أَفيis it at كُلِّevery دارٍdwelling مِنكَof yours عَينٌan eye تَرَقرَقُwells with tears
أَفي كُلِّ دارٍ مِنكَ عَينٌ تَرَقرَقُ
وَقَلبٌand a heart عَلىthroughout طولِthe length of التَذَكُّرِremembrance يَخفِقُthrobs
وَقَلبٌ عَلى طولِ التَذَكُّرِ يَخفِقُ
Does an eye of yours well with tears at every dwelling,
Does every house of yours have a tearful eye
and a heart throb through long remembrance?
And a heart that throbs with constant memory?
نَعَمyes قَدindeed تَباكَيناwe wept together عَلىat الشَعبِthe ravine ساعَةًan hour
نَعَم قَد تَباكَينا عَلى الشَعبِ ساعَةً
وَمِنand on دونِهِthis side of it شَعبٌa ravine لِلَيلىLayla's مُفَرَّقُbranching
وَمِن دونِهِ شَعبٌ لِلَيلى مُفَرَّقُ
Yes, we wept together at the ravine for an hour,
Yes, we have cried for the people for a while
and this side of it lies Layla's branching ravine,
And without them a scattered people for Layla
عَلىat دِمنَةٍan old campsite فيهاin it لِأُدمانَةِfor the tawny gazelle النَقاthe sand dune
عَلى دِمنَةٍ فيها لِأُدمانَةِ النَقا
مَحاسِنُbeauties أَيّامٍdays تُحَبُّare loved وَتُعشَقُand adored
مَحاسِنُ أَيّامٍ تُحَبُّ وَتُعشَقُ
at an old campsite that holds, for the dune's tawny gazelle,
On a carpet wherein the drinkers of wine
the beauties of days loved and adored.
Have the beauty of days they love and desire
وَقَفتُI stood وَأَوقَفتُand I made stand الجَوىheartache مَوقِفَat the station of الهَوىlove
وَقَفتُ وَأَوقَفتُ الجَوى مَوقِفَ الهَوى
لَيالِيَduring nights عودُthe bough of الدَهرِtime فَينانُluxuriant مورِقُleafy
لَيالِيَ عودُ الدَهرِ فَينانُ مورِقُ
I stood, and made my anguish stand at love's station,
I paused and paused my passion at the passion of love
in nights when Time's bough was luxuriant and leafy.
The nights whose return brings blossoming youth
فَحَرَّكَso stirred بَثّيmy sorrow رَبعُهاher dwelling وَهوَthough it ساكِنٌwas motionless
فَحَرَّكَ بَثّي رَبعُها وَهوَ ساكِنٌ
وَجَدَّدَand renewed وَجديmy longing رَسمُهاher traces وَهوَthough it مُخلِقُwas worn away
وَجَدَّدَ وَجدي رَسمُها وَهوَ مُخلِقُ
Her dwelling stirred my sorrow, though it lay still,
It stirred my remoteness while it was still
and her traces renewed my longing, though worn away.
And renewed my passion while it was latent
سَقىmay water اللَهُGod أَخلافاًteats مِنَof الدَهرِtime رَطبَةًmoist
سَقى اللَهُ أَخلافاً مِنَ الدَهرِ رَطبَةً
سَقَتناgave us to drink الجَوىheartache إِذwhen أَبرَقُAbraq الحَزنِal-Hazn أَبرَقُAbraq
سَقَتنا الجَوى إِذ أَبرَقُ الحَزنِ أَبرَقُ
May God water the moist teats of Time
May God give descendants of time fresh rain
that gave us heartache to drink, when Abraq al-Hazn was still Abraq:
Our passion rained on us when grief flashed and flashed
لَيالٍnights سَرَقناهاwe stole them مِنَfrom الدَهرِtime بَعدَماafter
لَيالٍ سَرَقناها مِنَ الدَهرِ بَعدَما
أَضاءَshone بِإِصباحٍwith a dawn مِنَof الشَيبِgray hair مَفرِقُa hair-parting
أَضاءَ بِإِصباحٍ مِنَ الشَيبِ مَفرِقُ
nights we stole from Time, after
Nights we stole from fate after it had
the parting of the hair shone with gray hair's dawn.
Lit up with a gray morning halo
تَداوَيتُI sought a cure مِنfor لَيلىLayla بِلَيلىwith Layla فَماbut not اِشتَفىwas cured
تَداوَيتُ مِن لَيلى بِلَيلى فَما اِشتَفى
بِماءِwith water الرُباthe uplands مَنwhoever باتَspent the night بِالماءِon water يَشرِقُchoking
بِماءِ الرُبا مَن باتَ بِالماءِ يَشرِقُ
I sought a cure for Layla in Layla; but none was cured
I took a cure from Layla through Layla but he who stays with water does not quench his thirst at the water of dew
by upland water who spent the night choking on water.
The Christian maiden knew that I
لَقَدindeed عَلِمَتhave known عيدِيَّةُ'Idiyya-bred العيسِthe pale camels أَنَّنيthat I
لَقَد عَلِمَت عيدِيَّةُ العيسِ أَنَّني
أَخُبُّtrot إِذاwhen نامَsleeps الهِدانُthe sluggard وَأُعنِقُand stride swiftly
أَخُبُّ إِذا نامَ الهِدانُ وَأُعنِقُ
The 'Idiyya pale camels know full well that I
Conceal when the chattels sleep and I become infatuated
trot when the sluggard sleeps, and stride swiftly.
And I do not accompany the memory when I remember it
وَلاand not أَصحَبُyield to الذِكرىremembrance إِذاwhen ماever ذَكَرتُهاI remember her
وَلا أَصحَبُ الذِكرى إِذا ما ذَكَرتُها
وَلَوand even if هَتَفَتcalls وَرقاءُa gray dove وَاللَيلُand the night أَورَقُis dusky
وَلَو هَتَفَت وَرقاءُ وَاللَيلُ أَورَقُ
I do not yield to remembrance when I remember her,
Even if Waraqa cries out and the night grows green
even if a gray dove calls and the night is dusky.
We went out among the white dunes but did not see
خَرَجناwe set out بِهاon them فيin البيضِthe moonlit nights بيضاًwhite فَلَمso not نَرَwe saw الthe (continued)
خَرَجنا بِها في البيضِ بيضاً فَلَم نَرَ ال
دَآدِئَmoonless nights إِلّاexcept وَهيَwhile they مِنهُنَّthan those nights أَمحَقُmore wasted
دَآدِئَ إِلّا وَهيَ مِنهُنَّ أَمحَقُ
We set out on them, white, in the moonlit nights; we did not see the
Calm places except that they were from them the most foolish
moonless nights until the camels were more wasted than those nights.
They dashed the faces of the son of Hashim
هَشَمنَthey battered إِلىtoward اِبنَthe son of الهاشِمِيَّةِthe Hashimite woman أَوجُهاًfaces
هَشَمنَ إِلى اِبنَ الهاشِمِيَّةِ أَوجُهاً
عَوابِسَfrowning لِلبَيداءِat the wasteland ماnot تَتَطَلَّقُbreak into smiles
عَوابِسَ لِلبَيداءِ ما تَتَطَلَّقُ
They battered their faces, making for the Hashimite woman's son—
Frowning faces for the desert that does not cease
faces frowning at the wasteland, never breaking into smiles.
Endurers of night without Qays who could not
لَقاسَينَthey indeed endured لَيلاًa night دونَbefore قاسانَQasan لَمnot تَكَدcame close to
لَقاسَينَ لَيلاً دونَ قاسانَ لَم تَكَد
أَواخِرُهُits final stretches مِنbecause of بُعدِthe distance between قُطرَيهِits two bounds تُلحَقُbeing reached
أَواخِرُهُ مِن بُعدِ قُطرَيهِ تُلحَقُ
Indeed, they endured before Qasan a night whose
Catch up to its latter part from afar
last stretches could scarcely be reached, so far apart were its bounds.
Intending a stay between Qum and Abat
نَوَينَthey intended مَقاماًa stay بَينَbetween قُمٍّQum وَآبَةٍand Aba
نَوَينَ مَقاماً بَينَ قُمٍّ وَآبَةٍ
عَلىon لُجَّةٍa deep sea طَلحِيَّةٍof Talha's line تَتَرَقرَقُshimmering
عَلى لُجَّةٍ طَلحِيَّةٍ تَتَرَقرَقُ
They intended a stay between Qum and Aba,
On the shore of Talha that glitters
on a shimmering sea of Talha's line,
Where gifts sparkle abundantly
بِحَيثُwhere العَطاياthe gifts مومِضاتٌflashing سَوافِرٌunveiled
بِحَيثُ العَطايا مومِضاتٌ سَوافِرٌ
إِلىto كُلِّevery عافٍpetitioner وَالمَواعيدُand promises فُرَّقُwidely spaced
إِلى كُلِّ عافٍ وَالمَواعيدُ فُرَّقُ
where gifts flash forth, unveiled,
To each peer and promises are shared
to every petitioner, while promises are few and far between.
So I remained like Hassan and Muhammad remained
فَظَلتُso I was كَحَسّانٍlike Hassan وَظَلَّand was مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad
فَظَلتُ كَحَسّانٍ وَظَلَّ مُحَمَّدٌ
كَحارِثِlike Harith of غَسّانٍGhassan وَآبَةُand Aba جِلِّقُJilliq
كَحارِثِ غَسّانٍ وَآبَةُ جِلِّقُ
Thus I was like Hassan, and Muhammad was
Like Harith of Ghassan and Abat creaked
like Harith of Ghassan, and Aba was Jilliq.
Dwellings where my voice is subdued
مَنازِلُdwellings لاnot صَوتيmy voice بِهِنَّin them مُخَفَّضٌlowered
مَنازِلُ لا صَوتي بِهِنَّ مُخَفَّضٌ
غَريبٌa stranger's وَلاand not سَهميmy arrow لَدَيهِنَّamong them أَفوَقُbroken-nocked
غَريبٌ وَلا سَهمي لَدَيهِنَّ أَفوَقُ
Dwellings where my voice is not lowered
A stranger and no arrow of mine toward them flies
as a stranger's, nor is my arrow there broken at the nock.
They saddled us with night while it was painstaking
أَرَجنَthey perfumed عَلَيناaround us اللَيلَthe night وَهوَand it مُمَسَّكٌmusk-scented
أَرَجنَ عَلَينا اللَيلَ وَهوَ مُمَسَّكٌ
وَصَبَّحنَناand greeted us at dawn بِالصُبحِwith the morning وَهوَand it مُخَلَّقُsaffron-perfumed
وَصَبَّحنَنا بِالصُبحِ وَهوَ مُخَلَّقُ
They perfumed the night around us, steeped in musk,
And woke us at dawn while it was breaking
and greeted us with a dawn anointed with saffron perfume.
Near Ash'ari who knows poetry will pull
لَدىwith أَشعَرِيٍّan Ash'ari يَعلَمُknows الشَعرُpoetry أَنَّهُthat he
لَدى أَشعَرِيٍّ يَعلَمُ الشَعرُ أَنَّهُ
سَيَنزِعُwill draw the bow فيin تَصديقِهِconfirming it ثُمَthen يُغرِقُdraw to the utmost
سَيَنزِعُ في تَصديقِهِ ثُمَ يُغرِقُ
With an Ash'ari whom poetry knows
Him into belief then drown him
will draw his bow to prove it true, then draw it to the full.
I met his call in Iraq and glimpses for him
لَقيتُI encountered نَداهُhis generosity بِالعِراقِin Iraq وَأَومَضَتand flashed
لَقيتُ نَداهُ بِالعِراقِ وَأَومَضَت
لَهُof his بِالجِبالِin al-Jibal مُزنَةٌa rain cloud تَتَأَلَّقُgleaming
لَهُ بِالجِبالِ مُزنَةٌ تَتَأَلَّقُ
I encountered his generosity in Iraq, and there flashed
Dazzled in the mountains flashing
in al-Jibal a rain cloud of his, gleaming.
A gift like the light of the sun it encompasses an occident
عَطاءٌbounty كَضَوءِlike the light of الشَمسِthe sun عَمَّencompassed all فَمَغرِبٌso the west
عَطاءٌ كَضَوءِ الشَمسِ عَمَّ فَمَغرِبٌ
يَكونُis سَواءًequal فيin سَناهُits radiance وَمَشرِقُand the east
يَكونُ سَواءً في سَناهُ وَمَشرِقُ
A bounty like sunlight, encompassing all: the west
That becomes equal in his hatred and love
is equal in its radiance with the east.
So if his character contended with heavy rain
فَلَوso if ذارَعَتmeasured reach against أَخلاقُهُhis virtues الغَيثَthe rain حافِلاًabundant
فَلَو ذارَعَت أَخلاقُهُ الغَيثَ حافِلاً
لَحاجَزَهاwould fail to match them باعٌan armspan مِنَof الغَيثِthe rain ضَيِّقُnarrow
لَحاجَزَها باعٌ مِنَ الغَيثِ ضَيِّقُ
If his virtues measured their reach against abundant rain,
A seller of rain would constrain it and narrow it
the rain's narrow armspan would fail to match them.
He appeared leaning when the star of generosity shone
بَداhe appeared مائِلاًkindly inclined إِذwhen كَوكَبَthe star of الجودِgenerosity خافِقٌsetting
بَدا مائِلاً إِذ كَوكَبَ الجودِ خافِقٌ
وَطالِبُهُand its seeker رَثُّthreadbare الوَسائِلُmeans of appeal مُخفِقُunsuccessful
وَطالِبُهُ رَثُّ الوَسائِلُ مُخفِقُ
He appeared kindly inclined when generosity's star was setting,
And its seeker is vile in his request and blinking
and its seeker, with threadbare means of appeal, was unsuccessful.
So he spent in the lofty until you thought
فَأَنفَقَso he spent فيon العَلياءِglory حَتّىuntil حَسِبتَهُI thought him
فَأَنفَقَ في العَلياءِ حَتّى حَسِبتَهُ
مِنَfrom الدَهرِtime يُعطىis given أَوor مِنَfrom الدَهرِtime يُنفِقُspends
مِنَ الدَهرِ يُعطى أَو مِنَ الدَهرِ يُنفِقُ
He spent in pursuit of glory until I thought him
That he was given by fate or that fate spent
receiving from Time itself, or spending from Time itself.
Laughing to heroes while he frightens them
ضَحوكٌsmiling إِلىtoward الأَبطالِthe champions وَهوَwhile he يَروعُهُمterrifies them
ضَحوكٌ إِلى الأَبطالِ وَهوَ يَروعُهُم
وَلِلسَيفِand the sword has حَدٌّan edge حينَwhen يَسطوit strikes وَرَونَقُand a sheen
وَلِلسَيفِ حَدٌّ حينَ يَسطو وَرَونَقُ
Smiling toward champions even as he terrifies them—
And the sword has an edge when they draw and shine
a sword, when it strikes, has both edge and sheen.
Modesty and death are one in their end
حَياءٌmodesty وَمَوتٌand death واحِدٌone مُنتَهاهُماtheir culmination
حَياءٌ وَمَوتٌ واحِدٌ مُنتَهاهُما
كَذَلِكَlikewise غَمرُthe abundance of الماءِwater يُرويquenches thirst وَيُغرِقُand drowns
كَذَلِكَ غَمرُ الماءِ يُروي وَيُغرِقُ
Modesty and death find their culmination in one man;
So is the flood of water, it waters and drowns
likewise, deep water quenches thirst and drowns.
And in every state there is glory that lights him
وَفيand in كُلِّevery حالٍstate مِنهُof his مَجدٌglory يُنيرُهُillumines it
وَفي كُلِّ حالٍ مِنهُ مَجدٌ يُنيرُهُ
لَهُhe has خُلُقٌa character ماnot دَبَّcrept فيهِinto it تَخَلُّقُaffectation
لَهُ خُلُقٌ ما دَبَّ فيهِ تَخَلُّقُ
And every state of his has a glory that illumines it;
He has a trait in which no affectation crept
he has a character into which no affectation has crept.
So he spends but his spending and laughs
فَلاso no بَذلَgiving إِلّاexcept بَذلُهُhis giving وَهوَwhile he ضاحِكٌis smiling
فَلا بَذلَ إِلّا بَذلُهُ وَهوَ ضاحِكٌ
وَلاand no عَزمَresolve إِلّاexcept عَزمُهُhis resolve وَهوَwhile he مُطرِقِhas his head bowed
وَلا عَزمَ إِلّا عَزمُهُ وَهوَ مُطرِقِ
There is no giving but his giving while he smiles,
And resolves but his resolve and ponders
and no resolve but his resolve with head bowed.
Ali son of Isa son of Musa son Talha
عَلِيُّAli بنُson of عيسىIsa بنِson of موسىMusa بنِson of طَلحَةَTalha بbeginning of 'son of'
عَلِيُّ بنُ عيسى بنِ موسى بنِ طَلحَةَ ب
نِcompletion of 'son of' سائِبٍSa'ib اِبنِson of مالِكٍMalik حينَwhen يُرمَقُhe is beheld
نِ سائِبٍ اِبنِ مالِكٍ حينَ يُرمَقُ
Ali, son of Isa, son of Musa, son of Talha, son
Son of Saib son of Malik when he aims
of Sa'ib, son of Malik, when he is beheld:
A watering place and opinion when allegiances break
رُواءٌhandsome bearing وَرَأيٌand judgment عِندَماwhen تُنقَضُare undone الحُبىsitting-bands
رُواءٌ وَرَأيٌ عِندَما تُنقَضُ الحُبى
وَتُرعِدُand thunder أَشباهُthe specters of الخُطوبِcalamities وَتُبرِقُand flash
وَتُرعِدُ أَشباهُ الخُطوبِ وَتُبرِقُ
handsome bearing and sound judgment when sitting-bands are undone
And semblances of calamities thunder and light
and the specters of calamity thunder and flash.
People are but a flock of horses, so among them
وَماand not الناسُpeople إِلّاexcept سِربُa herd of خَيلٍhorses فَمِنهُمُso among them
وَما الناسُ إِلّا سِربُ خَيلٍ فَمِنهُمُ
عَلىbearing لَونِthe color of أَسلافٍforebears قَدُمنَgone before وَمُبلِقُand piebald ones
عَلى لَونِ أَسلافٍ قَدُمنَ وَمُبلِقُ
People are only a herd of horses: among them are
Are those on the color of ancestors long gone and piebald
those bearing their forebears' old color, and the piebald.
If he travels among the two sons of Malik, the spy flees
إِذاwhen سارَhe marches فيamong اِبنَيthe two sons of مالِكٍMalik قَلِقَtremble القَناthe lances
إِذا سارَ في اِبنَي مالِكٍ قَلِقَ القَنا
عَلىupon جَبَلٍa mountain يَغشىoverwhelms الجِبالَthe mountains فَتَقلَقُso they tremble
عَلى جَبَلٍ يَغشى الجِبالَ فَتَقلَقُ
When he marches among the two sons of Malik, the lances tremble
On a mountain that covers mountains and they shake
upon a mountain that overwhelms mountains, making them tremble.
The demons of Heyja as if their Thursday among them
عَفاريتُdemons of هَيجاءٍbattle كَأَنَّas though خَميسَهُمtheir army
عَفاريتُ هَيجاءٍ كَأَنَّ خَميسَهُم
بِهِin it حينَwhen تَلقاهُmeet it الكَتائِبُthe battalions أَولَقُmadness
بِهِ حينَ تَلقاهُ الكَتائِبُ أَولَقُ
Demons of battle, as though their army
When the battalions meet them is blinking
had madness in it when the battalions encounter it.
They supported that banner which had become
هُمُthey نَصَرواgave victory to ذاكَthat اللِواءَthe banner وَقَدand already غَدَتcame to be
هُمُ نَصَروا ذاكَ اللِواءَ وَقَد غَدَت
ذَوائِبُهُits streamers فَوقَabove الذَوائِبِthe forelocks تَخفِقُfluttering
ذَوائِبُهُ فَوقَ الذَوائِبِ تَخفِقُ
They gave that banner victory, while already
Fluttering above banners fluttering
its streamers fluttered above the forelocks.
So no informant remained among the vagabonds
فَلَمso not يَبقَremained فيin جَمعِthe band of الصَعاليكِthe brigands مُخبِرٌa teller
فَلَم يَبقَ في جَمعِ الصَعاليكِ مُخبِرٌ
عَنِabout القَومِthe people كَيفَhow اِستَجمَعواthey gathered ثُمَّthen فُرِّقواwere scattered
عَنِ القَومِ كَيفَ اِستَجمَعوا ثُمَّ فُرِّقوا
Not one teller remained in the band of brigands
About the people, how they gathered then scattered
to tell of the people—how they gathered, then were scattered.
And the day the Kurds saw the flash of his blade
وَيَومَand on the day رَأىsaw الأَكرادُthe Kurds بَرقَthe lightning of سِنانِهِhis spearpoint
وَيَومَ رَأى الأَكرادُ بَرقَ سِنانِهِ
يَثُجُّpours out دَماًblood مِنهُمfrom them فَوَبلٌso a downpour وَرَيِّقُand first showers
يَثُجُّ دَماً مِنهُم فَوَبلٌ وَرَيِّقُ
And on the day the Kurds saw his spearpoint's lightning
Blood pouring from them chaotic and flowing
pour out their blood, in downpours and first showers,
They fled confusedly with fleeing bare
تَوَلَّواthey turned away فَهامٌso some heads بِالفِرارِfor fleeing مُعَيَّرٌshamed
تَوَلَّوا فَهامٌ بِالفِرارِ مُعَيَّرٌ
دُهوراًfor ages وَهامٌand other heads بِالسُيوفِby swords مُفَلَّقُsplit open
دُهوراً وَهامٌ بِالسُيوفِ مُفَلَّقُ
they turned away: some heads were shamed for fleeing
And confusedly with swords splitting
for ages, and other heads were split by swords.
Abu Ja'far these are your great efforts
أَباO father of جَعفَرٍJa'far هَذيthese مَساعيكَyour deeds غَضَّةٌfresh and tender
أَبا جَعفَرٍ هَذي مَساعيكَ غَضَّةٌ
وَهَذاand this لِسانيmy tongue قاطِعُcutting الحَدِّedge مُطلَقُunleashed
وَهَذا لِساني قاطِعُ الحَدِّ مُطلَقُ
O Abu Ja'far, these deeds of yours are fresh and tender,
And this is my tongue, cutting off and loosing
and here is my tongue, sharp-edged and unleashed.
I spoke and pressured the enemies but
نَطَقتُI spoke فَأَقحَمتُso I overwhelmed الأَعاديthe enemies وَلَمand not يَكُنwas
نَطَقتُ فَأَقحَمتُ الأَعادي وَلَم يَكُن
لِيُفحِمَنيto silence me جُمهورُهُمtheir multitude حينَwhen يَنطِقُit speaks
لِيُفحِمَني جُمهورُهُم حينَ يَنطِقُ
I spoke and overwhelmed the enemies; nor was
Their crowds could not subdue me when I spoke
their multitude able to silence me when it spoke,
With every adornment of rhymes as if
بِكُلِّwith every مُعَلّاةِlofty القَوافيrhymes كَأَنَّهاas though it
بِكُلِّ مُعَلّاةِ القَوافي كَأَنَّها
إِذاwhen أُنشِدَتis recited فيamid فَيلَقِthe host of القَومِthe people فَيلَقُa host
إِذا أُنشِدَت في فَيلَقِ القَومِ فَيلَقُ
with every poem of lofty rhymes, as though it were
When recited among the horde of people they glittered
a host when recited amid the people's host.
No custom except with he whose thankfulness for
فَلاso no عُرفَbounty إِلّاexcept عِندَwith مَنone باتَhas become شُكرُهُhis praise
فَلا عُرفَ إِلّا عِندَ مَن باتَ شُكرُهُ
لِبُعدَdespite the distance التَنائيseparation مُشإِماًal-Sham-bound وَهوَwhile he مُعرِقُis in Iraq
لِبُعدَ التَنائي مُشإِماً وَهوَ مُعرِقُ
There is no true bounty but with one whose praise
The distance of separation stayed vigilant and awake
reaches al-Sham despite the great separation, while he is in Iraq.
Men wished that my requests be restrained
تَمَنّىwished رِجالٌmen أَنthat تُضامَbe wronged مَطالِبيmy requests
تَمَنّى رِجالٌ أَن تُضامَ مَطالِبي
فَتَكدَرَso grow turbid فيin جَدواكَyour bounty ثُمَّthen تُرَنَّقُbe muddied
فَتَكدَرَ في جَدواكَ ثُمَّ تُرَنَّقُ
Men wished that my requests would be slighted,
Then troubled in your seas they become angry
grow turbid amid your bounty, then be muddied.
Your loyalty is a veil over that, lowering
وَفاؤُكَand your fidelity سِترٌa curtain دونَagainst ذَلِكَthat مُسبِلٌlowered
وَفاؤُكَ سِترٌ دونَ ذَلِكَ مُسبِلٌ
وَجودُكَand your generosity بابٌa door دونَagainst ذَلِكَthat مُغلَقُclosed
وَجودُكَ بابٌ دونَ ذَلِكَ مُغلَقُ
Your fidelity is a curtain lowered against that,
And your generosity a door over that, closed
and your generosity a door shut against it.
You take initiative in spending until it is as though
تُبادِرُyou hasten فيin الإِفضالِbestowing favors حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
تُبادِرُ في الإِفضالِ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
تُجاريyou race رَسيلاًa peer فيهِin it قَدalready كادَnearly يَسبِقُtakes the lead
تُجاري رَسيلاً فيهِ قَد كادَ يَسبِقُ
You hasten to bestow favors, so fast it is as though
You compete with a messenger in which he almost won
you were racing a peer in generosity who had almost taken the lead.
The high-minded do not have a seeker so wait
وَماand not لِلعُلاfor the heights مِنany طالِبٍseeker فَتَمَهَّلَنso take your time
وَما لِلعُلا مِن طالِبٍ فَتَمَهَّلَن
وَلَوand even if طُلِبَتthey were sought ماnot كانَwas مِثلُكَone like you يُلحَقُcaught up with
وَلَو طُلِبَت ما كانَ مِثلُكَ يُلحَقُ
The heights have no other seeker, so take your time;
And if you were sought there would be none to equal you
even if they were sought, none could catch up with one like you.
Partial English translation: 89 of 90 Arabic lines translated.