قدindeed خُصَّwas singled out بالفَضْلِfor excellence قَطْلِيجاQatlija وأَيْدمُرُand Aydamur
قد خُصَّ بالفَضْلِ قَطْلِيجا وأَيْدمُرُ
وطابَand flourished منهfrom him ومنكَand from you الأَصْلُthe root والثَّمَرُand the fruit
وطابَ منه ومنكَ الأَصْلُ والثَّمَرُ
Qatlija and Aydamur have indeed been singled out for excellence,
Qatlīja and Aydmar were blessed in lineage and fruit,
and through him and you, both root and fruit have flourished.
From them and you the origin and branches were wholesome,
بَحْرَانِtwo seas لوif جادَwere generous بحرٌa sea مِثْلَlike جُودِهماtheir generosity
بَحْرَانِ لو جادَ بحرٌ مِثْلَ جُودِهما
بِيعَتْwould be sold بأَرْخَصَmore cheaply مِنْthan أَصْدَافِهاtheir shells الدُّرَرُthe pearls
بِيعَتْ بأَرْخَصَ مِنْ أَصْدَافِها الدُّرَرُ
Two seas: were a sea as generous as they are,
If the seas of their generosity were to flow
pearls would be sold more cheaply than their shells.
Pearls would be cheaper than their shells,
للَّهِto God دَرُّكَyour excellence! عِزَّIzz الدِّينِal-Din لَيْثَlion وَغىًof battle
للَّهِ دَرُّكَ عِزَّ الدِّينِ لَيْثَ وَغىً
لَهُhe has مِنَfrom البِيضِthe white blades نابٌa fang والقَناand the spears ظفُرُa claw
لَهُ مِنَ البِيضِ نابٌ والقَنا ظفُرُ
How admirable you are, Izz al-Din, lion of battle,
God's gift, glory of the faith you are a lion with sharp fangs
whose fang is a white blade and whose claw is a spear!
For you the whites have awe and blacks have dread,
أَلْقَىcast الإلهُGod عَلَىupon الدُّنياthe world مَهَابَتَهُhis awe
أَلْقَى الإلهُ عَلَى الدُّنيا مَهَابَتَهُ
فالبِيضُso the white blades تَرْعدُtremble خوفاًin fear منهof him والسُّمُرُand the brown spears
فالبِيضُ تَرْعدُ خوفاً منه والسُّمُرُ
God cast his awe over the world,
God cast His awe upon the world,
so white blades and brown spears tremble in fear of him.
So the whites tremble in fear of you and the browns,
أرَيْتَناyou showed us فضلَthe excellence شمسِof Shams الدِّينِal-Din مُنْتَقِلاًpassing
أرَيْتَنا فضلَ شمسِ الدِّينِ مُنْتَقِلاً
إليكto you منهfrom him وصَحَّand proved true الخُبرُexperience والخَبَرُand report
إليك منه وصَحَّ الخُبرُ والخَبَرُ
You showed us Shams al-Din's excellence passing
We saw the superiority of Sun of the Faith transferred to you,
from him to you, and experience and report proved true.
The news was true and reports correct,
إنْif تُحْيِyou revive آثارَهُhis traces مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter ماthey دَرَسَتْfaded
إنْ تُحْيِ آثارَهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ ما دَرَسَتْ
فإنَّكَthen you النِّيلُthe Nile تُحْييgive life to الأرضَthe earth والمَطَرُand the rain
فإنَّكَ النِّيلُ تُحْيي الأرضَ والمَطَرُ
If you revive his traces after they have faded,
If you revive his traces after they were erased,
you are the Nile and the rain, giving life to the earth.
You are the Nile, reviving land and rain,
وإنْand if تَكُنْyou are أنْتَyou خيرَthe best الوارثينَof the heirs لَهُto him
وإنْ تَكُنْ أنْتَ خيرَ الوارثينَ لَهُ
فماthen no يُنَازِعكَdisputes with you فيover ميراثِهِhis inheritance بَشَرُmortal
فما يُنَازِعكَ في ميراثِهِ بَشَرُ
And if you are the best of his heirs,
If you are the best inheritor of him,
no mortal disputes his inheritance with you.
None disputes his inheritance but the vile,
وإنْand if تَكُنْyou are فيin العُلاeminence والفَضْلِand excellence تَخْلُفُهُsucceeding him
وإنْ تَكُنْ في العُلا والفَضْلِ تَخْلُفُهُ
فالشَّمسُthen the sun يَخْلُفُهَاis succeeded إنْif غابَتِit sets القَمَرُby the moon
فالشَّمسُ يَخْلُفُهَا إنْ غابَتِ القَمَرُ
And if you succeed him in eminence and excellence,
If you succeed him in supremacy and merit,
the moon succeeds the sun when it sets.
The sun succeeds when the moon departs.
أَخجَلتَyou shamed بالحِلْمِwith forbearance ساداتِthe masters الزَّمانِof the age فَلَمْfor they did not
أَخجَلتَ بالحِلْمِ ساداتِ الزَّمانِ فَلَمْ
يَعْفُواpardon كَعَفْوِكَlike your pardoning عَنْfor ذَنْبٍan offense إذاwhen قَدَرُواthey had power
يَعْفُوا كَعَفْوِكَ عَنْ ذَنْبٍ إذا قَدَرُوا
With your forbearance you shamed the masters of the age, for they did not
You shamed the masters of the times with forbearance,
pardon offenses as you do when they had the power.
They do not pardon a sin when able like your pardoning,
وَلَمْand have not تَزَلْceased تَسْتُرُconcealing العَيْبَthe fault الذِيthat كَشَفُواthey exposed
وَلَمْ تَزَلْ تَسْتُرُ العَيْبَ الذِي كَشَفُوا
ولمand have not تَزَلْceased تَجْبُرُmending العَظْمَthe bone الذِيthat كَسَرُواthey broke
ولم تَزَلْ تَجْبُرُ العَظْمَ الذِي كَسَرُوا
You have never ceased concealing the fault they exposed,
You conceal the shame they exposed,
and never ceased mending the bone they broke.
And mend the bone they broke,
لوْif أَنَّindeed أَلْسِنَةَthe tongues الأَيّامِof days ناطِقَةٌcould speak
لوْ أَنَّ أَلْسِنَةَ الأَيّامِ ناطِقَةٌ
أَثْنَتْwould praise عَلَىfor فَضْلِكَyour excellence الآصالُthe evenings والبُكَرُand the mornings
أَثْنَتْ عَلَى فَضْلِكَ الآصالُ والبُكَرُ
If the tongues of days could speak,
If the tongues of days could speak
evenings and mornings would praise your excellence.
They would praise your merits, new and old,
شَرَعْتَyou established للنَّاسِfor people طُرقاًpaths ماnot بهاon them عُجَزٌhindrances
شَرَعْتَ للنَّاسِ طُرقاً ما بها عُجَزٌ
يَخَافُfears سالِكُهاtheir traveler فيهاon them ولاnor بُجَرُtroubles
يَخَافُ سالِكُها فيها ولا بُجَرُ
You established paths for people with no hindrances
You paved paths for people with no fatigue
for their traveler to fear, nor troubles.
That the walker fears no exhaustion or tearing upon,
لوif يَسْتَقِيمُkeep straight عليهاupon them السالكونthe travelers بهاalong them
لو يَسْتَقِيمُ عليها السالكون بها
كماas أمرتَyou commanded مشَتْwould walk مَشْيَthe walk المهَاof oryx الحُمرُthe wild asses
كما أمرتَ مشَتْ مَشْيَ المهَا الحُمرُ
If those traveling them kept straight
If walkers kept to them as you ordered
as you commanded, wild asses would walk like oryx.
They would walk like a docile mare,
أَكْرِمْhow noble! بأَيْدمُرَAydamur الشَّمْسِيِّal-Shamsi مِنْas بَطَلٍa champion
أَكْرِمْ بأَيْدمُرَ الشَّمْسِيِّ مِنْ بَطَلٍ
بِذِكْرِهِin mentioning him فيin الوَغَىbattle الأَبْطَالُthe champions تَفْتَخِرُtake pride
بِذِكْرِهِ في الوَغَى الأَبْطَالُ تَفْتَخِرُ
How noble a champion is Aydamur al-Shamsi!
Honor the sunborn Aydmar among heroes
Champions boast of mentioning him in battle.
For whom other heroes boast,
تَخافُyou fear منهhim وتَرْجُوهُand hope in him كماas فَعَلَتْdid
تَخافُ منه وتَرْجُوهُ كما فَعَلَتْ
فيin قَلْبِthe heart سامِعِهاof their hearer الآياتُthe verses والسُّوَرُand the chapters
في قَلْبِ سامِعِها الآياتُ والسُّوَرُ
You fear him and hope in him, as do
He is feared yet hoped for
the verses and chapters in their hearer's heart.
As verses in listeners' hearts bring dread yet hope,
مَعْنَىthe meaning الوجودِof existence الذيwho قامَstood الوجودُexistence بهthrough him
مَعْنَى الوجودِ الذي قامَ الوجودُ به
وهلْand can بِغَيْرِwithout المَعانيmeanings قامَتِstand الصُّوَرُforms
وهلْ بِغَيْرِ المَعاني قامَتِ الصُّوَرُ
The meaning of existence, through whom existence stands—
The essence of being upon which existence arose
and can forms stand without meanings?
For without essences, forms cannot arise,
بَنانُهُhis fingertips مِنْthrough نَدَاهُhis bounty الغَيْثُrain مُنْسَكِبٌpouring
بَنانُهُ مِنْ نَدَاهُ الغَيْثُ مُنْسَكِبٌ
وسَيْفُهُand his sword مِنْthrough سُطاهُhis might النارُfire تَسْتَعِرُblazes
وسَيْفُهُ مِنْ سُطاهُ النارُ تَسْتَعِرُ
His fingertips, through his bounty, are pouring rain;
His lances from his munificence pour rain
his sword, through his might, is a blazing fire.
And his sword from his sharpness kindles flames,
نَهَتْهُforbade him عَنْfrom لَذَّةِthe pleasure الدُّنْياof the world نَزَاهَتُهُhis integrity
نَهَتْهُ عَنْ لَذَّةِ الدُّنْيا نَزَاهَتُهُ
وَشَرَّدَand drove away النَّوْمَsleep مِنْfrom أجفانِهِhis eyelids السَّهَرُwakefulness
وَشَرَّدَ النَّوْمَ مِنْ أجفانِهِ السَّهَرُ
His integrity forbade him worldly pleasure,
His piety distracted him from worldly pleasures
and wakefulness drove sleep from his eyelids.
And wakefulness scattered sleep from his eyes,
وليسَand does not يُضْجِرُهُweary him قَوْلٌspeech وَلاnor عَمَلٌaction
وليسَ يُضْجِرُهُ قَوْلٌ وَلا عَمَلٌ
وَكيفَand how يُدْرِكُovertakes مَنْone who لاdoes not يَتْعَبُtire الضَّجَرُweariness
وَكيفَ يُدْرِكُ مَنْ لا يَتْعَبُ الضَّجَرُ
Neither speech nor action wearies him;
Nothing wearies or bores him,
how can weariness overtake one who never tires?
How can one without fatigue know boredom?
يُمْسِيspends the evening وَيُصْبِحُand the morning فيin تَدْبِيرِgoverning مَمْلَكَةٍa kingdom
يُمْسِي وَيُصْبِحُ في تَدْبِيرِ مَمْلَكَةٍ
أعْياexhausted الخلائقَpeople فيهاin it بعضُpart ماof what يَزِرُhe bears
أعْيا الخلائقَ فيها بعضُ ما يَزِرُ
He spends evening and morning governing a kingdom
He retires and awakes to running a kingdom,
where even part of his burden exhausts other people.
Exhausting for creations a fraction of his load,
يَكْفِيهِsuffices for him حَمْلُbearing الأَماناتِthe trusts التيthat عُرِضَتْwere offered
يَكْفِيهِ حَمْلُ الأَماناتِ التي عُرِضَتْ
علىto الجِبالٍthe mountains فكادَتْso they nearly منهfrom it تَنْفَطِرُsplit apart
على الجِبالٍ فكادَتْ منه تَنْفَطِرُ
Sufficient for him is bearing the trusts that were offered
Bearing responsibilities offered
to the mountains, which almost split beneath them.
To mountains, almost causing them to crack,
خافَhe feared الإلهَGod فخافَتْهُso feared him رَعِيَّتُهُhis subjects
خافَ الإلهَ فخافَتْهُ رَعِيَّتُهُ
والمَرْءُand a person يُجْزَىis recompensed بماfor what يأتيhe does وماand what يَذَرُhe leaves undone
والمَرْءُ يُجْزَى بما يأتي وما يَذَرُ
He feared God, so his subjects feared him;
He feared God so his subjects fear him,
a person is recompensed for what he does and leaves undone.
And one is rewarded for what is sent and left behind,
واخْتَارَهُand chose him مَلكُthe king الدُّنياof the world لِيَخْبُرَهُto test him
واخْتَارَهُ مَلكُ الدُّنيا لِيَخْبُرَهُ
فيin مُلْكِهِhis kingdom وهْوَwhile he مُخْتارٌis chosen ومُخْتَبَرُand tested
في مُلْكِهِ وهْوَ مُخْتارٌ ومُخْتَبَرُ
The world's king chose him to test him
The king of the world chose him to consult him
within his kingdom, though he is already chosen and tested.
For he is both chosen and tested,
فَطَهَّرَso he cleansed الأرضَthe earth مِنْof أَهْلِthe people الفسادِof corruption فلاso no
فَطَهَّرَ الأرضَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الفسادِ فلا
عَيْنٌperson لَهُمْof theirs بَقِيَتْremained فيهاthere ولاnor أثَرُtrace
عَيْنٌ لَهُمْ بَقِيَتْ فيها ولا أثَرُ
He cleansed the earth of the corrupt, so no
He cleansed the land of corruptors, leaving
person of theirs remained there, nor any trace.
No eye of theirs remaining, not a trace found,
ودَبَّرand governed المُلْكَthe kingdom تَدْبيراًwith a management يُقَصِّرُfall short عَنْof
ودَبَّر المُلْكَ تَدْبيراً يُقَصِّرُ عَنْ
إدْرَاكِunderstanding أَيْسَرِهِits simplest part الأَفْهَامُminds والفِكَرُand thoughts
إدْرَاكِ أَيْسَرِهِ الأَفْهَامُ والفِكَرُ
He governed the kingdom with a management beyond
And managed the kingdom so perfectly
the understanding of minds and thoughts, even in its simplest part.
Intellects fall short of grasping the simplest of it,
وحينَand when طارتflew إلىto الأعداءthe enemies سُمْعَتُهُhis reputation
وحينَ طارت إلى الأعداء سُمْعَتُهُ
ماتَdied الفرَنْجُthe Franks بِدَاءِof the sickness الخَوْفِof fear والتَّتَرُand the Tatars
ماتَ الفرَنْجُ بِدَاءِ الخَوْفِ والتَّتَرُ
When his reputation flew to his enemies,
When news of him reached enemies
the Franks and Tatars died of the sickness of fear.
The Franks died of dread and chaos,
فماso he does not يُباليcare بأَعْداءٍabout enemies قُلوبُهُمُwhose hearts
فما يُبالي بأَعْداءٍ قُلوبُهُمُ
فيهاin them تَمَكَّنَtook hold منهُof him الخوفُfear والذُّعُرُand terror
فيها تَمَكَّنَ منهُ الخوفُ والذُّعُرُ
He pays no heed to enemies whose hearts
He cares not for enemies whose hearts
are possessed by fear and terror of him.
Terror and flight have conquered,
وكلand every أرضٍland ذَكّرْناهُwe mentioned him بهاin it غَنِيَتْhad no need
وكل أرضٍ ذَكّرْناهُ بها غَنِيَتْ
عَنْfor أنْto يُجَرِّدَbe unsheathed فيهاthere الصارِمُthe keen sword الذَّكَرُthe stout
عَنْ أنْ يُجَرِّدَ فيها الصارِمُ الذَّكَرُ
Every land where we mentioned him had no need
Whenever we reminded of him in a land
for the keen, stout sword to be unsheathed there.
Swords were sheathed, lacking use,
فلَوْso if تُجَرَّدُwere dispatched مِنْfrom مِصْرٍEgypt عَزائِمُهُhis resolves
فلَوْ تُجَرَّدُ مِنْ مِصْرٍ عَزائِمُهُ
إلىagainst العِدَاthe enemies بَطَلَbecame unnecessary البَيْكارُcampaigning والسَّفَرُand travel
إلى العِدَا بَطَلَ البَيْكارُ والسَّفَرُ
Were his resolves alone dispatched from Egypt
If his resolves mobilized from Egypt against enemies
against the enemies, campaigning and travel would become unnecessary.
Ports would be empty of ships and travelers,
فيin كلِّevery يَوْمٍday تَرَىyou see القَتْلَىthe slain بِصَارِمهِby his sword
في كلِّ يَوْمٍ تَرَى القَتْلَى بِصَارِمهِ
كأَنَّماas though نُحِرَتْwere slaughtered فيat مَوسِمٍa festival جُزُرُcamels
كأَنَّما نُحِرَتْ في مَوسِمٍ جُزُرُ
Every day you see those slain by his sword,
Each day you see corpses from his blade
like camels slaughtered at a festival.
As if slaughtered in season, offerings piled,
كَأَنَّas though صارِمَهُhis sword فيin كلِّevery مُعْتَرَكٍbattlefield
كَأَنَّ صارِمَهُ في كلِّ مُعْتَرَكٍ
نَذِيرُa herald مَوْتٍof death خَلَتْpassed مِنْfrom قَبْلِهِbefore it النُّذُرُthe heralds
نَذِيرُ مَوْتٍ خَلَتْ مِنْ قَبْلِهِ النُّذُرُ
His sword in every battlefield seems
His blade in every battlefield
a herald of death, preceded by other heralds.
Is a herald of death, needing no forewarning,
شُكْراًthanks لَهُto him مِنْas وَلِيٍّa governor فيin وِلايَتِهِhis governance
شُكْراً لَهُ مِنْ وَلِيٍّ في وِلايَتِهِ
مَعْنَىthe meaning كرامَتِهof his noble grace للناسِamong people مُشْتَهِرُrenowned
مَعْنَى كرامَتِه للناسِ مُشْتَهِرُ
Thanks to him, a governor in whose governance
Thanks from a viceroy in his governance
the meaning of his noble grace is renowned among people.
His way of honoring people is renowned,
عَمَّhe encompassed الرَّعِيَّةَthe subjects والأَجْنَادَand the soldiers مَعْدَلَةًwith justice
عَمَّ الرَّعِيَّةَ والأَجْنَادَ مَعْدَلَةً
فماso no شكاcomplained of نَفَراًa group مِنْunder عَدْلِهِhis justice نَفَرُgroup
فما شكا نَفَراً مِنْ عَدْلِهِ نَفَرُ
He extended justice to subjects and soldiers alike,
Justice spread over subjects and soldiers
so under his justice no group complained of another.
None complained of his justice, group after group,
وسَرَّand delighted أَسْمَاعَهُمْtheir ears منهُfrom him وأعْيُنَهُمْand their eyes
وسَرَّ أَسْمَاعَهُمْ منهُ وأعْيُنَهُمْ
وَجْهٌa face جَميلٌhandsome وذِكْرٌand a reputation طَيِّبٌgood عَطِرُfragrant
وَجْهٌ جَميلٌ وذِكْرٌ طَيِّبٌ عَطِرُ
Their ears and eyes delighted in his
Their hearing and sights were delighted by him
handsome face and good, fragrant reputation.
A beautiful face and sweet fragrance,
تَأَرَّجَتْwafted fragrance عَنْof نَظِيرِthe like المِسْكِof musk نظْرَتُهُhis glance
تَأَرَّجَتْ عَنْ نَظِيرِ المِسْكِ نظْرَتُهُ
كماas تَأَرَّجَwafted fragrance عَنْfrom أكمامِهِtheir buds الزَّهَرُthe blossoms
كما تَأَرَّجَ عَنْ أكمامِهِ الزَّهَرُ
His glance wafted a fragrance like musk,
More redolent than pure musk was his gaze
as blossoms waft fragrance from their buds.
As scent wafts from his sleeves, the flowers,
مِنْfrom مَعْشَرٍa people فيin العُلاeminence أَوْفَوْاfulfilled عُهُودَهمُtheir pledges
مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ في العُلا أَوْفَوْا عُهُودَهمُ
وليسَand is not مِنْfrom مَعْشَرٍa people خانُواwho betrayed ولاnor غَدَرُواacted treacherously
وليسَ مِنْ مَعْشَرٍ خانُوا ولا غَدَرُوا
He comes from a people who fulfilled their pledges in pursuit of eminence,
Of a folk true to promises in supremacy
not from a people who betrayed or acted treacherously.
Neither betraying nor deceiving,
تُرْكٌTurks تَزَيَّنَتِwas adorned الدُّنياthe world بِذِكْرِهِمُwith their renown
تُرْكٌ تَزَيَّنَتِ الدُّنيا بِذِكْرِهِمُ
فَهُمْso they لهاfor it الحَلْيُthe ornaments إنْif غابُواthey are absent وإنْand if حَضَرُواthey are present
فَهُمْ لها الحَلْيُ إنْ غابُوا وإنْ حَضَرُوا
Turks whose renown has adorned the world:
A noble clan, the world boasts of them
they are its ornaments, whether absent or present.
Present or absent, its ornament and pride,
حَكَتْmirrored ظواهرهُمْtheir outward selves حُسْناًin beauty بواطِنهُمْtheir inward selves
حَكَتْ ظواهرهُمْ حُسْناً بواطِنهُمْ
فَهُمْso they سواءٌare the same أَسَرُّواwhether they conceal القَوْلَspeech أَوْor جَهَرُواspeak aloud
فَهُمْ سواءٌ أَسَرُّوا القَوْلَ أَوْ جَهَرُوا
Their outward selves mirrored their inward beauty;
Their exteriors match their noble interiors
they are the same whether speaking secretly or aloud.
Alike concealing and disclosing their thoughts,
بِيضُfair الوجوهِof face يَجُنُّdarkens اللَّيْلُthe night إنْif رَكِبُواthey ride
بِيضُ الوجوهِ يَجُنُّ اللَّيْلُ إنْ رَكِبُوا
إلىto الوغَىbattle ويُضِيءُand brightens الصُّبْحُthe morning إنْif سَفَرُواthey unveil their faces
إلى الوغَى ويُضِيءُ الصُّبْحُ إنْ سَفَرُوا
Fair-faced, they darken the night when they ride
Fair faces that bring night riding to battle
to battle, and brighten the morning when they unveil their faces.
And light up the morn when traveling,
تَسْعَىhasten لأَبْوَابِهِمْto their gates قُصَّادُseekers مالِهمof their wealth
تَسْعَى لأَبْوَابِهِمْ قُصَّادُ مالِهم
وجاهِهِمْand their influence زُمَراًin companies فيin إثْرِهاtheir wake زُمَرُcompanies
وجاهِهِمْ زُمَراً في إثْرِها زُمَرُ
Seekers of their wealth hasten to their gates,
Their wealth and status attract pursuers
and seekers of their influence, company following company.
Crowds following crowds to their abodes,
تَسَابَقُواthey raced فيtoward العُلاeminence سَبْقَlike the racing الجِيادِof noble steeds لهُمْtheirs
تَسَابَقُوا في العُلا سَبْقَ الجِيادِ لهُمْ
مِنَof الثناءُpraise الحُجولُthe stockings البِيضُwhite والغُرَرُand the forehead blazes
مِنَ الثناءُ الحُجولُ البِيضُ والغُرَرُ
They raced toward eminence like noble steeds; theirs
Racing to supremacy like steeds unleashed
are white stockings and forehead blazes made of praise.
Theirs are the white, noble mares,
وَكلُّand every شيءٍthing سَمِعْناwe heard مِنْof مناقِبِهِمْtheir virtues
وَكلُّ شيءٍ سَمِعْنا مِنْ مناقِبِهِمْ
فمِنْis of مَناقِبِthe virtues عِزِّof Izz الدِّينِal-Din مُخْتَصَرُan abridgment
فمِنْ مَناقِبِ عِزِّ الدِّينِ مُخْتَصَرُ
Everything we have heard of their virtues
All we hear of their virtues
is but an abridgment of Izz al-Din's virtues.
Epitomizes those of Glory of the Faith,
مَوْلىًa lord تَلَذُّdelight لناus أخْبارُthe accounts سُؤْدُدِهِof his mastery
مَوْلىً تَلَذُّ لنا أخْبارُ سُؤْدُدِهِ
كأنَّas though أخْبارهُhis accounts مِنْthrough حُسْنِهاtheir beauty سَمَرُevening storytelling
كأنَّ أخْبارهُ مِنْ حُسْنِها سَمَرُ
A lord whose tales of mastery delight us,
My master, tales of his prowess
as though their beauty made them evening storytelling.
Are to me like tales for their pleasantness,
ياoh حُسْنَthe beauty ماof how يَجْمَعُhe gathers الدُّنياworldly wealth ويُنْفِقُهاand spends it
يا حُسْنَ ما يَجْمَعُ الدُّنيا ويُنْفِقُها
كالبَحْرِlike the sea يَحْسُنُis beautiful منهfrom it الوِرْدُthe approach والصَّدَرُand the departure
كالبَحْرِ يَحْسُنُ منه الوِرْدُ والصَّدَرُ
How beautifully he gathers worldly wealth and spends it,
How excellent what he amasses and spends
like the sea, beautiful both to approach and to leave!
Like a sea from which pearls and gold are extracted,
لكلِّfor every شَرْطٍcondition جَزَاءٌan answer مِنْfrom مَكارِمِهِhis noble deeds
لكلِّ شَرْطٍ جَزَاءٌ مِنْ مَكارِمِهِ
وكُلُّand every مُبْتَدَإٍsubject منهاamong them لهhas خَبَرُa predicate
وكُلُّ مُبْتَدَإٍ منها له خَبَرُ
Every condition finds its answer in his noble deeds,
For every condition, a reward from his generosity
and every subject among them has its predicate.
Each endeavor aware of his knowledge,
فماso never نَظَمْتُI composed مدِيحاًpraise فيهِof him مُبْتَكراًfresh
فما نَظَمْتُ مدِيحاً فيهِ مُبْتَكراً
إِلَّاexcept أَتانِيَcame to me جُودٌgenerosity منهfrom him مُبْتَكرُfresh
إِلَّا أَتانِيَ جُودٌ منه مُبْتَكرُ
Never did I compose a fresh praise of him
I have not composed any unprecedented praise
without fresh generosity coming to me from him.
Except unprecedented generosity came to me,
صَدَقْتُI spoke truth فيin مَدْحِهِhis praise فازْدَادَso increased رَوْنَقُهُits luster
صَدَقْتُ في مَدْحِهِ فازْدَادَ رَوْنَقُهُ
فماso no عَلَىupon وجْهِهِits face مِنْfrom رِيبَةٍdoubt قَتَرُdust
فما عَلَى وجْهِهِ مِنْ رِيبَةٍ قَتَرُ
I spoke truth in his praise, increasing its luster;
I speak truth in praising him, so his splendor flourished
no dust of doubt lies upon its face.
His face unmarred by any blemish,
أغْنَتْrelieved عَطاياهُhis gifts فَقْرَthe poverty الناسِof people كلِّهِمِall of them
أغْنَتْ عَطاياهُ فَقْرَ الناسِ كلِّهِمِ
فسَلْهُمُso ask them عَنْهُabout him إنْif قَلُّواthey are few وَإنْand if كَثُرُواthey are many
فسَلْهُمُ عَنْهُ إنْ قَلُّوا وَإنْ كَثُرُوا
His gifts relieved the poverty of all people;
His gifts enrich all the poor
ask them about him, whether few or many.
So ask them of him, few and many,
لِذَاكَfor that أثْنَوْاthey praised عليهhim بالذِيfor what عَلِمُواthey knew
لِذَاكَ أثْنَوْا عليه بالذِي عَلِمُوا
خيراًof good فياso oh حُسْنَthe beauty ماof how أَثْنَواthey praised وَماand how شَكَرُواthey thanked
خيراً فيا حُسْنَ ما أَثْنَوا وَما شَكَرُوا
For that they praised him for the good they knew—
Thus they praised him for what they knew
how beautifully they praised and gave thanks!
Goodness, how excellent their praise and thanks!
قالواthey said وجَدْنَاهُwe found him مِثْلَlike الكَرْمِthe vine فيin كَرَمٍgenerosity
قالوا وجَدْنَاهُ مِثْلَ الكَرْمِ في كَرَمٍ
يَفِيءُcomes منهfrom him عليناupon us الظِّلُّthe shade والثَّمَرُand the fruit
يَفِيءُ منه علينا الظِّلُّ والثَّمَرُ
They said, 'We found him like a vine in generosity:
They said, "We found him a man of nobility within nobility,
shade and fruit come to us from him.'
Its shade and fruits sheltering us,
وماand does not يَزالُcease يُعِينُassisting الطائِعِينَthe obedient إذَاwhen
وما يَزالُ يُعِينُ الطائِعِينَ إذَا
تَطَوَّعُواthey volunteer بِجَمِيلٍa good deed أَوْor إذاwhen نَذَرُواthey make vows
تَطَوَّعُوا بِجَمِيلٍ أَوْ إذا نَذَرُوا
He continually assists the obedient when
He never fails to aid volunteers
they volunteer a good deed or make a vow.
When undertaking good or oaths,
وَمَنْand whoever أَعَانَassists أُولِيthose engaged in الطاعاتِobedience شَارَكَهُمْshares with them
وَمَنْ أَعَانَ أُولِي الطاعاتِ شَارَكَهُمْ
فيin أَجْرِthe reward ماof what حَصَرُواthey gathered منهfrom it وماand what تَجَرُواthey gained
في أَجْرِ ما حَصَرُوا منه وما تَجَرُوا
Whoever assists those engaged in obedience shares with them
Who aids the obedient shares their reward
the reward of what they gathered and gained from it.
For what they omit and fulfill,
فماso whatever أتَىperform الناسُpeople مِنْof فَرْضٍobligatory devotion وَمِنْand of سُنَنٍcustomary devotions
فما أتَى الناسُ مِنْ فَرْضٍ وَمِنْ سُنَنٍ
ففِيis in صَحِيفَتِهِhis record الغَرَّاءِradiant مُسْتَطَرُinscribed
ففِي صَحِيفَتِهِ الغَرَّاءِ مُسْتَطَرُ
Whatever obligatory or customary devotions people perform
No enjoined duty or tradition has come
is inscribed in his radiant record.
Except in his shining registry inscribed,
فَحَجَّso he made pilgrimage وهْوَwhile he مُقِيمٌremained at home والحِجَازُand the Hijaz بهin it
فَحَجَّ وهْوَ مُقِيمٌ والحِجَازُ به
قَوْمٌpeople يُقِيمُونَreside لاnot حَجُّواmade pilgrimage ولاnor اعْتَمَرُواmade lesser pilgrimage
قَوْمٌ يُقِيمُونَ لا حَجُّوا ولا اعْتَمَرُوا
Thus he made pilgrimage while remaining at home, though in the Hijaz
He performed Pilgrimage while settled, though Hijaz
people reside who have made neither pilgrimage nor lesser pilgrimage.
Was held by folk neither performing nor intending it,
وجَاهَدَتْand fought فيin سبيلِthe path اللَّهِof God طائفةٌa company
وجَاهَدَتْ في سبيلِ اللَّهِ طائفةٌ
وخَيْلُهاand their horses منهfrom him والهِنْدِيَّةُand the Indian swords البُتُرُkeen
وخَيْلُها منه والهِنْدِيَّةُ البُتُرُ
A company fought in God's path,
A group waged jihad in God's way
their horses and keen Indian swords supplied by him.
With his horses and Indian blades,
وَأَطْعَمَand he fed الصَّائِمِينَthose fasting الجائِعِينَhungry وَمِنْand from
وَأَطْعَمَ الصَّائِمِينَ الجائِعِينَ وَمِنْ
فَرْطِextreme الخَصاصَةِdeprivation فيin أكْبَادِهِمtheir livers سُعُرُfires
فَرْطِ الخَصاصَةِ في أكْبَادِهِم سُعُرُ
He fed hungry people who were fasting, while
He fed the hungry fasters, from
extreme deprivation kindled fires within their livers.
Severest privation their livers aflame,
وَلَمْand did not تَفُتْهُescape him مِنَof الأَوْرَادِdevotions ناشِئَةٌa night watch
وَلَمْ تَفُتْهُ مِنَ الأَوْرَادِ ناشِئَةٌ
فيon لَيْلَةٍa night قامَhe stood يُحْيِيهاenlivening it with worship وَلاnor سَحَرُa predawn hour
في لَيْلَةٍ قامَ يُحْيِيها وَلا سَحَرُ
No nighttime devotion escaped him,
No rising litany escapes him
on a night he stood to enliven with worship, nor any predawn hour.
A night he stands performing it, nor dawn,
يَطْوِيhe passes النَّهَارَthe day صِياماًfasting وهْوَwhile it مُضْطَرِمٌis blazing
يَطْوِي النَّهَارَ صِياماً وهْوَ مُضْطَرِمٌ
وَاللَّيْلَand the night يَطْوِيhe passes قِياماًstanding in prayer وهْوَwhile it مُعْتَكِرُis dark
وَاللَّيْلَ يَطْوِي قِياماً وهْوَ مُعْتَكِرُ
He passes the day fasting while it blazes,
He folds the days with fasting, aflame
and passes the night standing in prayer while it is dark.
And the nights folding in vigil, alight,
ومالُهُand his wealth فيin زَكاةٍalms كلُّهُall of it نُصُبٌliable portions
ومالُهُ في زَكاةٍ كلُّهُ نُصُبٌ
لاneither الخُمْسُthe fifth فيهin it لَهُfor it ذِكْرٌmention ولاnor العُشرُthe tenth
لا الخُمْسُ فيه لَهُ ذِكْرٌ ولا العُشرُ
All his wealth consists of portions liable to alms;
His wealth is all for alms,
neither a fifth nor a tenth is even mentioned for it.
No fifth or tenth of it mentioned,
أعمالُهُhis deeds كلُّهاall of them للَّهِfor God خالِصَةٌsincere
أعمالُهُ كلُّها للَّهِ خالِصَةٌ
ونُصْحُهُand his counsel لمdid not يُخالِطْmingle with صَفْوَهُits purity كَدَرُcloudiness
ونُصْحُهُ لم يُخالِطْ صَفْوَهُ كَدَرُ
All his deeds are sincerely for God,
All his works are sincere for God,
and no cloudiness has mingled with his counsel's purity.
Pure, no fraud mixing with his sincerity,
كمhow often عادَrecoiled بَغْيٌoppression عَلَىupon قومٍpeople عليهagainst him بَغَوْاthey oppressed
كم عادَ بَغْيٌ عَلَى قومٍ عليه بَغَوْا
وحاقَand engulfed مَكْرٌplotting بأَقْوَامٍpeople بهagainst him مَكَرُواthey plotted
وحاقَ مَكْرٌ بأَقْوَامٍ به مَكَرُوا
How often oppression recoiled upon people who oppressed him,
How often tyranny against a people was returned!
and plotting engulfed people who plotted against him!
And scheming befell those who schemed,
لَمْdid not يَخْفَescape عَنْfrom عِلْمِهِhis knowledge فيon الأرضِthe earth خافِيَةٌa hidden thing
لَمْ يَخْفَ عَنْ عِلْمِهِ في الأرضِ خافِيَةٌ
كأَنَّهُas though he لِلْوُجُودِfor existence السَّمْعُthe hearing والبَصَرُand the sight
كأَنَّهُ لِلْوُجُودِ السَّمْعُ والبَصَرُ
No hidden thing on earth escaped his knowledge,
Nothing in earth escapes his knowledge
as though he were existence's hearing and sight.
As if for existence he is hearing and sight,
فلاso let not يَظُنّimagine مُرِيبٌa suspicious wrongdoer مِنْfrom جهالَتِهِhis ignorance
فلا يَظُنّ مُرِيبٌ مِنْ جهالَتِهِ
بأَنَّthat فيon الأرضِthe earth شيءٌanything عنهfrom him يَسْتَتِرُis concealed
بأَنَّ في الأرضِ شيءٌ عنه يَسْتَتِرُ
Let no suspicious wrongdoer imagine, in his ignorance,
No schemer should suspect his ignorance
that anything on earth is concealed from him.
That anything on earth from him is hidden,
عَصَتْrebelled عليهagainst him أُناسٌpeople لاno خَلاقَshare of goodness لَهُمْfor them
عَصَتْ عليه أُناسٌ لا خَلاقَ لَهُمْ
الشُّؤْمُill luck شِيمَتُهُمْtheir nature واللُّؤْمُand baseness والدَّبَرُand ruin
الشُّؤْمُ شِيمَتُهُمْ واللُّؤْمُ والدَّبَرُ
People with no share of goodness rebelled against him;
Some obstinate men of no morality rebelled,
ill luck, baseness, and ruin are their nature.
Their nature misfortune, villainy, and flight,
تَلَثَّمُواthey veiled their faces ثمَّthen قالواsaid إنناwe indeed عَرَبٌare Arabs
تَلَثَّمُوا ثمَّ قالوا إننا عَرَبٌ
فقلتُso I said لاnot عَرَبٌArabs أنتمْyou وَلاnor حَضَرُtownspeople
فقلتُ لا عَرَبٌ أنتمْ وَلا حَضَرُ
They veiled their faces, then said, 'We are Arabs.'
Donning rags they claimed to be Arab,
I said, 'You are neither Arabs nor townspeople.
I said no, you are neither urban nor bedouin,
ولاand no عُهُودَcovenants لكُمْfor you تُرْعَىare honored ولاnor ذِمَمٌpledges
ولا عُهُودَ لكُمْ تُرْعَى ولا ذِمَمٌ
ولاnor بُيُوتُكُمyour tents شَعْرٌhair وَلاnor وَبَرُcamel-hair
ولا بُيُوتُكُم شَعْرٌ وَلا وَبَرُ
You have neither covenants to honor nor pledges,
No compacts for you to honor, nor covenants,
nor are your tents made of hair or camel-hair.
Your abodes are neither hair nor wool,
وأَيُّand which بَرِّيَّةٍwilderness فيهاin it بُيُوتُكُمyour dwellings
وأَيُّ بَرِّيَّةٍ فيها بُيُوتُكُم
وَهلْand are هِيَthey الشَّعْرُhair قولواtell ليme أَمِor المَدَرُclay
وَهلْ هِيَ الشَّعْرُ قولوا لي أَمِ المَدَرُ
In what wilderness are your dwellings?
What wilderness are your homes in?
Are they hair, tell me, or clay?'
Say, are they hair or wool?
وَليسَand does not يُنْجِيsave امْرَأًa man رامُواthey intended أَذِيَّتُهُhis harm
وَليسَ يُنْجِي امْرَأً رامُوا أَذِيَّتُهُ
منهمْfrom them فِرارٌflight فَقُلْso say كَلَّاno indeed ولاnor وَزَرُrefuge
منهمْ فِرارٌ فَقُلْ كَلَّا ولا وَزَرُ
No man whom they intend to harm is saved
For the wretch they intend harm
by fleeing them—say, 'No indeed, nor is there refuge.'
Neither fleeing them nor departing brings escape,
يَشْكُوcomplain of جميعall بنِيthe children الدُّنياof the world أَذِيَّتَهُمْtheir harm
يَشْكُو جميع بنِي الدُّنيا أَذِيَّتَهُمْ
فهمْso they بِطُرْقِهِمُin their paths الأحجارُthe stones والحُفَرُand the potholes
فهمْ بِطُرْقِهِمُ الأحجارُ والحُفَرُ
All the world's people complain of their harm;
All mankind complain of their harm
they are stones and potholes in people's paths.
As their ways wound rock and ravine,
يَرَوْنَthey deem كلَّevery قَبيحٍugly deed مِنْهُمُof theirs حَسَناًbeautiful
يَرَوْنَ كلَّ قَبيحٍ مِنْهُمُ حَسَناً
وَلَمْand did not يُبالُواcare أَلامَwhether blamed الناسُpeople أَمْor عَذَرُواexcused
وَلَمْ يُبالُوا أَلامَ الناسُ أَمْ عَذَرُوا
They deem every ugly deed of theirs beautiful,
They see all their wickedness as goodness
caring nothing whether people blame or excuse them.
Caring not if people suffer, nor excuse them,
مِنْthrough لُؤْمِthe baseness أحْسَابِهِمْof their ancestry إنْif شاتَمُواthey exchange insults رَبحواthey win
مِنْ لُؤْمِ أحْسَابِهِمْ إنْ شاتَمُوا رَبحوا
وَمِنْand through حَقَارَتِهِمْtheir worthlessness إنْif قاتَلواthey fight خَسِرواthey lose
وَمِنْ حَقَارَتِهِمْ إنْ قاتَلوا خَسِروا
Through the baseness of their ancestry they win when exchanging insults,
Due to their stupidity, insult profits them
and through their worthlessness they lose when fighting.
Due to their wretchedness, fighting harms them,
لَمَّاwhen عَلِمْتَyou learned بأنَّthat الرِّفْقَgentleness أَبْطَرَهمْmade them insolent
لَمَّا عَلِمْتَ بأنَّ الرِّفْقَ أَبْطَرَهمْ
والمُفْسِدُونand the corrupt إذاwhen أَكْرَمْتَهُمْyou honor them بَطِرُواgrow insolent
والمُفْسِدُون إذا أَكْرَمْتَهُمْ بَطِرُوا
When you learned that gentleness had made them insolent—
When you saw that only might restrains them
for the corrupt grow insolent when you honor them—
And corrupters, when honored, wax bold,
زَجَرْتَهُمْyou restrained them بعقوباتٍwith punishments مُنَوَّعَةٍvaried
زَجَرْتَهُمْ بعقوباتٍ مُنَوَّعَةٍ
وفيand in العقوباتِpunishments لِلطاغينَfor the tyrannical مُزْدَجَرُa deterrent
وفي العقوباتِ لِلطاغينَ مُزْدَجَرُ
you restrained them with varied punishments;
You deterred them with varied punishments,
in punishments the tyrannical find a deterrent.
Meet for the tyrannical, deterring,
كأَنّهمas though they أَقْسَمُواswore باللَّهِby God أنَّهمُthat they
كأَنّهم أَقْسَمُوا باللَّهِ أنَّهمُ
لاdo not يَتْركونَabandon الأذىharm إِلَّاexcept إذَاwhen قُهِرُواthey are subdued
لا يَتْركونَ الأذى إِلَّا إذَا قُهِرُوا
It is as though they swore by God that they
As if they swore to God persistent in harm
would never abandon harm unless subdued.
Until subdued by force, unrelenting,
فَمَعْشَرٌso one group رَكِبُواmounted الأَوْتادَthe stakes فانقطعَتْand were severed
فَمَعْشَرٌ رَكِبُوا الأَوْتادَ فانقطعَتْ
أَمْعاؤُهمtheir intestines فَتَمَنَّوْاso they wished أَنَّهمْthat they نُحِرُواhad been slaughtered
أَمْعاؤُهم فَتَمَنَّوْا أَنَّهمْ نُحِرُوا
One group mounted the stakes, and their
Some rode poles till disemboweled,
intestines were severed; they wished they had been slaughtered.
Wishing they had been ritually slain,
ومَعْشَرٌand another group قُطِعَتْwere cut أَوْصالُهمْtheir limbs قِطَعاًinto pieces
ومَعْشَرٌ قُطِعَتْ أَوْصالُهمْ قِطَعاً
فماso cannot يُلَفِّقُهاstitch them together خَيْطٌthread ولاnor إبَرُneedles
فما يُلَفِّقُها خَيْطٌ ولا إبَرُ
Another group had their limbs cut into pieces,
Others had limbs chopped segment by segment
which neither thread nor needles could stitch together.
Beyond any mending of thread and needle,
ومَعْشَرٌand another group بالظُّباby the blades طارتْflew رؤُوسُهُمُtheir heads
ومَعْشَرٌ بالظُّبا طارتْ رؤُوسُهُمُ
عَنِfrom الجُسومِthe bodies فَقُلْنَاso we said إنهاthey أُكَرُare balls
عَنِ الجُسومِ فَقُلْنَا إنها أُكَرُ
Another group's heads flew beneath the blades
Others were crucified over steeds, boards
from their bodies, and we said, 'They are balls.'
And wooden saddles gripping their bodies fast,
وَمَعْشَرٌand another group وُسِّطُواwere cut in two مثْلَlike الدِّلاءِbuckets وَلمْand were not
وَمَعْشَرٌ وُسِّطُوا مثْلَ الدِّلاءِ وَلمْ
تُرْبَطْtied حِبَالٌropes بهاto them يَوْماًever ولاnor بَكَرُpulleys
تُرْبَطْ حِبَالٌ بها يَوْماً ولا بَكَرُ
Another group were cut in two like buckets, though no
And others their souls ransomed with riches
ropes were ever tied to them, nor pulleys.
People said better than lifelong blindness,
وَمَعْشَرٌand another group سُمِّرواwere nailed فوْقَatop الجِيادِthe steeds وقدْand had
وَمَعْشَرٌ سُمِّروا فوْقَ الجِيادِ وقدْ
شَدَّتْsecured جُسومَهُمُtheir bodies الألواحُthe planks وَالدُّسُرُand the nails
شَدَّتْ جُسومَهُمُ الألواحُ وَالدُّسُرُ
Another group were nailed atop steeds, their
Evil deaths they invited by their deeds
bodies secured by planks and nails.
With Hellfire awaiting them in the beyond,
وآخَرُونَand others فَدَوْاransomed بالمالِwith money أنفُسَهُمْthemselves
وآخَرُونَ فَدَوْا بالمالِ أنفُسَهُمْ
وقالتِand said الناسُpeople خَيْرٌbetter مِنْthan عَمىًblindness عَوَرُone blind eye
وقالتِ الناسُ خَيْرٌ مِنْ عَمىً عَوَرُ
Others ransomed themselves with money,
Thus the staff learned, heeding your warnings,
and people said, 'One blind eye is better than blindness.'
And the heedless remembering when reminded,
مَوْتاتُdeaths سَوْءٍterrible تَلَقَّوْهاthey met them بماfor what صَنَعُواthey did
مَوْتاتُ سَوْءٍ تَلَقَّوْها بما صَنَعُوا
وَمِنْand from وَراءِbeyond تَلَقِّيهِمْtheir encounter لهاwith them سَقَرُSaqar
وَمِنْ وَراءِ تَلَقِّيهِمْ لها سَقَرُ
Terrible deaths they met for what they had done,
Every man refrained from treachery
and beyond that encounter awaits Saqar.
No woman nor man betraying after that,
وَقدand indeed تَأَدَّبَتِlearned a lesson المُسْتَخْدمونthe officials بهمfrom them
وَقد تَأَدَّبَتِ المُسْتَخْدمون بهم
وَالغافلونand the heedless إذَاwhen ماindeed ذُكِّرُواthey are reminded ذَكَرُواremember
وَالغافلون إذَا ما ذُكِّرُوا ذَكَرُوا
The officials learned a lesson from them;
If their state improved after corruption
the heedless remember when reminded.
Know that breakage may be repaired,
فَعَفَّso refrained كلُّevery ابنِson أُنْثَىof a woman عَنْfrom خِيانتهِbetraying him
فَعَفَّ كلُّ ابنِ أُنْثَى عَنْ خِيانتهِ
فَلَمْso did not يَخُنْbetray نفسَهُtheir own soul أُنْثَىa female وَلاnor ذكرُa male
فَلَمْ يَخُنْ نفسَهُ أُنْثَى وَلا ذكرُ
Every son of a woman refrained from betraying him;
If not for you, they would not make amends
neither female nor male then betrayed their own soul.
For abusing the public, pardoning nor sparing,
إنْif كانَhave قدindeed صَلَحَتْimproved مِنْfrom بعْدِafter ماthey فَسَدَتْbecame corrupt
إنْ كانَ قد صَلَحَتْ مِنْ بعْدِ ما فَسَدَتْ
أَحوالُهمْtheir conditions بِكَthrough you إنَّindeed الكَسْرَa break يَنْجَبِرُcan heal
أَحوالُهمْ بِكَ إنَّ الكَسْرَ يَنْجَبِرُ
If, after having become corrupt, there have improved
I would not after blaming them praise them
their conditions through you—indeed, a break can heal.
As if they believed after long disbelief,
لَوْلاكَwithout you ماwould not عَدَلُواact justly مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter جَوْرِهُمُtheir oppression
لَوْلاكَ ما عَدَلُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ جَوْرِهُمُ
عَلَىagainst الرَّعاياthe subjects ولاnor عَفُّواabstain وَلاnor انْحَصَرُواrestrain themselves
عَلَى الرَّعايا ولا عَفُّوا وَلا انْحَصَرُوا
Without you they would not have acted justly after their oppression
Differing of the pious does no harm
of the subjects, nor abstained nor restrained themselves.
If upon Islam's nature they were nurtured,
ولاnor شَكَرْتُهُمwould I thank them مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter ذَمِّهِمُcondemning them
ولا شَكَرْتُهُم مِنْ بَعْدِ ذَمِّهِمُ
كأنهمas though they آمَنُواembraced faith مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter ماthey كَفَرُواdisbelieved
كأنهم آمَنُوا مِنْ بَعْدِ ما كَفَرُوا
Nor would I have thanked them after condemning them,
Exerting himself in God's pasture, diligent
as though they had embraced faith after unbelief.
Girding piety and fearing God,
وكُنْتُand I had وصَّيْتُهُمْcounseled them أنْto يَحْذَروكَbeware of you كماas
وكُنْتُ وصَّيْتُهُمْ أنْ يَحْذَروكَ كما
وصَّىcounseled الحكيمُthe wise man بَنِيهِhis sons وَهْوَwhile he مُحْتَضرُwas dying
وصَّى الحكيمُ بَنِيهِ وَهْوَ مُحْتَضرُ
I had counseled them to beware of you, as
He balanced nights and days remaining
the wise man counseled his sons while dying.
As if mere moments, swift to pass,
وقلتُand I said لاdo not تَقْرَبواapproach مالاًwealth حَوَتْheld يَدُهُhis hand
وقلتُ لا تَقْرَبوا مالاً حَوَتْ يَدُهُ
فالفَخُّfor the trap يَهْرُبُflees منهfrom it الطائرthe bird الحَذِرُwary
فالفَخُّ يَهْرُبُ منه الطائر الحَذِرُ
I said, 'Do not approach wealth held in his hand:
I fell before him in awe
the wary bird flees the trap.
People said a dying elder forgetful,
وحاذِرُواand beware معهwith him أنْof تَرْكَبُواundertaking غَرَراًa hazard
وحاذِرُوا معه أنْ تَرْكَبُوا غَرَراً
فليسَfor not يُحْمَدُis praised مَنْone whose مركُوْبُهُmount الغَرَرُis peril
فليسَ يُحْمَدُ مَنْ مركُوْبُهُ الغَرَرُ
Beware of undertaking hazards with him,
My words fell short of praising him
for none is praised whose mount is peril.
Though I came with apologies sincere,
ولاand do not تَصَدَّوْاundertake لماwhat لمdid not يرضapprove خاطرُهُhis mind
ولا تَصَدَّوْا لما لم يرض خاطرُهُ
إنَّindeed التَّصدِّيundertaking لماwhat لمdid not يرضهhe approve خطَرُis dangerous
إنَّ التَّصدِّي لما لم يرضه خطَرُ
Do not undertake what his mind disapproves:
Accept from your merit praise by
undertaking what he disapproves is dangerous.'
A weak elder whose effort falls short,
فبانso became clear نصحيmy counsel لهُمْto them إذwhen ماتَdied ناظِرُهمْtheir overseer
فبان نصحي لهُمْ إذ ماتَ ناظِرُهمْ
وَقدand indeed بَدَتappeared لِلوَرَىto everyone فِيin مَوتِهِhis death عِبَرُlessons
وَقد بَدَت لِلوَرَى فِي مَوتِهِ عِبَرُ
My counsel became clear to them when their overseer died;
No flaw mars the bow for bending
lessons in his death became evident to everyone.
If the arrow flies straight and cord stretched,
مُقَدَّماتٌpreliminaries أماتاهُthe two killed him وأقْبَرَهُand buried him
مُقَدَّماتٌ أماتاهُ وأقْبَرَهُ
مَشاعِلِيَّانِtwo torchbearers ماdid not أَدَّوْاrender service وَلاnor نَصَرُواgive aid
مَشاعِلِيَّانِ ما أَدَّوْا وَلا نَصَرُوا
[Text unclear] Preliminaries: two killed him and consigned him to the grave—
Wear the mantle of praise skillfully woven
two torchbearers who neither rendered service nor gave aid.
That thinking intricately embroidered,
وجَرَّسُوهُand proclaimed his disgrace عَلَىupon النَّعْشِthe bier الذيthat حَمَلُواthey carried
وجَرَّسُوهُ عَلَى النَّعْشِ الذي حَمَلُوا
مِنَfrom الفِراشِthe bed إلَىto القَبْرِthe grave الذيthat حَفَرُواthey dug
مِنَ الفِراشِ إلَى القَبْرِ الذي حَفَرُوا
They proclaimed his disgrace upon the bier they carried
Of a truthful poet whose trait is not lying
from the bed to the grave they dug.
In what he says, no cluelessness nor bound,
ياoh سوءَthe vileness ماof what قَرَؤُواthey read out مِنْof كلِّevery مُخْزِيَةٍshameful thing
يا سوءَ ما قَرَؤُوا مِنْ كلِّ مُخْزِيَةٍ
عَلَىat جَنَازَتِهِhis funeral جَهْرَاًaloud وماand what هَجَرُواfoul words they spoke
عَلَى جَنَازَتِهِ جَهْرَاً وما هَجَرُوا
How vile were all the shameful things they read out
Meandering every valley praising you
aloud at his funeral, and the foul words they spoke!
Led by meanings excelling the mind’s grasp,
وَكَبَّرُواand magnified بَعْدَafter تَصْغِيرٍminimizing جَرَائمَهُhis crimes
وَكَبَّرُوا بَعْدَ تَصْغِيرٍ جَرَائمَهُ
وقَبَّحُواand condemned ماwhat طَوَوْاthey concealed منهاof them وماand what نَشَرُواthey disclosed
وقَبَّحُوا ما طَوَوْا منها وما نَشَرُوا
They magnified his crimes after minimizing them,
He recites poetry for praise only
and condemned those they concealed and those they disclosed.
Naught else has his passion or fervor,
وكانَand he had جَمَّعَamassed أمْوالاًwealth وَعَدَّدَهاand counted it
وكانَ جَمَّعَ أمْوالاً وَعَدَّدَها
وظَنَّهَاand thought it لِصُروفِagainst the vicissitudes الدَّهْرِof time تُدَّخَرُcould be stored
وظَنَّهَا لِصُروفِ الدَّهْرِ تُدَّخَرُ
He had amassed wealth and counted it,
No verse for a gazelle in the wild enthralls him
thinking it could be stored against time's vicissitudes.
Nor song for a maiden with languid eyes,
فآذَنَتْso it announced بِزَوالٍdeparture عنهfrom him مُسْرِعَةًswiftly
فآذَنَتْ بِزَوالٍ عنه مُسْرِعَةً
كماas يَزُولُdisappears بِحَلْقِwith shaving العانَةِthe pubic region الشَّعَرُhair
كما يَزُولُ بِحَلْقِ العانَةِ الشَّعَرُ
But it announced its swift departure from him,
Your praise is free, no prices or wages
as hair disappears when the pubic region is shaved.
Sway him, though destitute his hands,
وراحَand he departed مِنْfrom خِدْمَةٍservice صِفْرَempty اليَدَيْنِof both hands فقُلso say
وراحَ مِنْ خِدْمَةٍ صِفْرَ اليَدَيْنِ فقُل
لِلْعامِلينَto those administering عليهاit بَعْدَهafter him اعْتَبِرواtake warning
لِلْعامِلينَ عليها بَعْدَه اعْتَبِروا
He left his service empty-handed; so say
Better to me than riches is praising the generous
to those administering it after him, 'Take warning.'
Whose mention of my praise spreads in the world,
ماwhat عُذْرُexcuse ماشٍhas a walker مَشَىwho walked بالظُّلْمِwith injustice فيon طُرْقٍroads
ما عُذْرُ ماشٍ مَشَى بالظُّلْمِ في طُرْقٍ
رَأىhe saw المُشاةَthe walkers عليهاalong them بَعْدَهُafter him عَبَرُواpass
رَأى المُشاةَ عليها بَعْدَهُ عَبَرُوا
What excuse has one who walks unjustly along roads
Yellowness of gold is the same if
on which he saw other walkers pass after him?
My hands yellow while enriched the same,
إذاif تَفَكَّرْتَyou reflect فيupon المُسْتَخْدمينَthe officials بَدَاappeared
إذا تَفَكَّرْتَ في المُسْتَخْدمينَ بَدَا
منهمfrom them لِعَيْنَيْكَto your eyes ماwhat لمdid not يُبْدِهِreveal it النَّظَرُmere looking
منهم لِعَيْنَيْكَ ما لم يُبْدِهِ النَّظَرُ
If you reflect upon the officials, there appears
Remain as long as you wish in whatsoever rank,
to your eyes something in them that mere looking did not reveal.
Exalted, that the world in your age endures,
ظَنُّوهُمُthey thought them عَمَرُواto have built up الدُّنياthe world بِبَذْلِهمُthrough their expenditure
ظَنُّوهُمُ عَمَرُوا الدُّنيا بِبَذْلِهمُ
وَإنماbut instead خَرَّبُواthey ruined الدُّنياthe world وماand did not عَمَرُواbuild it
وَإنما خَرَّبُوا الدُّنيا وما عَمَرُوا
People thought they built up the world through their expenditure;
May your nights fulfill what you hope of them,
instead they ruined the world and did not build it.
Never transgressing your limits,
فطهِّرِso cleanse الأرضَthe earth منهمof them إنَّهمْindeed they خَبَثٌare filth
فطهِّرِ الأرضَ منهم إنَّهمْ خَبَثٌ
لوْif يَغْسِلُونَهُمُthey wash them بالبحرِwith the sea ماnot طهُرُواwould they become pure
لوْ يَغْسِلُونَهُمُ بالبحرِ ما طهُرُوا
Cleanse the earth of them: they are filth;
Every organ of mine supplicates for you
even washing them with the sea would not purify them.
God's responding through His bounty awaited,
نِيرانُfires شَرٍّof evil كَفانَاmay spare us اللَّهُGod شَرَّهُمُtheir evil
نِيرانُ شَرٍّ كَفانَا اللَّهُ شَرَّهُمُ
لاdo not يَرْحَمُونَshow mercy وَلاnor يُبقُونspare إنْif ظَفِرُواthey prevail
لا يَرْحَمُونَ وَلا يُبقُون إنْ ظَفِرُوا
Fires of evil—may God spare us their evil—
they neither show mercy nor spare anyone when victorious.
فاحْذَرْso beware كِبارَthe grown بَنيهِمْof their sons إنهمْindeed they قُرُمٌare logs
فاحْذَرْ كِبارَ بَنيهِمْ إنهمْ قُرُمٌ
وَاحْذَرْand beware صِغَارَthe young بَنيهمْof their sons إنَّهمindeed they شَرَرُare sparks
وَاحْذَرْ صِغَارَ بَنيهمْ إنَّهم شَرَرُ
Beware their grown sons: they are logs;
beware their young sons: they are sparks.
فالفيلَfor the elephant تَقْتُلُهkills it الأَفْعَىthe viper بِأَصْغَرِهاwith its smallest
فالفيلَ تَقْتُلُه الأَفْعَى بِأَصْغَرِها
فيهاwithin it ولمand did not تخشَهُfear it منْfrom سِنِّهاits tooth الصِّغَرُsmallness
فيها ولم تخشَهُ منْ سِنِّها الصِّغَرُ
The viper kills the elephant with its smallest tooth
within it, nor does its tooth's smallness make it fear him.
واضرِبهُمand strike them بَقَناًwith spear-shafts مثلِlike الحديدِiron بهمْagainst them
واضرِبهُم بَقَناً مثلِ الحديدِ بهمْ
فليسَfor not منfrom غَيرِwithout ضَرْبٍbeating يَنْفَعُare useful الزُّبُرُiron blocks
فليسَ من غَيرِ ضَرْبٍ يَنْفَعُ الزُّبُرُ
Strike them with spear-shafts, treating them like iron;
for iron blocks are useless without beating.
ولاand do not تَثِقْtrust بِوَفاءٍin fidelity مِنْfrom أَخِيa possessor حُمُقٍof folly
ولا تَثِقْ بِوَفاءٍ مِنْ أَخِي حُمُقٍ
فالحُمْقُfor folly دَاءٌis a disease عَياءٌincurable بُرْؤُهits cure عَسِرُdifficult
فالحُمْقُ دَاءٌ عَياءٌ بُرْؤُه عَسِرُ
Do not trust the fidelity of a fool:
folly is an incurable disease, difficult to heal.
مِنْof كلِّevery مِنْone whose قَدْرُهُworth فيin نَفْسِهِhis own eyes أَبَداًalways
مِنْ كلِّ مِنْ قَدْرُهُ في نَفْسِهِ أَبَداً
مُعَظَّمٌis magnified وَهوَwhile he عندamong الناسِpeople مُحْتَقَرُis despised
مُعَظَّمٌ وَهوَ عند الناسِ مُحْتَقَرُ
Such is everyone whose worth, in his own eyes, is always
magnified, though people hold him in contempt.
يَصُدُّhe turns away عنكَfrom you إذَاwhen استَغْنَىhe becomes prosperous بِجانبِهِwith his side
يَصُدُّ عنكَ إذَا استَغْنَى بِجانبِهِ
وَلاand does not يَزُورُكَvisit you إِلَّاexcept حِينَwhen يَفْتَقِرُhe becomes poor
وَلا يَزُورُكَ إِلَّا حِينَ يَفْتَقِرُ
He turns his side away from you when prosperous,
and visits you only when impoverished.
كأنَّهas though he الدَّلوُthe bucket يعلوrises حينَwhen تَمْلَؤُهُyou fill it
كأنَّه الدَّلوُ يعلو حينَ تَمْلَؤُهُ
ماءًwith water وَيُفْرِغُand empties ماwhat فيهِis in it فَيَنْحَدِرُthen descends
ماءً وَيُفْرِغُ ما فيهِ فَيَنْحَدِرُ
He is like a bucket that rises when you fill it
with water, then empties its contents and descends.
وَالدَّهْرُand time يَرْفَعُraises أَطْرَافاًupstarts كماas رَفَعَتْraised
وَالدَّهْرُ يَرْفَعُ أَطْرَافاً كما رَفَعَتْ
أَذْنَابَهاtheir tails لِقَضَاءِto relieve الحاجَةِthe need البَقَرُthe cattle
أَذْنَابَها لِقَضَاءِ الحاجَةِ البَقَرُ
Time raises upstarts, just as cattle raise
their tails to relieve themselves.
حَسْبُsufficient for المَحَلَّةِal-Mahalla لَمَّاwhen زالdeparted َ ناظِرُهاits overseer
حَسْبُ المَحَلَّةِ لَمَّا زال َ ناظِرُها
أنthat زَالَdeparted مُذْsince زَالَhe departed عنهاfrom it البُؤْسُmisery والضَّرَرُand harm
أن زَالَ مُذْ زَالَ عنها البُؤْسُ والضَّرَرُ
Sufficient for al-Mahalla, when its overseer departed,
is that misery and harm departed with him,
وَأنَّand that أَعْمالَهاits districts لَمَّاwhen حَللْتَyou settled بهاthere
وَأنَّ أَعْمالَها لَمَّا حَللْتَ بها
تَغارُare jealous مِنْof طِيبِهاtheir beauty الجَنَّاتُthe gardens والنُّهُرُand the rivers
تَغارُ مِنْ طِيبِها الجَنَّاتُ والنُّهُرُ
and that its districts, when you settled there,
made gardens and rivers jealous of their beauty.
وأَهْلَهَاand its people فيin أَمانٍsafety مِنْfrom مَساكِنِهاits dwellings
وأَهْلَهَا في أَمانٍ مِنْ مَساكِنِها
مِنْfrom فَوْقِهِمْabove them غُرَفٌchambers مِنْfrom تَحتِهِمْbeneath them سُرُرُcouches
مِنْ فَوْقِهِمْ غُرَفٌ مِنْ تَحتِهِمْ سُرُرُ
Its people live secure in their dwellings,
with chambers above them and couches beneath them.
مَلأتَyou filled فِيهاthere بُيُوتَthe houses المَالِof wealth مِنْwith ذَهَبٍgold
مَلأتَ فِيها بُيُوتَ المَالِ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ
وَفِضَّةٍand silver صُبَراًin heaps يَاoh حَبَّذَاhow splendid! الصُّبَرُthe heaps
وَفِضَّةٍ صُبَراً يَا حَبَّذَا الصُّبَرُ
You filled its treasuries with gold
and silver in heaps—how splendid those heaps!
وَالمالُand wealth يُجْنَىis harvested كماas يُجْنَىare harvested الثمارُfruits بهاthere
وَالمالُ يُجْنَى كما يُجْنَى الثمارُ بها
حتّىuntil كأنَّas though بَنِيthe children الدُّنياof the world لهاfor it شَجَرُare trees
حتّى كأنَّ بَنِي الدُّنيا لها شَجَرُ
Wealth is harvested there as fruits are harvested,
until the world's people seem its trees.
وتابَعَتْand followed بعضَهاone another الغَلَّاتِthe harvests فيon سَفَرٍa journey
وتابَعَتْ بعضَها الغَلَّاتِ في سَفَرٍ
بعضاًanother إلَىto شُوَنٍgranaries ضاقَتْgrew cramped بهاالخُدُرُwith them, the enclosures
بعضاً إلَى شُوَنٍ ضاقَتْ بهاالخُدُرُ
The harvests followed one another on the road,
one after another, to granaries whose enclosures grew too cramped.
وَسِيقَتِand were driven الخَيْلُthe horses لِلأَبْوَابِto the gates مُسْرَجَةًsaddled
وَسِيقَتِ الخَيْلُ لِلأَبْوَابِ مُسْرَجَةً
لَمْnot تُحْصwere counted عَدَّاًin number وَتُحْصَىthough can be counted الأَنْجُمُthe stars الزُّهُرُbright
لَمْ تُحْص عَدَّاً وَتُحْصَى الأَنْجُمُ الزُّهُرُ
Saddled horses were driven to the gates,
too numerous to count, though the bright stars can be counted.
وَالهُجْنُand the riding camels تَحْسِبُهاyou think them سُحْباًclouds مُفَوَّفَةًstriped
وَالهُجْنُ تَحْسِبُها سُحْباً مُفَوَّفَةً
فيin الحَقِّtruth منهاby them فضاءthe expanse الجَوِّof the air مُنْحَصِرُis hemmed in
في الحَقِّ منها فضاء الجَوِّ مُنْحَصِرُ
The riding camels you would think were striped clouds;
indeed, the expanse of air is hemmed in by them.
وكلُّand every مُقْتَرَحٍdesired thing ماthat دارَcrossed فيin خَلَدٍa mind
وكلُّ مُقْتَرَحٍ ما دارَ في خَلَدٍ
يأْتِيbrings إليكَto you بهit فيat وقتهِits time القَدَرُdestiny
يأْتِي إليكَ به في وقتهِ القَدَرُ
Every desired thing that ever crossed a mind
is brought to you by destiny at its appointed time.
وَماand never هَمَمْتَyou intended بِأَمْرٍa matter غيرbeyond مَطْلَبِهِseeking it
وَما هَمَمْتَ بِأَمْرٍ غير مَطْلَبِهِ
إِلّاexcept تَيَسَّرَbecame easy مِنْof أسبابهِits means العَسِرُthe difficult
إِلّا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْ أسبابهِ العَسِرُ
Whenever you intend a matter, with nothing beyond seeking it,
even the hardest means to it become easy.
والعاملونَand those administering عَلَىover الأموالthe revenues ماdid not عَلِمُواknow
والعاملونَ عَلَى الأموال ما عَلِمُوا
مِنْfrom أيِّماwhichever جهةdirection يأْتيit comes وماand did not شَعَرُواperceive
مِنْ أيِّما جهة يأْتي وما شَعَرُوا
Those administering the revenues did not know
from which direction it came, nor did they perceive it.
وماand do not أُرَىI think بَيتَthe house مالِof wealth المسلمينَof the Muslims دَرَىknew
وما أُرَى بَيتَ مالِ المسلمينَ دَرَى
مِنْfrom أَيْنَwhere تأتيcome لهُto it الأكياسُthe bags وَالبِدَرُand the purses of coin
مِنْ أَيْنَ تأتي لهُ الأكياسُ وَالبِدَرُ
Nor do I think the Muslims' treasury itself knew
whence the bags and purses of coin came to it.
هذاall this وماand no أحَدٌperson كلَّفْتَهُyou burdened him شَطَطاًexcessively
هذا وما أحَدٌ كلَّفْتَهُ شَطَطاً
بمَاthrough what فَعَلْتَyou did كأنَّas though الناسَpeople قدhad سُحِرواbeen enchanted
بمَا فَعَلْتَ كأنَّ الناسَ قد سُحِروا
All this, and you imposed excessive hardship on no one;
through what you did, the people seemed enchanted.
بلrather زَادَهمincreased them فيكَfor you حُبّاًin love ماwhat فَعَلْتَyou did بهِمfor them
بل زَادَهم فيكَ حُبّاً ما فَعَلْتَ بهِم
مِنَof الجَمِيلِkindness وَذَنْبُand the sin الحُبِّof love مُغْتَفَرُis forgiven
مِنَ الجَمِيلِ وَذَنْبُ الحُبِّ مُغْتَفَرُ
Rather, what you did for them increased their love for you—
your kindness; and the sin of love is forgiven.
فإنْso if شَكَوْاthey complain بِغْضَةًof hatred مِمَّنْfrom those who مَضَىpassed سَلَفَتْleft earlier
فإنْ شَكَوْا بِغْضَةً مِمَّنْ مَضَى سَلَفَتْ
فماfor no لِقَلْبٍheart has عَلَىfor البَغْضَاءِhostility مُصْطَبَرُendurance
فما لِقَلْبٍ عَلَى البَغْضَاءِ مُصْطَبَرُ
If they complain of hatred left by those who came before,
no heart can endure hostility.
فالصَّبْرُfor bitter aloe مِنْfrom يَدِthe hand مَنْof one whom أَحْبَبْتَهُyou love عَسَلٌis honey
فالصَّبْرُ مِنْ يَدِ مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَهُ عَسَلٌ
وَالشَّهْدُand honeycomb مِنْfrom يَدِthe hand مَنْof one whom أَبْغَضْتَهُyou hate صَبرُis bitter aloe
وَالشَّهْدُ مِنْ يَدِ مَنْ أَبْغَضْتَهُ صَبرُ
Bitter aloe from the hand of one you love is honey;
honeycomb from the hand of one you hate is bitter aloe.
لقدْindeed جُبِلْتَyou were fashioned بمَكْروهٍwith something unwelcome عَلَىupon أَحَدٍsomeone
لقدْ جُبِلْتَ بمَكْروهٍ عَلَى أَحَدٍ
حُكْماًa judgment يُخَالِفُهُcontradicts it نَصٌّa text وَلاbut no خَبرُreport
حُكْماً يُخَالِفُهُ نَصٌّ وَلا خَبرُ
[Text unclear] You were indeed fashioned with something unwelcome to someone—
a judgment contradicted by a text, but not by a report.
رُزِقْتَyou were blessed with ذُرِّيَّةًoffspring ضاهَتْكَresembling you طَيِّبَةًgood
رُزِقْتَ ذُرِّيَّةً ضاهَتْكَ طَيِّبَةً
مِنْfrom طِينَةٍclay غارَwas jealous منهاof it العَنْبَرُambergris العَطِرُfragrant
مِنْ طِينَةٍ غارَ منها العَنْبَرُ العَطِرُ
You were blessed with good offspring resembling you,
from clay that fragrant ambergris envied.
فليَنهِكَso let it inform you اليومَtoday منهاfrom them الفضلُexcellence حينwhen غَداbecame
فليَنهِكَ اليومَ منها الفضلُ حين غَدا
دينُthe religion الإلهِof God بِسَيْفِthrough Sayf الدِّينِal-Din مُنْتَصِرُvictorious
دينُ الإلهِ بِسَيْفِ الدِّينِ مُنْتَصِرُ
So let their excellence inform you today, now that
God's religion has become victorious through Sayf al-Din.
عَلَىtoward صفاتِكَyour qualities دَلَّتْناpointed us نَجَابَتُهُhis nobility
عَلَى صفاتِكَ دَلَّتْنا نَجَابَتُهُ
وَبانَand became clear مِنْfrom أَيْنَwhere ماءُthe water الوَرْدِof roses يُعْتَصَرُis pressed
وَبانَ مِنْ أَيْنَ ماءُ الوَرْدِ يُعْتَصَرُ
His nobility pointed us toward your qualities,
revealing whence rosewater is pressed.
مِيزانُهُhis balance فيin التُّقَىpiety مِيزَانُa balance مَعْدَلَةٍof justice
مِيزانُهُ في التُّقَى مِيزَانُ مَعْدَلَةٍ
وَحِكْمَةٍand wisdom لاno صَغىًinclination فيهاin it وَلاnor صِغرُdeficiency
وَحِكْمَةٍ لا صَغىً فيها وَلا صِغرُ
His balance in piety is a balance of justice
and wisdom, with neither inclination nor deficiency.
مَشَىhe walked صِرَاطاًa path سَوِيَّاًstraight مِنْthrough دِيَانَتِهِhis devotion
مَشَى صِرَاطاً سَوِيَّاً مِنْ دِيَانَتِهِ
فماso does not يَزالُcease بِأمْرِby the command اللَّهِof God يَأْتَمِرُacting obediently
فما يَزالُ بِأمْرِ اللَّهِ يَأْتَمِرُ
Through his devotion he walked a straight path,
continually obeying God's command.
تُرْضِيكَplease you فيfor اللَّهِGod أَعْمالٌdeeds وَتُغْضِبُهُand anger him
تُرْضِيكَ في اللَّهِ أَعْمالٌ وَتُغْضِبُهُ
وَمَاand no بَداappeared لِيَto me أَمْرٌmatter مِنْكُمَاfrom either of you نُكرُobjectionable
وَمَا بَدا لِيَ أَمْرٌ مِنْكُمَا نُكرُ
Deeds done for God please you and anger him,
yet no objectionable matter from either of you appeared to me.
قالتsaid ليَto me النّاسُpeople ماذَاwhat الخُلْفُthe disagreement قلتُI said لهمْto them
قالت ليَ النّاسُ ماذَا الخُلْفُ قلتُ لهمْ
كماas تَخَالَفَdisagreed موسىMoses قَبْلُbefore والخَضِرُand al-Khidr
كما تَخَالَفَ موسى قَبْلُ والخَضِرُ
People asked me, 'What is this disagreement?' I told them,
'As Moses and al-Khidr disagreed before.
أماdid not عَصَىhe disobey أَمْرَa command عِنْدَwhen سَفْكِshedding دَمٍblood
أما عَصَى أَمْرَ عِنْدَ سَفْكِ دَمٍ
ماnot فيin شَرِيعَةِthe law موسىof Moses أنَّهthat it هَدَرُwas forfeit
ما في شَرِيعَةِ موسى أنَّه هَدَرُ
Did he not disobey a command when shedding blood
that Moses' law did not hold forfeit?
وقدand indeed تعاطىundertook ابنُIbn عَفَّانٍAffan لأُسرَتِهِfor his family
وقد تعاطى ابنُ عَفَّانٍ لأُسرَتِهِ
وماand did not تعاطَىundertake أبوAbu بَكْرٍBakr ولاnor عُمَرُUmar
وما تعاطَى أبو بَكْرٍ ولا عُمَرُ
Ibn Affan acted on behalf of his family,
as neither Abu Bakr nor Umar did.
ولَنْand will not يضِيرَharm أُوليthose possessing التَّقْوَىpiety اختلافُهُمtheir disagreement
ولَنْ يضِيرَ أُولي التَّقْوَى اختلافُهُم
وهمwhile they علىupon فِطْرَةِthe original nature الإسلامِof Islam قدindeed فُطِرُواwere formed
وهم على فِطْرَةِ الإسلامِ قد فُطِرُوا
Their differences will not harm the pious,
who were formed upon Islam's original nature.'
مُشَمِّرٌdiligent فيin مَراعِيthe pastures اللَّهِof God مجتَهِدٌstriving
مُشَمِّرٌ في مَراعِي اللَّهِ مجتَهِدٌ
وبالعَفافِand with chastity وَتَقْوَىand fear اللَّهِof God مُؤتَزِرُgirded
وبالعَفافِ وَتَقْوَى اللَّهِ مُؤتَزِرُ
Diligent, striving in God's pastures,
he girds himself with chastity and fear of God.
زانَhe adorned اللَّياليَthe nights وَالأَيّامَand the days إذْas بَقِيَتْthey endured
زانَ اللَّياليَ وَالأَيّامَ إذْ بَقِيَتْ
كأنّهاas though they غُرَرٌforehead blazes فيin إثْرِهاtheir wake طُرَرُforelocks
كأنّها غُرَرٌ في إثْرِها طُرَرُ
He adorned the nights and days as they endured,
as though they were bright blazes followed by shining forelocks.
وَقَعتُI fell بَينَbetween يَدَيْهِhis hands مِنْfrom مَهابَتِهِawe of him
وَقَعتُ بَينَ يَدَيْهِ مِنْ مَهابَتِهِ
وقالتِand said الناسُpeople مَيْتٌa dead man مَسَّهُstruck him كِبَرُold age
وقالتِ الناسُ مَيْتٌ مَسَّهُ كِبَرُ
I fell before him out of awe of him;
people said, 'A dead man whom old age has struck.'
وَقَصَّرَتْand fell short كلماتيmy words عَنْof مَدَائِحهِhis praises
وَقَصَّرَتْ كلماتي عَنْ مَدَائِحهِ
وقدand indeed أتيتُI came مِنَfor الحالَيْنِboth conditions أعتَذِرُapologizing
وقد أتيتُ مِنَ الحالَيْنِ أعتَذِرُ
My words fell short of praising him,
and I have come to apologize for both conditions.
فاقبَلso accept بِفَضْلِكَwith your graciousness مَدْحاًpraise قدindeed أَتَاكَbrought you بهit
فاقبَل بِفَضْلِكَ مَدْحاً قد أَتَاكَ به
شيخٌan old man ضَعِيفٌfrail إلىin addition to تَقْصِيرِهِhis shortcoming قِصَرُshort stature
شيخٌ ضَعِيفٌ إلى تَقْصِيرِهِ قِصَرُ
Graciously accept praise brought to you by
a frail old man, short in stature as well as accomplishment.
فماfor no عَلَىupon القَوْسِthe bow مِنْof عَيْبٍa fault تُعَابُit is blamed بهfor it
فما عَلَى القَوْسِ مِنْ عَيْبٍ تُعَابُ به
إنِif انْحَنَتْit bends وَاستقامَwhile remain straight السَّهْمُthe arrow والوتَرُand the string
إنِ انْحَنَتْ وَاستقامَ السَّهْمُ والوتَرُ
There is no fault for which a bow should be blamed
if it bends while arrow and string remain straight.
وَالْبَسْand wear ثَنَاءًpraise أَجَادَتْperfected نَسْجَهُits weaving فِكَرٌthoughts
وَالْبَسْ ثَنَاءً أَجَادَتْ نَسْجَهُ فِكَرٌ
يَغَارُare jealous فيin الحُسْنِbeauty منهof it الوشْيُbrocade والحِبَرُand striped fabrics
يَغَارُ في الحُسْنِ منه الوشْيُ والحِبَرُ
Wear praise whose weave thoughts have perfected,
whose beauty makes brocade and striped fabrics jealous.
مِنْfrom شاعرٍa poet صادِقٍtruthful ماnot شانهُmarred him كَذبٌa lie
مِنْ شاعرٍ صادِقٍ ما شانهُ كَذبٌ
فيماin what يقولُhe says وَلاnor عِيٌّinarticulacy وَلاnor حَصَرُfaltering
فيما يقولُ وَلا عِيٌّ وَلا حَصَرُ
From a truthful poet whom no lie has marred
in what he says, nor inarticulacy nor faltering:
يَهِيمُhe wanders فيin كلِّevery وَادٍvalley منْof مدائِحِهِhis praises
يَهِيمُ في كلِّ وَادٍ منْ مدائِحِهِ
عَلَىafter معانٍmeanings أَضَلَّتْlost sight of حُسْنَهاtheir beauty الفِكَرُthoughts
عَلَى معانٍ أَضَلَّتْ حُسْنَها الفِكَرُ
he wanders through every valley of his praises,
seeking meanings whose beauty eludes thought.
لاdoes not يَنْظِمُcompose الشِّعْرَpoetry إِلَّاexcept فيin المَديحِpraise وَماand not
لا يَنْظِمُ الشِّعْرَ إِلَّا في المَديحِ وَما
غيرُother than المديحِpraise لُهُfor him سُؤْلٌa desire وَلاnor وَطَرُa purpose
غيرُ المديحِ لُهُ سُؤْلٌ وَلا وَطَرُ
He composes poetry only in praise, and
nothing beyond praise is his desire or purpose.
ماnot شاقَهُstirred his longing لِغَزالٍfor a gazelle فيamong الظّباthe gazelles غَزَلٌlove verse
ما شاقَهُ لِغَزالٍ في الظّبا غَزَلٌ
وَلاnor لِغانِيَةٍfor a beauty فيin طَرفِهاher eyes حَوَرُblack-and-white contrast
وَلا لِغانِيَةٍ في طَرفِها حَوَرُ
No love verse for a gazelle among gazelles has stirred his longing,
nor for a beauty with strikingly black-and-white eyes.
مَديحُهُhis praise فيكَof you حرٌّfreeborn لَيسَnot يَملِكُهُown it
مَديحُهُ فيكَ حرٌّ لَيسَ يَملِكُهُ
منَamong الجَوائِزِrewards أثَمَانٌprices وَلاnor أُجرُwages
منَ الجَوائِزِ أثَمَانٌ وَلا أُجرُ
His praise of you is freeborn, not owned
by prices or wages among rewards.
إنَّindeed الأَديبَthe man of letters إذاwhen أهْدَىhe gives كَرَائِمَهُhis precious creations
إنَّ الأَديبَ إذا أهْدَى كَرَائِمَهُ
فَقَصْدُهُthen his aim شَرَفُthe nobility الأنسابِof lineages لاnot المَهرُthe bride-price
فَقَصْدُهُ شَرَفُ الأنسابِ لا المَهرُ
When a man of letters gives away his precious creations,
he seeks noble lineage, not a bride-price.
تبّاًperdition! لِقَوْمٍto people قدِwho have اسْتَغْنَواgrown wealthy بِماthrough what نَظَمواthey composed
تبّاً لِقَوْمٍ قدِ اسْتَغْنَوا بِما نَظَموا
مِنِof امْتِدَاحِpraising بَنيthe children الدُّنْياof the world وَماand what نَثَرُواthey wrote in prose
مِنِ امْتِدَاحِ بَني الدُّنْيا وَما نَثَرُوا
Perish those who grew wealthy through what they composed
in praise of worldly men, and through their prose!
فَلَوْso if قَفَوْتُI followed بأَخْذِby taking المالِmoney إثرَهمtheir tracks
فَلَوْ قَفَوْتُ بأَخْذِ المالِ إثرَهم
لَعَوَّقَتْنيwould hinder me القَوافِيthe rhymes فيكَabout you والفِقَرُand the passages
لَعَوَّقَتْني القَوافِي فيكَ والفِقَرُ
Had I followed their tracks in taking money,
my rhymes and passages praising you would have hindered me.
خَيْرٌbetter مِنَthan المالmoney عِنْدِيto me مَدْحُpraising ذِيone possessing كَرَمٍgenerosity
خَيْرٌ مِنَ المال عِنْدِي مَدْحُ ذِي كَرَمٍ
ذِكْرِيmy name بِمَدْحِيthrough my praise لهُof him فيacross الأرضِthe earth يَنْتَشِرُspreads
ذِكْرِي بِمَدْحِي لهُ في الأرضِ يَنْتَشِرُ
Better than money to me is praising a generous man:
through my praise of him, my name spreads across the earth.
فالصُّفْرُso the yellow coins مِنْof ذَهَبٍgold عِنْدِيto me وإنْand whether صفِرَتْbecame empty
فالصُّفْرُ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ عِنْدِي وإنْ صفِرَتْ
يَدِيmy hand وَإنْand whether غَنِيَتْbecame wealthy سِيَّانare alike والصُّفُرُand brass
يَدِي وَإنْ غَنِيَتْ سِيَّان والصُّفُرُ
To me, yellow gold—whether empty
is my hand or wealthy—is the same as brass.
بَقِيتَmay you remain ماas long as شِئْتَyou wish فيماin whatever شِئْتَyou wish مِنْof رُتَبٍranks
بَقِيتَ ما شِئْتَ فيما شِئْتَ مِنْ رُتَبٍ
عَلِيَّةٍexalted عُمُرُthe lifetime الدُّنياof the world بِهاin them عَمِرُواthey flourished
عَلِيَّةٍ عُمُرُ الدُّنيا بِها عَمِرُوا
May you remain as long as you wish, in whatever ranks you wish—
exalted ranks in which men have flourished throughout the world's lifetime.
وَبَلَّغَتْكَand may bring you اللّيالِيthe nights ماwhat تُؤَمِّلُهُyou hope for
وَبَلَّغَتْكَ اللّيالِي ما تُؤَمِّلُهُ
وَلاand may not تَعَدَّتْencroach إلَىupon أَيَّامِكَyour days الغِيَرُadverse changes
وَلا تَعَدَّتْ إلَى أَيَّامِكَ الغِيَرُ
May the nights bring you what you hope for,
and may adverse changes never encroach upon your days.
وَقدand indeed دَعَتْprayed لكَfor you منِّيfrom me كُلُّevery جَارِحَةٍlimb
وَقد دَعَتْ لكَ منِّي كُلُّ جَارِحَةٍ
وبالإِجابَةِand in the answering فَضْلُthe grace اللَّهِof God يُنْتَظَرُis awaited
وبالإِجابَةِ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ يُنْتَظَرُ
Every limb of mine has prayed for you,
and God's grace is awaited in the answering.
Partial English translation: 204 of 316 Arabic lines translated.