مَنwho لِنَفسٍfor a soul عَنِfrom الهَوىpassion لاnot تَناهىdesists
مَن لِنَفسٍ عَنِ الهَوى لا تَناهى
لاnot تُباليshe cares أَطاعَهاhe obeyed her أَمor عَصاهاhe defied her
لا تُبالي أَطاعَها أَم عَصاها
Who will help a soul that will not desist from passion,
He who finds no end to his passion for her
heedless whether he obeys her or defies her—
Cares not if she obeys or defies him
عاذِلٌa reproacher فيin الهَوىlove بِنُصحٍwith counsel وَيَخشىand fears
عاذِلٌ في الهَوى بِنُصحٍ وَيَخشى
أَنthat يَسُوقُdrives الرَدىdeath إِلَيهاto her هَواهاher passion
أَن يَسُوقُ الرَدى إِلَيها هَواها
a reproacher counseling her in love, who fears
My advice about love is sincere yet I fear
that her passion will bring death upon her?
That blind passion might lead her astray
لَوif بِهِin him ماwhat بِهاin her مِنof الوَجدِlove's anguish لَمdid not يَنrestrain (first part)
لَو بِهِ ما بِها مِن الوَجدِ لَم يَن
هَrestrain (final part) مُحِبّاًa lover وَلمand did not يُبالِcare about بَلاهاher affliction
هَ مُحِبّاً وَلم يُبالِ بَلاها
Had he her anguish, he would not restrain
Were he afflicted as she is with pangs of love
a lover, nor would he care about her affliction.
He'd not blame her, heedless of his own woe
خامَرَتshe contracted مِنfrom هَوىlove عَثيمَةَUthaymah داءًan illness
خامَرَت مِن هَوى عَثيمَةَ داءً
مُستَكِنّاًlurking within لِحُبِّهاfor love of her أَذواهاwithered her
مُستَكِنّاً لِحُبِّها أَذواها
From love of Uthaymah she contracted an illness,
The fever of love for Uthman's daughter gnawed at him
lurking within, which withered the soul for love of her.
As he helplessly yearned for her embrace
ثُمَّthen قالَتshe said لَهُto him سَأَعصيكَI shall defy you فيهاconcerning her راغِماًagainst your will
ثُمَّ قالَت لَهُ سَأَعصيكَ فيها راغِماً
مِثلَماjust as عَصَتنيdefied me نِساهاher womenfolk
مِثلَما عَصَتني نِساها
Then she told him: I shall defy you over her, against your will,
Then he said: I'll defy you for her sake, though you object
just as her womenfolk defied me.
Just as she defied me and forgot our bond
إِنَّهاindeed she حَيثُwhere ماever تَكُونُshe may be مِنof الأَرearth (first part)
إِنَّها حَيثُ ما تَكُونُ مِن الأَر
ضِearth (final part) فَغُضَّso curb المَلامَthe blame فيهاconcerning her مُناهاher heart's desire
ضِ فَغُضَّ المَلامَ فيها مُناها
Indeed she, wherever on earth she may be—
Wherever she is, cease your blame and reproach
so curb your blame of her—is the soul's desire.
She's the daughter of honored white forebears
إِنَّهاindeed she is بِنتُthe daughter كُلِّof every أَبيَضَfair قَرمٍmighty chieftain
إِنَّها بِنتُ كُلِّ أَبيَضَ قَرمٍ
مَلِكٍa king نالَattained مِنfrom قُصَىٍّQusayy ذُراهاher summits
مَلِكٍ نالَ مِن قُصَىٍّ ذُراها
She is the daughter of every fair, mighty chieftain,
The child of a king who attained the heights of glory
a king who attained her summits through Qusayy
Whose lineage noble Hashim and Abd Shams endow
وَبَنىand built المَجدَglory صاعِداًascending فَعَلتهُthen rose above it
وَبَنى المَجدَ صاعِداً فَعَلتهُ
عَبدُAbd (servant) شَمسٍShams (sun) وَهاشِمٌand Hashim أَبواهاher two forefathers
عَبدُ شَمسٍ وَهاشِمٌ أَبواها
and built glory upward; then rose above it
The ladies cannot equal her, strive as they may
Abd Shams and Hashim, her two forefathers.
For no maiden rivals her splendor and fame
فَهِيَso she لاnot تُدرِكُreach النِساءُwomen بِسَعيٍby striving
فَهِيَ لا تُدرِكُ النِساءُ بِسَعيٍ
أَبَداًever حِينَwhen يَفخرُونَthey boast مَداهاher stature
أَبَداً حِينَ يَفخرُونَ مَداها
Thus women cannot, however they strive, reach
She's no mere beauty, for the noblest of women
her stature, ever, when they boast.
Resemble her, as people well know
لَسنَthey are not حُوراًfair-eyed beauties عَقائِلاًnoblewomen هُنَّthey مِنهاof her kind
لَسنَ حُوراً عَقائِلاً هُنَّ مِنها
إِنَّindeed فيamong الناسِpeople فَاعلَمُواso know أَشباهاlikenesses
إِنَّ في الناسِ فَاعلَمُوا أَشباها
They are not fair-eyed noblewomen of her kind;
Her mother is Badr's radiant orb, mother of the moist night
indeed, among people—know this—there are likenesses.
Whose hands grasp all that lies beyond reach
أُمُّهاher mother البَدرُthe full moon أُمُّUmm (mother of) أَروىArwa فَنالَتand attained
أُمُّها البَدرُ أُمُّ أَروى فَنالَت
كُلَّall ماthat which يُعجِزُdefeats الأَكُفَّthe hands يَداهاher two hands
كُلَّ ما يُعجِزُ الأَكُفَّ يَداها
Her mother is the full moon, Umm Arwa; she attained
Uthman and Zubayr rightly made her abode
with her two hands all that other hands cannot reach.
At Al-Yafa when she was born
إِنَّindeed عُثمانَUthman وَالزُبَيرَand al-Zubayr أَحَلّاthey both set
إِنَّ عُثمانَ وَالزُبَيرَ أَحَلّا
دارَهاher house بِاليَفاعِon high ground إِذsince وَلَداهاthey both begot her
دارَها بِاليَفاعِ إِذ وَلَداها
Indeed Uthman and al-Zubayr set
The Prophet, Hamza, her uncles by blood
her house upon the heights, for they begot her.
Headed her pure lineage, untainted at all
وَنَبِيُّand the Prophet الهُدىof guidance وَحَمزَةُand Hamzah إِبدأbegin
وَنَبِيُّ الهُدى وَحَمزَةُ إِبدأ
بِهِماwith them both إِذwhen نَسَبتَهاyou trace her lineage خالاهاher two maternal uncles
بِهِما إِذ نَسَبتَها خالاها
And the Prophet of guidance and Hamzah—begin
She sprouted midst the stars in Ramla's sand
with them when tracing her lineage—are her two maternal uncles.
Where the dead are revived by her earth's scent
نَبَتَتshe grew فيamong نُجومِlow-growing plants رَبوَةِa hill رَملٍof sand
نَبَتَت في نُجومِ رَبوَةِ رَملٍ
يُنشَرُis resurrected المَيتُthe dead إِنif يَشُمَّsmells ثَراهاits soil
يُنشَرُ المَيتُ إِن يَشُمَّ ثَراها
She grew among the low-growing plants of a sandy hill;
From holy ground 'twixt Maqam and Rukn
the dead would rise again if they smelled its earth.
God perfected her essence when formed
مِنfrom تُرابٍsoil بَينَbetween المَقامِthe Station إِلىto الرُكthe Corner (first part)
مِن تُرابٍ بَينَ المَقامِ إِلى الرُك
نِCorner (final part) بَراهاfashioned her إِلالهُGod حِينَwhen بَراهاHe fashioned her
نِ بَراها إِلالهُ حِينَ بَراها
From soil between the Station and the Corner,
Her lineage leads to Qusay, her ancestry pure
God fashioned her when He fashioned her.
No clay of cities did taint her, no evil assail
قُصَوىٌّof Qusayy مِنهُfrom it قُصيٌّQusayy وَلَمand did not يَخmix (first part)
قُصَوىٌّ مِنهُ قُصيٌّ وَلَم يَخ
لُطهُmix with it (final part) طِينُthe clay القُرىof villages وَلاnor أَكباهاbrought her low
لُطهُ طِينُ القُرى وَلا أَكباها
Qusayy's own soil, from which Qusayy came; it was not mixed
Qusay warded off every foe from her
with village clay, nor did that clay bring her low.
Banishing them, removing their blight
ذَبَّdrove back عَنهاfrom her قُصَيٌّQusayy كُلَّevery عَدُوٍّenemy
ذَبَّ عَنها قُصَيٌّ كُلَّ عَدُوٍّ
فَنَفاهُso he banished him وَجُرهُماًand Jurhum أَجلاهاhe expelled her
فَنَفاهُ وَجُرهُماً أَجلاها
Qusayy drove every enemy away from her,
With horsemen and litters none in Quraysh knew
banished him, and drove Jurhum out.
When he came for her, seeking her out
سارَhe marched بِالخَيلِwith cavalry وَالحُمُولِand pack animals فَلَمand did not تَعknow (first part)
سارَ بِالخَيلِ وَالحُمُولِ فَلَم تَع
لَمknow (final part) قُرَيشٌQuraysh بِذاكَof that حِينَwhen أَتاهاhe came to her
لَم قُرَيشٌ بِذاكَ حِينَ أَتاها
He marched with cavalry and pack animals; unaware
In covered howdahs like mountains, a man
was Quraysh of this when he came to her,
Whose spear's length struck fear without bound
فيin كَراديسَbattalions كَالجِبالِlike mountains وَرَجلٍand foot soldiers
في كَراديسَ كَالجِبالِ وَرَجلٍ
يُفزِعُfrightens الأَخشَبَينِthe two Akhshab mountains طُولُthe length قَناهاof their spears
يُفزِعُ الأَخشَبَينِ طُولُ قَناها
in battalions like mountains, and with foot soldiers
Quraysh circled around him but when
the length of whose spears frightens the two Akhshab mountains.
They saw him they did not doubt his claim
فَتَمارَتso she doubted بِهِabout him قُرَيشٌQuraysh فَلَمّاand when
فَتَمارَت بِهِ قُرَيشٌ فَلَمّا
أَنthat (linking particle) رَأَتshe saw لَمdid not تَشُكَّdoubt فيهِabout him لِواهاher banner
أَن رَأَت لَم تَشُكَّ فيهِ لِواها
Quraysh doubted him; but when
Mecca the Holy knew Qusay, and Qusay
she saw her banner, she no longer doubted him.
Knew Quraysh when he sought her hand
عَرَفَتrecognized مَكَّةُMecca الحَرامُthe sacred قُصَيّاًQusayy
عَرَفَت مَكَّةُ الحَرامُ قُصَيّاً
وَقُصَيٌّand Qusayy قُرَيشَQuraysh إِذwhen بَوّاهاhe gave her a home
وَقُصَيٌّ قُرَيشَ إِذ بَوّاها
Sacred Mecca recognized Qusayy,
He lodged the people in her outskirts
and Qusayy recognized Quraysh when he gave her a home.
And took the choice lands for himself
أَنزلَhe settled الناسَthe people بِالظَواهِرِin the outskirts مِنهاof her
أَنزلَ الناسَ بِالظَواهِرِ مِنها
وَتَبَوّاand took as his abode لِنَفسِهِfor himself بَطحاهاher gravelly valley floor
وَتَبَوّا لِنَفسِهِ بَطحاها
He settled the people in her outskirts,
They built by the ravines, far from her home
and took her gravelly valley floor for his own abode.
While torrents from his home poured forth
وَابتنواand they built بِالشِعابِin the ravines وَالحَزنِand rugged uplands مِنهاof her
وَابتنوا بِالشِعابِ وَالحَزنِ مِنها
وَتَفَجّاand the two parted عَنaway from بَيتِهِhis house سَيلاهاher two torrents
وَتَفَجّا عَن بَيتِهِ سَيلاها
And they built in her ravines and rugged uplands,
None can equal Qusay's glory, else Allah
and her two torrents forked away from his house.
Has lied about all who vie with her
لَنnever will تُمارىbe challenged قُصَيُّQusayy فيin المَجدِglory إِلّاunless
لَن تُمارى قُصَيُّ في المَجدِ إِلّا
أَكذَبَexposed as a liar اللَهُGod كُلَّevery مَنwhoever ماراهاchallenged her
أَكذَبَ اللَهُ كُلَّ مَن ماراها
Qusayy will never be challenged in glory without
By the girl's lineage, Qusay is close to glory
God giving the lie to everyone who challenges her.
If her protectors judge rightly for her
وَبِحَسبِand enough for الفَتاةِthe maiden قُرباًin nearness مِنَto المَجglory (first part)
وَبِحَسبِ الفَتاةِ قُرباً مِنَ المَج
دِglory (final part) قُصَيٌّQusayy إِنif يَعدِلُواthey judge fairly مَولاهاher patron
دِ قُصَيٌّ إِن يَعدِلُوا مَولاها
Enough for the maiden, in nearness to glory, is
Among them is the good Prophet, guided by Allah
Qusayy, her patron, if they judge fairly.
To every door of virtue, whom He led
مِنهُمُfrom them الطَيِّبُthe pure النَبيُّthe Prophet بِهِthrough him اللَGod (first part)
مِنهُمُ الطَيِّبُ النَبيُّ بِهِ اللَ
هُGod (final part) إِلىto بابِthe gate كُلِّevery خَيرٍgood هَداهاHe guided her
هُ إِلى بابِ كُلِّ خَيرٍ هَداها
From them came the pure Prophet; through him God
He spared them from fire when it raged
guided her to the gate of every good.
Eager to consume them, guarding his folk
بَرَّدَHe cooled النارَthe fire عَنهُمُaway from them حِينَwhen فارَتit raged
بَرَّدَ النارَ عَنهُمُ حِينَ فارَت
تَرتَجيit hopes for أَكلَهُمdevouring them وَأَحمىand protected حِماهاher sanctuary
تَرتَجي أَكلَهُم وَأَحمى حِماها
He cooled the fire that threatened them when it raged,
Custodians of his house after him
as it hoped to devour them; and He protected her sanctuary.
To whom he entrusted the pilgrims' rites
ثُمَّthen حُجّابُcustodians بَيتِهِof His House بَعدُafterward مِنهُمfrom them
ثُمَّ حُجّابُ بَيتِهِ بَعدُ مِنهُم
وَحِياضَand the watering pools الحَجيجِof the pilgrims قَدindeed وَلّاهاHe put her in charge
وَحِياضَ الحَجيجِ قَد وَلّاها
Then, afterward, the custodians of His House are from them,
He was succeeded by others, appointed by
and He has placed the pilgrims' watering pools in her charge.
Our Lord Allah, who created her line
ثُمَّthen وَلّىHe appointed وَلَنand never will يَزالواthey cease to be وُلاةًrulers
ثُمَّ وَلّى وَلَن يَزالوا وُلاةً
رَبُّناour Lord اللَهُGod خَلقَهُHis creation خُلفاهاher successors
رَبُّنا اللَهُ خَلقَهُ خُلفاها
Then appointed—and they shall never cease to be rulers—
our Lord God her successors over His creation.
Partial English translation: 56 of 58 Arabic lines translated.