تَبيتُspends the night لَهُfor him مِنfrom شَوقِهِhis longing وَنِزاعِهِand his yearning
تَبيتُ لَهُ مِن شَوقِهِ وَنِزاعِهِ
أَحاديثُinward whispers نَفسٍof a soul أَوشَكَتhastened مِنfrom زِماعِهِhis resolve
أَحاديثُ نَفسٍ أَوشَكَت مِن زِماعِهِ
Through his longing and yearning, there linger all night for him
Sleepless I remain yearning for him and contending,
a soul's inward whispers, hastened by his resolve.
With thoughts from my soul nearly undone by his absence.
وَماand not حَبَسَتheld back بَغدادُBaghdad مِنّاfrom us عَزيمَةًa resolve
وَما حَبَسَت بَغدادُ مِنّا عَزيمَةً
بِمَكتومِwith the concealed part of مانَهوىwhat we love بِهاthere وَمُذاعِهِand its proclaimed part
بِمَكتومِ مانَهوى بِها وَمُذاعِهِ
Baghdad did not hold back our resolve
Not for lack of will did Baghdad restrain our resolve -
with what we loved there, hidden or proclaimed.
But for the beloved we concealed, and his hold over us.
جَعَلناwe made الفُراتَthe Euphrates نَحوَtoward حِلَّةِthe encampment of أَهلِناour people
جَعَلنا الفُراتَ نَحوَ حِلَّةِ أَهلِنا
دَليلاًa guide نَضِلُّwe lose القَصدَthe right course مالَمunless نُراعِهِwe heed it
دَليلاً نَضِلُّ القَصدَ مالَم نُراعِهِ
We took the Euphrates, toward our people's encampment,
We set the Euphrates toward our people's abode
as a guide—we lose the right course unless we heed it.
As guide, though we strayed from the path unless we clung to it.
إِذاwhenever ماemphatic particle المَطاياthe mounts غُلنَtraversed فُرضَةَthe landing of نُعمِهِits bounty
إِذا ما المَطايا غُلنَ فُرضَةَ نُعمِهِ
تَواهَقنَthey matched strides لِاِستِهلاكِto consume واديthe valley of سِباعِهِits wild beasts
تَواهَقنَ لِاِستِهلاكِ وادي سِباعِهِ
Whenever the mounts crossed the landing of its bounty,
When our steeds were slowed by the glut of his gifts,
they matched strides to swallow up the valley of its beasts.
They rivaled the wadi’s beasts in their gorging.
فَكَمso how many جَبَلٍa mountain وَعرٍrugged خَبَطنَthey trod قِنانَهُits summits
فَكَم جَبَلٍ وَعرٍ خَبَطنَ قِنانَهُ
وَمُنخَفَضٍand a lowland سَهلٍsmooth مَثَلنَthey stood بِقاعِهِon its flat floor
وَمُنخَفَضٍ سَهلٍ مَثَلنَ بِقاعِهِ
How many a rugged mountain's peaks they trod,
How many a mountain we scaled and desert we roamed,
and how many a smooth lowland's floor they stood upon!
And valley we crossed through its flattened expanse.
وَلَمّاand when اِطَّلَعناwe ascended مِنfrom زُنَيبَةَZunayba مُشرِفاًa height
وَلَمّا اِطَّلَعنا مِن زُنَيبَةَ مُشرِفاً
يَكادُalmost يُوازيmatches مَنبِجاًManbij بِاِطِّلاعِهِin its elevation
يَكادُ يُوازي مَنبِجاً بِاِطِّلاعِهِ
And when, from Zunayba, we ascended a height
When from Sinjar we gazed out, overlooking
that nearly matched Manbij in its elevation,
Mosul, so close its features seemed within grasp.
رَأَيناwe saw الشَآمَSyria مِنfrom قَريبٍnearby وَأَعرَضَتand spread out
رَأَينا الشَآمَ مِن قَريبٍ وَأَعرَضَت
رَقائِقُslender stretches مِنهُof it جُنَّحٌslanting عَنaway from بِقاعِهِits tracts
رَقائِقُ مِنهُ جُنَّحٌ عَن بِقاعِهِ
we saw Syria close at hand, and there spread out
Still we pressed on, from dusk to dawn’s first light,
slender stretches of it, slanting away from its plains.
Ushering darkness away, enveloped in its folds.
وَمازالَand continued إيشاكُthe haste of الرَحيلِdeparture وَأَخذُناand our drawing
وَمازالَ إيشاكُ الرَحيلِ وَأَخذُنا
مِنَfrom العيسِthe pale camels فيin نَزعِshedding الدُجىthe darkness وَاِدِّراعِهِand donning it
مِنَ العيسِ في نَزعِ الدُجى وَاِدِّراعِهِ
We kept hastening to depart and drawing
Until nearness obeyed, after holding aloof,
on the pale camels, shedding the dark and donning it,
And the Hayy's ridge yielded, after resisting.
إِلىup to أَنthat أَطاعَyielded القُربُnearness بَعدَafter إِيابِهِits return
إِلى أَن أَطاعَ القُربُ بَعدَ إِيابِهِ
وَلوئِمَand was reunited شَعبُthe company of الحَيِّthe clan بَعدَafter اِنصِداعِهِits sundering
وَلوئِمَ شَعبُ الحَيِّ بَعدَ اِنصِداعِهِ
until nearness yielded after its return,
So ask not after where I lay down my head,
and the clan's company was reunited after its sundering.
In my own land, or how I sleep while debarred from it.
فَلاso do not تَسأَلَنever ask عَنabout مَضجَعيmy bed وَنُبُوِّهِand its discomfort
فَلا تَسأَلَن عَن مَضجَعي وَنُبُوِّهِ
بِأَرضيin my land وَعَنand about نَوميmy sleep بِهاthere وَاِمتِناعِهِand its refusal
بِأَرضي وَعَن نَومي بِها وَاِمتِناعِهِ
So do not ask about my bed and its discomfort
I pine while my family awaits me expectant,
in my own land, or my sleep there and its refusal to come.
Hearing and sight set on my return.
أَرانِيَI see myself مُشتاقاًyearning وَأَهلِيَand my family حُضَّرٌpresent
أَرانِيَ مُشتاقاً وَأَهلِيَ حُضَّرٌ
عَلىwithin reach of لَحظِthe gaze of عَينَيthe two eyes of ناظِرٍan onlooker وَاِستِماعِهِand his hearing
عَلى لَحظِ عَينَي ناظِرٍ وَاِستِماعِهِ
I find myself yearning, though my family is present,
An exile abroad, my steed wanders unleashed
within an onlooker's eyesight and hearing;
Through Sajur's valleys or over its hillocks.
وَمُغتَرِبِand a stranger in المَثوىthe dwelling وَسَرحِيَand my herd سارِبٌroaming
وَمُغتَرِبِ المَثوى وَسَرحِيَ سارِبٌ
بِأَودِيَةِin the valleys of الساجورِthe Sajur أَوor بِتِلاعِهِon its slopes
بِأَودِيَةِ الساجورِ أَو بِتِلاعِهِ
and a stranger in my dwelling, though my herd roams
Parted from those I left behind, my life now bereft,
in the Sajur's valleys or on its slopes.
My honor resides with them, their refuge in tribulation.
لِفُرقَةِbecause of parting from مَنone whom خَلَّفتُI left behind دُنيايَmy world غَضَّةًfresh and green
لِفُرقَةِ مَن خَلَّفتُ دُنيايَ غَضَّةً
لَدَيهِwith him وَعِزّيand my honor مُعصَماًsheltered فيin يَفاعِهِhis heights
لَدَيهِ وَعِزّي مُعصَماً في يَفاعِهِ
For I am parted from him, leaving my world fresh and green
No yearning for home overcame my resolve
at his side, and my honor sheltered upon his heights.
To provide for it, by dwelling in its environs.
وَماand not غَلَبَتنيovercame me نِيَّهُthe remoteness of الدارِthe abode عِندَهُwith him
وَما غَلَبَتني نِيَّهُ الدارِ عِندَهُ
عَلىof رِفدِهِhis bounty فيin ساحَتيmy courtyard وَاِصطِناعِهِand his patronage
عَلى رِفدِهِ في ساحَتي وَاِصطِناعِهِ
Nor has distance from his dwelling deprived me
Too grave seemed the hardship of living apart -
of his bounty in my courtyard, or his favor.
Even the thought drew tears of lament from me.
كَفانيspared me مِنَfrom التَقسيطِthe apportioned levy فَحشُthe horror of عِيانِهِwitnessing it
كَفاني مِنَ التَقسيطِ فَحشُ عِيانِهِ
وَقَدand already ذَعَرَتنيterrified me مُندِباتُthe laments of سَماعِهِhearing of it
وَقَد ذَعَرَتني مُندِباتُ سَماعِهِ
He spared me the levy’s hideous spectacle,
Take on the great task with purpose and cease not
though the laments at hearing of it had already terrified me.
To water the thirsty from outpouring's abundance.
تَعَمَّدهُseek him out فيin الأَمرِthe affair الجَليلِweighty وَلاand do not تَقِفhold back
تَعَمَّدهُ في الأَمرِ الجَليلِ وَلا تَقِف
عَنِfrom الغَيثِthe rain أَنto تَروىslake your thirst بِفَيضِwith the flood of بَعاعِهِits abundant downpour
عَنِ الغَيثِ أَن تَروى بِفَيضِ بَعاعِهِ
Seek him out in weighty affairs, and do not hold back
The world entire cannot overwhelm him,
from the rain, but drink your fill of its abundant flood.
So expansive the field of his capabilities.
فَلَنfor never تَكبُرَbe too large الدُنياthe world عَلَيهِfor him بِأَسرِهاin its entirety
فَلَن تَكبُرَ الدُنيا عَلَيهِ بِأَسرِها
وَقَدand already وَسِعَتهاhas encompassed it ساحَةٌa courtyard مِنof رِباعِهِhis dwellings
وَقَد وَسِعَتها ساحَةٌ مِن رِباعِهِ
For the whole world will never be too large for him,
How many days of ill fate for God's servants
when a courtyard of his dwellings has encompassed it.
Were lit up by his leadership's radiance!
وَكَمand how many لِعُبَيدِfor Ubayd اللَهِAllah مِنof يَومِa day of سُؤدُدٍglory
وَكَم لِعُبَيدِ اللَهِ مِن يَومِ سُؤدُدٍ
يُجَلّىdispels طَخاthe murk of الأَيّامِthe days ضَوءُthe light of شُعاعِهِits ray
يُجَلّى طَخا الأَيّامِ ضَوءُ شُعاعِهِ
How many a day of glory belongs to Ubayd Allah,
How they searched in him for the nature of nobility,
whose radiant light dispels the murk of the days!
Bringing low the age through his towering grace.
وَكَمand how often بَحَثوهُthey probed him عَنfor طِباعِtraits of تَكَرُّمٍgenerosity
وَكَم بَحَثوهُ عَن طِباعِ تَكَرُّمٍ
يَرُدُّhe turns back الزَمانَTime صاغِراًhumbled عَنaway from طِباعِهِits ways
يَرُدُّ الزَمانَ صاغِراً عَن طِباعِهِ
How often they probed him for generous traits—
Ask the ministers about his precedence,
he turns Time, humbled, away from its ways.
And how he was missed when gone from their midst.
سَلِask الوُزَراءَthe ministers عَنabout تَقَدُّمِthe advance of شَأوِهِhis reach
سَلِ الوُزَراءَ عَن تَقَدُّمِ شَأوِهِ
وَعَنand about فَوتِهِhis outstripping مِنfrom بَينِهِمamong them وَاِنقِطاعِهِand his breaking away
وَعَن فَوتِهِ مِن بَينِهِم وَاِنقِطاعِهِ
Ask the ministers how far his course leads theirs,
Did they ever truly weigh his full measure,
and how he outstrips them and breaks away from their ranks.
Or value his worth by the gauge of his greatness?
وَهَلand whether وازَنوهُthey matched his weight عِندَin جِدِّthe earnestness of حَقيقَةٍtruth
وَهَل وازَنوهُ عِندَ جِدِّ حَقيقَةٍ
بِمِثقالِهِwith his weight أَوor كايَلوهُthey matched his measure بِصاعِهِwith his grain measure
بِمِثقالِهِ أَو كايَلوهُ بِصاعِهِ
Have they weighed themselves against him in sober truth,
A chief whose vision opened solutions when affairs were blocked,
with his weight, or measured against him with his grain measure?
And brought concord when ties were ruptured.
زَعيمٌa guarantor بِفَتحِof opening الأَمرِthe affair عِندَat اِنغِلاقِهِits closing
زَعيمٌ بِفَتحِ الأَمرِ عِندَ اِنغِلاقِهِ
عَلَيهِمagainst them وَرَتقِand mending الفَتقِthe breach عِندَat اِتِّساعِهِits widening
عَلَيهِم وَرَتقِ الفَتقِ عِندَ اِتِّساعِهِ
He undertakes to open an affair when it closes
His judgment surpassed the mind's reach, beyond grasp
against them, and to mend a breach when it widens.
In remoteness and loftiness when viewed from afar.
عَلاrose above رَأيُهُhis judgment مَرمىthe reach of العُقولِminds فَلَمso not تَكُنthey were
عَلا رَأيُهُ مَرمى العُقولِ فَلَم تَكُن
لِتَنصُفَهُto reach halfway to it فيin بُعدِهِits distance وَاِرتِفاعِهِand its height
لِتَنصُفَهُ في بُعدِهِ وَاِرتِفاعِهِ
His judgment rose beyond the reach of minds; they could not
He drew near until even the abyss was tempted
reach halfway to its distance and its height.
To self-deception, cloaked in guile.
وَقارَبَand drew close حَتّىuntil أَطمَعَgave hope to الغُمرَthe novice نَفسَهُhis own person
وَقارَبَ حَتّى أَطمَعَ الغُمرَ نَفسَهُ
مُكاذَبَةًa false pretense فيin خَتلِهِoutwitting him وَخِداعِهِand deceiving him
مُكاذَبَةً في خَتلِهِ وَخِداعِهِ
Yet he drew close enough to give the novice hope of besting him—
Never did I see him refuse humility when embraced
a false hope of outwitting and deceiving him.
By any man, except from excess of modesty.
وَلَمand not أَرَهُI saw him يَأبىrejects التَواضُعَhumility واحِدٌanyone
وَلَم أَرَهُ يَأبى التَواضُعَ واحِدٌ
مِنَof الناسِthe people إِلّاexcept مِنbecause of غَلُوِّthe excess of اِتِّضاعِهِhis self-abasement
مِنَ الناسِ إِلّا مِن غَلُوِّ اِتِّضاعِهِ
I have never seen humility rejected by a single one
While he is occupied, time's turns go neglected,
among men, save for the excess of his self-abasement.
And tribulations wane in the scope of his care.
تَضيعُare lost صُروفُthe vicissitudes of الدَهرِTime فيin بُعدِthe far reach of هَمِّهِhis purpose
تَضيعُ صُروفُ الدَهرِ في بُعدِ هَمِّهِ
وَتَتوىand perish الخُطوبُcalamities فيin اِتِّساعِthe breadth of ذِراعِهِhis arm
وَتَتوى الخُطوبُ في اِتِّساعِ ذِراعِهِ
The turns of Time are lost in his far-reaching purpose,
The burdens of authority know they are sustained
and calamities perish within his arm's wide reach.
When borne by him, though weigh heavily.
وَتَعلَمُand know أَعباءُthe burdens of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate أَنَّهاthat they
وَتَعلَمُ أَعباءُ الخِلافَةِ أَنَّها
وَإِنeven though ثَقُلَتthey are heavy مَوجودَةٌare found فيin اِضطِلاعِهِhis capacity to bear
وَإِن ثَقُلَت مَوجودَةٌ في اِضطِلاعِهِ
The burdens of the caliphate know that they,
No ordeal befell him, but its edge was dulled -
heavy though they are, lie within his capacity to bear.
Its breadth no rival for his greater expanse.
فَماso no طاوَلَتهُrivaled his reach مِحنَةٌa trial عَنfrom مُلِمَّةٍa calamity
فَما طاوَلَتهُ مِحنَةٌ عَن مُلِمَّةٍ
فَتَنزِعَthen withdraws إِلّاexcept باعُهاits armspan دونَshorter than باعِهِhis armspan
فَتَنزِعَ إِلّا باعُها دونَ باعِهِ
No trial born of calamity ever challenged his reach
God protect him in whom the flock find solace,
without withdrawing, its armspan shorter than his.
Relying on his care over their own.
رَعىmay preserve اللَهُGod مَنhim whom تُلقيentrust الرَعِيَّةُthe subjects أُنسَهاtheir reassurance
رَعى اللَهُ مَن تُلقي الرَعِيَّةُ أُنسَها
إِلىto ذَبِّهِhis shielding مِنfrom دونِهاbefore them وَدِفاعِهِand his defense
إِلى ذَبِّهِ مِن دونِها وَدِفاعِهِ
May God preserve him whose subjects entrust their reassurance
I roamed the Iraq in distress, a criminal,
to his shielding them and his defense on their behalf.
To defend against the day we would part.
تَصَرَّعتُI lingered حَولاًa year بِالعِراقِin Iraq مُجَرِّماًcompleting it
تَصَرَّعتُ حَولاً بِالعِراقِ مُجَرِّماً
مُدافَعَةًputting off مِنّيon my part لِيَومِthe day of وَداعِهِfarewell to him
مُدافَعَةً مِنّي لِيَومِ وَداعِهِ
I lingered a full year in Iraq, seeing it through,
Can you forget me after the horror, and then its passing;
putting off, for my part, the day of farewell to him.
After loathing befell, and then its abating?
أَأَنساكَshall I forget you? بَعدَafter الهَولِthe terror ثُمَّthen اِنصِرافِهِits passing
أَأَنساكَ بَعدَ الهَولِ ثُمَّ اِنصِرافِهِ
وَبَعدَand after وُقوعِthe occurrence of الكُرهِadversity ثُمَّthen اِندِفاعِهِits repulsion
وَبَعدَ وُقوعِ الكُرهِ ثُمَّ اِندِفاعِهِ
Shall I forget you after terror and then its passing,
After bonds were affirmed by my father al-Fatḥ, he took
and after adversity struck and then was repelled?
My land, annexing it to swell his holdings.
وَبَعدَand after اِعتِلاقٍa seizure مِنby أَبيAbu الفَتحِal-Fath ضَيعَتيmy estate
وَبَعدَ اِعتِلاقٍ مِن أَبي الفَتحِ ضَيعَتي
لِيُلحِقَهاto add it مُستَكثِراًseeking to amass more فيamong ضِياعِهِhis estates
لِيُلحِقَها مُستَكثِراً في ضِياعِهِ
And after Abu al-Fath laid hold of my estate,
That day he envied not my wealth, but rather
to add it, seeking more, to his estates?
A free man seized what would profit him.
وَماand not رامَsought ضَرّيmy harm يَومَon the day of ذاكَthat وَإِنَّماbut only
وَما رامَ ضَرّي يَومَ ذاكَ وَإِنَّما
أَراغَsought اِمرُؤٌa man حُرٌّfreeborn مَكانَa place for اِنتِفاعِهِhis profit
أَراغَ اِمرُؤٌ حُرٌّ مَكانَ اِنتِفاعِهِ
He did not seek to harm me that day; rather,
If so, God forsake my circuits around his abode,
a freeborn man sought a place where he could profit.
And the throngs by the Kaaba, gathered for pilgrimage.
إِذاًthen نَسِيَmay forget اللَهُGod اِطِّيافيmy circumambulation بِبَيتِهِaround His House
إِذاً نَسِيَ اللَهُ اِطِّيافي بِبَيتِهِ
وَوَفدُand the company of الحَجيجِthe pilgrims حاشِدٌmassed فيin اِجتِماعِهِits gathering
وَوَفدُ الحَجيجِ حاشِدٌ في اِجتِماعِهِ
Then may God forget my circling of His House,
And my nights keeping vigil at Ṭumayn, prayers uttered
with the company of pilgrims thronging in assembly,
To ward the foe, clashing with them in war.
وَلَيلَتِيَand my night الطُلىapparently long; text uncertain بِطِمّينَat Timmin مُصلِتاًwith sword unsheathed
وَلَيلَتِيَ الطُلى بِطِمّينَ مُصلِتاً
لِصَدِّto repel العَدُوِّthe enemy دونَهاfrom it وَقِراعِهِand fighting him
لِصَدِّ العَدُوِّ دونَها وَقِراعِهِ
and my long night at Timmin, with sword unsheathed,
By God, after the nightmare subsided, my soul entertained no thought
to drive the enemy back from it and clash with him.
Of any blessing but you, no yearning but to follow.
وَوَاللَهِand by God لاnot حَدَّثتُI spoke to نَفسيmy soul بِمُنعِمٍabout a benefactor
وَوَاللَهِ لا حَدَّثتُ نَفسي بِمُنعِمٍ
سِواكَother than you وَلاand not عَنَّيتُهاI wearied it بِاِتِّباعِهِby following him
سِواكَ وَلا عَنَّيتُها بِاِتِّباعِهِ
By God, I shall not think of a benefactor
Had I from you a single day, for all time itself,
other than you, nor weary my soul by following him.
I'd ruminate an age before seeking its return.
وَلَوeven if بِعتُI sold يَوماًa day مِنكَwith you بِالدَهرِfor Time كُلِّهِall of it
وَلَو بِعتُ يَوماً مِنكَ بِالدَهرِ كُلِّهِ
لَفَكَّرتُI would surely ponder دَهراًfor an age ثانِياًa second فيabout اِرتِجاعِهِreclaiming it
لَفَكَّرتُ دَهراً ثانِياً في اِرتِجاعِهِ
Even if I sold one day with you for all time,
I would ponder for another age how to reclaim it.
Partial English translation: 72 of 74 Arabic lines translated.