إِنَّ سَيرَ الخَليطِ حينَ اِستَقَلّا

إِنَّ سَيرَ الخَليطِ حينَ اِستَقَلّا

كانَ عَوناً لِلدَمعِ حَتّى اِستَهَلّا

كانَ عَوناً لِلدَمعِ حَتّى اِستَهَلّا

Indeed, the companions' departure, when they set out,

When the caravan set out alone,

was an aid to tears, until they poured forth.

It was a solace for tears till they subsided,

وَالنَوى خُطَّةٌ مِنَ الدَهرِ ما يَن

وَالنَوى خُطَّةٌ مِنَ الدَهرِ ما يَن

فَكُّ يُشجى بِها المُحِبُّ وَيَبلى

فَكُّ يُشجى بِها المُحِبُّ وَيَبلى

And separation is a lot dealt by time: it never

And the intention was a decree of fate however it flows,

ceases to grieve the lover and wear him down.

So disentangle what makes a lover feel anguished and decay.

فَأَقِلّا في عَلوَةَ اللَومِ إِنّي

فَأَقِلّا في عَلوَةَ اللَومِ إِنّي

زائِدٌ في الغَرامِ إِن لَم تُقِلّا

زائِدٌ في الغَرامِ إِن لَم تُقِلّا

So you two, lessen your blame over ʿAlwa; I

So take the blame lightly, I am,

grow deeper in passion if you do not relent.

Excessive in passion if you don't reproach.

تِلكَ أَيّامُها الذَواهِبُ مِن أَح

تِلكَ أَيّامُها الذَواهِبُ مِن أَح

سَنِ عَيشٍ مَضى وَدَهرٍ تَوَلّى

سَنِ عَيشٍ مَضى وَدَهرٍ تَوَلّى

Those bygone days of hers were part of the finest

Those are her days that have passed,

life now past, and an age departed;

Of the best life, now gone, and time has turned away.

وَخَيالٍ أَلَمَّ مِنها عَلى سا

وَخَيالٍ أَلَمَّ مِنها عَلى سا

عَةِ هَجرٍ فَقُلتُ أَهلاً وَسَهلا

عَةِ هَجرٍ فَقُلتُ أَهلاً وَسَهلا

and a phantom of her visited me at an hour

And an imagination that hurt me for a moment,

of estrangement, and I said, “Welcome, be at ease!”

Of estrangement, so I said "welcome" and "farewell!"

ما أُضيعَ الهَوى وَلا نُسِيَ الخِل

ما أُضيعَ الهَوى وَلا نُسِيَ الخِل

لُ الَّذي ضَيَّعَ الهَوى وَتَخَلّى

لُ الَّذي ضَيَّعَ الهَوى وَتَخَلّى

Love has not been neglected, nor the beloved forgotten—

Love is not wasted, nor is the friend forgotten,

he who neglected love and withdrew.

Who wasted love and turned away.

حاطَهُ اللَهُ حَيثُ أَضحى وَأَمسى

حاطَهُ اللَهُ حَيثُ أَضحى وَأَمسى

وَتَوَلّاهُ حَيثُ سارَ وَحَلّا

وَتَوَلّاهُ حَيثُ سارَ وَحَلّا

May God guard him wherever he is, morning and evening,

May God protect him wherever he came to be,

and care for him wherever he travels and settles.

And may He forsake him wherever he turned and settled.

سَكَنٌ مُغرَمٌ بِهَجري يَزدا

سَكَنٌ مُغرَمٌ بِهَجري يَزدا

دُ صُدوداً إِذا أَنا اِزدَدتُ وَصلا

دُ صُدوداً إِذا أَنا اِزدَدتُ وَصلا

My solace, enamored of shunning me, grows

A lover is tranquilized by my estrangement, which increases

more aloof whenever I grow more devoted.

His coldness, even as I grow more affectionate.

وَبِوُدّي لَوِ اِستَطَعتُ فَخَفَّف

وَبِوُدّي لَوِ اِستَطَعتُ فَخَفَّف

تُ بِصَبرٍ عَن سَيِّدي حينَ مَلّا

تُ بِصَبرٍ عَن سَيِّدي حينَ مَلّا

And I wish I could lighten

If I could, I would have eased,

my lord's burden through patience when he grew weary.

My beloved's burden when he turned away.

وَمَعاذَ الإِلَهِ أَن أَتَعَزّى

وَمَعاذَ الإِلَهِ أَن أَتَعَزّى

عَنهُ طولَ الأَيّامِ أَو أَتَسَلّى

عَنهُ طولَ الأَيّامِ أَو أَتَسَلّى

And God forbid that I should find consolation

God forbid that I should find solace,

for his absence, all my days, or seek distraction.

From him for long, or feel comforted!

وَقَد لَبِستُ الهَوى وَإِن كانَ ضُرّاً

وَقَد لَبِستُ الهَوى وَإِن كانَ ضُرّاً

وَتَحَمَّلتُهُ وَإِن كانَ ثِقلا

وَتَحَمَّلتُهُ وَإِن كانَ ثِقلا

And I have clothed myself in love, though it be harmful,

I have worn love, though it be painful,

and borne it, though it be a burden.

Borne it, though heavy,

وَتَذَلَّلتُ جاهِداً لِمَليكي

وَتَذَلَّلتُ جاهِداً لِمَليكي

وَقَليلٌ مِن عاشِقٍ أَن يَذِلّا

وَقَليلٌ مِن عاشِقٍ أَن يَذِلّا

And I have earnestly humbled myself before my king;

And surrendered to serve my master -

for a lover, abasement is but a small thing.

It is rare for a lover to be so humble.

أَصبَحَت رُتبَةُ الخِلافَةِ لِلمُع

أَصبَحَت رُتبَةُ الخِلافَةِ لِلمُع

تَزِّ بِاللَهِ مَنزِلاً وَمَحَلّا

تَزِّ بِاللَهِ مَنزِلاً وَمَحَلّا

The station of the caliphate has become, for al-Muʿtazz

The caliphate has been granted,

bi-llāh, a home and dwelling.

To the most pious servant of God, an abode and refuge.

جَمَعَ اللَهُ شَملَها في يَدَيهِ

جَمَعَ اللَهُ شَملَها في يَدَيهِ

وَرَآهُ لَها مَكاناً وَأَهلا

وَرَآهُ لَها مَكاناً وَأَهلا

God brought it together in his hands,

May God unite its leadership in his hands,

and deemed him its proper home and worthy of it.

And make it proper and fitting for him.

وَلِيَت نَصرَهُ المَوالي فَأَعطَت

وَلِيَت نَصرَهُ المَوالي فَأَعطَت

هُ عُلُوَّ السِماكِ أَو هُوَ أَعلى

هُ عُلُوَّ السِماكِ أَو هُوَ أَعلى

The retainers undertook his support, and granted

And if only its loyalists would support him,

him the height of al-Simāk—or he is higher still.

Giving him the height of the heavens, or he be higher!

مَلِكٌ ما بَدا لِعَينَيكَ إِلّا

مَلِكٌ ما بَدا لِعَينَيكَ إِلّا

قُلتُ بَحرٌ طَما وَبَدرٌ تَجَلّى

قُلتُ بَحرٌ طَما وَبَدرٌ تَجَلّى

A king: whenever he appears before your eyes,

A king whom, whenever he appeared to your eyes,

I say, “An overflowing sea, a full moon revealed!”

I said: "a turbulent sea", and "a rising full moon".

لابِسٌ حُلَّةَ الوَقارِ وَمِن أُبَّ

لابِسٌ حُلَّةَ الوَقارِ وَمِن أُبَّ

هَةِ السَيفِ أَن يَكونَ مُحَلّى

هَةِ السَيفِ أَن يَكونَ مُحَلّى

He wears a robe of dignity; and part of the splendor

Wearing the garment of dignity, and with the sword -

of a sword is that it be adorned.

It befits him to be decorated.

يا جَمالَ الدُنيا سَناءَ وَمَجداً

يا جَمالَ الدُنيا سَناءَ وَمَجداً

وَثِمالَ الدُنيا عَطاءً وَبَذلا

وَثِمالَ الدُنيا عَطاءً وَبَذلا

O beauty of the world in radiance and glory,

O beauty of the world, glory and honor,

and the world's refuge in giving and generosity!

O fruits of the world, generosity and kindness!

كُلَّما حُصِّلَت مَساعي قُرَيشٍ

كُلَّما حُصِّلَت مَساعي قُرَيشٍ

طِبتَ فَرعاً في مُنتَماها وَأَصلا

طِبتَ فَرعاً في مُنتَماها وَأَصلا

Whenever the noble deeds of Quraysh are reckoned,

Whenever the efforts of Quraish come to fruition,

you are noble in its lineage, both branch and root.

You have flourished into its most perfect branch and origin.

لَكَ مَحضُ النِجارِ فيها المُصَفّى

لَكَ مَحضُ النِجارِ فيها المُصَفّى

غَيرَ شَكٍّ وَالقِدحُ مِنها المُعَلّى

غَيرَ شَكٍّ وَالقِدحُ مِنها المُعَلّى

Yours is the pure, refined lineage among them,

Yours is the purest share, undoubtedly,

without doubt, and their highest-ranking lot-arrow.

And the most sublime lineage.

يا اِبنَ عَمِّ النَبِيِّ وَالحِبرِ وَالسَج

يا اِبنَ عَمِّ النَبِيِّ وَالحِبرِ وَالسَج

جادِ وَالكامِلِ الَّذي بانَ فَضلا

جادِ وَالكامِلِ الَّذي بانَ فَضلا

O descendant of the Prophet's uncle, of al-Ḥibr, and of

O son of the Prophet's uncle, the devout and generous,

al-Sajjād and al-Kāmil, who stood out in excellence.

The perfect one whose merits have shone.

لَهُمُ زَمزَمٌ وَأَفنِيَةُ الكَع

لَهُمُ زَمزَمٌ وَأَفنِيَةُ الكَع

بَةِ وَالحِجرُ وَالصَفا وَالمُصَلّى

بَةِ وَالحِجرُ وَالصَفا وَالمُصَلّى

Theirs are Zamzam and the courtyards of the Kaaba,

Theirs are Zamzam, and the courtyard of Kaaba,

and al-Ḥijr, al-Ṣafā, and the place of prayer.

The Black Stone, and Safa and Marwa.

مَن أَبى حُبَّكُم فَلَيسَ مِنَ اللَ

مَن أَبى حُبَّكُم فَلَيسَ مِنَ اللَ

هِ وَلَو صامَ أَلفَ عامٍ وَصَلّى

هِ وَلَو صامَ أَلفَ عامٍ وَصَلّى

Whoever refuses to love you is not of God,

Whoever refuses your love cannot be,

even if he fasts a thousand years and prays.

Of God, even if he fasts a thousand years and prays!

لَم يَزَل حَقُّكَ المُقَدَّمُ يَمحو

لَم يَزَل حَقُّكَ المُقَدَّمُ يَمحو

باطِلَ المُستَعارِ حَتّى اِضمَحَلّا

باطِلَ المُستَعارِ حَتّى اِضمَحَلّا

Your preeminent right kept effacing

Your undeniable right continues to erase,

the falsehood of the borrowed claim, until it vanished.

The falsehood of the usurper until it fades away.

قَد طَلَبنا فَلَم نَجِد لَكَ في السُؤ

قَد طَلَبنا فَلَم نَجِد لَكَ في السُؤ

دُدِ وَالمَجدِ وَالمَكارِمِ مِثلا

دُدِ وَالمَجدِ وَالمَكارِمِ مِثلا

We have searched, but found none to match you in

We have sought but found no equal to you,

eminence, glory, and noble virtues.

In generosity, glory, and nobility.

أَنتَ أَندى كَفّاً وَأَشرَفُ أَخلا

أَنتَ أَندى كَفّاً وَأَشرَفُ أَخلا

قاً وَأَزكى قَولاً وَأَكرَمُ فِعلا

قاً وَأَزكى قَولاً وَأَكرَمُ فِعلا

You are most generous of hand and noblest

You are the most generous, noblest in manners,

in character, purest in speech, and most generous in deed.

Most truthful in words, and most benevolent in deeds.

طالَعَتكَ السُعودُ فَاِنسَكَبَ الغَي

طالَعَتكَ السُعودُ فَاِنسَكَبَ الغَي

ثُ رَذاذاً في ساحَتَيكَ وَهَطلا

ثُ رَذاذاً في ساحَتَيكَ وَهَطلا

Auspicious stars greeted you, and the rain poured

Good fortune has dawned upon you, so rain has poured,

in drizzle and downpour into your two courtyards.

As drizzle in your field, and poured down.

وَأَتى العيدُ في دُجونٍ تَتَبَّع

وَأَتى العيدُ في دُجونٍ تَتَبَّع

نَ عَليلَ البَطحاءِ حَتّى اِستَبَلّا

نَ عَليلَ البَطحاءِ حَتّى اِستَبَلّا

And Eid came amid dark clouds that sought out

And Eid has come in thick clouds,

the ailing ground of al-Baṭḥāʾ until it recovered.

That followed the horizon's ailment till it recovered.

عارَضَتكَ الأَنواءُ فيها سَماحاً

عارَضَتكَ الأَنواءُ فيها سَماحاً

وَحَكَتكَ السَماءُ سَحّاً وَوَبلا

وَحَكَتكَ السَماءُ سَحّاً وَوَبلا

The rain-bearing stars rivaled you there in generosity,

It presented you with its boons,

and the sky imitated you with torrents and downpours.

And the sky spoke of you with rain and downpour.

ذاكَ فَضلٌ أوتيتَهُ كُنتَ مِن بَي

ذاكَ فَضلٌ أوتيتَهُ كُنتَ مِن بَي

نِ البَرايا بِهِ أَحَقَّ وَأَولى

نِ البَرايا بِهِ أَحَقَّ وَأَولى

That is a favor bestowed on you—you were, among

That is a grace you were granted - you are indeed,

all creation, most entitled to it and most deserving—

More deserving and worthy than all mankind.

وَعَطاءٌ مِنَ الإِلَهِ فَلا زِل

وَعَطاءٌ مِنَ الإِلَهِ فَلا زِل

تَ مُهَنّاً ذاكَ العَطاءَ مُمَلّى

تَ مُهَنّاً ذاكَ العَطاءَ مُمَلّى

and a gift from God: may you ever remain

And a gift from God - so you should never,

congratulated on that gift and granted long life.

Cease being humble, upholding that gift.