هَجَرَforsook الحِسانَbeautiful women وهُنَّthough they are منamong آرابهِhis desires
هَجَرَ الحِسانَ وهُنَّ من آرابهِ
وأرقand poured away لمَّاwhen راقَgrew clear كأسthe cup of شَبَابهِhis youth
وأرق لمَّا راقَ كأس شَبَابهِ
He forsook beautiful women, though they were among his desires,
And poured away his youth's cup when it grew clear.
وعَفىand effaced الصبىyouthful folly ورأىand deemed النُّهىreason أزكىpurer لهfor him
وعَفى الصبى ورأى النُّهى أزكى له
وقَلىand spurned الهوىdesire ورَأىand deemed التُّقىpiety أولىmore fitting بهِfor him
وقَلى الهوى ورَأى التُّقى أولى بهِ
He effaced youthful folly and deemed reason purer for him,
And spurned desire, deeming piety more fitting for him.
ماnot زالَceased بالقلبwith the heart الْلجوجِobstinate يروضُهُdisciplining it
ما زالَ بالقلب الْلجوجِ يروضُهُ
حتَّىuntil ارْعَوَىit restrained itself وأفاقَand awoke منfrom أطلابهِِits cravings
حتَّى ارْعَوَى وأفاقَ من أطلابهِِ
He never ceased disciplining his obstinate heart,
Until it restrained itself and awoke from its cravings.
والقلبُand the heart لاnot يُرضيكpleases you فيin إغفالِهneglecting it
والقلبُ لا يُرضيك في إغفالِه
حتَّىuntil يكونَit is مُلازماًconstantly bound لعتابهِto its rebuke
حتَّى يكونَ مُلازماً لعتابهِ
The heart will not please you when you neglect it,
Until it is kept under constant reproach.
فإذاand if اجْتهدتyou strive علىfor صَوابsoundness of الرأيjudgment فيin
فإذا اجْتهدت على صَواب الرأي في
عملٍan undertaking رأيتyou find حلاوةًsweetness بصوابهِin its correctness
عملٍ رأيت حلاوةً بصوابهِ
If, then, you strive for sound judgment in
An undertaking, you will find sweetness in getting it right.
والحسنُand beauty فيin الأمرthe matter المزوَّرِfalsified زائلٌfleeting
والحسنُ في الأمر المزوَّرِ زائلٌ
كالشيبlike gray hair ينصلُloses its dye بعدafter حُسنbeauty of خِضابهِits dyeing
كالشيب ينصلُ بعد حُسن خِضابهِ
Beauty in a counterfeit thing is fleeting,
Like gray hair losing its color after a handsome dyeing.
ولاand do not يُعجبنَّكever impress you لابسٌone clothed لتواضعٍin humility
ولا يُعجبنَّك لابسٌ لتواضعٍ
فعسىfor perhaps النُّفاقhypocrisy يكونُis تحتbeneath ثيابهِhis clothes
فعسى النُّفاق يكونُ تحت ثيابهِ
Let no man clothed in humility impress you:
Hypocrisy may lie beneath his clothes.
إنَّindeed السَّلامةsafety فيin رغيدease of العْيشlife ماso long as
إنَّ السَّلامة في رغيد العْيش ما
سَلِمstays free الفتىa man منfrom إثمهِhis sin ومَعَابِهِand his faults
سَلِم الفتى من إثمهِ ومَعَابِهِ
Safety in a life of ease lasts only while
A man remains free of his sins and faults.
وإذاand if امرؤٌa man رزقَis granted الغِنىwealth فيin طاعةٍobedience
وإذا امرؤٌ رزقَ الغِنى في طاعةٍ
للهto God فهوthen he is علىon سبيلthe path to ثوابهِHis reward
لله فهو على سبيل ثوابهِ
If a man is granted wealth while obedient
To God, he is on the path to His reward.
منwhoever لمnot يكُدtaxes النَّفسَthe soul فيin طلبِseeking العلىeminence
من لم يكُد النَّفسَ في طلبِ العلى
قاسىsuffers منfrom الحرمانdeprivation غُصةَthe choking pang of نابهِits fang
قاسى من الحرمان غُصةَ نابهِ
Whoever does not tax his soul in seeking eminence
Suffers the choking pang of deprivation's fang.
إنif لمnot يكنthere is فيin العَجْزhelplessness منهُon his part قناعةٌcontentment
إن لم يكن في العَجْز منهُ قناعةٌ
لقيَmeets الأذَىhardship والحَّand persists فيin تَطلابهِhis seeking
لقيَ الأذَى والحَّ في تَطلابهِ
If he finds no contentment in his helplessness,
He meets with hardship and persists in his seeking.
والمرءand a man يُكرَمُis honored فيamong الرجالmen بمالهِfor his wealth
والمرء يُكرَمُ في الرجال بمالهِ
لاnot علمِهhis learning فيهمamong them ولاnor آدابهِhis refinement
لا علمِه فيهم ولا آدابهِ
Among men, a man is honored for his wealth,
Not for his learning among them, nor his refinement.
وإِذاand if امرؤٌa man فيin الحقtruth أتعبَtires نفسَهُhimself
وإِذا امرؤٌ في الحق أتعبَ نفسَهُ
فالراحةُthen rest الكبرىthe greatest مَدىthe endpoint of أتعابهِhis toils
فالراحةُ الكبرى مَدى أتعابهِ
When a man exhausts himself in the cause of truth,
The greatest rest awaits at the end of his toils.
منwhoever ناقشَstrictly scrutinizes النَّفسَthe soul الحسابَthe reckoning حياتهthroughout his life
من ناقشَ النَّفسَ الحسابَ حياته
لمnot يخشَfears يومthe Day of البعثResurrection طولَlength of حسابهِhis reckoning
لم يخشَ يوم البعث طولَ حسابهِ
Whoever strictly calls his soul to account throughout his life
Will not fear a lengthy reckoning on Resurrection Day.
والعبدُand the servant لاnot تحلوis sweet عِبادَةُworship of ربّهhis Lord
والعبدُ لا تحلو عِبادَةُ ربّه
فيin نفسهِhis soul إِلاexcept بخوفِthrough fear of عِقابهِHis punishment
في نفسهِ إِلا بخوفِ عِقابهِ
A servant finds no sweetness in worshiping his Lord
Within his soul except through fear of His punishment.
ياO صَاحfriend كلُّevery محصَّلthing attained منof لذةٍpleasure
يا صَاح كلُّ محصَّل من لذةٍ
إِتيانُهits coming متعلقٌis bound بذهابهِto its passing
إِتيانُه متعلقٌ بذهابهِ
Friend, every pleasure that is gained—
Its coming is bound to its passing.
كيفhow اغتُرارُكyour deluded trust بالزّمانin time وقدwhile indeed تَرىyou see
كيف اغتُرارُك بالزّمان وقد تَرى
قُربnearness of اتّصالjoining of عمارهits flourishing بخرابهِwith its ruin
قُرب اتّصال عماره بخرابهِ
How can you trust time so blindly, when you see
How closely its flourishing borders on its ruin?
والمرءُand a man ماas long as صحِبَaccompanies الزمانَtime فإنهُthen indeed he
والمرءُ ما صحِبَ الزمانَ فإنهُ
مُتجرَّعgulping منfrom شُهدهِits honey أوor صابهِits bitter sap
مُتجرَّع من شُهدهِ أو صابهِ
As long as a man keeps company with time, he
Gulps down either its honey or its bitter sap.
والمُنْتهَىand the end منfrom بعدafter ذينthese two إلىto مَدىthe limit
والمُنْتهَى من بعد ذين إلى مَدى
يومa day يريهِshows him القطْعthe severance منof أسبابهِhis ties
يوم يريهِ القطْع من أسبابهِ
Beyond these two, the end lies at the limit
Of a day that shows him his ties cut off;
يومَa day يريهِshows him الخلَّthe bosom friend منamong أعدائهِhis enemies
يومَ يريهِ الخلَّ من أعدائهِ
لوْeven if لمnot يسؤهgrieves him الفقدloss منof أحبابهِhis loved ones
لوْ لم يسؤه الفقد من أحبابهِ
A day that reveals his bosom friend among his foes,
Even if the loss of his loved ones did not grieve him.
لوif كانَwas يعقلُthinking rationally منone who طغىtransgressed فيamid نعمةٍa blessing
لو كانَ يعقلُ من طغى في نعمةٍ
للهof God كدَّرهاhe would cloud it حذارَfor fear of عذابهِHis punishment
لله كدَّرها حذارَ عذابهِ
Had he who transgresses amid a blessing any sense,
He would cloud that gift of God's for fear of His punishment.
هَلاَّwhy not تفكرreflect مُوقنٌone certain بسؤآلهof being questioned
هَلاَّ تفكر مُوقنٌ بسؤآله
يومthe Day of القيامةResurrection كيفhow ردُّthe giving of جوابهِhis answer
يوم القيامة كيف ردُّ جوابهِ
Why does one certain he will be questioned not ponder
How he will give his answer on Resurrection Day?
الحمدpraise للهto God الذيwho هوHe is جاعلٌmaking
الحمد لله الذي هو جاعلٌ
للضيقfor distress وسعاًrelief يبْتغىis sought منfrom بابهِHis door
للضيق وسعاً يبْتغى من بابهِ
Praise be to God, who makes
Relief for distress, sought at His door.
يعياgrows weary الفتىa man بذنوبهfrom his sins وكأنَّهُand as though he
يعيا الفتى بذنوبه وكأنَّهُ
لمnot يأتِcommitted ذنباًa sin قطَّever عندupon متابهِhis repentance
لم يأتِ ذنباً قطَّ عند متابهِ
A man grows weary beneath his sins, yet it is as though
He had never committed a sin once he repents.
ياO حبَّذاhow admirable منone who تابrepents عندupon وجودهhis having opportunity
يا حبَّذا من تاب عند وجوده
عملَcommitting المعاصيsins وهيthough they are منamong آرابهِhis desires
عملَ المعاصي وهي من آرابهِ
How admirable is one who repents while still able to
Commit sins, though they remain among his desires.
كمتابlike the repentance of يعربYa'rub عندَat أحسنِthe best of حالهhis condition
كمتاب يعرب عندَ أحسنِ حاله
منof دهرهِhis lifetime ويسارهِand his prosperity وَشبابهِand his youth
من دهرهِ ويسارهِ وَشبابهِ
Like Ya'rub's repentance when his condition was at its best,
In his life, his prosperity, and his youth.
هذاthis الطريقُthe path المستقيمُstraight وزُيِّنتand was beautified
هذا الطريقُ المستقيمُ وزُيِّنت
فيin نفسهِhis soul التَقوىpiety بحُسنِthrough the beauty of إيابهِhis return
في نفسهِ التَقوى بحُسنِ إيابهِ
This is the straight path; and made beautiful
In his soul was piety, through his gracious return.
أنسَتrejoiced بهِin him سَمَدSamad ولازمand remained with أهلهَاits people
أنسَت بهِ سَمَد ولازم أهلهَا
فعلُpractice of الصَّلاحِrighteousness لحّبهِfor love of him ومَهابهِand awe of him
فعلُ الصَّلاحِ لحّبهِ ومَهابهِ
Samad rejoiced in him, and its people were attended by
Righteous conduct, through love and awe of him.
بلدٌa town يكونُis الدينُreligion فيamong أشرافهits nobles
بلدٌ يكونُ الدينُ في أشرافه
فالخيرُso goodness عندwith مُجّنِبٍone staying alongside لجنابهِby its precinct
فالخيرُ عند مُجّنِبٍ لجنابهِ
A town where religion dwells among its nobles—
Goodness lies with one who stays by its precinct.
سامىrivaled in height أبوAbu (father of) العربal-Arab (the Arabs) الكَواكبَthe stars نافذاًpressing onward
سامى أبو العرب الكَواكبَ نافذاً
فيin كلevery خطبٍcrisis رائضاًa tamer لصِعابهِof its hardships
في كل خطبٍ رائضاً لصِعابهِ
Abu al-Arab rivaled the stars in height, pressing onward
Through every crisis, taming its hardships.
المجدُglory يُعربُspeaks عنof معانيqualities of يعرُبٍYa'rub
المجدُ يُعربُ عن معاني يعرُبٍ
فيamong الحاضرينَthose present بهِwith him وفيand in أغيابهِhis absences
في الحاضرينَ بهِ وفي أغيابهِ
Glory speaks of Ya'rub's qualities,
Among those present with him, and in his absences.
مُتوشِحwearing ثوبَthe robe of الجمالbeauty إذاwhen اْحتبىhe sits with knees drawn up
مُتوشِح ثوبَ الجمال إذا اْحتبى
بهرdazzles الملاthe company فيin الحفلthe gathering المُتشابهِof similar men
بهر الملا في الحفل المُتشابهِ
Wearing beauty's robe, when he sits with knees drawn up,
He dazzles the company in a gathering of peers.
معَwith علمِهمtheir knowledge أنَّthat الرَّزانةَdignity والتُقىand piety
معَ علمِهم أنَّ الرَّزانةَ والتُقى
والجودَand generosity والمعروفَand kindness حشوُthe filling of إهابهِhis skin
والجودَ والمعروفَ حشوُ إهابهِ
Though they know that dignity and piety,
And generosity and kindness fill his very skin.
رُزقwas granted الجمالَbeauty فَلوso if تطاولhe acted loftily مُعجباًself-admiring
رُزق الجمالَ فَلو تطاول مُعجباً
لمnot تعجبwould be surprised الأقوامُthe peoples منat إعجابهِhis self-admiration
لم تعجب الأقوامُ من إعجابهِ
He was granted beauty; were he to strut in self-admiration,
No people would wonder at his self-admiration.
لكنذَهbut he رُزقwas granted التواضُعَhumility والنهىand understanding
لكنذَه رُزق التواضُعَ والنهى
والنسّكَand devotion والأخلاصَand sincerity فيin محرابهِhis prayer niche
والنسّكَ والأخلاصَ في محرابهِ
But he was granted humility and understanding,
And devotion and sincerity in his prayer niche.
وإذاand if أردتَyou seek العلمَlearning منهfrom him فإنَّهthen he is
وإذا أردتَ العلمَ منه فإنَّه
منamong أهلthe people of موضِعهits place ومنand among طلاَّبهِits seekers
من أهل موضِعه ومن طلاَّبهِ
If you seek learning from him, he is
At home in its domain, and among its seekers.
طَوراًat times نراهُwe see him مُذكراًreminding لجليسهhis companion
طَوراً نراهُ مُذكراً لجليسه
حِكمَwisdom of الملوكِkings وتارةًand at times لكتابهِto his scribes
حِكمَ الملوكِ وتارةً لكتابهِ
Sometimes we see him reminding his companion
Of kings' wisdom, and sometimes his scribes.
أهلُpeople of الحجىintelligence والدّينِand religion منamong قُرنائهٍhis peers
أهلُ الحجى والدّينِ من قُرنائهٍ
وأولوand possessors of النُّهيreason والحقّand truth منamong أصحابهِhis companions
وأولو النُّهي والحقّ من أصحابهِ
Men of intelligence and religion are among his peers,
And men of reason and truth among his companions.
وإذاand when المؤمِّلthe hopeful petitioner زارَهvisits him لمُهمَّةfor important business
وإذا المؤمِّل زارَه لمُهمَّة
لمnot يلقهُfinds him مُتوارياًhiding بحجابهbehind his curtain
لم يلقهُ مُتوارياً بحجابه
When a hopeful petitioner visits him on important business,
He does not find him hiding behind his curtain.
وإِلىand to العتيكal-'Atik أبوAbu (father of) المعاليal-Ma'ali (high honors) ينتميtraces his descent
وإِلى العتيك أبو المعالي ينتمي
وإلىand to ذرىthe heights of قحطانQahtan منthrough أسبابهhis lineage
وإلى ذرى قحطان من أسبابه
Abu al-Ma'ali traces his descent to al-'Atik,
And through his lineage to the heights of Qahtan.
وإِذاand when تفاخرتvie in boasting الملوكُkings فإِنَّهُthen he
وإِذا تفاخرت الملوكُ فإِنَّهُ
يعُلوrises high ويسموand towers فيin عَزيزِnobility of نصابهِhis stock
يعُلو ويسمو في عَزيزِ نصابهِ
When kings vie in boasting, he
Rises high and towers in his noble lineage,
بالأزْدِthrough the Azd أنصارِhelpers of النَّبيthe Prophet تفقَّهواthey grew learned
بالأزْدِ أنصارِ النَّبي تفقَّهوا
فيin دينهhis religion وهُدواand were guided بنورِby light of شهابهٍhis torch
في دينه وهُدوا بنورِ شهابهٍ
Through the Azd, the Prophet's helpers, who grew learned
In his religion, and were guided by his torch's light.
بَذلواthey gave لهto him أموالهَمtheir wealth ونفوسَهمand their lives
بَذلوا له أموالهَم ونفوسَهم
حتَّىuntil اسْتقرَّbecame established الحقَّtruth فيamong أa- (word fragment) ربابهِits rightful holders (word remainder)
حتَّى اسْتقرَّ الحقَّ في أ ربابهِ
They gave him their wealth and their lives,
Until truth stood firm among its rightful holders.
فهُمso they are الرؤوسthe heads لدىin زمانهمtheir age إِذاwhen
فهُم الرؤوس لدى زمانهم إِذا
عُدُّواare counted وباقيand the rest of الناسmankind منamong أذنابهits tails
عُدُّوا وباقي الناس من أذنابه
They are the heads in their age when
Counted; the rest of mankind are its tails.
ياO يعربُYa'rub ابنَson of أبيAbu (father of) المعمَّرal-Mu'ammar ياO أباAbu (father of)
يا يعربُ ابنَ أبي المعمَّر يا أبا
العَربal-Arab (the Arabs) المُنيفtowering علىabove عُلىthe heights of أترابهِhis peers
العَرب المُنيف على عُلى أترابهِ
O Ya'rub, son of Abu al-Mu'ammar, O Abu
Al-Arab, towering above the heights of his peers!
ماnot أنتَyou إلاexcept البدُرthe full moon عندat تمامهِits fullness
ما أنتَ إلا البدُر عند تمامهِ
والبحرُand the sea يزخرُsurges طامياًrising high بعُبابهِwith its billows
والبحرُ يزخرُ طامياً بعُبابهِ
You are none other than the moon at its fullness,
And the sea surging, swollen with its billows,
واللَّيثُand the lion يزأرroars فيin عرينةِthe lair of غابهِhis thicket
واللَّيثُ يزأر في عرينةِ غابهِ
والغيثُand the rain يحريstreams منfrom متونthe backs of سحابهِits clouds
والغيثُ يحري من متون سحابهِ
And the lion roaring in the lair of his thicket,
And rain streaming from the backs of its clouds.
فبقيتَso may you remain محروساًprotected وعشتَand may you live مسلمَّاًsafe بهِthrough it
فبقيتَ محروساً وعشتَ مسلمَّاً بهِ
فيin الدّهرtime مُغْتَبطاًrejoicing مدىthroughout أحقابهِits ages
في الدّهر مُغْتَبطاً مدى أحقابهِ
May you remain protected and live secure thereby,
Through time, rejoicing throughout its ages.
والعيدand the feast عادreturned عليكَto you مسرورَاًrejoicing بهِin it
والعيد عاد عليكَ مسرورَاً بهِ
فيin حُسنِbeauty of حلْيتهِits adornment وفيand in تَطيابهِits perfuming
في حُسنِ حلْيتهِ وفي تَطيابهِ
And may the feast return to you, with you rejoicing in it,
In its lovely adornment and its sweet scents.
وإِليكهاand here she is for you عذراءًa virgin ذاتpossessing بدآئعٍmarvels
وإِليكها عذراءً ذات بدآئعٍ
كالدُّرِlike pearls منظوماًstrung بِجيدon the neck of كعابهِhis full-breasted maiden
كالدُّرِ منظوماً بِجيد كعابهِ
Take her, a virgin poem full of marvels,
Like pearls strung around his full-breasted maiden's neck.
Translation model: Sol 6.1