أَأوجهُare these faces غيدٍgraceful maidens زلنَhave fallen away عنهاfrom them البراقعُthe face-veils
أَأوجهُ غيدٍ زلنَ عنها البراقعُ
تجلّينappeared unveiled أَمor هاذيthese بدورٌfull moons طوالعُrising
تجلّين أَم هاذي بدورٌ طوالعُ
Are these the faces of graceful maidens, their face-veils cast off,
Faces like bright moons unveiled, radiating light,
revealed—or are these full moons rising?
Or morning stars rising, effulgent and bright.
تَجلّينthey revealed themselves منfrom أسجافِهاtheir curtains عَنaway from محاسنٍbeauties
تَجلّين من أسجافِها عَن محاسنٍ
إِلَيهاtoward them قلوبُthe hearts of العالمينَall people نوازعُdrawn
إِلَيها قلوبُ العالمينَ نوازعُ
They emerged from their curtains, revealing beauties
Their beauty revealed, no veil to obscure,
toward which the hearts of all mankind are drawn.
Towards them incline all hearts, ardent and pure.
كَواعبُbudding-breasted maidens غرٍّfair-faced بهكناتsoft and full-figured يَزينُهاadorn them
كَواعبُ غرٍّ بهكنات يَزينُها
منَof الغنجِcoquetry والحسنِand beauty البديعِwondrous بدائعُmarvels
منَ الغنجِ والحسنِ البديعِ بدائعُ
Budding-breasted, radiant, softly full-figured maidens, adorned
Charming gazelles, adorned with lovely graces,
with marvels of coquetry and wondrous beauty.
Exquisite, unique, the fairest of faces.
ظباءٌgazelles مَراعيهاtheir pastures رياضُthe gardens of قلوبِناour hearts
ظباءٌ مَراعيها رياضُ قلوبِنا
فَهاand behold هنَّthey فيin روضِthe garden of القلوبِhearts رواتعُgrazing freely
فَها هنَّ في روضِ القلوبِ رواتعُ
Gazelles whose pastures are the gardens of our hearts—
Gentle, shy doe, the joy of our hearts,
behold them grazing freely in the garden of hearts.
Frolicking playful in meadows and parks.
جآذرُwild-ox calves إِلّاexcept إنّماonly هنّthey خرّدٌbashful maidens
جآذرُ إِلّا إنّما هنّ خرّدٌ
ربايبcherished young ones أنسٍhuman company لمnot يرعهنّhas frightened them رايعُa frightener
ربايب أنسٍ لم يرعهنّ رايعُ
Wild-ox calves—except that they are bashful maidens,
Save for fawns, no lambs here abound,
cherished in human company, never startled by any terror.
No shepherd to watch them, no dog to surround.
يرقرقنَthey make shimmer ألحاظاًglances خلالthrough جفونهاtheir eyelids
يرقرقنَ ألحاظاً خلال جفونها
سيوفاًswords للبّاتِthrough the throats of القلوبِhearts قواطعُcutting
سيوفاً للبّاتِ القلوبِ قواطعُ
They let glances shimmer through their eyelids,
Their glances like swords pierce hearts true,
swords that cut through the throats of hearts.
Below their lids flashing eyes pierce hearts through.
تقنّعنَthey veiled themselves مِنin نسجِwoven fabric of الحريرِsilk مقاطعاًlengths
تقنّعنَ مِن نسجِ الحريرِ مقاطعاً
فَزانتand graced عَلىupon أعطافهنّtheir shoulders المقانعُthe head-veils
فَزانت عَلى أعطافهنّ المقانعُ
They veiled themselves in lengths of woven silk,
In silk they are draped, veils partly drawn back,
and the head-veils graced their shoulders.
O’er their shoulders the veils cascade, float and stack.
نُخالسwe steal furtively منهنّfrom them اِلتماحاًa fleeting glimpse وإنّماyet
نُخالس منهنّ اِلتماحاً وإنّما
لَناfor us باِختلاساتِthrough stolen snatches of اللحاظِglances مصارعُfatal falls
لَنا باِختلاساتِ اللحاظِ مصارعُ
We steal fleeting glimpses of them, yet
We steal coy glances, though more lie in wait,
those stolen glances bring us to our deaths.
For stolen quick glances seal lovers’ fate.
وَقفتُand I stood عَلىat أَطلالهنَّthe ruins of their dwellings وقدand already بداappeared
وَقفتُ عَلى أَطلالهنَّ وقد بدا
لِعينيto my eye نورٌa light إِذwhile دابرthe far side of المتنِthe ridge خاشعُbowed low
لِعيني نورٌ إِذ دابر المتنِ خاشعُ
I stood at the ruins of their dwellings, and there appeared
On their ruins I stood as dawn timidly crept,
a light before my eyes, while the ridge's far side lay low.
My eyes glimpsed a light as darkness silently wept.
وَظلتُand I stayed معَwith السفعِthe blackened hearthstones الثلاثthree كأنّنيas though I
وَظلتُ معَ السفعِ الثلاث كأنّني
لِتلكto those الثلاثthree السفعblackened stones فيin الربعِthe camp رابعُa fourth
لِتلك الثلاث السفع في الربعِ رابعُ
I stayed beside the three blackened hearthstones, as though
With the Pleiades I lingered like a fourth star bright,
I were a fourth to those three blackened stones in the camp.
My heart now enthralled by those stars’ magical light.
وَلولاand but for أميمUmaym ماnot اِستهلّتoverflowed مدامعيmy tear ducts
وَلولا أميم ما اِستهلّت مدامعي
وَلاnor ذاعَspread abroad منّيfrom me بالسرائرwith secrets ذايعُa divulger
وَلا ذاعَ منّي بالسرائر ذايعُ
But for Umaym, my tears would never have poured,
And if not for the pain of lovesick hearts torn,
nor would any divulger have carried my secrets abroad.
My sorrows and grief would not thus be borne.
تَفيضُoverflow لِذكراهاat her memory دُموعيmy tears وفيand in الحشاthe breast
تَفيضُ لِذكراها دُموعي وفي الحشا
جوىًlove's anguish مُحرقٌburning فيin باطِنthe depths of القلبِthe heart لاذعُsearing
جوىً مُحرقٌ في باطِن القلبِ لاذعُ
My tears overflow at her memory, while in my breast
Tears overflow, flames in my heart burn,
a burning ache sears the innermost heart.
For memories of her, with relentless yearn.
أَهيمُI wander distraught اِشتياقاًwith longing كلّماwhenever إنemphatic particle ذَكرتُهاI remember her
أَهيمُ اِشتياقاً كلّما إن ذَكرتُها
فَيصدعthen splits قَلبيmy heart للصبابةِfrom passionate longing لاذعُa searing pang
فَيصدع قَلبي للصبابةِ لاذعُ
I wander distraught with longing whenever I remember her;
I pine when she’s recalled, my heart shreds and severs,
a searing pang of love splits my heart.
Youth’s keen devastating shafts it quivers.
وَأَزدادُand I grow وجداًin yearning إنwhen شَدتsang وترنّمتand trilled
وَأَزدادُ وجداً إن شَدت وترنّمت
حمائمُdoves مِنfrom فوقِabove الغصونِthe branches سواجعُcooing
حمائمُ مِن فوقِ الغصونِ سواجعُ
My yearning deepens whenever they sing and trill—
My passions redouble when doves coo and murmur,
the cooing doves above the boughs.
From branches above, their sad songs I infer.
وَكَمand how many زفرةٍa sigh فيin الحشاthe breast بعدafter زفرةٍa sigh
وَكَم زفرةٍ في الحشا بعد زفرةٍ
يَكادُalmost لَهاbecause of it تقتضُّbreak apart منّيof mine الأضالعُthe ribs
يَكادُ لَها تقتضُّ منّي الأضالعُ
How many a sigh follows another in my breast,
How many deep sighs have escaped this sad heart?
at which my ribs almost crack apart!
Each one tears my ribs and my soul apart.
وَإنّيand indeed I لَهاfor her ماas long as دمتُI remain حيّاًalive لمشترٍsurely a buyer
وَإنّي لَها ما دمتُ حيّاً لمشترٍ
وَللنفسِand of the soul منّيof mine فيin هواهاlove for her لبائعُsurely a seller
وَللنفسِ منّي في هواها لبائعُ
As long as I live, I am surely a buyer of her,
For her love I’m a buyer, my soul I lay bare,
and, in my love for her, a seller of my soul.
No treasure too great her sweet love to ensnare.
وليand I have فيin هَواهاlove for her وَاللَياليand the nights شواهدٌwitnesses
ولي في هَواها وَاللَيالي شواهدٌ
مَذهبُa creed of أديانٍfaiths جَرَتhave prevailed وشرائعُand sacred laws
مَذهبُ أديانٍ جَرَت وشرائعُ
In loving her I have—and the nights bear witness—
Our nights bear witness, our passions aver,
a creed of faiths and laws that have held sway.
That we cast traditions and creeds to deter.
لَهاshe has مِنamong صفاتِqualities of الحسنِbeauty أحمرa red hue رائقpleasing
لَها مِن صفاتِ الحسنِ أحمر رائق
وَأسودُand a black hue غربيبٌraven-black وأبيضُand a white hue ناصعُdazzlingly pure
وَأسودُ غربيبٌ وأبيضُ ناصعُ
Among her marks of beauty are a pleasing red,
Of beauty she owns: red, radiant, bright,
a raven-black, and a dazzling white.
Jet black, dark - all glow with resplendent light.
يَروقُdelights لِعينيto my eye كلّevery عينeye بخدّهاon her cheek
يَروقُ لِعيني كلّ عين بخدّها
وَوردٌand roses وتفّاحand apples مِنَfrom الخدّthe cheek يانعُripening
وَوردٌ وتفّاح مِنَ الخدّ يانعُ
Every eye upon her cheek delights my eye,
To my eyes, her cheeks are roses and fruits,
and roses and apples ripen on that cheek.
Apple and rose - from her cheeks, joy transmutes.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle لثمتُI kissed الخدّthe cheek والخدُّand the cheek أحمرٌred
إِذا ما لثمتُ الخدّ والخدُّ أحمرٌ
تعرّضهsuffuses it لونٌa hue منَof الحسنِbeauty فاقعُbrilliant
تعرّضه لونٌ منَ الحسنِ فاقعُ
When I kiss her cheek, and the cheek is red,
When I kiss her red, red cheek, more joys summon,
a brilliant hue of beauty suffuses it.
Her beauty o’erwhelms me, its powers numb.
شَكَتcomplained of شبعاًfullness منهاin her الروادفُthe hips والحشاand the waist
شَكَت شبعاً منها الروادفُ والحشا
شَكاcomplained of الجوعُhunger منهاin her فهوso it is ظمآنthirsty جائعُhungry
شَكا الجوعُ منها فهو ظمآن جائعُ
Her hips complain of fullness, while her waist
Both desert and town her beauty extol,
complains of hunger, thirsty and famished.
Both sated and starved, she nourishes soul.
وَأرضand a land منَof الغيطانِlowlands قفراءbarren هوجلvast and trackless
وَأرض منَ الغيطانِ قفراء هوجل
بناwith us ذرعتtraversed فيهاwithin it القفارthe wastelands ذواذعُswift camels
بنا ذرعت فيها القفار ذواذعُ
And a barren, trackless land of low-lying plains—
A barren expanse stretched empty ahead,
swift camels carried us across its wastelands.
Where foxes now tread and wolves are led.
فطوراًso at times أَتانيdonkey-paced السيرُthe gait فيهاtherein وتارةًand at other times
فطوراً أَتاني السيرُ فيها وتارةً
تَجدّpresses on السرىnight travel فيin سيرهاtheir pace وتسارعُand hastens
تَجدّ السرى في سيرها وتسارعُ
At times their gait there was slow as a donkey's; at others,
We roamed it by day, by night journeyed on,
they pressed on through the night, hastening their pace.
The milesswiftly passed ‘neath stars’ flickering shine.
يُجاذبهاtugs against them جدلthe braids of الأزمّةthe reins والدجىand the darkness
يُجاذبها جدل الأزمّة والدجى
مَعَwith الشرخِyouth لَمnot يَفجعهُhas afflicted it بالشيبwith gray hair فاجعُa bringer of grief
مَعَ الشرخِ لَم يَفجعهُ بالشيب فاجعُ
The braided reins tug against them, and the darkness,
Buffeted, rocked by the darkness and sands,
still in its youth, has suffered no affliction of gray.
The merciless stars grant no rest in these lands.
وَقَدand already مالَhas bent تهويمthe drowsiness of الكَرىsleep برؤوسِناwith our heads
وَقَد مالَ تهويم الكَرى برؤوسِنا
فَلاso no طرفَeye إلّاexcept وهوَwhile it is يقظانُwakeful هاجعُslumbering
فَلا طرفَ إلّا وهوَ يقظانُ هاجعُ
Drowsing sleep has bowed our heads,
Calamity’s torrents descend on our heads,
so every eye is wakeful yet asleep.
No eye finds respite in slumber’s sweet beds.
إِذاwhen نحنُwe طارَحناset racing الحرونthe balky mounts تَطايَرتflew about
إِذا نحنُ طارَحنا الحرون تَطايَرت
مِنَfrom الأرضِthe ground عنfrom around أحفافهنّtheir edges البرامعُthe pebbles
مِنَ الأرضِ عن أحفافهنّ البرامعُ
When we set the balky mounts racing, there fly
When we shed our robes, the gleaming sands shift,
pebbles from the earth around their feet.
From earth, away dance the shimmering drifts.
يَجدنَthey hurry بناwith us فيthrough كلّevery بيداءَdesert ماnot بهاin it
يَجدنَ بنا في كلّ بيداءَ ما بها
هُنالكthere إلّاexcept طلسهاits dusky wolves والجوامعُand gathering herds
هُنالك إلّا طلسها والجوامعُ
They speed with us through every desert, where
In each barren waste, they light hopes long lost,
there is nothing but its dusky wolves and gathering herds.
Naught stirs but their gowns, sands and mosques.
وَيَحملنَand they carry مِنof سحرِthe magic of الكلامِspeech بضائعاًwares
وَيَحملنَ مِن سحرِ الكلامِ بضائعاً
يقصّرfalls short عَنof إدراكهنّmatching them البضائعُthe wares
يقصّر عَن إدراكهنّ البضائعُ
They carry wares of language's enchantment,
Their sweet words like wares, spellbinding profuse,
which other wares fall short of matching.
Far beyond riches of words mortals use.
فَتىًa young man حوضهُhis pool ماnever شيبَwas mixed يوماًever بكدرةٍwith murk
فَتىً حوضهُ ما شيبَ يوماً بكدرةٍ
وَلاnor طلحبتgrew mossy للوفدِfor visiting delegations منهfrom it المشارعُthe watering places
وَلا طلحبت للوفدِ منه المشارعُ
A young man whose pool was never once mixed with murk,
A steed pure in breed, unsullied by muck,
nor have its watering places grown mossy for visitors.
Free of defects, drawing all who are struck.
تَرىyou see الناسَthe people أَفواجاًin throngs علىat بابهhis door لهمthey have
تَرى الناسَ أَفواجاً على بابه لهم
دعاءٌsupplications وكلُّand every شاخصِone raising الطرفِthe gaze خاضعُsubmissive
دعاءٌ وكلُّ شاخصِ الطرفِ خاضعُ
You see people in throngs at his door; theirs are
See humanity’s throngs at his doorway surround,
supplications, each one gazing up in submission.
Some pray, some marvel,most kneel on the ground.
فَذلكَso that one للإِنصافِfor fairness منتصفٌseeking redress بهthrough him
فَذلكَ للإِنصافِ منتصفٌ به
وَذلكَand that one معترٌّa needy visitor وذلكand that one قانعُa supplicant
وَذلكَ معترٌّ وذلك قانعُ
One seeks just redress through him;
For justice he’s known, to each case gives due weight,
another approaches for charity, another begs.
Dispensing with fairness, ne’er governed by hate.
جَوادٌgenerous لشملِof the gathering of المالwealth منهُby him مفرّقٌa scatterer
جَوادٌ لشملِ المال منهُ مفرّقٌ
وَلكنbut لشملِof the gathering of المجدِglory وَالحمدand praise جامعُa unifier
وَلكن لشملِ المجدِ وَالحمد جامعُ
A generous man who scatters his gathered wealth,
Wealth he divides, uniting all tribes,
yet gathers glory and praise together.
Garnering glory and honors described.
بِرؤيتهِin seeing him الأبصارthe eyes تلتذُّdelight مثلlike ماwhat
بِرؤيتهِ الأبصار تلتذُّ مثل ما
بِذكرthrough mention يضحيcome to be فيin السماعlistening المسامعُthe ears
بِذكر يضحي في السماع المسامعُ
Eyes delight in seeing him, just as
The sight of him joys, as praise joys the ears, He's a blade for the faith, banishing fears.
ears do when they hear him mentioned.
A beacon of truth, his light purified,
أَلاbehold إِنّهindeed he is للدينfor the faith سيفاًa sword وإنّهand indeed he is
أَلا إِنّه للدين سيفاً وإنّه
مِنَof الحقِّtruth نورٌa light فيamong البريّةcreation ساطعُshining brightly
مِنَ الحقِّ نورٌ في البريّة ساطعُ
Behold, he is a sword for the faith, and he is
Dispersing the darkness, superstitions defied.
a light of truth radiant among all creation.
All who seek his help find his goodness exceeds,
فَماand never سُئلَwas asked for المعروفَkindness إلّاexcept that تَواتَرتfollowed in succession
فَما سُئلَ المعروفَ إلّا تَواتَرت
صنائعُacts of kindness منهاamong them تَقتضيهاcall for them صنائعُacts of kindness
صنائعُ منها تَقتضيها صنائعُ
Whenever he is asked for kindness, there follow
His granting of favors sows further good deeds.
favors, each act of kindness calling forth another.
Though pens at times injure, he writes to make whole,
وَلاand never أرعفَmade bleed الأقلامَthe pens إلّاexcept that تَولّدتarose
وَلا أرعفَ الأقلامَ إلّا تَولّدت
بهنّthrough them مضرّاتharms معاًtogether ومنافغُand benefits
بهنّ مضرّات معاً ومنافغُ
Whenever he makes his pens bleed, they give rise
Good and ill both flow forth from his beautiful soul.
to harms and benefits together.
Like floods that destroy, yet nourish the land,
حَكىresembled السيلa torrent منهin him إنsince تغاثreceive relief مواضعٌplaces
حَكى السيل منه إن تغاث مواضعٌ
وَتخربand are ruined منهُby it فيin المسيلthe watercourse مواضعُplaces
وَتخرب منهُ في المسيل مواضعُ
He resembles a torrent: it brings relief to some places,
Both ruin and enrich, shape valleys and strand.
and lays others waste along its course.
Though he errs, engulfed in life’s turbulent tides,
أَعاذلهO his reproacher فيfor سعيهِhis striving واِرتكابهِand his undertaking
أَعاذله في سعيهِ واِرتكابهِ
أُمورٌaffairs لأدناهاat the least of them تخفُّbecomes unsteady متالعُMutaliʿ
أُمورٌ لأدناها تخفُّ متالعُ
O you who blame him for his striving and undertaking
No flaw can surpass his compassion inside.
affairs, the least of which would shake Mutaliʿ,
He's the eighth sphere of seven orbits divine,
أَفِقawake إنّهindeed he is للسبعةِto the seven الشهبِbright stars ثامنٌan eighth
أَفِق إنّه للسبعةِ الشهبِ ثامنٌ
وَليسَand there is not لَهاfor them مِنfrom بعدafter ذلكthat تاسعُa ninth
وَليسَ لَها مِن بعد ذلك تاسعُ
awake! He is an eighth to the seven bright stars,
No ninth beyond him, his glory outshines.
and beyond that there is no ninth among them.
Sir, comfort and aid from you we seek,
أَباO Abu منعمٍMunʿim راحَتthey travelled at evening إليكto you وهجّرتand travelled at midday
أَبا منعمٍ راحَت إليك وهجّرت
سَواجدprostrating ones مِنamong عيسِpale camels of الرجاhope ورواكعُand bowing ones
سَواجد مِن عيسِ الرجا ورواكعُ
O Abu Munʿim, they have come to you at evening and at noon—
Having left aside others, their passion now bleak.
prostrating and bowing, the pale camels of hope.
We come so you grant us clouds when you smile,
وَجِئناكand we came to you نَستسقيwe seek rain غداةone morning مخايلاrain-promising signs
وَجِئناك نَستسقي غداة مخايلا
سَحائبهاtheir clouds وطفthick-fringed الغزاليrain-spouts (reading uncertain) هامعُstreaming
سَحائبها وطف الغزالي هامعُ
We came to you one morning, seeking rain from promising signs,
Quenching our thirst as gazelles gambol awhile.
whose clouds hang heavy, their rain-spouts streaming.
Recall how God granted the Surah's pure light,
أَلمhave you not تَرَseen أنّthat اللّهGod أعطاكَhas given you سورةًeminence
أَلم تَرَ أنّ اللّه أعطاكَ سورةً
لَهاbefore it البدرُthe full moon فيwithin هالاتهِits halos متواضعُhumbled
لَها البدرُ في هالاتهِ متواضعُ
Have you not seen that God has given you eminence
The crescent moon bows to its majestic might.
before which the full moon, within its halos, bows?
Days of triumph for you have drawn nigh,
وَإِنّand indeed لكَfor you الأيَامthe days بالنصرِwith victory أقبَلتhave approached
وَإِنّ لكَ الأيَام بالنصرِ أقبَلت
عليكَtoward you ونجمُand the star of السعدِfortune بالسعدwith good fortune طالعُrising
عليكَ ونجمُ السعدِ بالسعد طالعُ
Indeed, the days have advanced with victory for you,
With auspicious stars rising in your skies.
toward you, as fortune's star rises with good fortune.
Partial English translation: 85 of 86 Arabic lines translated.