لأمِّfor Umm (mother of) عمرٍو'Amr باللِّوىat al-Liwa مَربَعُa spring dwelling
لأمِّ عمرٍو باللِّوى مَربَعُ
طامسةٌeffaced أعلامُهُits landmarks بلْقعُa barren waste
طامسةٌ أعلامُهُ بلْقعُ
Umm 'Amr has a spring dwelling at al-Liwa,
For Umm 'Amr there is, in the sands, a square enclosure
Its landmarks effaced, a barren waste.
With flags concealed in the ground.
تروحُdepart عنهfrom it الطيرُthe birds وحشيّةًwild
تروحُ عنه الطيرُ وحشيّةً
والأُسدُand the lions منfrom خِيفَتِهfear of it تَفْزَعُtake fright
والأُسدُ من خِيفَتِه تَفْزَعُ
Wild birds fly away from it,
The wild birds flee it
And lions startle in fear of it.
And lions quake with fear.
برسمِat the traces of دارٍa dwelling ماnot بهاin it مؤنِسٌa companion
برسمِ دارٍ ما بها مؤنِسٌ
إلاّexcept صِلالٌvipers فيin الثَّرىthe soil وقَّعُlying
إلاّ صِلالٌ في الثَّرى وقَّعُ
At the traces of a dwelling with no living companion,
It traces the plan of an abode wherein is no companion
Except vipers lying in the soil,
Save the fox in the dust and the owl.
رُقشٌspeckled يخافfears الموتُDeath منfrom نَفْثِهاtheir spitting
رُقشٌ يخاف الموتُ من نَفْثِها
والسمُّand venom فيin أنيابهاtheir fangs مُنْقَعُsteeped
والسمُّ في أنيابها مُنْقَعُ
Speckled, whose spitting Death itself fears,
A mansion fearful of death when it sniffs,
And venom is steeped in their fangs.
And poison lurks in its jaws.
لماwhen وقفنَthey halted (feminine) العِيسَthe pale camels فيat رسمِهits traces
لما وقفنَ العِيسَ في رسمِه
والعينُand the eye منfrom عِرفانِهِrecognizing it تَدمَعُweeps
والعينُ من عِرفانِهِ تَدمَعُ
When they halted the pale camels at its traces,
When the scout halted at its ruins,
And my eye wept on recognizing it,
And the eye overflowed with recognition,
ذكرتُI remembered ماwhat قدalready كنتُI used to ألهوamuse myself بهِwith it
ذكرتُ ما قد كنتُ ألهو بهِ
فبتُّso I spent the night والقلبُand the heart شجٍgrief-stricken مُوجَعُaching
فبتُّ والقلبُ شجٍ مُوجَعُ
I remembered what I had once delighted in,
I remembered what I was distracted from
And spent the night with a grieving, aching heart.
I awoke with my grieving heart shot through.
كأنّas though بالنارِwith fire لماbecause of what شَفَّنيwasted me
كأنّ بالنارِ لما شَفَّني
منfrom حبِّlove of أَرْوىArwa كَبِديmy liver تُلذَعُis seared
من حبِّ أَرْوى كَبِدي تُلذَعُ
As though by fire—for what had wasted me
It's as if Sirius, what suffering it inflicts,
Of love for Arwa—my liver were seared.
Aims to melt my liver with yearning!
عجبتُI marveled منat قومٍa people أتَوْاthey came to أحمداًAhmad
عجبتُ من قومٍ أتَوْا أحمداً
بخُطّةٍwith a proposal ليسnot لهاfor it موضِعُa place
بخُطّةٍ ليس لها موضِعُ
I marveled at people who came to Ahmad
I was amazed by folk who came to Ahmad
With a proposal that had no place.
With a message that lacked any place.
قالواthey said لهto him لوif شئتَyou wished أعلمتَناyou informed us
قالوا له لو شئتَ أعلمتَنا
إلىto مَنwhom الغايةُthe final resort والمَفْزَعُand the refuge
إلى مَن الغايةُ والمَفْزَعُ
They said to him, 'If you wished, you could tell us
"If you wished, you could reveal to us,"
To whom we ultimately turn, and in whom seek refuge,
They said "where the answer lies, and the resolution,
إذاwhen توفيتَyou die وفارَقْتَناand leave us
إذا توفيتَ وفارَقْتَنا
وفيهمُand among them فيin الملكِdominion منone who يَطمعُcovets
وفيهمُ في الملكِ من يَطمعُ
When you die and leave us.'
Should you die and so leave us
And among them were those who coveted dominion.
While amongst them are those ambitious for rule."
فقالَso he said لوif أعلمتكمI informed you مَفزَعاًa refuge
فقالَ لو أعلمتكم مَفزَعاً
ماذاwhat عَسيتمْmight you فيهconcerning him أنto تَصنعواdo
ماذا عَسيتمْ فيه أن تَصنعوا
He said, 'If I made a refuge known to you,
So he replied: "Even if I told you of a refuge,
What might you do concerning him?'
What would you be able to do,
صنيعُthe deed of أهلِthe followers of العِجلِthe calf إذْwhen فارقواthey abandoned
صنيعُ أهلِ العِجلِ إذْ فارقوا
هارونAaron فالتَركُso leaving it aside لهُfor him أوْسَعُless constraining
هارون فالتَركُ لهُ أوْسَعُ
The deed of the calf's followers, when they forsook
like the People of the Calf when they deserted Aaron?
Aaron—so leaving it aside gave him more latitude.
Departing from him is more fitting.
وفيand in الذيwhat قالhe said بيانٌclarity لمنfor whoever
وفي الذي قال بيانٌ لمن
كانwas لهfor him أُذنٌan ear بهاwith it يَسمَعُhears
كان له أُذنٌ بها يَسمَعُ
And in what he said was clarity for whoever
And the words he spoke make clear,
Had an ear with which to hear.
To anyone with an ear to hear,
ثمthen أتتهُit came to him بعدَafter ذاthat عَزمةٍa firm command
ثم أتتهُ بعدَ ذا عَزمةٍ
منfrom ربِّهhis Lord ليسnot لهاfor it مَدفَعُa repulse
من ربِّه ليس لها مَدفَعُ
Then, after that, a firm command came to him
Then came to him a resolve
From his Lord, which could not be turned aside:
From his Lord which none can repel.
أبلِعconvey (apparently أبلغ) وإلاّand otherwise لمnot تكنْyou would be مُبلغاًconveying
أبلِع وإلاّ لم تكنْ مُبلغاً
واللهُand God منهمfrom them عاصمٌa protector يَمنعُprotects
واللهُ منهم عاصمٌ يَمنعُ
'Convey it, or you will not have conveyed it;
"Preach or you haven't conveyed,"
And God will shield and protect you from them.'
While God will protect them from harm.
فعندهاso then قامarose النبيُّthe Prophet الذيwho
فعندها قام النبيُّ الذي
كانused to بماwhat يأمرُهُHe commands him يَصدَعُproclaims openly
كان بما يأمرُهُ يَصدَعُ
Then the Prophet arose, he who
At this the Prophet rose — he who obeyed
Would openly proclaim what He commanded him.
When his Lord commanded — and took
يَخطبdelivers a sermon مأموراًas commanded وفيand in كفِّهhis hand
يَخطب مأموراً وفي كفِّه
كفُّthe hand of عليٍّAli نورُهاits light يَلْمَعُgleams
كفُّ عليٍّ نورُها يَلْمَعُ
He preached as commanded, and in his hand
The hand of Ali in his, a light in his palm
Was Ali's hand, its light gleaming.
That flashes radiances. One hand that lifts,
رافِعُهاraising it أكرمْhow noble! بكفِّthe hand of الذيthe one who
رافِعُها أكرمْ بكفِّ الذي
يَرفعraises والكفِّand the hand التيwhich تُرفعُis raised
يَرفع والكفِّ التي تُرفعُ
Raising it—how noble the hand of him who
The nobler hand, lifts the hand that is lifted.
Raises it, and the hand that is raised!
And the angels around him bear witness —
يَقولُhe says والأملاكُand the angels منfrom حولِهِaround him
يَقولُ والأملاكُ من حولِهِ
واللهand God فيهمamong them شاهدٌa witness يَسمَعُhears
والله فيهم شاهدٌ يَسمَعُ
He says, with the angels all around him,
With God present amongst them — as he declares:
And God among them, a witness who hears:
"Whoever I am his master, this man here is his master."
منwhoever كنتُI was مولاهhis master فهذاthen this one لهfor him
من كنتُ مولاه فهذا له
مولىًa master فلمyet not يَرضَواthey consented ولمand not يَقنعواthey were content
مولىً فلم يَرضَوا ولم يَقنعوا
'Whoever has me as his master, this man is his
Yet still they were not satisfied or convinced.
Master.' Yet they neither accepted nor were content.
So they accused and denied the truthful, firmly rooted one.
فاتّهموهso they accused him وانحنتand bent منهمُwithin them
فاتّهموه وانحنت منهمُ
علىtoward خلافِopposition to الصادقِthe truthful one الأضلُعُthe ribs
على خلافِ الصادقِ الأضلُعُ
So they accused him, and within them bent
But a people were led astray by their malice
Their ribs toward opposing the truthful one.
As though their nostrils had been sliced!
وضلّand went astray قومa people غاظَهمenraged them قولُهhis words
وضلّ قوم غاظَهم قولُه
كأنّماas though آنافهمْtheir noses تُجدَعُare cut off
كأنّما آنافهمْ تُجدَعُ
And a people went astray, enraged by his words,
Until when they buried him in his grave,
As though their noses were being cut off.
And they dispersed after interring him, they neglected
حتىuntil إذاwhen وارَوْهُthey buried him فيin قبرِهhis grave
حتى إذا وارَوْهُ في قبرِه
وانصرفواand they departed منfrom دفِنهِhis burial ضيَّعواthey neglected
وانصرفوا من دفِنهِ ضيَّعوا
Until, when they laid him in his grave
What he had yesterday enjoined and bequeathed.
And departed from his burial, they neglected
They bought delusion for guidance.
ماwhat قالhe said بالأمسِyesterday وأوصىand enjoined بهconcerning it
ما قال بالأمسِ وأوصى به
واشترواand they bought الضُرَّharm بماin exchange for what يَنفعُbenefits
واشتروا الضُرَّ بما يَنفعُ
What he had said the day before and enjoined,
They severed their ties of kinship after him.
And bought harm in exchange for what benefits.
So they will be recompensed for what they severed.
وقطّعواand they severed أرحامَهhis kinship ties بعدَهُafter him
وقطّعوا أرحامَه بعدَهُ
فسوفso they will يُجزونbe recompensed بماfor what قطّعواthey severed
فسوف يُجزون بما قطّعوا
And severed his ties of kinship after him;
They schemed treachery against his deputy,
So they will be repaid for what they severed.
Damn what they plotted!
وأزمعواand they resolved upon غدراًtreachery بمولاهمْagainst their master
وأزمعوا غدراً بمولاهمْ
تبّاًruin! لماfor what كانواthey had بهupon it أزمَعواresolved
تبّاً لما كانوا به أزمَعوا
And resolved on treachery against their master;
They shall not gain access tomorrow to his basin,
Ruin upon what they had resolved!
Nor he intercession amongst them.
لاnot همthey عليهbefore him يَردواapproach حوضَهُhis Pool
لا هم عليه يَردوا حوضَهُ
غداًtomorrow ولاand not هُوْhe فيهمُfor them يَشفعُintercedes
غداً ولا هُوْ فيهمُ يَشفعُ
Neither shall they approach him at his Pool
A basin, its span from Ayla to Sanaa in Sham's land,
Tomorrow, nor shall he intercede for them.
Or vaster still... There shall be erected for it
حوضٌa pool لهfor him ماthe span بينbetween صَنعاSana'a إلىto
حوضٌ له ما بين صَنعا إلى
أيلةَAylah أرضِthe land of الشامِal-Sham أوor أوسَعُwider
أيلةَ أرضِ الشامِ أو أوسَعُ
He has a Pool spanning from Sana'a to
A standard for guidance, while the basin
Aylah in the land of al-Sham, or wider still.
Gushes with a torrent from which all drink.
يُنصبُis raised فيهin it علمٌa banner للهُدىfor guidance
يُنصبُ فيه علمٌ للهُدى
والحوضُand the Pool منwith ماءٍwater لهbelonging to him مُترَعُbrimming
والحوضُ من ماءٍ له مُترَعُ
In it a banner of guidance is raised,
Flowing from His mercy a generosity
And the Pool brims with water of his.
Whiter than silver or more brilliant.
يَفيضflows abundantly منfrom رحمتهhis mercy كوثرٌKawthar
يَفيض من رحمته كوثرٌ
أبيضُwhite كالفضّةِlike silver أوor أنصَعُmore brilliantly white
أبيضُ كالفضّةِ أو أنصَعُ
From his mercy flows Kawthar,
Its pebbles are ruby and pearls —
White as silver, or whiter still.
No fingertip has ever touched the like!
حَصاهُits pebbles ياقوتٌrubies ومَرجانةand coral
حَصاهُ ياقوتٌ ومَرجانة
ولؤلؤٌand pearls لمnot تَجنِهِhas gathered them إصْبَعُa finger
ولؤلؤٌ لم تَجنِهِ إصْبَعُ
Its pebbles are ruby and coral,
Its ground is musk, its borders shake
And pearls no finger has gathered.
As sweet basil sways delicately.
بَطحاؤهits flat bed مِسكmusk وحافاتُهand its banks
بَطحاؤه مِسك وحافاتُه
يَهتزُّsways منهاfrom them مونِقٌlovely مُونِعُripening
يَهتزُّ منها مونِقٌ مُونِعُ
Its flat bed is musk, and its banks—
The green growth below paradise flourishes,
From them sways lovely, ripening growth.
What blooms above stirs with a saffron radiance.
أخضرُgreen ماwhat دونَbelow الجَنىthe fruit ناضرٌfresh
أخضرُ ما دونَ الجَنى ناضرٌ
وفاقعٌand vivid أصفرُyellow ماwhat يَطلُعُemerges
وفاقعٌ أصفرُ ما يَطلُعُ
Green and fresh is what lies beneath the fruit,
Essences waft on its breeze
And what emerges is bright yellow.
When the wind blows them about gently.
والعِطرُand perfume والرّيحانُand sweet basil أنواعُهُits varieties
والعِطرُ والرّيحانُ أنواعُهُ
تَسطعُwaft up إنif هبَّتْblows بهthrough it زَعْزَعُa gust
تَسطعُ إن هبَّتْ به زَعْزَعُ
And perfume and sweet basil, in its varieties,
A wind commanded, blowing without cease,
Waft up when a gust blows through it:
From gardens that suffer no decay.
ريحٌa wind منfrom الجنَّةِParadise مأمورةٌcommanded
ريحٌ من الجنَّةِ مأمورةٌ
دائمةٌunceasing ليسnot لهاfor it مَنزعُa retreat
دائمةٌ ليس لها مَنزعُ
A wind from Paradise, under command,
When it passes by it, the purest musk diffuses
Unceasing, never drawing away.
More fragrant than when first it flows.
إذاwhen مَرتهit stirs it فاحَwafts منfrom ريحِهits scent
إذا مَرته فاحَ من ريحِه
أزكىmore fragrant منthan المِسكmusk إذاwhen يَسطَعُit wafts
أزكى من المِسك إذا يَسطَعُ
When it stirs it, its scent wafts forth,
In it are vessels and cups
More fragrant than musk when it wafts.
From which even the starving glutton drinks his fill.
فيهin it أباريقُewers وقِدْحانُهand its drinking cups
فيه أباريقُ وقِدْحانُه
يَذبُّwards off عنهاfrom them الأنزعُthe receding-haired one الأصْلَعُthe bald one
يَذبُّ عنها الأنزعُ الأصْلَعُ
In it are ewers and its drinking cups;
Ibn Abi Talib shields them from those
The receding-haired, bald one guards them.
Who approach to drink like she-camels lifting their tails.
يذبُّwards off عنهfrom it ابنthe son of أبيAbu طالبٍTalib
يذبُّ عنه ابن أبي طالبٍ
ذبَّكَas you drive off جَربىmangy إبلٍcamels تَشْرَعُcoming to drink
ذبَّكَ جَربى إبلٍ تَشْرَعُ
The son of Abu Talib drives them away from it,
When they draw near to imbibe,
As you drive off mangy camels coming to drink.
They are told "Damn you, go back!
إذاwhen دنواthey draw near منهto it لكيin order to يَشربواthey drink
إذا دنوا منه لكي يَشربوا
قيلَit is said لهمto them تبّاًruin! لكمupon you فارجِعواso go back
قيلَ لهم تبّاً لكم فارجِعوا
When they draw near it to drink,
"Continue to impoverished pastures,
They are told, 'Ruin upon you! Go back!
Which feed or quench appetites,"
دونكمواaway with you! فالتمسواso seek مَنهلاًa watering place
دونكموا فالتمسوا مَنهلاً
يُريكمquenches you (apparently يُرويكم) أوor مَطعماًfood يُشْبعُsatisfies
يُريكم أو مَطعماً يُشْبعُ
Away with you! Seek a watering place
This is for those who befriended Ahmad's family
To quench your thirst, or food that satisfies.
And followed none but them.
هذاthis لمنfor whoever والىwas loyal to بنيthe sons of أحمدٍAhmad
هذا لمن والى بني أحمدٍ
ولمand not يكنْwas غيرَهمُother than them يَتْبَعُfollows
ولم يكنْ غيرَهمُ يَتْبَعُ
This is for whoever was loyal to the sons of Ahmad
So triumph belongs to those who drink from his pool,
And followed none but them.'
While woe and degradation befall those debarred!"
فالفوزُso triumph للشاربِfor the drinker منfrom حوضِهhis Pool
فالفوزُ للشاربِ من حوضِه
والويلُand woe والذلُّand humiliation لمنfor whoever يَمنَعُis barred (contextual reading: يُمنع)
والويلُ والذلُّ لمن يَمنَعُ
So triumph is for whoever drinks from his Pool,
The people, on the Day of Gathering, their signs
And woe and humiliation for whoever is barred.
Are five, while four-fifths are damned.
فالناسُso the people يومَon the Day of الحَشرِGathering آياتُهمtheir signs
فالناسُ يومَ الحَشرِ آياتُهم
خَمسٌfive فمنهمْso among them هالكٌdoomed أربَعُfour
خَمسٌ فمنهمْ هالكٌ أربَعُ
The people, on the Day of Gathering—their signs
Their vanguard is the Calf, and their Pharaoh
Are five; four of them are doomed.
Is the terrible antichrist.
قائدُهاtheir leader العِجلُthe Calf وفِرعونهاand their Pharaoh
قائدُها العِجلُ وفِرعونها
وسامريُّand the Samiri of الأمةِthe community المُفْظِعُthe dreadful one
وسامريُّ الأمةِ المُفْظِعُ
Their leader is the Calf, and their Pharaoh,
As is the apostate, defective and jet black,
And the community's dreadful Samiri,
A worshipper of Lat and Uzza, hunchbacked.
ومارقٌand a renegade منfrom دينهhis religion مِخْدَجٌdeformed
ومارقٌ من دينه مِخْدَجٌ
أسودٌblack عبدٌa slave لُكَعٌa vile fool أَوْكَعُcrooked-footed
أسودٌ عبدٌ لُكَعٌ أَوْكَعُ
And a renegade from his faith, deformed,
And there is the banner whose leader
A black slave, a vile fool, crooked-footed.
Will shine like the rising sun.
ورايةٌand a banner قائِدُهاits leader وجهُهhis face
ورايةٌ قائِدُها وجهُه
كأنّهas though it were الشمسُthe sun إذاwhen تطلُعُit rises
كأنّه الشمسُ إذا تطلُعُ
And a banner whose leader's face
The chosen one, Haydar, will meet the Prophet
Is like the sun when it rises.
As the standard of praise is raised.
غداًtomorrow يلاقيwill meet المصطفىthe Chosen One حيدرٌHaydar
غداً يلاقي المصطفى حيدرٌ
ورايةُand the banner of الحمدِpraise لهfor him تُرفَعُis raised
ورايةُ الحمدِ له تُرفَعُ
Tomorrow Haydar will meet the Chosen One,
With the Garden commanded concerning him,
And the banner of praise will be raised for him.
And Hellfire shrinking before his awe.
مولىًa master لهfor him الجنّةُParadise مأمورةٌcommanded
مولىً له الجنّةُ مأمورةٌ
والنارُand the Fire منfrom إجلالِهreverence for him تَفْزَعُtakes fright
والنارُ من إجلالِه تَفْزَعُ
A master whom Paradise is commanded to obey,
The Imam of the Truth whom followers assist
And the Fire trembles in reverence for him.
As they drink from the pool without being denied.
إمامُan imam of صدقٍtruth ولهand he has شيعةٌfollowers
إمامُ صدقٍ وله شيعةٌ
يُروواhave their thirst quenched منfrom الحوضthe Pool ولمand not يُمنعواare barred
يُرووا من الحوض ولم يُمنعوا
A true Imam, with followers
So it was that revelation came from our Lord:
Whose thirst is quenched from the Pool, and who are not barred.
"O partisans of Truth, have no fear!"
بذاكwith that جاءَcame الوحيُrevelation منfrom ربِّناour Lord
بذاك جاءَ الوحيُ من ربِّنا
ياO شيعةَfollowers of الحقِّtruth فلاso do not تَجزعواbe dismayed
يا شيعةَ الحقِّ فلا تَجزعوا
With that came revelation from our Lord.
O followers of truth, do not be dismayed!
Partial English translation: 98 of 100 Arabic lines translated.