تسمعي يا حملة المساجد — Al Khafnji

تسمَّعي يا حملة المساجد

مني شكيه كلها فوايد

Listen, O keepers of the mosques,

to a complaint from me, full of benefit,

وبينها إما قليل بوارد

تخلى الذهن الرقيق جامد

with perhaps a few cold jests among them

that leave a delicate mind frozen.

قال مسجد الصياد قد صرت مهجور

مسدود من كل الجهات بالدور

Sayyad Mosque said, 'I have become deserted,

blocked on every side by houses.

مفتوح لي القبلى وفج الاشمور

وباب يشوح ريح بيت زايد

Only the qibla side and the gap of al-Ashmur lie open to me,

and a doorway wafts the wind from Bayt Zayid.

في الصيف قد حل الوقوف صوحي

كل المساجد يسمعين نوحي

In summer, standing in my courtyard is pleasant.

All the mosques hear my lament.

وان شي مصلى جا يرد روحي

ساعه ويحلف قط ما يعاود

If any worshipper comes to revive my spirit

for an hour, he swears he will never return.

اشتى سراج من عصر امر لازم

والا سمعت النطح في الدعايم

I need a lamp from the afternoon onward—an absolute necessity.

Otherwise I hear heads butting against the pillars,

وابصرت عاثر في الظلام قايم

ما تدسع إلا فوق رأس ساجد

and see a stumbling man standing in the darkness.

You cannot take a step except onto a prostrate worshipper's head.

برد المطاهير قد طلع من البير

من يسمع الأصوات قال هنا كير

The cold of the ablution basins has risen from the well.

Whoever hears the noises says, “There are bellows here!”

كانون فيها لا يزال تقرير

في كيف من أنكر وقال بارد

A brazier there keeps up its rattling,

in defiance of whoever denies it and says, “Cold!”

وذا فراشي قد طسى ونطع

وصار فيه قسوه وبرد مفجع

This bedding of mine has worn flat and turned leathery,

and has become hard and painfully cold.

لو يبدلوه حتى بلق وصورع

أحسن من البهمه وهو مشادد

If they replaced it, even with stone slabs and rough stones,

that would be better than this bare, unyielding floor.

ما قد غووا لي في الزمان بحصره

وأصل شكلي مقترن بحمره

They have never thought to provide me with a mat.

My very appearance is associated with redness.

كم لي إلى صوح القضاة نظره

فالكون معمور والكلام واحد

How often have I glanced toward the judges' courtyard!

Their abode is well appointed, yet the answer is always the same.

عساه يسمح لي ولو بفرده

فلي من الفرش الجديد مده

May he grant me even a single rug;

it has been ages since I had new furnishings.

إن ش شهامه هايله ونجده

فحم يرجا للكريم عوايد

If there is great gallantry and aid,

then how many favors may be hoped for from the generous!'

فحين سمع قارش برقو الحوض

أقبل مزين بالسيل والحوض

When Qarish heard the basin's rumbling [unclear],

he came adorned with the torrent and the basin,

وقال أخرج فوق جربة الروض

إن كنت للأمر القديم معاود

and said, 'Go out onto the field of al-Rawd,

if you mean to return to the old business.

ما قد جرى لك نصف ما جرى لي

ولا خطر ذاك الكلام ببالي

You have not suffered half of what I have suffered,

yet such talk never crossed my mind.

إن عاد معك باقي بساط بالي

فانا معي حصره كما تشاهد

If you still have the remains of an old carpet,

I have only a mat, as you can see.

لا تكثر الكداد يا مغفل

واقنع بما عندك وما تحصل

Do not keep complaining, you fool;

be content with what you have and what you get.

ولا ترا نفسك شبيه حنظل

فإن حنظل طالعه مساعد

Do not think yourself like Hanzal,

for Hanzal's fortune favors him.

وانظر إلى مسجد معيض عندك

ومسجد البهمه تراه ندك

Look at Mu'ayyid Mosque near you,

and al-Bahmah Mosque—you see it is your equal.

فلا تعرض للفضول وحدك

إن كنت مثلي في الزمان زاهد

So do not meddle on your own,

if, like me, you renounce worldly things.'

فقوس الصياد وشل راسه

واظهر شواهد فحلته ويأسه

Then al-Sayyad bent and raised his head,

and displayed signs of his virility and despair.

وقد تغير للكلام حواسه

وحشر اكمامه إلى السواعد

His senses had been stirred by the words,

and he bunched his sleeves up to his forearms.

خرج إلى باب الحكيم ودقدق

وقال إدى قصرتك وإلحق

He went out to al-Hakim's door and knocked,

and said, 'Bring your club and come along!'

وقاسم السمان زعق وأربق

من ذا معا جاري خرج يجاهد

Qasim al-Samman shouted and sprang up:

'Who is this coming out with my neighbor to do battle?'

والتفت القومان إلى شراره

يعتدوا الفين من بني زغاره

The two bands turned toward Shararah,

numbering two thousand of Bani Zugharah.

وأقبل لهم مسجد عصر بغاره

رجال محكومه على القواع

'Asr Mosque came to them on a raid,

with men firmly planted on their bases.

فقال له الصياد رزحت ظهري

صحيت لي صاحب نشد أزري

Al-Sayyad said to him, 'You have braced my back!

You have proved a friend to me; let us strengthen my support.'

قال الجواري يا صديق تجري

قلبي يحبك والقلوب شواهد

Al-Jawari said, 'My friend, go ahead;

my heart loves you, and hearts bear witness.'

قال النزيلي ما مع الجماعة

وماسبب ذا الهرج واللكاعه

Al-Nuzayli said, 'What is the crowd up to?

What causes this uproar and foolishness?

بالله عليكم خلوا الخضاعه

يا مسجد الصياد لك أم قالد

For God's sake, stop this bluster,

O Sayyad Mosque—may Umm Qalid take you!

ما قد معك يا شقب والتحماس

تجلب إلى فوقي جميعة الناس

What has gotten into you, you hollow shell, with all this frenzy,

to bring a whole crowd of people on top of me?

أوقد مرادك كيتين في الرأس

وبعدها ثربه وسمن جامد

Or do you want two cauteries on your head,

and afterward, caul fat and solid ghee?'

فقال له الصياد لا تذقذق

وأنت من أهل الثبات والصدق

Al-Sayyad said to him, 'Do not babble,

you who belong to the steadfast and truthful!

اسكت من التنبال لك أم قرقر

قد ثارت الفتنه وأنت راقد

Stop this idling—may Umm Qarqar take you!

Strife has erupted while you lie asleep.

ما أنت ممن يحضر المحاضر

أصلك محل الصرف للعساكر

You are not among those who attend assemblies;

you are really a place where soldiers collect their pay.

ولا يصلوا فيك غير نادر

إلا إذا صلوا على القعايد

They rarely pray in you,

except when they offer prayers over dead old women.

قد سرت بين الجانبين مذبذب

لا من بني الحارث ولا من أرحب

You have wavered between the two sides,

neither with Bani al-Harith nor with Arhab.

وما طلع لك تعترض وتغضب

تجي بهمه ناقصه تناقد

What gives you cause to object and get angry?

You come, a half-witted beast, to find fault.'

واقبل أبو شمله بزوب هايل

معه يجي خمسين من القبايل

Abu Shamlah came with a mighty uproar,

with about fifty tribesmen accompanying him.

اقبل منكف يسحب الشلايل

وقال من ذا يكشف الشدايد

He came rallying men, dragging his long hems,

and said, 'Who is this who dispels hardships?

العزم يا صياد لا توقف

لأن فارش قد حمى ونكف

Stand firm, Sayyad; do not halt,

for Farish has grown heated and rallied his men.

الحزم عند النايبات تكفكف

لا يسبوك حرمه من القواعد

Be resolute in calamity; pull yourself together.

Do not let them call you an old, housebound woman!'

فسارت القومان نحو عدل

ويفعلوا فوق الجراف محفل

The two bands marched toward 'Adl,

and held a gathering above al-Juraf.

فناس يقويها وناس يكسل

ناس يشتى الهده وناس يسادد

Some people spurred it on, while others slackened;

some wanted an assault, while others sought reconciliation.

فحين سمع قارش معرة الجيش

رجم بصوحه واستفزه الطيش

When Qarish heard the army's uproar,

he hurled his courtyard, goaded by recklessness,

وقال مسكين أيش حالته أيش

لا بد ما نشفى به الحواسد

and said, 'Poor fellow! What a state he is in—what a state!

We must give the envious their satisfaction through him.'

وارسل إلى عدل رسول في الحال

وقال بادر لي بألف رجال

He sent a messenger to 'Adl at once,

saying, 'Hurry to me with a thousand men,

وألف مفرس ناهيات من العال

ولا تبورد فالرسول قاصد

and a thousand excellent crowbars of the finest kind,

and do not dawdle: the messenger comes with a purpose.'

فأقبل الصعدى على مراده

بألف رجال من عرب وساده

Al-Sa'di came as he wished,

with a thousand men, Arabs and sayyids,

يسير سير النسك والعباده

لأن أصله من قديم عابد

walking in the manner of devotion and worship,

for he had been a worshipper from ancient times.

وحين وصل قال السلام تحيه

وخبروني ما اول القضيه

When he arrived, he said, 'Peace, as a greeting,

and tell me how the affair began.'

قالوا له انسم واستريح شويه

حتى تجي جمعة بكيل واحاش

They said to him, 'Take a breath and rest a little,

until the gathering of Bakil and Ahash arrives.'

فحين دار بالأمر قام قايم

وحزوق الأبواب والدعايم

When he learned of the affair, he sprang to his feet,

and braced the doors and pillars.

واقبل طريق الحاضرين يداكم

وقال مالك يا ذليلي قاعد

He came toward those present, striking,

and said, 'Why are you sitting there, my lowly fellow?

هيا إلى الصياد بالمفارس

ما ولفه للحرب والمتارس

Come on, against al-Sayyad with the crowbars!

He is not accustomed to war and barricades.

شانخربه حتى يصير دارس

يصال غباره فوق بيت زايد

We shall demolish him until he becomes a ruin,

his dust reaching above Bayt Zayid.'

وأقبل الصياد بالعساكر

والحرب قايم والعجاج ثاير

Al-Sayyad approached with the troops,

war raging and dust swirling.

وفي الشمال باب واليمين عابر

وفي قليبه للقتال وقاد

On his left was a door, and on his right a crossbeam,

and in his little heart burned an ardor for battle.

وكانت الهده قبال عدل

كلين يحرض عسكره ويحمل

The assault took place opposite 'Adl,

each urging on his soldiers and charging.

وابسرت قارش قد رجم بمجدل

فودفت في القوم مثل راعد

I saw Qarish hurl a tower,

and it crashed among the people like thunder.

وراجم الصياد رجم هايل

بالباب واللاله صلا القبابل

Al-Sayyad hurled a mighty volley,

with door and lamp, scorching the tribesmen.

لولا ان قارش كان قليل مشايل

كسر له الأبواب والمراود

Had Qarish not had so little to throw,

he would have broken his doors and hinges.

فقال حنظل ما الكلام يا اخوان

هذي العداوه كلها تمجنان

Hanzal said, 'What is all this talk, brothers?

All this hostility is sheer madness.

فخبروني ما جرا وما كان

فليس مثلي للكلام ناقد

Tell me what happened and what took place,

for there is no judge of words like me.

هذي الوقائع كلها علامه

فما دريت هو سخف أو رحامه

All these clashes are an omen;

I could not tell whether it was folly or a grinding melee [unclear].

ظنيت أو قد قامت القيامه

وانا معاكم في مقام والد

I thought perhaps the Resurrection had begun,

and I stand among you as a father.'

فابسرت قارش قد سكت وقوفع

ودمع عينه سالت اربع اربع

I saw Qarish fall silent and crouch down,

tears streaming from his eye four at a time.

وأقبل الصياد وهو بيزمع

وقال كن بين الجميع شاهد

Al-Sayyad approached, trembling,

and said, 'Be a witness between us all.

أنا شكيت اليوم ضعف حالي

وما من الأهوال قد جرالي

Today I complained of my feeble condition,

and of the horrors that have befallen me.'

ثم التفت حنظل وقال القارش

ماذا بدالك للقبيح تناقش

Then Hanzal turned and addressed al-Qarish:

'What came over you, to argue for such ugliness?

هذا طلب من عاملك مفارش

أو هو طلب زوجين بسط وفارد

He asked your overseer for furnishings,

or asked for two pairs of carpets and a single rug,

واربع حصير والقص الى زياده

هذا إذا قد لاحت السعاده

and four mats, with more added to the account.

That is if good fortune has shown itself:

مقصد من الفضله بغير عاده

ما هو بفقره في الأنام جاحد

a request for a surplus, outside the usual allotment.

He does not deny his poverty among the people.

ولو فعل تعريف معي وسود

والا توسط بالفقيه محمد

Had he submitted a statement through me and put it in writing,

or sought mediation through the jurist Muhammad,

لا كان يقع له مقصده وأزيد

فعامل الأوقاف له مساعد

he would have obtained what he wanted, and more.

The overseer of the endowments would help him;

فالشيخ فعل الخير ما يفوته

أبوه محيي الدين لا مميته

the shaykh never lets a good deed pass him by.

His father is Muhyi al-Din, reviver—not destroyer—of the faith.

قد شاع عند العالمين صيته

يحب فعل الخير والمقاصد

His fame has spread among all people,

for he loves good deeds and worthy aims.

وأنت يا قارش بغير معقول

مسجد مضيع ما عليك معمول

But you, Qarish, are unreasonable,

a neglected mosque, with no work done on you.

ومن توضى فيك يسير محمول

ويخمدوه يومين في المراقد

Anyone who performs ablution in you leaves carried away,

and they lay him up in bed for two days.

وقد يقع لك فردتين وحصره

بغير مضرابه وندف قصره

You could get two rugs and a mat,

without a beating or a cudgel's pounding.

وإنما أصلك عديم فكره

عقلك منقص والمزاج فاسد

But you are fundamentally thoughtless;

your mind is deficient and your temperament corrupt.'

فقال قارش لا عدمت مثلك

من اين لي يا صنو مثل عقلك

Qarish said, 'May I never be without one like you!

Where could I find a mind like yours, my brother?

ما زلت أشكر في الأنام فعلك

وكم وكم للشيخ من محامد

I have always praised your deeds among the people.

How many, how many are the shaykh's praiseworthy acts!

كم قد فرش مسجد نتيف مثلي

وكم تفقد دامرات قبلي

How many shabby mosques like me has he furnished,

and how many ruined ones before me has he attended to!

لكن ما احد ذكره من اجي

والا فمن مثله كريم ماجد

But no one reminded him about me;

otherwise, who is as generous and noble as he?'

وازكى صلاتي والسلام سرمد

تغشى المشفع في الملا محمد

May my purest blessings and perpetual peace

envelop Muhammad, the intercessor among the people,

والآل ما طير الغصون غرد

وما بدت في أفقها الفراقد

and his family, as long as birds sing on the boughs,

and the Farqad stars appear on their horizon.