خاض الدُّجى ورِواقُ الليل مَسدولبُ

خاض الدُّجى ورِواقُ الليل مَسدولبُ

بَرقٌ كما اهتزَّ ماضي الحدِّ مَصقولُ

بَرقٌ كما اهتزَّ ماضي الحدِّ مَصقولُ

Through the darkness, beneath night's lowered canopy, plunged

The darkness plunged and the porticoes of night unfurled,

lightning, like a polished, keen-edged blade set quivering.

Like flashes of lightning that shook the polished blade of the past.

أَشيمُهُ وضجيعي صارمٌ خَذِمٌ

أَشيمُهُ وضجيعي صارمٌ خَذِمٌ

ومِحمَلي بِرَشاشِ الدَّمعِ مَبلولُ

ومِحمَلي بِرَشاشِ الدَّمعِ مَبلولُ

I watch it, with a keen, slicing sword as my bedfellow,

My tent companion and bedfellow are harsh and worn,

and my saddle-litter wet with the spray of tears.

While my camel litter is drenched by the shower of tears.

فحَنَّ صاحبُ رَحْلي إذ تأمَّلَهُ

فحَنَّ صاحبُ رَحْلي إذ تأمَّلَهُ

حتى حَنَنْتُ ونِضْوي عنهُ مَشغولُ

حتى حَنَنْتُ ونِضْوي عنهُ مَشغولُ

Then my traveling companion sighed with longing when he beheld it,

My companion lamented when he saw it,

until I too yearned, while my weary camel was heedless of it.

Until I sighed, preoccupied from him.

يَخْدي بأرْوَعَ لا يُغْفي وناظِرُهُ

يَخْدي بأرْوَعَ لا يُغْفي وناظِرُهُ

بإثْمِدِ اللّيْلِ في البَيْداء مَكحولُ

بإثْمِدِ اللّيْلِ في البَيْداء مَكحولُ

It trots with a gallant rider who never dozes, his eye

It leads the most magnificent camel, sleepless with its watcher,

lined with night's antimony in the open desert.

Roaming the desert in the thick of night intoxicated.

ولا يَمُرُّ الكَرَى صَفْحاً بمُقْلَتِهِ

ولا يَمُرُّ الكَرَى صَفْحاً بمُقْلَتِهِ

فَدونَهُ قاتِمُ الأرْجاءِ مَجهولُ

فَدونَهُ قاتِمُ الأرْجاءِ مَجهولُ

Nor does slumber so much as brush his eye;

And misfortune does not pass smoothly by its eyelids,

for before him lies an unknown waste, dark in all its reaches.

For around it the horizons are obscured and unknown.

إذا قضَى عُقَبَ الإسراءِ لَيلَتَهُ

إذا قضَى عُقَبَ الإسراءِ لَيلَتَهُ

أناخَهُ وَهْوَ بالإعْياءِ مَعْقولُ

أناخَهُ وَهْوَ بالإعْياءِ مَعْقولُ

When he has spent his night in successive stages of nocturnal travel,

When it finished traversing the night journey at its end,

he makes his camel kneel, himself hobbled by exhaustion.

Exhausted, it stopped, tamed by weariness.

واعْتادَهُ مِنْ سُلَيمى وَهْيَ نائِيَةٌ

واعْتادَهُ مِنْ سُلَيمى وَهْيَ نائِيَةٌ

ذِكرٌ يُؤرِّقُهُ والقَلبُ مَتبولُ

ذِكرٌ يُؤرِّقُهُ والقَلبُ مَتبولُ

And from Sulayma, though she is far away, there returns to him

It was accustomed to Sulaymah when she was absent,

a memory that keeps him sleepless, his heart love-stricken.

A memory that kept it sleepless, while the heart quivered.

رَيَّا المَعاصِمِ ظَمأى الخَصْرِ لا قِصَرٌ

رَيَّا المَعاصِمِ ظَمأى الخَصْرِ لا قِصَرٌ

يَزوي عَليها ولا يُزْري بِها طولُ

يَزوي عَليها ولا يُزْري بِها طولُ

Her wrists are well-watered, her waist athirst; no shortness

It admired the slender waists of maidens, no shortcoming,

cramps her, nor does tallness detract from her beauty.

Would quench its thirst or satisfy it with length.

فَالوجْهُ أبلَجُ واللّبَّاتُ واضِحةٌ

فَالوجْهُ أبلَجُ واللّبَّاتُ واضِحةٌ

وفَرعُها وارِدٌ والمَتْنُ مَجدولُ

وفَرعُها وارِدٌ والمَتْنُ مَجدولُ

Her face is radiant, her throat-hollows luminous,

The face was bright, the lips distinct,

and her hair hangs down, her back firmly knit.

Its branches in flow, the body sculpted.

كأنّما ريقُها والفَجْرُ مُبتَسِمٌ

كأنّما ريقُها والفَجْرُ مُبتَسِمٌ

فيما أظُنُّ بِصَفْوِ الرّاحِ مَعلولُ

فيما أظُنُّ بِصَفْوِ الرّاحِ مَعلولُ

It is as though her saliva, while dawn smiles,

As if its saliva in the smiling dawn,

were, I think, mingled with the clearest wine.

Was, I believe, mingled with the fragrance of the breeze.

صَدَّتْ ووقَّرَني شَيبي فما أرَبي

صَدَّتْ ووقَّرَني شَيبي فما أرَبي

صَهْباءُ صِرفُ ولا غَيداءُ عُطبولُ

صَهْباءُ صِرفُ ولا غَيداءُ عُطبولُ

She turned away, and my gray hair lent me dignity; I have no wish for

Grey hairs rebuked me, I have no interest,

unmixed tawny wine, nor a supple, long-necked beauty.

Neither in youthful curls, nor plaited tresses.

وحَال دونَ نَسيبي بالدُّمى مِدَحٌ

وحَال دونَ نَسيبي بالدُّمى مِدَحٌ

تَحبيرُها بِرضى الرّحمنِ مَوصولُ

تَحبيرُها بِرضى الرّحمنِ مَوصولُ

And praise-poems have stood in the way of my love-verses to statue-like beauties,

And praise of my companion at the encampments prevented me,

their artful composition joined to the All-Merciful's pleasure.

Adorning him with the pleasure of the Merciful.

أُزيرُها قرَشيّاً في أسِرَّتِهِ

أُزيرُها قرَشيّاً في أسِرَّتِهِ

نُورٌ ومِنْ راحتَيْهِ الخَيْرُ مأمولُ

نُورٌ ومِنْ راحتَيْهِ الخَيْرُ مأمولُ

I bring them to visit a man of Quraysh, in whose brow-lines

Its decoration is Qurashi in its ancestry,

there is light, and goodness is hoped for from his two palms.

A light, and from its tranquility good is expected.

تَحكي شَمائلُهُ في طِيبِها زَهَراً

تَحكي شَمائلُهُ في طِيبِها زَهَراً

يَفوحُ والرّوضُ مَرهومٌ ومَشمولُ

يَفوحُ والرّوضُ مَرهومٌ ومَشمولُ

His qualities, in their fragrance, resemble blossoms

Its qualities tell, in their goodness, of a blossom

that breathe fragrance while the garden is moistened by drizzle and swept by the north wind.

That diffuses fragrance, while the meadow is guarded and packed.

هُوَ الذي نَعَشَ اللهُ العِبادَ بهِ

هُوَ الذي نَعَشَ اللهُ العِبادَ بهِ

ضَخْمَ الدَّسيعَةِ مَتبوعٌ ومَسؤولُ

ضَخْمَ الدَّسيعَةِ مَتبوعٌ ومَسؤولُ

He is the one through whom God uplifted His servants,

It is he whom Allah revived the servants through,

vast in bounty, followed and petitioned.

Burly in body, obeyed, and asked.

فكُلُّ شيءٍ نَهاهُمْ عنهُ مُجتَنَبٌ

فكُلُّ شيءٍ نَهاهُمْ عنهُ مُجتَنَبٌ

وأمرُهُ وهْوَ أمرُ اللهِ مَفعولُ

وأمرُهُ وهْوَ أمرُ اللهِ مَفعولُ

Everything he forbade them is therefore shunned;

So everything He prohibited them from is avoided,

and his command, which is God's command, is carried out.

And His command, which is Allah's command, is executed.

مِنْ دَوحةٍ بَسَقَتْ لا الفَرْعُ مؤْتَشَبٌ

مِنْ دَوحةٍ بَسَقَتْ لا الفَرْعُ مؤْتَشَبٌ

مِنها ولا عِرقُها في الحَيِّ مَدخولُ

مِنها ولا عِرقُها في الحَيِّ مَدخولُ

He comes from a towering tree: no tangled branch

From an inner sanctum whose branches are not withered,

springs from it, nor is its root among the clan tainted.

Nor its roots in lives trodden.

أتى بمِلَّةِ إبراهيمَ والدِهِ

أتى بمِلَّةِ إبراهيمَ والدِهِ

قَرْمٌ على كَرَمِ الأخلاقِ مَجبولُ

قَرْمٌ على كَرَمِ الأخلاقِ مَجبولُ

He brought the faith of Abraham, his father,

He came with the religion of his father Abraham,

a noble chief, born to nobility of character,

A people naturally disposed to noble character.

والناسُ في أَجَّةٍ ضَلَّ الحَليمُ بها

والناسُ في أَجَّةٍ ضَلَّ الحَليمُ بها

وكُلُّهُمْ في إسارِ الغَيِّ مكبلولُ

وكُلُّهُمْ في إسارِ الغَيِّ مكبلولُ

while the people were in a tumult where even the prudent lost their way,

While people were in confusion, with the forbearing astray,

and all were shackled in the bonds of error.

And all of them bound in the captivity of error.

كأنَّهم وعوادي الكُفرِ تُسلِمُهم

كأنَّهم وعوادي الكُفرِ تُسلِمُهم

إِلى الرَّدى نَعَمٌ في النَّهبِ مَشلولُ

إِلى الرَّدى نَعَمٌ في النَّهبِ مَشلولُ

It was as though, while unbelief's onslaughts delivered them

It was as if agreements of disbelief surrendered them,

to destruction, they were livestock driven off as plunder.

To demise, blessings seized and plundered.

يا خاتَمَ الرُّسْلِ إنْ لَم تُخشَ بادِرَتي

يا خاتَمَ الرُّسْلِ إنْ لَم تُخشَ بادِرَتي

على أعادِيكَ غالَتْني إذنْ غولُ

على أعادِيكَ غالَتْني إذنْ غولُ

O Seal of the Messengers, if my sudden assault is not feared

O seal of prophets, if you don’t prevent my attacks

when aimed at your enemies, then may a ghoul slay me!

On your enemies, they will exceed their bounds against me.

والنّصْرُ باليَدِ مِنِّي واللِّسانِ معاً

والنّصْرُ باليَدِ مِنِّي واللِّسانِ معاً

ومَنْ لَوى عنكَ جِيداً فهْوَ مَخذولُ

ومَنْ لَوى عنكَ جِيداً فهْوَ مَخذولُ

And my support comes through hand and tongue together,

And victory is through my hands and tongue together,

and whoever turns his neck away from you is forsaken.

Whoever turns away his neck will be forsaken.

وساعِدي وهْوَ لا يُلوي بهِ خَوَرٌ

وساعِدي وهْوَ لا يُلوي بهِ خَوَرٌ

على القَنا في اتِّباعِ الحقِّ مَفتولُ

على القَنا في اتِّباعِ الحقِّ مَفتولُ

And my forearm, which no weakness bends,

My arm, which no infirmity makes it bend,

is firmly knit for wielding spears in following the truth.

Is ready in following the truth to be severed.

فَمُرْ وقُلْ أَتَّبِعْ ما أنتَ تَنهَجُهُ

فَمُرْ وقُلْ أَتَّبِعْ ما أنتَ تَنهَجُهُ

فالأمرُ مُمتَثَلٌ والقولُ مَقبولُ

فالأمرُ مُمتَثَلٌ والقولُ مَقبولُ

So command and speak; I will follow whatever path you lay out.

So order and say: Follow what you tread,

So the command is obeyed, and the word accepted.

The command is complied with, the saying accepted.

وكُلَّ صَحْبِكَ أهوى فالهُدى مَعَهُمْ

وكُلَّ صَحْبِكَ أهوى فالهُدى مَعَهُمْ

وغَرْبُ مَن أبغَضَ الأخيارَ مَفلولُ

وغَرْبُ مَن أبغَضَ الأخيارَ مَفلولُ

And I love all your companions, for guidance is with them,

And I love all your companions, for guidance is with them,

and the blade-edge of whoever hates the virtuous is blunted.

While misery is for those who hate the righteous.

وأقتدي بضَجيعَيْكَ اقتِداءَ أبي

وأقتدي بضَجيعَيْكَ اقتِداءَ أبي

كِلاهُما دَمُ مَن عاداهُ مَطلولُ

كِلاهُما دَمُ مَن عاداهُ مَطلولُ

And I follow the two who rest beside you, as my father did;

And I emulate your two bedfellows in imitation of my father,

for each of the two, the blood of his enemy goes unavenged.

For both their blood is shed by whoever opposes them.

ومَن كعُثمانَ جُوداً والسّماحُ لهُ

ومَن كعُثمانَ جُوداً والسّماحُ لهُ

عِبءٌ على كاهِلِ العَلياءِ مَحمولُ

عِبءٌ على كاهِلِ العَلياءِ مَحمولُ

And who is like Uthman in bounty? His generosity

And whoever is like Uthman in generosity,

is a burden borne on the shoulder of exalted glory.

Carries a burden on the shoulders of the exalted.

وأينَ مِثلُ عَليٍّ في بَسالَتِهِ

وأينَ مِثلُ عَليٍّ في بَسالَتِهِ

بمَأزِقٍ مَن يَرِدْهُ فهْوَ مَقتولُ

بمَأزِقٍ مَن يَرِدْهُ فهْوَ مَقتولُ

And where is Ali's equal in his valor,

And where is one like Ali in his heroism?

in the press of battle, where whoever enters is slain?

Who dares approach him is killed.

إني لأعْذُلُ مَن لم يُصْفِهِمْ مِقَةً

إني لأعْذُلُ مَن لم يُصْفِهِمْ مِقَةً

والناسُ صِنفانِ مَعذورٌ ومَعذولُ

والناسُ صِنفانِ مَعذورٌ ومَعذولُ

I indeed rebuke whoever does not give them sincere affection;

I blame whoever does not give them an affinity,

and people are of two sorts: those excused and those reproached.

While people are two kinds: excused or blamed.

فمَنْ أحبَّهمُ نالَ النّجاةَ بِهمْ

فمَنْ أحبَّهمُ نالَ النّجاةَ بِهمْ

ومَن أبى حُبَّهُمْ فالسّيفُ مَسلولُ

ومَن أبى حُبَّهُمْ فالسّيفُ مَسلولُ

So whoever loves them gains salvation through them,

Whoever loves them gains salvation through them,

and whoever refuses to love them—the sword is drawn.

Whoever refuses to love them, the sword is unleashed against him.