روقclarify الكَأسthe cup وَعجلand hasten بِالندامىwith the drinking companions
روق الكَأس وَعجل بِالندامى
إِنَّنيindeed I أَصبَحتI have become مَملوءاًfilled غَراماwith passion
إِنَّني أَصبَحت مَملوءاً غَراما
Clarify the cup’s wine, and hurry the drinking companions here.
Indeed, I have become filled with passion.
وَائتand bring بِالقَهوةwith the wine راحاًwine قرقفاًshiver-inducing wine
وَائت بِالقَهوة راحاً قرقفاً
خَندَريساًaged wine أَدرَكتthat lived to see ساماًShem وَحاماand Ham
خَندَريساً أَدرَكت ساماً وَحاما
And bring the wine, a draught that makes one shiver,
An ancient vintage that knew Shem and Ham.
شابgrew gray مِنهاfrom it الرَأسthe head فيin حانوتهاits tavern
شاب مِنها الرَأس في حانوتها
فَكَسَوناهاso we clothed it مِنof البلورcrystal جاماa goblet
فَكَسَوناها مِن البلور جاما
The head grew gray from it within its tavern,
So we clothed it in a goblet of crystal.
كُلَّماwhenever باشرهاtouched it الماءwater جلاrevealed
كُلَّما باشرها الماء جلا
ثَغرهاits mouth فَانظرso behold لِتَزويجat the marrying of الأَيامىthe unwed
ثَغرها فَانظر لِتَزويج الأَيامى
Whenever water touched it, it bared
Its mouth; behold the marriage of the unwed.
لَقحتit conceived مِنهُby it فَأَلقتthen brought forth أَنجُماstars
لَقحت مِنهُ فَأَلقت أَنجُما
كَقِبابlike domes of الدرpearls لاnot تَخشىthey fear الفِطاماweaning
كَقِباب الدر لا تَخشى الفِطاما
By the water it conceived and brought forth stars,
Like domes of pearl, fearing no weaning.
فاسقينهاso do serve it نَهلاa first draught فيamid عللfurther draughts
فاسقينها نَهلا في علل
وَاتركand leave اللاحيthe reproacher وَإِنeven if صَلىhe prays وَصاماand fasts
وَاترك اللاحي وَإِن صَلى وَصاما
So do serve it, first draughts and draughts again,
And leave the reproacher, even though he pray and fast.
إِنَماonly العُمرlife كَظلlike a shadow زائلpassing
إِنَما العُمر كَظل زائل
يَتَلاشىit fades مدةover time عاماًa year فَعاماthen another year
يَتَلاشى مدة عاماً فَعاما
Life is only a passing shadow,
Fading away with time, year after year.
وَكَذاكَand likewise الوَقتtime سَيفa sword قاطعcutting
وَكَذاكَ الوَقت سَيف قاطع
فأقمso set فيat رَأسهits head مِنكof your own حساماa keen sword
فأقم في رَأسه مِنك حساما
And time likewise is a cutting sword;
So set a keen blade of your own against its head.
إِنَّماonly العَيشlife شَبابyouth وَصِباand boyhood
إِنَّما العَيش شَباب وَصِبا
وَصبوحand morning wine وَمُناداةand calling to الندامىthe drinking companions
وَصبوح وَمُناداة الندامى
Life is but youth and boyhood,
And morning wine and calling to drinking companions.
فاغتنمso seize فُرصةthe opportunity of وَقتa time ماnot لهfor it
فاغتنم فُرصة وَقت ما له
عوضa replacement وَاشربand drink سلافاpure wine وَمداهاand its extent
عوض وَاشرب سلافا وَمداها
So seize the chance of a time that has no
Replacement; drink pure wine to the full,
فيin رِياضgardens عبثplayed الريحthe wind بِهاwith them
في رِياض عبث الريح بِها
فَشَمَمناso we inhaled مِنهُfrom it أَرواحthe scents of الخُزامىlavender
فَشَمَمنا مِنهُ أَرواح الخُزامى
In gardens where the wind has played,
So we inhaled from it the scents of lavender.
وَحَباهاand bestowed upon them الطلthe dew مِنهُfrom itself لُؤلُؤاpearls
وَحَباها الطل مِنهُ لُؤلُؤا
راقَwas pleasing للناظرto the beholder نَثراًscattered وَنِظاماand strung
راقَ للناظر نَثراً وَنِظاما
And dew bestowed upon them pearls of its own,
Pleasing the beholder, scattered and strung.
ياO بَريقاgleam لاحَthat shone مِنfrom أَعلىthe heights of منىMina
يا بَريقا لاحَ مِن أَعلى منى
زادَكَmay increase you اللَهGod اِبتِهاجاًin joy وَاِبتِساماand smiling
زادَكَ اللَه اِبتِهاجاً وَاِبتِساما
O gleam that shone from the heights of Mina,
May God increase your joy and smiles.
إِنindeed قَلبيmy heart ضاعَwas lost فيin ربعكمyour dwelling
إِن قَلبي ضاعَ في ربعكم
وَعَجيبand strange فيunder حِماكُمyour protection أَنthat يُضاماit be wronged
وَعَجيب في حِماكُم أَن يُضاما
Indeed, my heart was lost within your dwelling,
And strange that it should be wronged under your protection.
كُلماwhenever هبتblew لَهُupon it ريحwind الصباthe east wind
كُلما هبت لَهُ ريح الصبا
زادَit grew شَوقاًin longing للقاكمto meet you وَهياماand love-madness
زادَ شَوقاً للقاكم وَهياما
Whenever the east wind blew upon it,
It grew in longing to meet you and in love-madness.
وَمَتىand whenever غَنتsang حَماماتthe doves of اللوىal-Liwa
وَمَتى غَنت حَمامات اللوى
ذكرتهthey reminded it فيon رُبىthe hills of نَجدNajd بشاماbalsam trees
ذكرته في رُبى نَجد بشاما
And whenever the doves of al-Liwa sang,
They recalled to it the balsam trees on Najd’s hills.
ياAh رعىmay preserve اللَهGod لَياليnights بِالحِمىin the sanctuary
يا رعى اللَه لَيالي بِالحِمى
كُلall عَيشlife بَعدهاafter them صارَbecame حماماdeath
كُل عَيش بَعدها صارَ حماما
Ah, may God preserve those nights within the sanctuary!
All life after them became death.
قَدindeed سَرَقناwe stole لذةthe delight of العُمرlife بِهاduring them
قَد سَرَقنا لذة العُمر بِها
وَالمُنىand wishes لَكنهاbut they كانَتwere مَناماa dream
وَالمُنى لَكنها كانَت مَناما
In those nights we stole life’s delight,
And our wishes—but it was a dream.
أَيُهاO اللائمyou who reproach قَلبيmy heart بِالهَوىfor love
أَيُها اللائم قَلبي بِالهَوى
خلنيleave me وَاتركand keep عَنaway from القَلبthe heart الملاماblame
خلني وَاترك عَن القَلب الملاما
O you who reproach my heart for love,
Leave me be, and spare the heart reproach.
ثُمthen سرjourney بيwith me نَحوَtoward سربيmy flock فالقوىfor the strength
ثُم سر بي نَحوَ سربي فالقوى
للجوىfor love’s anguish أَضحَتhas become مَناخاًan encampment وَمَقاماand an abode
للجوى أَضحَت مَناخاً وَمَقاما
Then journey with me toward my flock, for my strength
Has become an encampment and abode for love’s anguish.
ماdo you not ترىsee العيسthe pale camels إِلَيهمtoward them عتقاًnoble-bred
ما ترى العيس إِلَيهم عتقاً
تَتَرامىpressing onward عَلهاin hopes that they تَقضيattain المراماthe goal
تَتَرامى عَلها تَقضي المراما
Do you not see the noble-bred pale camels toward them
Pressing onward, hoping to attain the goal?
قَدindeed بَراهاhas worn them down السيرthe journey نصاًwith hard driving فَالبراso the nose-rings
قَد بَراها السير نصاً فَالبرا
حَلهاloosened them الوَخدswift pacing نحولاًthrough leanness وَسقاماand sickness
حَلها الوَخد نحولاً وَسقاما
Hard-driven travel has worn them down; their nose-rings
Have been loosened by swift pacing, through leanness and sickness.
ياO لَهاhow wondrous they are اللَهGod مواضpressing onward للسهىtoward Suha
يا لَها اللَه مواض للسهى
تركتهاhave made them شققthe long stretches of البينseparation سهاماarrows
تركتها شقق البين سهاما
O God, how they press onward toward Suha!
The long reaches of separation have made them arrows.
نشقتthey inhaled مِنfrom آلthe house of فَخرFakhr نفحةa waft
نشقت مِن آل فَخر نفحة
فَطَوَتso they traversed براًland وَبَحراًand sea وَأَكاماand hills
فَطَوَت براً وَبَحراً وَأَكاما
They inhaled a waft from the house of Fakhr,
And so traversed land, sea, and hills.
حلفتthey swore إِنif لَمnot تَذُقthey tasted طَعمthe savor of الكَرىslumber
حلفت إِن لَم تَذُق طَعم الكَرى
لاno وَلاnor تَختارthey choose للطرفfor the eye مَناماsleep
لا وَلا تَختار للطرف مَناما
They swore they would not taste the savor of slumber,
No, nor choose sleep for the eye.
لَوif only أتونيthey came to me حَضرةa court قَدindeed حسنتhad become fair
لَو أتوني حَضرة قَد حسنت
للموافيfor the arriving guest مُستقراًa resting place وَمقاماand an abode
للموافي مُستقراً وَمقاما
If only they came to me at a court made fair
As a resting place and abode for the arriving guest.
حَضرةa court فاقتsurpassed سَناءin eminence وَسَنىand radiance
حَضرة فاقت سَناء وَسَنى
وَحَوَتand held مِنfrom مَعدنthe mine of اللُطفkindness كِراماnoble men
وَحَوَت مِن مَعدن اللُطف كِراما
A court surpassing others in eminence and radiance,
And holding noble men from kindness’s own mine.
شيدتwas raised مِنby آلthe house of فَخرFakhr بالتُقىthrough piety
شيدت مِن آل فَخر بالتُقى
فبهاso in it كُلevery فَخارglory قَدindeed تَسامىrose high
فبها كُل فَخار قَد تَسامى
Raised by the house of Fakhr through piety,
Where every glory has risen high.
سادةlords لاحَshone سَناهُمtheir radiance فيin السَماheaven
سادة لاحَ سَناهُم في السَما
فَغَدواso they became للعلمfor learning وَالحلمand forbearance سَناماa summit
فَغَدوا للعلم وَالحلم سَناما
Lords whose radiance shone in heaven,
And who became the summit of learning and forbearance.
نزلdescended الوَحيrevelation بِأَبياتهمin their houses
نزل الوَحي بِأَبياتهم
فَعلمناso we learned مِنهfrom it حلاthe lawful وَحَراماand the forbidden
فَعلمنا مِنه حلا وَحَراما
Revelation descended in their houses,
And from it we learned the lawful and the forbidden.
خَفَقتfluttered فَوقَabove السُهىSuha أَعلامهمtheir banners
خَفَقت فَوقَ السُهى أَعلامهم
فَطَوَتso they enfolded فيin نَشرِهاtheir unfurling مصراًEgypt وَشاماand Syria
فَطَوَت في نَشرِها مصراً وَشاما
Their banners fluttered above Suha,
And in their unfurling enfolded Egypt and Syria.
سَلask جُيوشthe armies of الفُرسthe Persians عَنهُمabout them ماwhat لَقَتthey suffered
سَل جُيوش الفُرس عَنهُم ما لَقَت
مِنfrom كِرامnoble men رَكبواwho rode الخَيلhorses كِراماnobly
مِن كِرام رَكبوا الخَيل كِراما
Ask the Persian armies about them: what did they suffer
From noble men who mounted horses nobly?
زحمواthey thronged إِيوانهمtheir palace hall فيin مَوكبa procession
زحموا إِيوانهم في مَوكب
تركthat left النيرانthe fires تَشكوهcomplaining to it الزحاماthe crush
ترك النيران تَشكوه الزحاما
They thronged their palace hall in a procession
That left the fires complaining to it of the crush.
تحسبyou would think الفَيلَقthe legion مِنهُمof theirs فيin الوَغىbattle
تحسب الفَيلَق مِنهُم في الوَغى
قَبساًa firebrand يشعلkindling فيin الحَربwar ضراماa blaze
قَبساً يشعل في الحَرب ضراما
You would think their legion in battle
A firebrand kindling a blaze in war.
وَتخالand you would imagine البيضthe white swords نَجماًa star ساطِعاًshining
وَتخال البيض نَجماً ساطِعاً
وَسَحاباًand clouds يُمطرraining المَوتdeath رُكاماheaped up
وَسَحاباً يُمطر المَوت رُكاما
And you would think the white blades a shining star,
And massed clouds raining death.
كَمhow many لَهُمthey have فيin الدينthe faith أَيدhelping hands أَيدتgave strength
كَم لَهُم في الدين أَيد أَيدت
وَلَهاand to them دانَتbowed وَفيهاand through them الحَقtruth داماendured
وَلَها دانَت وَفيها الحَق داما
How many hands of theirs have strengthened faith—
To them submission was yielded, and through them truth endured.
وَعُلومand sciences كَشَفَتthat dispelled كُلall عَمىblindness
وَعُلوم كَشَفَت كُل عَمى
وَعَناءand hardship وَضَلالاًand error وَظَلاماand darkness
وَعَناء وَضَلالاً وَظَلاما
And sciences that dispelled all blindness,
And hardship, error, and darkness.
قُلsay لِمَنto whoever يُنكرdenies جَهلاًignorantly فَضلَهُمtheir excellence
قُل لِمَن يُنكر جَهلاً فَضلَهُم
لَستُI am not بِالأَعمىblind وَلَكنbut تَتَعامىyou feign blindness
لَستُ بِالأَعمى وَلَكن تَتَعامى
Tell whoever ignorantly denies their excellence:
I am not blind, but you feign blindness.
قُمrise لِعَبدfor Abd اللَهAllah وَانظرand behold طلعةa countenance
قُم لِعَبد اللَه وَانظر طلعة
مِنfrom سَماهاits heaven طَلعrose البَدرthe full moon تَماماin fullness
مِن سَماها طَلع البَدر تَماما
Rise for Abd Allah, and behold a countenance
From whose heaven the moon rose full.
هاشميa Hashimite هشمتshattered فطنتهhis insight
هاشمي هشمت فطنته
هَيكلthe temple of الجَهلignorance وَأَولاهand dealt it حساماa keen sword
هَيكل الجَهل وَأَولاه حساما
A Hashimite whose insight shattered
The temple of ignorance, and who dealt it a sword-blow.
نَبعgushed العرفانknowledge مِنfrom أَعضائِهhis limbs
نَبع العرفان مِن أَعضائِه
فَتَراهاso you see them سائرthroughout الدَهرtime سجاماpouring forth
فَتَراها سائر الدَهر سجاما
Knowledge gushed from his limbs,
So you see them pouring forth for all time.
قَدindeed حَكىresembled نائلهhis bounty الغَيثrain كَماjust as
قَد حَكى نائله الغَيث كَما
قَدindeed حَكَتresembled أَنملهhis fingertips البيضwhite غماماclouds
قَد حَكَت أَنمله البيض غماما
His bounty resembled rain, just as
His white fingertips resembled clouds.
مَنwho يُجاريهcan keep pace with him إِذاwhen البحثinquiry دجاgrows dark
مَن يُجاريه إِذا البحث دجا
وَالجَوادand the steed الحُرpurebred سبقاًin racing لَنnever will يُراماbe matched
وَالجَواد الحُر سبقاً لَن يُراما
Who can keep pace with him when inquiry grows dark?
And the noble thoroughbred can never be matched in a race.
كَمhow many مَحَتerased أَقلامهhis pens مِنof بدعinnovations
كَم مَحَت أَقلامه مِن بدع
أَورثتthat left فيupon صَفحةthe page of الدينfaith رغاماdust
أَورثت في صَفحة الدين رغاما
How many innovations his pens have erased,
Which had cast dust upon the page of faith!
كُلماwhenever مَرتthey passed عَلىover نيرانهاtheir fires
كُلما مَرت عَلى نيرانها
كانَتbecame النيرانthe fires بَرداًcoolness وَسَلاماand peace
كانَت النيران بَرداً وَسَلاما
Whenever they passed over their fires,
The fires became coolness and peace.
وَأَيادand favors مِنamong أَياديهhis helping hands بَدَتappeared
وَأَياد مِن أَياديه بَدَت
قَدindeed رَبتreared فيin حجرهاtheir lap كُلall اليَتامىorphans
قَد رَبت في حجرها كُل اليَتامى
And favors from his hands have appeared,
That reared all orphans in their lap.
وَتَلاهand followed him فيin المَعاليexcellences كُلهاall of them
وَتَلاه في المَعالي كُلها
أَسعدAs‘ad الغرةthe radiant brow علماin learning وَاحتراماand honor
أَسعد الغرة علما وَاحتراما
And following him in every excellence was
As‘ad, radiant of brow, in learning and honor.
وافرabundant in الحشمةdignity ندبgallant طاهرpure
وافر الحشمة ندب طاهر
ألمعيkeen-witted بِحُقوقfor the claims of المَجدglory قاماhe stood up
ألمعي بِحُقوق المَجد قاما
Abundant in dignity, gallant and pure,
Keen-witted, he upheld the claims of glory.
تنشقyou inhale الأَلطافkindnesses مِنfrom أَعطافهhis sides
تنشق الأَلطاف مِن أَعطافه
كُلماwhenever حركتهyou stir him زادhe grows اهتِماماin attentiveness
كُلما حركته زاد اهتِماما
You inhale kindness from his very person;
Whenever you stir him, he grows more attentive.
قَدindeed حَكَتmirrored أَخلاقهhis character أَخلاقهمtheir character
قَد حَكَت أَخلاقه أَخلاقهم
وَمعاليهand his excellences معاليهمtheir excellences تَماماcompletely
وَمعاليه معاليهم تَماما
His character mirrored theirs,
And his excellences theirs, completely.
وَزَكاand he flourished علماًin learning وَحلماًand forbearance وَتقىand piety
وَزَكا علماً وَحلماً وَتقى
وَنَوالاand bounty وَكَمالاand perfection وَكَلاماand speech
وَنَوالا وَكَمالا وَكَلاما
And he flourished in learning, forbearance, and piety,
And bounty, perfection, and speech.
ماnever رأَيناwe have seen مثلهhis like بَحراًa sea طَمىthat surged
ما رأَينا مثله بَحراً طَمى
فَغَداso he became فيin جودِهِhis generosity فَرداًpeerless هماماmagnanimous
فَغَدا في جودِهِ فَرداً هماما
We have never seen his like: a surging sea,
So he became peerless in generosity, magnanimous.
ياO بَنيsons of فَخرFakhr خذوهاaccept it غضةfresh and tender
يا بَني فَخر خذوها غضة
وَاعذرواand pardon قَلباًa heart مُصاباstricken مُستَهاماlove-distraught
وَاعذروا قَلباً مُصابا مُستَهاما
O sons of Fakhr, accept it fresh and tender,
And pardon a stricken, love-distraught heart.
ماno لَهُfor it مِنfrom مَدحكمpraising you بدescape وَهَلand does one
ما لَهُ مِن مَدحكم بد وَهَل
يَتركabandon الفَرضa duty إِذاwhen صارَit becomes لِزاماbinding
يَترك الفَرض إِذا صارَ لِزاما
It cannot do without praising you; and does one
Abandon a duty once it becomes binding?
وَهوَand it فيin البُعدdistance وَإنeven if شَطwent far بِهwith it
وَهوَ في البُعد وَإن شَط بِه
أَبَداًalways يَرعىit honors عهوداًpledges وَذماماand sacred bonds
أَبَداً يَرعى عهوداً وَذماما
And though far away, however far distance carries it,
It always honors pledges and sacred bonds.
وَتَهنواand rejoice بِتَمامat the completion of الصومthe fast فيin
وَتَهنوا بِتَمام الصوم في
طاعةobedience ماnot خامرتmingled with فيهِduring it أَثاماsins
طاعة ما خامرت فيهِ أَثاما
And rejoice at completing the fast in
Obedience unmingled with sin throughout it.
لَيسَis not مَنone who صامfasted وَصلىand prayed لاهياheedlessly
لَيسَ مَن صام وَصلى لاهيا
مثلlike منone who بِاللَهthrough God قَدindeed صَلىhas prayed وَصاماand fasted
مثل من بِاللَه قَد صَلى وَصاما
One who fasts and prays heedlessly is not
Like one who, through God, has prayed and fasted.