَوتارِ
Then they loosed the hounds, scattering dust as
She sends them off, scattering dust
The twanging of carding-bows scatters tufts of cotton.
As the pulling of strings shreds cotton.
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen قُلتُI said نالَتهُhad reached him سَوابِقُهاtheir leading hounds
حَتّى إِذا قُلتُ نالَتهُ سَوابِقُها
وَأَرهَقَتهُand pressed him hard بِأَنيابٍwith fangs وَأَظفارِand claws
وَأَرهَقَتهُ بِأَنيابٍ وَأَظفارِ
Until, just as I thought their leaders had reached him
Until I said, they have outrun her
And pressed him hard with fangs and claws,
And overwhelmed her with claws and fangs.
أَنحىhe turned إِلَيهِنَّtoward them عَيناًan eye غَيرَnot غافِلَةٍheedless
أَنحى إِلَيهِنَّ عَيناً غَيرَ غافِلَةٍ
وَطَعنَand the thrusting of مُحتَقِرِone scorning الأَقرانِrivals كَرّارِa repeated charger
وَطَعنَ مُحتَقِرِ الأَقرانِ كَرّارِ
He turned toward them an eye that never lost its watch,
She glanced at them with watchful eyes
And the thrusts of one who scorns his rivals and charges repeatedly.
And stabbed the inferior peers, again and again.
فَعَفَّرَthen he flung into dust الضارِياتِthe hunting hounds اللاحِقاتِcatching up بِهِwith him
فَعَفَّرَ الضارِياتِ اللاحِقاتِ بِهِ
عَفرَthe dust-tossing of الغَريبِa stranger قِداحاًlot-arrows بَينَamong أَيسارِgamblers
عَفرَ الغَريبِ قِداحاً بَينَ أَيسارِ
Then he flung the hunting hounds that overtook him into the dust,
She chased off her attackers by waving
As a stranger tosses lot-arrows in the dust among gamblers.
Her garment, a stranger amidst a group.
يَعُذنَthey seek refuge مِنهُfrom him بِحُزّانِin rugged ridges of المِتانِthe uplands وَقَدand already
يَعُذنَ مِنهُ بِحُزّانِ المِتانِ وَقَد
فُرِّقنَthey were scattered عَنهُfrom him بِذيby one with وَقعٍstriking force وَآثارِand scars
فُرِّقنَ عَنهُ بِذي وَقعٍ وَآثارِ
They sought refuge from him in the rugged upland ridges, already
They fled from her stench, though she was
Driven from him by blows that struck and left scars.
Scattered by the impact and traces.
حَتّىuntil شَتاhe spent winter وَهوَwhile he was مَغبوطٌenvied بِغائِطِهِfor his lowland pasture
حَتّى شَتا وَهوَ مَغبوطٌ بِغائِطِهِ
يَرعىhe grazes ذُكوراًcoarse herbage أَطاعَتgrew readily بَعدَafter أَحرارِtender grasses
يَرعى ذُكوراً أَطاعَت بَعدَ أَحرارِ
Until he wintered, envied for his lowland pasture,
Until he crept away stealthily to relieve himself,
Grazing coarse plants that grew after the tender grasses.
Now herding males who were once free.
فَردٌalone تُغَنّيهِsing to him ذِبّانُflies الرِياضِthe meadows كَماas
فَردٌ تُغَنّيهِ ذِبّانُ الرِياضِ كَما
غَنّىsang الغُواةُthe revelers بِصَنجٍwith a harp عِندَbefore إِسوارِa Persian knight
غَنّى الغُواةُ بِصَنجٍ عِندَ إِسوارِ
Alone, the meadow flies sang to him, as
A lone horse, serenaded by the birds of the meadow,
Revelers sang with a harp before a Persian knight.
As nomads sing with the tambourine at night.
كَأَنَّهُas though he were مِنfrom نَدىthe dew of القُرّاصِqurras herbs مُغتَسِلٌbathed
كَأَنَّهُ مِن نَدى القُرّاصِ مُغتَسِلٌ
بِالوَرسِin fragrant wars-dye أَوor خارِجٌcoming out مِنfrom بَيتِthe house of عَطّارِa perfumer
بِالوَرسِ أَو خارِجٌ مِن بَيتِ عَطّارِ
As though, from the dew of qurras herbs, he had bathed
As if bathing in the dew of lilies
In fragrant wars-dye, or come from a perfumer's house.
Or leaving a perfumer's shop,
وَشارِبٍand a drinker مُربِحٍgenerous بِالكَأسِwith the cup نادَمَنيkept me company in drinking
وَشارِبٍ مُربِحٍ بِالكَأسِ نادَمَني
لاnot بِالحَصورِa miser وَلاnor فيهاover it بِسَوّارِa violent drunk
لا بِالحَصورِ وَلا فيها بِسَوّارِ
And a drinker generous with the cup kept me company,
Drinking aged wine that intoxicates me
Neither a miser nor one to grow violent over it.
Without jars or anything to restrict it.
نازَعتُهُI shared with him طَيِّبَthe fine الراحِwine الشَمولِheady وَقَدand already
نازَعتُهُ طَيِّبَ الراحِ الشَمولِ وَقَد
صاحَcrowed الدَجاجُthe cocks وَحانَتand became due وَقعَةُthe resting halt of الساريthe night-traveler
صاحَ الدَجاجُ وَحانَت وَقعَةُ الساري
I shared with him the fine, heady wine, when already
I competed with its sweet fragrance, as the rooster crowed
The cocks had crowed, and the night-traveler's rest was due.
And the time of departure drew near.
مِنfrom خَمرِthe wine of عانَةَAna يَنصاعُbends الفُراتُthe Euphrates لَهاtoward it
مِن خَمرِ عانَةَ يَنصاعُ الفُراتُ لَها
بِجَدوَلٍthrough a channel صَخِبِnoisy الآذِيِّwaves مَرّارِever-flowing
بِجَدوَلٍ صَخِبِ الآذِيِّ مَرّارِ
Wine of Ana, toward which the Euphrates bends
It pours from the vines of Anah, so plentiful
Through a channel of clamorous waves, ever flowing.
The Euphrates diverts to flow in its channel, bitter and thick.
كُمَّتit was sealed ثَلاثَةَthree أَحوالٍyears بِطينَتِهاwith its clay
كُمَّت ثَلاثَةَ أَحوالٍ بِطينَتِها
حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen صَرَّحَتit cleared مِنfrom بَعدِafter تَهدارِfoaming fermentation
حَتّى إِذا صَرَّحَت مِن بَعدِ تَهدارِ
It was sealed with its clay for three years,
It ferments through three stages until
Until, when it cleared after its foaming,
It's halfway from being bitter to mature.
آلَتit dwindled إِلىto النِصفِhalf مِنof كَلفاءَa dusky jar أَترَعَهاhe filled it
آلَت إِلى النِصفِ مِن كَلفاءَ أَترَعَها
عِلجٌa foreigner وَلَثَّمَهاand covered its mouth بِالجَفنِwith grapevine وَالغارِand laurel
عِلجٌ وَلَثَّمَها بِالجَفنِ وَالغارِ
It had dwindled to half in a dusky jar, filled
A cure sipped and tasted with the eyelids and throat,
By a foreigner, who covered its mouth with grapevine and laurel.
Neither pitch-black nor tortured by fire.
لَيسَتit is not بِسَوداءَblack مِنfrom مَيثاءَsoft ground مُظلِمَةٍdark
لَيسَت بِسَوداءَ مِن مَيثاءَ مُظلِمَةٍ
وَلَمand was not تُعَذَّبtormented بِإِدناءٍby being brought close مِنَto النارِthe fire
وَلَم تُعَذَّب بِإِدناءٍ مِنَ النارِ
It was no black wine from a dark, soft-soiled tract,
It wears two robes, one of spider webs,
Nor had it been tortured by being brought near the fire.
The other of fiber and resin.
لَهاit has رِداءانِtwo cloaks نَسجُthe weaving of العَنكَبوتِspiders وَقَدand already
لَها رِداءانِ نَسجُ العَنكَبوتِ وَقَد
لُفَّتit was wrapped بِآخَرَin another مِنof ليفٍpalm fiber وَمِنand of قارِpitch
لُفَّت بِآخَرَ مِن ليفٍ وَمِن قارِ
It wore two cloaks woven by spiders, and had
A blonde well-aged after years stored away
Been wrapped in another of palm fiber and pitch.
In cellars amongst gardens and rivers.
صَهباءُtawny wine قَدalready كَلِفَتdarkened مِنfrom طولِthe length of ماthe time حُبِسَتit was confined
صَهباءُ قَد كَلِفَت مِن طولِ ما حُبِسَت
فيin مَخدَعٍan inner chamber بَينَamong جَنّاتٍgardens وَأَنهارِand rivers
في مَخدَعٍ بَينَ جَنّاتٍ وَأَنهارِ
A tawny wine, darkened by its long confinement
An untouched maiden whom suitors failed to court
In an inner chamber among gardens and rivers.
Until a worshipper courted her with a dinar.
عَذراءُa virgin لَمhad not تَجتَلِbehold الخُطّابُthe suitors بَهجَتَهاher beauty
عَذراءُ لَم تَجتَلِ الخُطّابُ بَهجَتَها
حَتّىuntil اِجتَلاهاhe beheld her عِبادِيٌّan 'Ibadi بِدينارِfor a dinar
حَتّى اِجتَلاها عِبادِيٌّ بِدينارِ
A virgin whose beauty no suitor had beheld
In a house of torn garments and worn abayas,
Until an 'Ibadi beheld her for a dinar,
With nothing but rags as attire.
فيin بَيتِthe house of مُنخَرِقِtattered السِربالُthe tunic مُعتَمِلٍa laborer
في بَيتِ مُنخَرِقِ السِربالُ مُعتَمِلٍ
ماnot إِنat all عَلَيهِon him ثِيابٌclothes غَيرُother than أَطمارِrags
ما إِن عَلَيهِ ثِيابٌ غَيرُ أَطمارِ
In the house of a laborer in a tattered tunic,
When I said let's settle on a price,
With no clothes on him but rags.
Her stingy soul recoiled like a conniving peddler.
إِذاwhen أَقولُI say تَراضَيناwe have agreed عَلىon ثَمَنٍa price
إِذا أَقولُ تَراضَينا عَلى ثَمَنٍ
ضَنَّتwas stingy بِهاwith her نَفسُthe soul of خَبِّone cunning in البَيعِselling مَكّارِdeceitful
ضَنَّت بِها نَفسُ خَبِّ البَيعِ مَكّارِ
Whenever I say, 'We have agreed upon a price,'
As if the cure, when I insisted on the deal,
The soul of that sly, deceitful seller grudges parting with her.
Was a scoundrel, outcast among the moons.
كَأَنَّماas though العِلجُthe foreigner إِذwhen أَوجَبتُI made binding صَفقَتَهاher bargain
كَأَنَّما العِلجُ إِذ أَوجَبتُ صَفقَتَها
خَليعُstripped of خَصلٍa gambling stake نَكيبٌluckless بَينَamong أَقمارِgamblers
خَليعُ خَصلٍ نَكيبٌ بَينَ أَقمارِ
As though the foreigner, when I made her bargain binding,
When they came to her with a lantern and their abode,
Were a luckless gambler stripped of his stake among gamblers.
She went to them, a sly fox, wild and cunning.
لَمّاwhen أَتَوهاthey came to her بِمِصباحٍwith a lamp وَمِبزَلِهِمand their tapping-spike
لَمّا أَتَوها بِمِصباحٍ وَمِبزَلِهِم
سارَتshe moved إِلَيهِمtoward them سُؤورَthe charge of الأَبجَلِthe hulking brute الضاريthe fierce one
سارَت إِلَيهِم سُؤورَ الأَبجَلِ الضاري
When they came to her with a lamp and their tapping-spike,
They stab her above the glass, ancient and unlined,
She rushed toward them like a hulking, ferocious brute.
As if musk was looted among our belongings.
تَدمىshe bleeds إِذاwhen طَعَنواthey stab فيهاinto her بِجائِفَةٍwith a deep wound
تَدمى إِذا طَعَنوا فيها بِجائِفَةٍ
فَوقَabove الزُجاجِthe glasses عَتيقٌaged wine غَيرُnot مُسطارِfresh must
فَوقَ الزُجاجِ عَتيقٌ غَيرُ مُسطارِ
She bleeds when they pierce her with a deep wound,
I swear by the Lord of the dancing girls, and what
Above the glasses: aged wine, not fresh must.
Remains of Mecca's veils and curtains,
كَأَنَّماas though المِسكُmusk نُهبىfree for plunder بَينَamong أَرحُلِناour saddles
كَأَنَّما المِسكُ نُهبى بَينَ أَرحُلِنا
مِمّاfrom what تَضَوَّعَwafted fragrantly مِنfrom ناجودِهاher wine-flask الجاريflowing
مِمّا تَضَوَّعَ مِن ناجودِها الجاري
As though musk lay for plundering among our saddles,
By the sacrifice, when its fields turn red,
From the fragrance wafting from her wine-flask as it poured.
On the day of ritual and stoning and slaughter,
إِنّيindeed I حَلَفتُhave sworn بِرَبِّby the Lord of الراقِصاتِthe swaying camels وَماand what
إِنّي حَلَفتُ بِرَبِّ الراقِصاتِ وَما
أَضحىstands by day بِمَكَّةَin Mecca مِنof حُجبٍveils وَأَستارِand curtains
أَضحى بِمَكَّةَ مِن حُجبٍ وَأَستارِ
I have sworn by the Lord of the swaying camels, and by
By Zamzam's hovering bats,
The veils and curtains standing in Mecca;
And Yathrib's support and youth.
وَبِالهَدِيِّand by sacrificial beasts إِذاwhen اِحمَرَّتturn red مَذارِعُهاtheir forelegs
وَبِالهَدِيِّ إِذا اِحمَرَّت مَذارِعُها
فيon يَومِa day of نُسكٍrites وَتَشريقٍand sun-drying meat وَتَنحارِand slaughter
في يَومِ نُسكٍ وَتَشريقٍ وَتَنحارِ
And by the sacrificial beasts, when their forelegs turn red
Quraysh would have forced and frightened me,
On a day of rites, sun-drying meat, and slaughter;
And Quraysh would have abandoned me in poverty.
وَماand those بِزَمزَمَat Zamzam مِنof شُمطٍgray-haired men مُحَلِّقَةٍwith shaved heads
وَما بِزَمزَمَ مِن شُمطٍ مُحَلِّقَةٍ
وَماand those بِيَثرِبَat Yathrib مِنof عونٍmatrons وَأَبكارِand maidens
وَما بِيَثرِبَ مِن عونٍ وَأَبكارِ
And by the gray-haired, shaven-headed men at Zamzam,
The generous tribe of Harb, though death
And by the matrons and maidens at Yathrib:
Had come upon me and I awaited my supporters.
لَأَلجَأَتنيsurely sheltered me قُرَيشٌQuraysh خائِفاًfearful وَجِلاًtrembling
لَأَلجَأَتني قُرَيشٌ خائِفاً وَجِلاً
وَمَوَّلَتنيand enriched me قُرَيشٌQuraysh بَعدَafter إِقتارِpoverty
وَمَوَّلَتني قُرَيشٌ بَعدَ إِقتارِ
Surely Quraysh sheltered me, fearful and trembling,
With them, darkness lifts from the living,
And Quraysh enriched me after poverty.
Until it rises beyond hearing and sight.
المُنعِمونَthe benefactors بَنيthe sons of حَربٍHarb وَقَدand already حَدَقَتhad surrounded
المُنعِمونَ بَني حَربٍ وَقَد حَدَقَت
بِيَaround me المَنِيَّةُdeath وَاِستَبطَأتُand I found slow أَنصاريmy helpers
بِيَ المَنِيَّةُ وَاِستَبطَأتُ أَنصاري
Those benefactors, the sons of Harb, when already
A people who, when they battle,
Death had hemmed me in and I found my helpers slow.
leave women be, even if pure.
بِهِمthrough them تَكَشَّفُis lifted عَنfrom أَحيائِهاits clans ظُلَمٌdarknesses
بِهِم تَكَشَّفُ عَن أَحيائِها ظُلَمٌ
حَتّىuntil تَرَفَّعَit rises away عَنbeyond سَمعٍhearing وَأَبصارِand sight
حَتّى تَرَفَّعَ عَن سَمعٍ وَأَبصارِ
Through them, darkness lifts from the clans it covers,
Until it rises beyond hearing and sight.
قَومٌa people إِذاwhen حارَبواthey wage war شَدّواthey tighten مَآزِرَهُمtheir loincloths
قَومٌ إِذا حارَبوا شَدّوا مَآزِرَهُم
عَنِaway from النِساءِwomen وَلَوeven if باتَتthey spend the night بِأَطهارِfree of menstruation
عَنِ النِساءِ وَلَو باتَت بِأَطهارِ
A people who, when they wage war, tighten their loincloths
To keep from women, even on nights when the women are free of menstruation.
Partial English translation: 94 of 98 Arabic lines translated.