يا دارَ أسماءَ بين السَفحِ فالرُّحَبِ

يا دارَ أسماءَ بين السَفحِ فالرُّحَبِ

أَقوَت وعفَّى عليها ذاهِبُ الحُقُبِ

أَقوَت وعفَّى عليها ذاهِبُ الحُقُبِ

O dwelling of Asma, between al-Safh and al-Ruhab,

O house of Asmaa, between the slopes and spacious valley,

It became deserted, and the passing ages effaced it.

Time has passed over it and the epochs have moved on,

فما تَبَيَّنَ منها غيرُ مُنتَضَدٍ

فما تَبَيَّنَ منها غيرُ مُنتَضَدٍ

وراسياتٍ ثلاثٍ حول مُنتَصِبِ

وراسياتٍ ثلاثٍ حول مُنتَصِبِ

So nothing of it could be discerned but a piled-up heap,

Nothing remains of it but some rubble

And three firmly set stones around something standing upright.

And three columns standing around a pillar.

وعَرصَةُ الدارِ تَستَنُّ الرياحُ بها

وعَرصَةُ الدارِ تَستَنُّ الرياحُ بها

تَحِنُّ فيها حَنينَ الوُلَّهِ السُّلُبِ

تَحِنُّ فيها حَنينَ الوُلَّهِ السُّلُبِ

And through the dwelling’s courtyard the winds race,

The courtyard of the house where the winds blow

Moaning there like distraught she-camels bereft of their young.

Yearning in it with the sadness of those who miss it.

دارٌ لأسماءَ إذ قلبي بها كَلِفٌ

دارٌ لأسماءَ إذ قلبي بها كَلِفٌ

وإذ أُقَرِّبُ منها غيرَ مُقترِبِ

وإذ أُقَرِّبُ منها غيرَ مُقترِبِ

Asma’s dwelling, when my heart was enamored of her,

A house for Asmaa when my heart is burdened for her,

And when I sought nearness to her, yet drew no nearer.

Yet when I draw near, I cannot come closer.

إِنَّ الحبيبَ الذي أمسيتُ أهجرُهُ

إِنَّ الحبيبَ الذي أمسيتُ أهجرُهُ

منغير مَقلِيَةٍ منّي ولا غَضَبِ

منغير مَقلِيَةٍ منّي ولا غَضَبِ

Indeed, the beloved whom I have come to forsake—

Indeed, the beloved whom I distanced myself from

Without any hatred on my part, nor anger—

Without any fault from me or anger towards him,

أَصُدُّ عنه ارتقاباً أَن أُلِمَّ به

أَصُدُّ عنه ارتقاباً أَن أُلِمَّ به

ومَن يَخَف قالةَ الواشينَ يَرتَقِبِ

ومَن يَخَف قالةَ الواشينَ يَرتَقِبِ

I turn away from him, watching for a chance to visit him;

I avoided him fearing I'd be blamed for him,

And whoever fears the slanderers’ talk keeps watch.

And whoever fears the gossip of slanderers takes precautions.

إِنّي حَوَيتُ على الأقوام مَكرُمَةً

إِنّي حَوَيتُ على الأقوام مَكرُمَةً

قِدماً وَحذَّرني ما يَتَّقونَ أبي

قِدماً وَحذَّرني ما يَتَّقونَ أبي

Indeed, I won distinction over other men,

I embraced noble values

Long ago; and my father warned me against what they shun.

Steadfastness and was warned against what people fear for me,

فقال لي قولَ ذي رأيٍ وَمَقدِرةٍ

فقال لي قولَ ذي رأيٍ وَمَقدِرةٍ

مُجَرِّبٍ عاقلٍ نَزهٍ عن الرِّيَبِ

مُجَرِّبٍ عاقلٍ نَزهٍ عن الرِّيَبِ

Then he spoke to me the words of one with judgment and ability,

My father said to me words of wisdom and capability

Experienced, wise, and above suspicion:

Of an experienced, rational, pure, blameless man:

قد نِلتَ مجداً فحاذِر أن تُدَنِّسَهُ

قد نِلتَ مجداً فحاذِر أن تُدَنِّسَهُ

أبٌ كريمٌ وجَدٌّ غيرُ مُؤتَشِبِ

أبٌ كريمٌ وجَدٌّ غيرُ مُؤتَشِبِ

“You have attained glory; beware of sullying it—

"You have attained glory, so beware of tainting it,

A noble father and a grandfather of unmixed lineage.

A generous father and grandfather without suspicion."

أَمَرتُكَ الخيرَ فافعل ما أُمِرتَ به

أَمَرتُكَ الخيرَ فافعل ما أُمِرتَ به

فقد تركتُكَ ذا مالٍ وذا نَشَبِ

فقد تركتُكَ ذا مالٍ وذا نَشَبِ

I have commanded you to do good; do as you were commanded,

"I ordered you to do good, so do as you were ordered,

For I have left you with wealth and property.

For I have left you with wealth and youth."

واترُك خلائقَ قومٍ لاخَلاقَ لهم

واترُك خلائقَ قومٍ لاخَلاقَ لهم

واعمِد لأخلاقِ أهلِ الفضلِ والأدَبِ

واعمِد لأخلاقِ أهلِ الفضلِ والأدَبِ

And forsake the ways of people devoid of virtue,

"And leave the morals of people without morals,

And aspire to the character of people of excellence and refinement.

And take on the morals of people of virtue and propriety."

وإن دُعِيتَ لغدرٍ أو أُمِرتَ به

وإن دُعِيتَ لغدرٍ أو أُمِرتَ به

فاهرُب بنفسِكَ عنه آبِدَ الهَرَبِ

فاهرُب بنفسِكَ عنه آبِدَ الهَرَبِ

And if you are called to treachery, or commanded to commit it,

"If you are invited to betrayal or ordered to do it,

Then flee from it yourself, never to return.”

Flee from it with your life, flee far away."