يَكادُalmost عاذِلُناour reproacher فيin الحُبِّlove يُغريناspurs us on
يَكادُ عاذِلُنا في الحُبِّ يُغرينا
فَماso why لَجاجُكَyour persistence فيin لَومِreproaching المُحِبّيناlovers
فَما لَجاجُكَ في لَومِ المُحِبّينا
Our reproacher in love almost spurs us on.
Our lover almost seduces us with love,
So why persist in reproaching lovers?
So what is your obstinacy in blaming lovers?
نُلحىwe are reproached عَلىfor الوَجدِpassion مِنout of ظُلمٍinjustice فَدَيدَنُناso our constant lot
نُلحى عَلى الوَجدِ مِن ظُلمٍ فَدَيدَنُنا
وَجدٌpassion نُعانيهِwe suffer it أَوor لاحٍa reproacher يُعَنّيناtorments us
وَجدٌ نُعانيهِ أَو لاحٍ يُعَنّينا
We are unjustly reproached for passion; our constant lot
We suffer from intense passion or moderate desire that pains us,
is passion we suffer, or a reproacher who torments us.
When the bonds of fate draw near, inevitably it defends us against harm.
إِذاwhen زَرودُZarud دَنَتdraw near مِنّاto us صَرائِمُهاits scattered dunes
إِذا زَرودُ دَنَت مِنّا صَرائِمُها
فَلاthen no مَحالَةَescape مِنfrom زَورٍa visitor يُواقيناshields us
فَلا مَحالَةَ مِن زَورٍ يُواقينا
When Zarud's scattered dunes draw near us,
We remained sleepless upon the sand dunes of ardour but the specter of the dark-eyed one revived us.
a visitor who shields us is inevitable.
Zarwad has no respite for us,
بِتناwe spent the night جُنوحاًleaning عَلىon كُثبِthe dunes اللِوىal-Liwa فَأَبىand refused
بِتنا جُنوحاً عَلى كُثبِ اللِوى فَأَبى
خَيالُthe phantom ظَمياءَZamya إِلّاexcept أَنto يُحَيِّيناgreet us
خَيالُ ظَمياءَ إِلّا أَن يُحَيِّينا
We spent the night leaning on the dunes of al-Liwa, and
A seller who does not give us time and a creditor who does not acquit us.
Zamya's phantom would do nothing but greet us.
Stages where the covenant of our passion was not corrupted,
وَفيand in زَرودَZarud تَبيعٌa claimant لَيسَdoes not يُمهِلُناgive us respite
وَفي زَرودَ تَبيعٌ لَيسَ يُمهِلُنا
تَقاضِياًin demanding payment وَغَريمٌand a debtor لَيسَdoes not يَقضيناrepay us
تَقاضِياً وَغَريمٌ لَيسَ يَقضينا
In Zarud is a claimant who gives us no respite
Nor in it a day where its covenant with us was tainted.
in demanding payment, and a debtor who never repays us.
Our days before him were counted crimes,
مَنازِلٌdwellings لَمnot يُذَمَّمwas reproached عَهدُthe fidelity مُغرَمِناour enamored lover
مَنازِلٌ لَم يُذَمَّم عَهدُ مُغرَمِنا
فيهاwithin them وَلاnor ذُمَّwas blamed يَوماًever عَهدُهاtheir fidelity فيناtoward us
فيها وَلا ذُمَّ يَوماً عَهدُها فينا
Dwellings—our lover's fidelity was never reproached
Numbered, and our nights through them passed.
within them, nor was their fidelity to us ever blamed.
The amorous on the morrow of sadness from suppression
تَجَرَّمَتran their course عِندَهُwith him أَيّامُناour days حِجَجاًas years
تَجَرَّمَت عِندَهُ أَيّامُنا حِجَجاً
مَعدودَةًnumbered وَخَلَتand passed فيهاwithin them لَياليناour nights
مَعدودَةً وَخَلَت فيها لَيالينا
Our days with him ran their course as years,
Take possession of a heart aggrieved, melancholy in its core.
numbered out, and our nights passed within them.
When their livers harden, they render
إِنَّindeed الغَوانيthe lovely women غَداةَon the morning الجِزعِthe valley bend مِنof إِضَمٍIdam
إِنَّ الغَواني غَداةَ الجِزعِ مِن إِضَمٍ
تَيَّمنَenslaved قَلباًa heart مُعَنّىtormented اللُبِّin mind مَحزوناsorrowful
تَيَّمنَ قَلباً مُعَنّى اللُبِّ مَحزونا
The lovely women, on the morning at the valley bend of Idam,
Their sympathies softer through grace and subtlety.
enslaved a sorrowful heart, tormented in mind.
One blames us in love who cannot defend us in it
إِذاwhen قَسَتharden غِلظَةًin harshness أَكبادُهاtheir livers جَعَلَتbegin
إِذا قَسَت غِلظَةً أَكبادُها جَعَلَت
تَزدادُto increase أَعطافُهاtheir flanks مِنthrough نِعمَةٍluxury ليناin softness
تَزدادُ أَعطافُها مِن نِعمَةٍ لينا
When their livers harden with cruelty, they begin
And angers us who cannot satisfy us.
to grow softer in their flanks through luxury.
I did not expect the love of the dark-eyed ones to lead
يَلومُناreproaches us فيfor الهَوىlove مَنone who لَيسَdoes not يَعذِرُناexcuse us
يَلومُنا في الهَوى مَن لَيسَ يَعذِرُنا
فيهِfor it وَيُسخِطُناand angers us مَنone who لَيسَdoes not يُرضيناplease us
فيهِ وَيُسخِطُنا مَن لَيسَ يُرضينا
For love, we are blamed by one who will not excuse us
To intimacy with a peer who does not companion us.
for it, and angered by one who will not please us.
I sent forth the emancipated steeds galloping
وَماand not ظَنَنتُI thought هَوىlove for ظَمياءِZamya مَنزِلُناbringing us
وَما ظَنَنتُ هَوى ظَمياءِ مَنزِلُنا
إِلىto مُواتاةِseeking accord with خِلٍّa beloved لاnot يُواتيناresponds to us
إِلى مُواتاةِ خِلٍّ لا يُواتينا
I never thought love for Zamya would bring us
Like the wild cats pursuing the wild cats.
to seeking accord with a beloved who will not respond to us.
They ask frequently about the monastery of Mouran
لَقَدindeed بَعَثتُI sent عِتاقَthe noble-bred الخَيلِhorses سارِيَةًtravelling by night
لَقَد بَعَثتُ عِتاقَ الخَيلِ سارِيَةً
مِثلَlike القَطاsandgrouse الجونِdark يَتبَعنَfollowing القَطاsandgrouse الجوناdark
مِثلَ القَطا الجونِ يَتبَعنَ القَطا الجونا
Indeed, I sent noble-bred horses travelling by night,
And head towards the buildings in the monastery of Maroun.
like dark sandgrouse following dark sandgrouse.
They chant in Iram, and luck in Iram,
يُكثِرنَthey increase عَنabout دَيرِthe monastery of مُرّانَMurran السُؤالَthe questioning وَقَدand already
يُكثِرنَ عَن دَيرِ مُرّانَ السُؤالَ وَقَد
عارَضنَthey came alongside أَبنِيَةًbuildings فيin دَيرِthe monastery of ماروناMarun
عارَضنَ أَبنِيَةً في دَيرِ مارونا
They ask repeatedly about the Monastery of Murran, having
Wealth guaranteed from the chief of chiefs protected.
come alongside buildings at the Monastery of Marun.
Dew is grasped from it tangibly and perceptibly
يَنشُدنَthey seek فيin إِرَمٍIram وَالنُجحُand success فيin إِرَمٍIram
يَنشُدنَ في إِرَمٍ وَالنُجحُ في إِرَمٍ
غِنىًwealth عَلىfrom سَيِّدِthe lord الساداتِof lords مَضموناguaranteed
غِنىً عَلى سَيِّدِ الساداتِ مَضمونا
They seek in Iram—where success is found—
While it used to be imagined and presumed.
wealth guaranteed by the lord of lords.
A substitute with his agreeable gifts draws them near
يُلفىis found النَدىgenerosity مِنهُfrom him مَلموساًtangible وَمُدَّرَكاًand attainable
يُلفى النَدى مِنهُ مَلموساً وَمُدَّرَكاً
وَكانَand it was يُعهَدُknown مَوهوماًimagined وَمَظنوناand supposed
وَكانَ يُعهَدُ مَوهوماً وَمَظنونا
From him generosity is found tangible and attainable,
To the elite among us and the relatives.
though it had been known as merely imagined and supposed.
A Nile whose experts arbitrate when
بادٍtaking the initiative بِأَنعُمِهِwith his favors العافينَsupplicants يُزلِفُهُمhe draws them near
بادٍ بِأَنعُمِهِ العافينَ يُزلِفُهُم
عَلىover الأَشِقّاءِbrothers فيهاin them وَالقَرابيناand close kinsmen
عَلى الأَشِقّاءِ فيها وَالقَرابينا
He first bestows his favors on supplicants, drawing them nearer
We desire, we take its arbitration trampling it.
than brothers and close kinsmen in those favors.
And flatterers whom the nobles surprise
نَيلٌbounty يُحَكَّمُare made arbiters فيهِover it المُجتَدونَthose seeking gifts إِذاwhen
نَيلٌ يُحَكَّمُ فيهِ المُجتَدونَ إِذا
شِئناwe wish أَخَذناwe take اِحتِكاماًby our own choice فيهِfrom it ماشيناwhatever we wish
شِئنا أَخَذنا اِحتِكاماً فيهِ ماشينا
A bounty over which those seeking gifts are made arbiters: when
Forgetful of the generosity of deeds, trifling.
we wish, we take from it, by our own choice, whatever we wish.
If there was not in their natures a little cognizance
وَمُملِقينَand men impoverished مِنَin الأَحسابِnoble standing يَفجَؤُهُمhe takes them unawares
وَمُملِقينَ مِنَ الأَحسابِ يَفجَؤُهُم
ساهينَheedless عَنof كَرَمِthe nobility الأَفعالِof deeds لاهيناabsorbed in diversions
ساهينَ عَن كَرَمِ الأَفعالِ لاهينا
And men impoverished in noble standing he takes unawares,
Sufficient for us, abundant from it would suffice us.
heedless of noble deeds, absorbed in diversions.
One who buys praise through inclination sees it
إِنif لَمnot يَكُنthere is فيin جَداهُمtheir bounty نَزرُa scant amount عارِفَةٍof kindness
إِن لَم يَكُن في جَداهُم نَزرُ عارِفَةٍ
تَكُفُّناholds us back كانَthere is غُزرٌabundance مِنهُfrom him يَكفيناsuffices us
تَكُفُّنا كانَ غُزرٌ مِنهُ يَكفينا
If their bounty holds no scant kindness
As the miser of the people, deprived.
to hold us back, abundance from him suffices us.
Always we found his auspicious ascendant
وَغابِنٍand a shrewd bargainer إِنif شَرىhe buys حَمداًpraise بِمَرغَبَةٍwith a lavish gift
وَغابِنٍ إِن شَرى حَمداً بِمَرغَبَةٍ
رَآهُjudges him فيهاin it بَخيلُthe miser القَومِof the people مَغبوناcheated
رَآهُ فيها بَخيلُ القَومِ مَغبونا
And a shrewd bargainer: if he buys praise with a lavish gift,
Like the stars of fortune and birds of good omen.
the people's miser judges him cheated in it.
He ends the day close to the enemy as if they fell
مُظَفَّرٌvictorious لَمnot نَزَلhave ceased نَلقىwe encounter بِطَلعَتِهِin his countenance
مُظَفَّرٌ لَم نَزَل نَلقى بِطَلعَتِهِ
كَواكِبَthe stars السَعدِof good fortune وَالطَيرَand the birds المَياميناof happy omen
كَواكِبَ السَعدِ وَالطَيرَ المَيامينا
Victorious—in his countenance we have always encountered
In China in its remoteness, not distant is China!
the stars of good fortune and birds of happy omen.
He girded up the vigilant whose resolve did not cease
يُمسيhe is at evening قَريباًnear مِنَto الأَعداءِthe enemies لَوif وَقَعواthey were situated
يُمسي قَريباً مِنَ الأَعداءِ لَو وَقَعوا
بِالصينِin China فيin بُعدِهاits remoteness ماnot اِستَبعَدَhe deemed distant الصيناChina
بِالصينِ في بُعدِها ما اِستَبعَدَ الصينا
At evening he is close to his enemies; were they
To increase his enemies in humiliation and abasement.
in distant China, he would not deem China far.
I saw the armies of victory camped
تَشميرَthe striving يَقظانَof a vigilant man ماnot اِنفَكَّتhas ceased عَزيمَتُهُhis resolve
تَشميرَ يَقظانَ ما اِنفَكَّت عَزيمَتُهُ
تَزيدُto increase أَعداءَهُhis enemies ذُلّاًin humiliation وَتَوهيناand weakness
تَزيدُ أَعداءَهُ ذُلّاً وَتَوهينا
The striving of a vigilant man—his resolve has never ceased
Against the armies of Abul Jaysh ibn Tulun
to increase his enemies' humiliation and weakness.
The day of Thaniya when he folds in its expanse
إِنّيindeed I رَأَيتُsaw جُيوشَarmies النَصرِof victory مُنزَلَةًsent down
إِنّي رَأَيتُ جُيوشَ النَصرِ مُنزَلَةً
عَلىupon جُيوشِthe armies أَبيAbu (father of) الجَيشِal-Jaysh (the army) بنِibn (son of) طولوناTulun
عَلى جُيوشِ أَبي الجَيشِ بنِ طولونا
Indeed, I saw the armies of victory sent down
Fifty thousand or more with his prowess.
upon the armies of Abu al-Jaysh ibn Tulun,
And war blazed, its cauldrons boiling
يَومَon the day الثَنِيَّةِal-Thaniyya (the pass) إِذwhen يَثنيhe turns back بِكَرَّتِهِwith his charge
يَومَ الثَنِيَّةِ إِذ يَثني بِكَرَّتِهِ
فيin الرَوعِbattle's terror خَمسينَfifty أَلفاًthousand أَوor يَزيدوناthey are more
في الرَوعِ خَمسينَ أَلفاً أَو يَزيدونا
on the day of al-Thaniyya, when his charge turns back,
At times, and the burning embers of it flare up at times.
amid battle's terror, fifty thousand or more.
The land becomes dark and they appear in his tents
وَالحَربُand war مُشعَلَةٌablaze تَغليboil مَراجِلُهاits cauldrons
وَالحَربُ مُشعَلَةٌ تَغلي مَراجِلُها
حيناًat times وَيَضرَمُand flares ذاكيthe glowing heat جَمرِهاof its embers حيناat times
حيناً وَيَضرَمُ ذاكي جَمرِها حينا
War is ablaze, its cauldrons boiling
Two types, concealing fear and hoping.
at times, and its glowing embers flaring at others.
And the people between preceding victory evident through it
يَغدوcome in the morning الوَرىthe people وَهُمُwhile they غاشوthronging سُرادِقِهِhis pavilion
يَغدو الوَرى وَهُمُ غاشو سُرادِقِهِ
صِنفَينِtwo groups مِنof مُضمِريthose concealing خَوفٍfear وَراجيناand those hoping
صِنفَينِ مِن مُضمِري خَوفٍ وَراجينا
People come in the morning, thronging his pavilion,
And slackening from objectives, bending.
in two groups: those hiding fear and those hoping.
As I saw the Tuesdays humbled
وَالناسُand people بَينَbetween أَخيone possessing سَبقٍa lead يَبينُstands apart بِهِby it
وَالناسُ بَينَ أَخي سَبقٍ يَبينُ بِهِ
وَفاتِرينَand those flagging مِنَshort of الغاياتِthe finish lines وانيناweary
وَفاتِرينَ مِنَ الغاياتِ وانينا
People range between one distinguished by his lead
In the rear, the heels of the weak.
and those who flag, weary short of the finish,
May God grant you long life for the exalted which you populate
كَماjust as رَأَيتُI saw الثَلاثاءاتِTuesdays واطِئَةًtreading
كَما رَأَيتُ الثَلاثاءاتِ واطِئَةً
مِنَfrom التَخَلُّفِlagging behind أَعقابَthe heels الأَثانيناof Mondays
مِنَ التَخَلُّفِ أَعقابَ الأَثانينا
just as I have seen Tuesdays treading,
And may God increase you in honor and enablement.
in their tardiness, on the heels of Mondays.
The Romans did not cease to be confused
عَمَّرَكَgrant you long life اللَهُGod لِلعَلياءِfor lofty glory تَعمُرُهاyou make it flourish
عَمَّرَكَ اللَهُ لِلعَلياءِ تَعمُرُها
وَزادَكَand increase you اللَهُGod إِعزازاًin honor وَتَمكيناand power
وَزادَكَ اللَهُ إِعزازاً وَتَمكينا
May God prolong your life for the glory you make flourish,
Since the mighty and subtle settled near you.
and may God increase your honor and power.
They approach when they are far in their rage
ماnot اِنفَكَّتِhas escaped الرومُthe Byzantines مِنfrom هَمٍّa worry يُحَيِّرُهاbewilders them
ما اِنفَكَّتِ الرومُ مِن هَمٍّ يُحَيِّرُها
مُذsince جاوَرَتthey lived beside عِندَكَin you العَزّاءَhardness وَالليناand softness
مُذ جاوَرَت عِندَكَ العَزّاءَ وَاللينا
The Byzantines have never escaped a worry that bewilders them
And cunning, and distance themselves if they are near us.
since they lived beside hardness and softness in you.
Until you left them a day in which you erased
تَدنوyou draw near إِذاwhen بَعُدواthey withdraw عِندَduring اِشتِطاطِهُمُtheir overreaching
تَدنو إِذا بَعُدوا عِندَ اِشتِطاطِهُمُ
كَيداًby stratagem وَتَبعُدُand you draw away إِنif كانواthey are قَريبيناnear
كَيداً وَتَبعُدُ إِن كانوا قَريبينا
You draw near when they withdraw in their overreaching,
What the people relate from the history of Siffin.
by stratagem, and draw away if they are near.
Annals written on the interior of a pearl
حَتّىuntil تَرَكتَyou left لَهُمfor them يَوماًa day نَسَختَyou effaced بِهِthrough it
حَتّى تَرَكتَ لَهُم يَوماً نَسَختَ بِهِ
ماwhat يَأثُرُrecount الناسُthe people مِنof أَخبارِthe accounts صِفّيناSiffin
ما يَأثُرُ الناسُ مِن أَخبارِ صِفّينا
Until you left them a day by which you effaced
From the back of the distant domes and pulses.
what people recount of the tales of Siffin:
So prepare to exhaust them with raids and raid them with armies
مَصارِعٌslaughters كُتِبَتwere inscribed فيin بَطنِthe hollow لُؤلُؤَةٍLu'lu'a
مَصارِعٌ كُتِبَت في بَطنِ لُؤلُؤَةٍ
مِنfrom ظَهرِthe uplands أَنقَرَةِAnkara القُصوىthe farthest وَطِمّيناand Timmin
مِن ظَهرِ أَنقَرَةِ القُصوى وَطِمّينا
slaughters inscribed in the hollow of Lu'lu'a,
And make the awaited Talha ibn Musa al-Khadim follow them.
from the uplands of far-off Ankara and Timmin.
As for al-Husayn, he did not decline striving for you
فَاِسلَمso remain safe لِتَجهَدَهُمto wear them down غَزواًby raiding وَتُغزِيَهُمand send against them
فَاِسلَم لِتَجهَدَهُم غَزواً وَتُغزِيَهُم
جَيشاًan army وَتُتبِعَهُand send after it المَأمولَthe hoped-for هاروناHarun
جَيشاً وَتُتبِعَهُ المَأمولَ هارونا
So remain safe, to wear them down with raids and send against them
And you do not seek to exalt and adorn him.
an army, and send the hoped-for Harun after it.
You are pleased with him when his governor does not please you
أَمّاas for الحُسَينُal-Husayn فَماthen not آلاكَfailed you مُجتَهِداًstriving
أَمّا الحُسَينُ فَما آلاكَ مُجتَهِداً
وَلَيسَand not تَألوهُyou stint toward him تَفخيماًin honoring وَتَزيِيناand adorning
وَلَيسَ تَألوهُ تَفخيماً وَتَزيِينا
As for al-Husayn, he has spared no effort on your behalf,
Auspicious, truthful in resolve, secure.
and you do not stint in honoring and adorning him.
He fulfilled the trust in the wealth of Syria, and none
تَرضىyou are pleased بِهِwith him حينَwhen لاnot يُرضيكَpleases you مُدبِرُهُمtheir ill-fortuned one
تَرضى بِهِ حينَ لا يُرضيكَ مُدبِرُهُم
مُبارَكاًblessed صادِقَtrue الإِقبالِin good fortune مَيموناauspicious
مُبارَكاً صادِقَ الإِقبالِ مَيمونا
You are pleased with him when their ill-fortuned man does not please you,
Encountered him except the Trustee of the Hidden, Trusted.
blessed, truly favored by fortune, auspicious.
His virtues ascend to the highest rank
أَدّىhe discharged الأَمانَةَthe trust فيregarding مالِthe funds of الشَآمِal-Sham فَماso not
أَدّى الأَمانَةَ في مالِ الشَآمِ فَما
تَلقاهُyou find him إِلّاexcept أَمينَfaithful الغَيبِin absence مَأموناtrustworthy
تَلقاهُ إِلّا أَمينَ الغَيبِ مَأمونا
He discharged his trust over the funds of al-Sham, so
And you do not see in them a middle or lower part.
you find him only faithful in your absence and trustworthy.
تَسموrise إِلىtoward الرُتبَةِthe rank العُلياhighest مَحاسِنُهُhis virtues
تَسمو إِلى الرُتبَةِ العُليا مَحاسِنُهُ
فَماso not تَرىyou see وَسَطاًmiddling مِنهاamong them وَلاnor دوناlow
فَما تَرى وَسَطاً مِنها وَلا دونا
His virtues rise toward the highest rank,
and you see none of them middling or low.
Partial English translation: 75 of 78 Arabic lines translated.