هيit is النّفسthe soul منfrom ذكرremembrance المماتdeath نفورُهاits aversion
هي النّفس من ذكر الممات نفورُها
مخافةَfor fear of مكروهsomething hateful إليهto it مصيرهاits destination
مخافةَ مكروه إليه مصيرها
The soul recoils from the remembrance of death,
The soul naturally recoils from thoughts of death,
fearing the hateful end to which it must come.
Fearing the unpleasant fate that awaits it.
وماand not أمنُهاits security أوor خوفهاits fear فيin حياتهاits life
وما أمنُها أو خوفها في حياتها
منfrom الموتdeath إلاَّexcept برُّهاits righteousness وفجورهُهاand its wickedness
من الموت إلاَّ برُّها وفجورهُها
Its confidence or fear, while it lives,
Its fear or security in life
concerning death comes only from its righteousness or wickedness.
Comes only from its righteousness or corruption.
ولوand if أحسنَimproved استعدادَهاits preparation لوفاتهاfor its death
ولو أحسنَ استعدادَها لوفاتها
لهانَwould have been easy لذكراهاat its remembrance عليهfor him حُضورُهاits coming
لهانَ لذكراها عليه حُضورُها
Had one prepared it well for its death,
If it were well prepared for its departure,
death's coming would weigh lightly on him when recalled.
The thought of it would be easy for it to endure.
منwhoever اتخذtakes البرهانَproof والفحصand examination عُدَّةًas provision
من اتخذ البرهانَ والفحص عُدَّةً
تبَيَّنَdiscerns ماwhat حقَّthe truth of الأمورaffairs وزُورُهاand their falsehood
تبَيَّنَ ما حقَّ الأمور وزُورُها
Whoever takes proof and examination as provision
Whoever takes reason and examination as his equipment
discerns what is true in affairs and what is false.
Will see clearly the truth of matters and their falsehood.
وتفجأand are surprised بالرّوعاتِby terrors منهاfrom it عقولهاtheir minds
وتفجأ بالرّوعاتِ منها عقولها
ويُلفَىand is found قليلlittle الارتياعalarm حَذورُهاtheir wary one
ويُلفَى قليل الارتياع حَذورُها
Their minds are startled by the terrors arising from it,
But undisciplined minds are startled by such contemplations
but their wary one is found little alarmed.
And little fear of dismay finds them unprepared.
عرفناwe have known منof الدُّنياthe world زوالَthe passing of نعيمهاits bliss
عرفنا من الدُّنيا زوالَ نعيمها
فماso what يدّعيclaims مُختالهاits swaggerer وفخُورُهاand its boaster
فما يدّعي مُختالها وفخُورُها
We have known that this world's bliss passes away;
We know the fleeting nature of the world’s pleasures,
so what do its swaggerer and boaster claim?
Yet the braggart and the proud still revel in them.
إلىto منتهىthe end of أعمارناour lifetimes فطويلهاso their long ones
إلى منتهى أعمارنا فطويلها
سواءalike إذاwhen وافىreaches المدىthe limit وقصيرُهاand their short ones
سواء إذا وافى المدى وقصيرُها
Our lifetimes reach their end; the long among them
However long our lives, whether extended or brief,
and the short are alike when their limit is reached.
The far end is the same, however far or near.
ومستمتعاتُand pleasures العيشof life منfrom غيرother than حِلَهاtheir lawful bounds
ومستمتعاتُ العيش من غير حِلَها
عواريُّborrowed things مغرورٌdeceived بهاby them مستعيرُهاtheir borrower
عواريُّ مغرورٌ بها مستعيرُها
And life's pleasures, taken unlawfully,
The enjoyments of life that are not rightfully ours
are borrowed things whose borrower is beguiled by them.
Are false treasures that mislead the borrower.
أحاولI seek فيin دنيايَmy world زهداًascetic detachment وكيفand how ليfor me
أحاول في دنيايَ زهداً وكيف لي
بهwith it ومُراديand my desire أنthat يتمَّbe complete سرورُهاits joy
به ومُرادي أن يتمَّ سرورُها
I seek detachment in my world, but how can I attain
I strive for detachment in my worldly life, yet how can I
it, when my desire is that its joy be complete?
When my goal is for it to be filled with joy?
ونجعلand we assign للأيامto the days ذنباًblame بغدْرهاfor their treachery
ونجعل للأيام ذنباً بغدْرها
ونزعمand we claim أناthat we يطَيّبناdelights us غرورُهاits deception
ونزعم أنا يطَيّبنا غرورُها
We blame the days for their treachery,
And we blame the days for their betrayal,
yet claim that their deception pleases us.
Yet claim to be gladdened by their deception.
متىwhen غالبcontended with الدُّنياthe world منamong النّاسpeople عاقلٌa wise person
متى غالب الدُّنيا من النّاس عاقلٌ
بداهيةwith a calamity لمnot يأتcame عنهاabout it نذيرُهاits warning herald
بداهية لم يأت عنها نذيرُها
When has any wise person contended with the world
When the intelligent are mostly ruled by the world,
over a calamity for which no warning had come?
No warning comes to them that they have not already heard.
وفيand in كلevery يومday لاnot يزالceases محذّراًgiving warning
وفي كل يوم لا يزال محذّراً
رواحُthe evening coming of المناياdeaths بينناamong us وبكُورُهاand their morning coming
رواحُ المنايا بيننا وبكُورُها
Every day, an unceasing warning is given by
And death continues each day to come between us,
death's evening visits among us and its morning arrivals.
Its advents and its mornings to circulate among us.
كذلكlikewise أبناءthe sons of القرونthe generations التيthat مضَتpassed
كذلك أبناء القرون التي مضَت
ألمٍhave you not تتبيَنdiscerned كيفhow آلتended أُمورُهاtheir affairs
ألمٍ تتبيَن كيف آلت أُمورُها
Likewise, the people of the generations gone by—
So too the generations that passed before—
have you not discerned how their affairs ended?
Their sorrows can be seen in how their matters ended.
تَعاَرَهاassailed them in turn ريبُthe vicissitudes of الزَّمانtime فأصبحتso they became
تَعاَرَها ريبُ الزَّمان فأصبحت
خراباًruins قُراهاtheir villages خاوياتempty قصُورُهاtheir palaces
خراباً قُراها خاويات قصُورُها
Time's vicissitudes assailed them in turn, until
They have been tried by the nights and days and found wanting,
their villages lay ruined, their palaces empty.
Their dwellings are empty ruins and desolate abodes.
ألاindeed إنّهاit truly is روحُthe breath of الحياةlife وظلُّهاand its shade
ألا إنّها روحُ الحياة وظلُّها
وزهرتهاand its blossom معwith روضهاits garden وغديرُهاand its pool
وزهرتها مع روضها وغديرُها
Indeed, it is life's breath and shade,
Indeed, these comprise the soul of life and its shadow,
its blossom, together with its garden and pool,
Its blossoms and its streams and ponds.
وأنواعand varieties of حسنbeauty بينamong أنواعvarieties of لذَّةpleasure
وأنواع حسن بين أنواع لذَّة
تَوالىfollow one another أعوامُهاits years وشُهورُهاand its months
تَوالى أعوامُها وشُهورُها
and varieties of beauty amid varieties of delight,
And varieties of beauty amid varieties of pleasure
its years and months following one another.
Follow each other in succession, days and months.
مَلاةa span of time بهاwithin it الأحزانُsorrows فيهاin it دفينةburied
مَلاة بها الأحزانُ فيها دفينة
إلىuntil يومa day of شجوٍgrief حادثٍnewly arisen يستثيرُهاrouses them
إلى يوم شجوٍ حادثٍ يستثيرُها
A span in which sorrows lie buried,
Sorrows accumulate in it, though buried
until a day of fresh grief stirs them.
Until a day of anguish comes to revive them,
كيومlike the day وجدناwe found فيهon it نبهانNabhan هالكاًdead
كيوم وجدنا فيه نبهان هالكاً
وذلكand that منamong أيامناour days قمطريرهاtheir grimmest
وذلك من أيامنا قمطريرها
Like the day on which we found Nabhan dead:
As the day we found Nabhan deceased,
that was among the grimmest of our days.
Among the days that whetted their blades against us.
رزئناwe were bereft of هماماًa noble hero يعلمknow الأزْدَthe Azd أنهthat he
رزئنا هماماً يعلم الأزْدَ أنه
إذاwhen خطرتstrode proudly صيدmajestic الملوكkings خطيرُهاtheir eminent one
إذا خطرت صيد الملوك خطيرُها
We lost a noble hero whom the Azd know to be,
We were grieved by the death of the protector of glory, Nabhan,
when majestic kings stride forth, their eminent one.
Whose bier bows the necks of men.
تبوأhe occupied منamong قحطانQahtan بيتاًa house تُقلُّهُbear it up
تبوأ من قحطان بيتاً تُقلُّهُ
قواعدُthe foundations of بنيانthe building of العتيكal-Atik وسوُرُهاand its walls
قواعدُ بنيان العتيك وسوُرُها
He settled in a house of Qahtan, upheld by
We were pained by the burial of the honorable Nabhan
the foundations of al-Atik's edifice and its walls.
Whose brilliance the darkness of the earth shrouds.
فطالَso rose high بهthrough him أصلthe root of المعاليnobility وفرعهاand its branch
فطالَ به أصل المعالي وفرعها
وطابَand was pleasing لهُto him خيرُthe best of المساعيendeavors وخيرُهاand their goodness
وطابَ لهُ خيرُ المساعي وخيرُها
Through him, nobility's root and branch grew tall,
Every soul concealed it as if
and the best of endeavors, and their goodness, were sweet to him.
It resided in the conscience of each.
وعاشand he lived حميداpraised لمnot يصبْهassail him غنيهاtheir rich one
وعاش حميدا لم يصبْه غنيها
بلومwith blame ولمand not يعدَمْlack جَداهhis bounty فقيرُهاtheir poor one
بلوم ولم يعدَمْ جَداه فقيرُها
He lived praised: their rich never assailed him
You would think each heart visits his grave
with blame, and their poor never lacked his bounty.
And eyes copiously weep over it.
فعزَّso it was grievous عليناfor us حملُthe carrying of نبهانَNabhan جُثّةًas a corpse
فعزَّ علينا حملُ نبهانَ جُثّةً
يميلmakes bend بأعناقwith the necks of الرّجالmen سريرُهاits bier
يميل بأعناق الرّجال سريرُها
How grievous it was for us to carry Nabhan as a corpse,
Tears pour over it, one after another,
his bier bowing the necks of men.
While few eyes withhold their flowing.
وعزَّand it was grievous عليناfor us دَفْنُthe burial of نبهانَNabhan عَزّةa grievous hardship
وعزَّ علينا دَفْنُ نبهانَ عَزّة
ثَوىlay ميّتاًdead فيin ظُلمةِthe darkness of الأرْضthe earth نورُهاits light
ثَوى ميّتاً في ظُلمةِ الأرْض نورُها
How grievous indeed for us was Nabhan's burial:
May the smooth stones cause Banu Nabhan to stumble
earth's light lay dead within its darkness.
And may no missteps befall the chiefs of ‘Uteyk!
وماand not تركتwas left مَخْفوةًhidden بلrather كأنّماas though
وما تركت مَخْفوةً بل كأنّما
تضمّنهاheld it within منof كلevery نفسٍsoul ضميرُهاits inner heart
تضمّنها من كل نفسٍ ضميرُها
His body was not left hidden; rather, it seemed
May you be honored through a company of ‘Umar
the inward heart of every soul held it,
Whose nature is sublime and whose souls are vast,
تُمثلُهاpictures it تحتbeneath التُّرابthe soil كعهدناas we knew
تُمثلُها تحت التُّراب كعهدنا
بهاwith it وبأفكارand through the thoughts of القلوبhearts تزُورُهاvisits it
بها وبأفكار القلوب تزُورُها
picturing it beneath the soil as we had known
Hard against the gibes of enemies, like the mountain flints,
it, and visiting it through the heart's reflections.
Impregnable against the striking of calamities, like boulders.
تدرّstreams عليهاover it عَبرةa tear إثرafter عَبرَةٍa tear
تدرّ عليها عَبرة إثر عَبرَةٍ
وقلَّand is scant لهاfor it منfrom كلevery عينٍeye دُرورُهاits outpouring
وقلَّ لها من كل عينٍ دُرورُها
Tear after tear streams over it,
They feel neither distress in gloom that incites them
yet every eye's outpouring is too little for it.
Nor joy in favor that makes them vain.
لَعاًmay they recover! لبنيfor the sons of نبهانNabhan منfrom كلevery عثرةٍstumble
لَعاً لبني نبهان من كل عثرةٍ
ولاand may not نالbefall ساداتِthe lords of العتيكal-Atik عُثورُهاtheir stumbling
ولا نال ساداتِ العتيك عُثورُها
May the sons of Nabhan recover from every stumble,
They have seen their days bring them the vicissitudes of fate
and may no stumbling befall the lords of al-Atik.
Just as kingdoms came to men in successive generations.
وأكْرمْand how noble بهاit is منas عُصبةٍa band عُمَريَّةٍof Umar's line
وأكْرمْ بها من عُصبةٍ عُمَريَّةٍ
كرامٍnoble سجاياهاtheir characters رحابbroad صُدُورُهاtheir breasts
كرامٍ سجاياها رحاب صُدُورُها
How noble is this band of Umar's line,
Yet they neither complained about it nor submitted to it,
noble in character and broad of breast,
So their nobility would be content and their reward endure.
صِلابٍfirm علىagainst غمزِthe probing of العُداةenemies كعوبَهاtheir joints
صِلابٍ على غمزِ العُداة كعوبَها
صِعابٍunyielding علىagainst قرعthe hammering of الخطوبcalamities صُخورُهاtheir rocks
صِعابٍ على قرع الخطوب صُخورُها
their joints firm against the enemies' probing,
Resolute in patience against every adversity,
their rocks unyielding to calamities' blows.
Their sorrows thereby dissipate and their aims become clear.
فلاso no تَرحٌsorrow فيin غُمّةٍaffliction يستَفزّهاunsettles them
فلا تَرحٌ في غُمّةٍ يستَفزّها
ولاand no فرحٌjoy فيin نعمةprosperity يستَطيرُهاcarries them away
ولا فرحٌ في نعمة يستَطيرُها
No sorrow in adversity unsettles them,
Swallowing the bitterness over the loss of senior brothers
nor does joy in prosperity carry them away.
With propriety, tranquility, and grief for siblings.
رأتthey saw دَهرَهاtheir time قدindeed جاءَهاbrought them منfrom صروفهِits reversals
رأت دَهرَها قد جاءَها من صروفهِ
بماwith what جاءتbrought الأملاكkings قدماًlong ago دُهورُهاtheir ages
بما جاءت الأملاك قدماً دُهورُها
They saw their time bring them, through its reversals,
The beauty of their worldly life and intimate companion,
what bygone ages had brought to kings of old.
Their supporter in their affairs and advisor.
فماso not ضرعتdid they abase themselves فيهin it ولاnor خشعتbowed لهُto it
فما ضرعت فيه ولا خشعت لهُ
لتَرضىthat they may be satisfied معاليهاtheir lofty ideals وتَبقىand may remain أُجورُهاtheir rewards
لتَرضى معاليها وتَبقى أُجورُها
Yet they neither abased themselves in it nor bowed to it,
Lions that with one lion roar
that their lofty ideals might be satisfied and their rewards endure.
So it is no surprise that they moan and growl.
مقابِلةٌmeeting بالصّبرwith patience كلَّevery مُلمَّةٍaffliction
مقابِلةٌ بالصّبر كلَّ مُلمَّةٍ
فتنجابso clears away غَمّاهاtheir gloom ويجلوand departs مَريدُهاtheir rebellious foe
فتنجاب غَمّاها ويجلو مَريدُها
Meeting every affliction with patience,
Worthy for their children to mourn them,
their gloom disperses and their rebellious foe departs.
And for the steadfast noble ones to endure.
وكاظمةand suppressing فيwith عفةٍrestraint وسكينةٍand calm
وكاظمة في عفةٍ وسكينةٍ
أسىthe grief of أخوةbrothers فيin السنage بانَdeparted كبيرُهاtheir eldest
أسى أخوة في السن بانَ كبيرُها
And, with restraint and calm, they suppress
What a terrible tragedy for their souls,
the grief of brothers whose eldest in years has departed,
Though it cannot harm their glory.
وزينةُand the adornment of دنياهاtheir world وصاحبُand the keeper of سِرِّهاtheir secret
وزينةُ دنياها وصاحبُ سِرِّها
وعاضدُهاand their supporter فيin أمرهاtheir affairs ومُشيرُهاand their counselor
وعاضدُها في أمرها ومُشيرُها
the adornment of their world and keeper of their secrets,
May it raise them above every lofty height
their supporter in affairs and their counselor.
And absolve them of every blemish, through its purity.
أَسودُlions شَرىًShara غيلتwere struck by treachery بواحدof one غيلهاtheir thicket
أَسودُ شَرىً غيلت بواحد غيلها
فغيرso not عجيبstrange نأمُهاtheir growling وزَئيرهاand their roaring
فغير عجيب نأمُها وزَئيرها
Lions of Shara, treacherously bereft of one from their thicket—
For the Banu Nabhan, no excellent and esteemed one remains
no wonder they growl and roar.
If the best of mankind are counted as their peers.
خليقٌfitting بأنthat يأسىmourn عليهfor him جزوعهاtheir anguished one
خليقٌ بأن يأسى عليه جزوعها
ويلتزمَand cleave to الصَّبرَpatience الجميلُnoble صبورُهاtheir patient one
ويلتزمَ الصَّبرَ الجميلُ صبورُها
It is fitting that their anguished ones mourn him,
Who can compare to ‘Ali, Duhl, or Ya’rub
and that their patient ones cleave to noble patience.
Among their most distinguished and their choicest nobles?
مُصابٌa loss لعمريby my life فادحٌcrushing فيin نفوسهاtheir souls
مُصابٌ لعمري فادحٌ في نفوسها
ولكنهbut it فيin مجدهاtheir glory لاnot يُضيرُهاharms them
ولكنه في مجدها لا يُضيرُها
By my life, this is a crushing loss to their souls,
Who can rival Nabhan and Muhammad
yet it does no harm to their glory.
When the desperate man’s difficulty becomes severe?
تعالىrose high بهاwith them عنabove كلevery سامlofty one علوهاtheir loftiness
تعالى بها عن كل سام علوها
وخَلّصهاand freed them منfrom كلّevery ذامdetractor طُهورُهاtheir purity
وخَلّصها من كلّ ذام طُهورُها
Their loftiness raised them above all who stand high,
We see none among the people like Muhammad,
and their purity freed them from every detractor.
Nor like ‘Umar, al-Hajjaj, or their prisoners.
فماso no لبنيfor the sons of نبهانNabhan حيٌّtribe مناظِرٌrival
فما لبني نبهان حيٌّ مناظِرٌ
إذاwhen فُضَلاءُthe finest of النّاسpeople عُدَّis counted نظيرُهاtheir equal
إذا فُضَلاءُ النّاس عُدَّ نظيرُها
No tribe can rival the sons of Nabhan,
A time will never come bearing their like,
when the finest of men are counted to find their equal.
And peers of Nabhan are non-existent.
فمنso who كعليّlike Ali أوor كذُهلٍlike Dhuhl ويعرُبٍand Ya'rub
فمن كعليّ أو كذُهلٍ ويعرُبٍ
لعُظمىfor a great calamity نجلّيهاwe dispel it ونُعمىand bounty نميرُهاwe supply it
لعُظمى نجلّيها ونُعمى نميرُها
Who is like Ali, or like Dhuhl and Ya'rub,
They likened them to Muhammad, but Muhammad
for a great calamity we dispel, or bounty we provide?
Is matchless on earth unless it be his own return.
ومنand who مثلlike نبهانNabhan ومثلand like محمّدٍMuhammad
ومن مثل نبهان ومثل محمّدٍ
إذاwhen حاجةthe need of الملهوفthe distressed عزَّgrows difficult عسيرُهاits hard part
إذا حاجة الملهوف عزَّ عسيرُها
And who is like Nabhan, or like Muhammad,
The Banu ‘Umar are the lords of all Qahtan,
when a distressed man's need grows grievously difficult?
No elder or younger spoken of among them.
ولسناand we do not نرىsee فيamong النّاسpeople مثلthe like of محمّدَMuhammad
ولسنا نرى في النّاس مثل محمّدَ
ولاnor عمرٍUmar والحاجwhile the petitioner عانٍis suffering أسيرُهاits captive
ولا عمرٍ والحاج عانٍ أسيرُها
Among men we see no one like Muhammad,
Kings whose individual merits rival one another—
nor Umar, when the petitioner suffers, captive to need.
Looking upon any, you would say “This is their prince.”
وماand not عمرUmar يأتيbrings ظهورan appearance بمثلهwith his like
وما عمر يأتي ظهور بمثله
وأمثالand the likes of نبهانNabhan عديمnonexistent ظُهورُهاtheir appearance
وأمثال نبهان عديم ظُهورُها
No one appears who is the like of Umar,
Wellsprings of the world’s provisions and its rainclouds,
and none like Nabhan appear.
Planets in the cosmos’ orbit and cycles.
وماand not شبَّهواthey have likened بمحمدٍto Muhammad ومحمّدٌwhile Muhammad
وما شبَّهوا بمحمدٍ ومحمّدٌ
علىupon الأرضthe earth إلاexcept أنthat يكونthere be نشورُهاits resurrection
على الأرض إلا أن يكون نشورُها
None has been compared with Muhammad while Muhammad
The people are but hopeful supplicants to them,
is on earth—unless the earth's resurrection comes.
Seeking their favors, or fearful ones seeking refuge.
بنوthe sons of عمرٍUmar ساداتُthe lords of قحطانQahtan كلّهاall of it
بنو عمرٍ ساداتُ قحطان كلّها
كبيرgreat فماso not فيهاamong them يقالis called صغيرُهاtheir small one
كبير فما فيها يقال صغيرُها
The sons of Umar are lords of all Qahtan;
Their fortresses protect those in fear,
all are great, and none among them is called small.
And their oceans immerse the devout.
ملوكٌkings تساوىis equal فضلُهاtheir merit كلُevery واحدٍone
ملوكٌ تساوى فضلُها كلُ واحدٍ
نظرتَyou looked إليهat him قلتyou said هذاthis أميرُهاtheir prince
نظرتَ إليه قلت هذا أميرُها
Kings equal in merit; every one
Their virtues are known and their forbearance,
you look upon makes you say, 'This is their prince.'
As are their obedience and gratitude.
ينابيعsprings of أرْزاقthe sustenance of الورىmankind وغيومهاand their clouds
ينابيع أرْزاق الورى وغيومها
كواكبstars of أفلاكthe celestial spheres of الورىmankind وبدورُهاand their full moons
كواكب أفلاك الورى وبدورُها
Founts of mankind's sustenance and its rainclouds,
When their conduct is displayed in an assembly,
stars of mankind's celestial spheres and their full moons.
Their musk and fragrance exude from it.
وماand not النّاسpeople إلاexcept سائلa petitioner يستميحهاseeking their bounty
وما النّاس إلا سائل يستميحها
مواهبَهاtheir gifts أوor خائفٌa fearful person يستجيرُهاseeking their protection
مواهبَها أو خائفٌ يستجيرُها
People are only petitioners seeking from them
Their quarters are filled with radiant eyes,
their gifts, or fearful souls asking their protection.
While their tombs crowd hearts into graves.
مُحاميةٌdefending للخائفينfor the fearful حصُونهاtheir fortresses
مُحاميةٌ للخائفين حصُونها
وطاميةٌand overflowing للمعتفينfor those seeking bounty بحورُهاtheir seas
وطاميةٌ للمعتفين بحورُها
Their fortresses defend the fearful,
So their nobility has lasted and their bliss persists,
and their seas swell for those who seek their bounty.
While their enemy is abased and their ally empowered.
مكارمُهاtheir noble qualities معلومةٌknown وحلومهاand their forbearance
مكارمُها معلومةٌ وحلومها
وطاعتُهاand obedience to them ملزومةٌrequired وشكورُهاand gratitude to them
وطاعتُها ملزومةٌ وشكورُها
Their noble qualities are known, and their forbearance;
O Abu’l Qasim, resign yourself! O Abu’l Hasan, rejoice!
obedience to them is binding, as is gratitude to them.
O father of the Arabs, attain the ultimate ambition!
إذاwhen نشرتare displayed أخلاقهاtheir virtues وسطamid مشهدٍa gathering
إذا نشرت أخلاقها وسط مشهدٍ
تُضوّعwafts منهاfrom them مسكُهاtheir musk وعبيرُهاand their perfume
تُضوّع منها مسكُها وعبيرُها
When their virtues are displayed amid a gathering,
And O father of nobility, live on and turn hopefully
their musk and perfume spread their fragrance.
Toward that which, O Abu ‘Abdillah, brings you glad tidings!
وأحياؤهاand their living ملءُfilling العيونthe eyes محلَّهاtheir dwelling
وأحياؤها ملءُ العيون محلَّها
وأمواتهاand their dead حشوَwithin القلوبthe hearts قبورُهاtheir graves
وأمواتها حشوَ القلوب قبورُها
Their living fill the eyes where they dwell,
Stay well, O Abu ‘Abdillah and O father of Ibn Ma’mar,
and their dead have their graves deep within the hearts.
Enjoying the blessings that bring abundant comfort!
فطالتso may rise high معاليهاtheir lofty deeds ودامand may endure نعيمُهاtheir bliss
فطالت معاليها ودام نعيمُها
وذلَّand may be humbled معاديهاtheir enemy وعزَّand may be exalted نصيرُهاtheir supporter
وذلَّ معاديها وعزَّ نصيرُها
May their noble deeds rise high and their bliss endure,
Thus do I convey, O father of Ibn Ma’mar and O father of Muhammad,
their enemy be humbled and their supporter exalted.
Good will in times of ease and plenteous grace.
أباO father of القاسمal-Qasim اسلمْbe safe ياO أباfather of الحَسَنal-Hasan اغتبطْrejoice
أبا القاسم اسلمْ يا أبا الحَسَن اغتبطْ
أباO father of العربal-Arab أبلغْattain غايةًa goal تسْتخيرُهاyou deem best
أبا العرب أبلغْ غايةً تسْتخيرُها
Abu al-Qasim, be safe; Abu al-Hasan, rejoice!
And live, O Abu ‘Abdillah, in the shade of a blessing
Abu al-Arab, attain the goal you judge best!
Whose curtains shelter Abu ‘Abdillah.
وياباand O father of المعاليal-Ma'ali عشْlive وأقبلَand may come بالمنىwith wishes
ويابا المعالي عشْ وأقبلَ بالمنى
إليكto you أباO father of عبدservant of الإلهGod بشيرُهاtheir herald of good news
إليك أبا عبد الإله بشيرُها
And Abu al-Ma'ali, live on! May there come, bearing wishes,
And may He bestow upon you nightly in your bereavement
to you, Abu Abd al-Ilah, their herald of good news.
Scattering stars from the rainy constellation Muzn.
ودمand live on ياO أباfather of عبدservant of الإلهGod وياand O أباfather of
ودم يا أبا عبد الإله ويا أبا
المعمرal-Mu'ammar فيin نعماءَprosperity تلقَmay you find حبورُهاits gladness
المعمر في نعماءَ تلقَ حبورُها
Live on, Abu Abd al-Ilah, and you, Abu
And O father of Ibn Ma’mar, may you continue
al-Mu'ammar, in blessings whose gladness you may find.
Upon the path of your father, walking in righteousness.
كذلكlikewise أبلُغاياyou two attain, O باfather of المعَمَّرal-Mu'ammar ياO أباfather of
كذلك أبلُغايا با المعَمَّر يا أبا
محمدٍMuhammad للسّراءfor happiness جمٌgreat وفورُهاits abundance
محمدٍ للسّراء جمٌ وفورُها
Likewise, attain it, you two—Abu al-Mu'ammar and Abu
Muhammad; may happiness be great in its abundance.
وعشتand may you live أباO father of عبدservant of الإلهGod بنعمةٍin a blessing
وعشت أبا عبد الإله بنعمةٍ
يُظلُّshades أباfather of عبدservant of الإلهGod ستُورُهاits veils
يُظلُّ أبا عبد الإله ستُورُها
And may you live, Abu Abd al-Ilah, in a blessing
whose veils shade Abu Abd al-Ilah.
وجادand may rain pour علىupon مفقودكمyour lost one كلَّevery ليلةٍnight
وجاد على مفقودكم كلَّ ليلةٍ
أفاويقsuccessive showers منfrom مُزنrainclouds السَّواريpassing by night مطيرُهاtheir rain-laden ones
أفاويق من مُزن السَّواري مطيرُها
And may rain pour lavishly on your lost one every night,
in successive showers from rain-heavy clouds passing by night.
وعاشَand may he live لكمْfor you ياO باfather of المعمَّرal-Mu'ammar سالكاًfollowing
وعاشَ لكمْ يا با المعمَّر سالكاً
سبيلthe path of أبيهhis father بالصّلاحin righteousness يسيرُهاhe travels it
سبيل أبيه بالصّلاح يسيرُها
May he live for you, Abu al-Mu'ammar, following
his father's path and treading it in righteousness.
Partial English translation: 116 of 124 Arabic lines translated.