قالواthey said قَضىdied موسىMusa فَقُلتُso I said قَدِindeed اِنطَوىwas furled
قالوا قَضى موسى فَقُلتُ قَدِ اِنطَوى
عَلَمa banner وَأُغمِدَand was sheathed صارِمٌa sharp sword بَتّارُcleaving
عَلَم وَأُغمِدَ صارِمٌ بَتّارُ
They said, 'Musa has died.' I said, 'Now furled is
They said "Musa has passed," and I replied: A banner has been furled, and a sharp, severing sword sheathed.
a banner, and sheathed a sharp, cleaving sword.'
Visions of hope grew blurred and scattered, like blossoms dispersed by a hurricane.
فَتَشَوَّشَتso grew confused صُوَرُvisions المُنىof hopes وَتَناثَرَتand scattered
فَتَشَوَّشَت صُوَرُ المُنى وَتَناثَرَت
كَالزَهرِlike flowers بَدَّدَscattered شَملَهاtheir gathering الإِعصارُthe whirlwind
كَالزَهرِ بَدَّدَ شَملَها الإِعصارُ
Then visions of hope grew confused and scattered,
It was as if Death had struck a personal blow against every man when that mighty giant passed away.
like flowers a whirlwind has scattered apart.
The land was seized with anguish at his fall, as though a sweeping army had vanished from its defense.
وَكَأَنَّماand as though وَتَرَbereaved الرَدىdeath كُلَّevery اِمرِئٍperson
وَكَأَنَّما وَتَرَ الرَدى كُلَّ اِمرِئٍ
لَمّاwhen تَوَلّىdeparted ذَلِكَthat الجَبّارُmighty man
لَمّا تَوَلّى ذَلِكَ الجَبّارُ
And it was as though death had bereaved every person
Palestine wept for its vanguard in him; truly, tragedies are magnified when they befall the great.
when that giant passed away.
When they announced his death, they announced a chieftain to us—one of noble character and pure lineage.
جَزِعَتwas distraught لِمَصرَعِهِat his death البِلادُthe land كَأَنَّماas though
جَزِعَت لِمَصرَعِهِ البِلادُ كَأَنَّما
قَدindeed غابَhad vanished عَنهاfrom it جَحفَلٌan army جَرّارُvast
قَد غابَ عَنها جَحفَلٌ جَرّارُ
The land was distraught at his death, as though
He wore the robe of youth and cast it off unsullied, like a star to which no impurities can cling.
a vast host had vanished from its midst.
White age spread across his head, yet he became like a field abundant with flowers and fruit.
وَبَكَتand wept فِلسطينُPalestine بِهِin him قَيدومَهاits leader
وَبَكَت فِلسطينُ بِهِ قَيدومَها
إِنَّindeed الرَزاياcalamities بِالكِبارِinvolving the great كِبارُare great
إِنَّ الرَزايا بِالكِبارِ كِبارُ
And Palestine mourned its leader in him;
His years extended long, leaving him like a towering mountain, possessed of solidity and dignity.
great indeed are the calamities that befall the great.
Violent storms recoil from him, blunted, and the pouring tempest slides harmlessly away.
لَمّاwhen نَعوهُthey announced his death نَعَواthey announced the death of إِلَيناto us سَيِّداًa leader
لَمّا نَعوهُ نَعَوا إِلَينا سَيِّداً
شَرُفَتwere noble خَلائِقُهhis qualities وَطابَand was good نِجارُlineage
شَرُفَت خَلائِقُه وَطابَ نِجارُ
When they announced his death, they announced to us the loss of a leader
He was harmed but did not fret; he was oppressed but did not yield—for the noble soul is patient in suffering.
whose character was noble and whose lineage was good.
The struggle against hardships polished his spirit, just as rains reveal the garden's splendor.
لَبِسَhe donned الصِباyouth وَنَضاهُand shed it غَيرَnot مُدَنَّسٍdefiled
لَبِسَ الصِبا وَنَضاهُ غَيرَ مُدَنَّسٍ
كَالنَجمِlike a star لَمnot تَعلَقdid cling بِهِto him الأَوضارُstains
كَالنَجمِ لَم تَعلَق بِهِ الأَوضارُ
He donned youth and shed it undefiled,
He possessed the wisdom of the elder and the daring of the youth when pursuing high ambitions.
like a star to which no stains had clung.
The wicked stood in awe of his true conviction, and the free sought guidance in his counsel.
وَمَشىand crept المَشيبُgrayness بِرَأسِهِover his head فَإِذاand behold بِهِhe was
وَمَشى المَشيبُ بِرَأسِهِ فَإِذا بِهِ
كَالحَقلِlike a field فيهِin it الزَهرflowers وَالأَثمارُand fruits
كَالحَقلِ فيهِ الزَهر وَالأَثمارُ
And grayness crept across his head, and behold, he was
He ceased not to roar in defense of the sanctuary, like a startled lion finding no repose.
like a field with flowers and fruits.
He calmly burdened his soul with perils, so that no calamities would befall his people.
وَتَطاوَلَتand lengthened أَعوامُهُhis years فَإِذاand behold بِهِhe was
وَتَطاوَلَت أَعوامُهُ فَإِذا بِهِ
كَالطَودِlike a mountain فيهِin it صَلابَةfirmness وَوَقارُand dignity
كَالطَودِ فيهِ صَلابَة وَوَقارُ
And his years grew long, and behold, he was
Until Death settled him in the hollow of the grave, and the racecourse was left to another's steed.
like a mountain, full of strength and dignity.
Marvel at one whose fame filled all ears, now enfolded by mere spans of earth within the soil.
تَرتَدُّrecoil عَنهُfrom him العاصِفاتُstorms كَليلَةًexhausted
تَرتَدُّ عَنهُ العاصِفاتُ كَليلَةً
وَيَزُلُّand slips عَنهُoff him العارِضُthe rain cloud المِدرارُpouring abundantly
وَيَزُلُّ عَنهُ العارِضُ المِدرارُ
Storms recoil from him, exhausted,
May is remembered for his noble deeds, even though the month of May has passed and gone.
and the rain-laden cloud slips off him.
Serve your country then, as Musa Kazem did, and the cities shall lavish their praise upon you.
أوذيhe was harmed فَلَمyet did not يَجزَعdespair وَضيمَand was wronged فَلَمyet did not يَهِنweaken
أوذي فَلَم يَجزَع وَضيمَ فَلَم يَهِن
إِنَّindeed الكَريمَthe noble man عَلىunder الأَذىharm صَبّارُever patient
إِنَّ الكَريمَ عَلى الأَذى صَبّارُ
He was harmed but did not despair, wronged but did not weaken;
The years are alike, whether many or few, if impactful deeds do not weigh upon their pages.
the noble man is ever patient under harm.
Turn your reins toward glory while in your youth; for the cloak of youth, like beauty, is but a loan.
صَقَلَتpolished مُكافَحَةُstruggling against الشَدائِدِhardships نَفسُهُhis soul
صَقَلَت مُكافَحَةُ الشَدائِدِ نَفسُهُ
وَالرَوضُand the garden تَجلوbring out حُسنُهُits beauty الأَمطارُthe rains
وَالرَوضُ تَجلو حُسنُهُ الأَمطارُ
Battling hardships polished his soul,
Do not defer the struggle until tomorrow, for tomorrow may come when you are but dust.
and rains bring out a garden's beauty.
What profit is there for you to own the soil, if the evenings and the dawns belong to another?
فَلَهُso he had مِنَfrom الشَيخِthe elder الأَصالَةsound judgment وَالفَتىand the youth
فَلَهُ مِنَ الشَيخِ الأَصالَة وَالفَتى
إِقدامُهُhis daring إِذsince لِلفَتىthe youth has أَوطارُaspirations
إِقدامُهُ إِذ لِلفَتى أَوطارُ
His was the elder's sound judgment, and the youth's
He who does not open his eyelids to the day—far be it that the light of day should ever adorn his sight.
daring, for youth has ambitions.
Love your land as Musa Kazem loved, with a passion defined by sincerity and self-sacrifice.
يَتَهَيَّبُstand in awe of الفُجّارُthe wicked صِدقَthe sincerity of يَقينِهِhis conviction
يَتَهَيَّبُ الفُجّارُ صِدقَ يَقينِهِ
وَبِرَأيِهِand by his judgment يَستَرشِدُseek guidance الأَحرارُthe free
وَبِرَأيِهِ يَستَرشِدُ الأَحرارُ
The wicked stand in awe of his sure conviction,
Then the hills will weave a crown of blossoms for your head, and the valleys will chant your name.
and the free seek guidance in his judgment.
Beware of gazing upon her with the eye of a merchant, for to trade in homelands is a disgrace.
ماnot زالَceased يَزأَرُroaring دونَin defense of ذَيّاكَthat الحِمىsanctuary
ما زالَ يَزأَرُ دونَ ذَيّاكَ الحِمى
كَاللَيثِlike a lion ريعَstartled فَماso no لَهُfor him اِستِقرارُrest
كَاللَيثِ ريعَ فَما لَهُ اِستِقرارُ
He never ceased roaring in defense of that sanctuary,
Shun the hypocrite and trust not his pledges; the hypocrite's only homeland is silver and gold.
like a startled lion that can find no rest.
Shaky in morals, his truest promise is a mirage, and the best of his gifts are mere excuses.
وَيُجَشِّمُand makes endure النَفسَhimself المَخاطِرَperils هادِئًcalmly
وَيُجَشِّمُ النَفسَ المَخاطِرَ هادِئً
كَيلاlest تُلِمَّdescend بِقَومِهِupon his people الأَخطارُdangers
كَيلا تُلِمَّ بِقَومِهِ الأَخطارُ
And calmly subjected himself to perils,
He draws near with a face full of affection, while his heart mocks and sneers at you.
lest dangers descend upon his people.
When following his whims he is a traitor, and at the height of his virtue, he is but a broker.
حَتّىuntil اِستَقَرَّsettled بِهِwith him الرَدىdeath فيin حُفرَةٍa pit
حَتّى اِستَقَرَّ بِهِ الرَدى في حُفرَةٍ
وَخَلاand lay open لِغَيرِto other than جَوادِهِhis steed المِضمارُthe racecourse
وَخَلا لِغَيرِ جَوادِهِ المِضمارُ
Until death lodged him in a pit,
How many factions we deemed our allies, only to find them allies of our foes.
and the racecourse lay free for steeds other than his.
While the enemy slept, they feigned valor; but when war grew fierce, they mounted the wind and fled.
فَاِعجَبso marvel لِمَنat one who مَلَأَfilled المَسامِعَthe ears ذِكرُهُhis renown
فَاِعجَب لِمَن مَلَأَ المَسامِعَ ذِكرُهُ
تَطويهِenfold him فيin عَرضِthe breadth of الثَرىthe earth أَشبارُhandspans
تَطويهِ في عَرضِ الثَرى أَشبارُ
Marvel, then, at one whose renown filled every ear,
Worse for a man than a bitter adversary is the wavering, faint-hearted friend.
whom a few handspans in earth's expanse enfold.
And beware the snares of politics, for she is a daughter sired by fleeting mercury.
أَيّارُMay مَذكورٌis remembered بِحُسنِfor the goodness of صَنيعِهِits deeds
أَيّارُ مَذكورٌ بِحُسنِ صَنيعِهِ
وَلَئِنand even though تَوَلّىdeparted وَاِنقَضىand passed away أَيّارُMay
وَلَئِن تَوَلّى وَاِنقَضى أَيّارُ
May is remembered for its fine deeds,
She holds the potent venom of the viper, and possesses the wolf's fangs and claws.
even though May has departed and passed away.
One approaches her springs finding sweet water, but turns back to find the springs have turned to fire.
فَاِخدِمso serve بِلادَكَyour country مِثلُlike موسىMusa كاظِمٍKazim
فَاِخدِم بِلادَكَ مِثلُ موسى كاظِمٍ
تُسبِغwill lavish عَلَيكَupon you ثَنائَهاtheir praise الأَمصارُthe cities
تُسبِغ عَلَيكَ ثَنائَها الأَمصارُ
So serve your country as Musa Kazim did,
Deceit and camouflage are her finest traits; her motto is that no motto shall endure.
and cities will lavish their praise upon you.
Do not seek mercy from politics; she dwells where blood is spilled and ruin descends.
إِنَّindeed السِنينَthe years كَثيرُهاmany of them كَقَليلِهاlike few of them
إِنَّ السِنينَ كَثيرُها كَقَليلِها
إِنif لَمnot تَزِنgive weight to صَفَحاتِهاtheir pages الآثارُachievements
إِن لَم تَزِن صَفَحاتِها الآثارُ
Indeed, many years are the same as few
If you are vigilant, the prey is another; but if you sleep, you become the quarry and your flesh the prize.
if achievements do not give their pages weight.
O my people, the enemy is at your gate; how wretched a raider is the neighbor who invades.
فَاِصرِفso turn عَنانَكَyour rein فيin الشَباِyouth إِلىtoward العُلىthe heights
فَاِصرِف عَنانَكَ في الشَباِ إِلى العُلى
بُردُthe mantle of الشَبيبَةِyouth كَالجَمالِlike beauty مُعارُon loan
بُردُ الشَبيبَةِ كَالجَمالِ مُعارُ
So turn your reins toward the heights in youth;
He covets your land with the insatiable greed of Ash'ab, full of deceit and ceaseless plotting.
the mantle of youth, like beauty, is borrowed.
Do not sleep on him, for he does not sleep; do you slumber when the flood tide has risen high?
لاdo not تَقعِدَنَّever hold back عَنِfrom الجِهادِthe struggle إِلىuntil غَدٍtomorrow
لا تَقعِدَنَّ عَنِ الجِهادِ إِلى غَدٍ
فَلَقَدfor indeed يَجيءُcomes غَدtomorrow وَأَنتَwhile you are غُبارُdust
فَلَقَد يَجيءُ غَد وَأَنتَ غُبارُ
Never put off the struggle until tomorrow,
Even the birds defend their nests; shall the winged flocks possess more reason than you?
for tomorrow may come when you are dust.
Tread in the footsteps of Musa and toil, if you wish that your homelands not be lost.
ماذاwhat يُفيدُكَdoes it benefit you أَنthat يَكونَbe لَكَyours الثَرىthe earth
ماذا يُفيدُكَ أَن يَكونَ لَكَ الثَرى
وَلِغَيرِكَand for others, not you الآصالthe evenings وَالأَسحارُand predawn hours
وَلِغَيرِكَ الآصال وَالأَسحارُ
What use is it for the earth to be yours,
Visit his resting place and draw strength from him, for how often does remembrance rekindle the spirit's fire.
while evenings and predawn hours belong to others?
A grave whose borders waft with perfume; for the tomb of the noble is a fragrant garden.
مَنwhoever لَيسَdoes not يَفتَحُopen لِلنَهارِto the day جُفونَهُhis eyelids
مَن لَيسَ يَفتَحُ لِلنَهارِ جُفونَهُ
هَيهاتِnever يُكَحِّلُwill line with kohl مُقلَتَيهِhis two eyes نَهارُdaylight
هَيهاتِ يُكَحِّلُ مُقلَتَيهِ نَهارُ
Whoever does not open his eyelids to the day—
If a breeze passes over it one day, it becomes scented, as though its very stones were flowers.
no day will ever line his eyes with kohl.
وَاِحبِبand love بِلادَكَyour country مِثلُlike موسىMusa كاظِمٍKazim
وَاِحبِب بِلادَكَ مِثلُ موسى كاظِمٍ
حُبّاًa love بِهِin it الإِخلاصdevotion وَالإيثارُand selflessness
حُبّاً بِهِ الإِخلاص وَالإيثارُ
And love your country as Musa Kazim did,
with a love full of devotion and selflessness.
تَضفَرwill braid لِرَأسِكَfor your head مِنfrom أَزاهِرِهاits blossoms الرُبىthe hills
تَضفَر لِرَأسِكَ مِن أَزاهِرِها الرُبى
تاجاa crown وَتَهتُفُand will call out بِاِسمِكَyour name الأَغوارُthe lowlands
تاجا وَتَهتُفُ بِاِسمِكَ الأَغوارُ
From its blossoms the hills will weave for your head
a crown, and the lowlands will call out your name.
إِيّاكَbeware تَرمَقُهاyou regard it بِمُقلَةِwith the eye of تاجِرٍa merchant
إِيّاكَ تَرمَقُها بِمُقلَةِ تاجِرٍ
إِنindeed اِتِّجارَكَyour trading بِالمَواطِنُin homelands عارُa disgrace
إِن اِتِّجارَكَ بِالمَواطِنُ عارُ
Beware of regarding it with a merchant's eye;
for your trading in homelands is a disgrace.
وَدَعِand leave المُنافِقَthe hypocrite لاdo not تَثِقtrust بِعُهودِهِin his pledges
وَدَعِ المُنافِقَ لا تَثِق بِعُهودِهِ
وَطَنُthe homeland of المُنافِقِthe hypocrite فَضَّةsilver وَنُضارُand pure gold
وَطَنُ المُنافِقِ فَضَّة وَنُضارُ
And leave the hypocrite; do not trust his pledges.
The hypocrite's homeland is silver and gold.
مُتَرَجرِجُwavering الأَخلاقِmorals أَصدَقُtruest وَعدِهِhis promise
مُتَرَجرِجُ الأَخلاقِ أَصدَقُ وَعدِهِ
آلa mirage وَخَيرُand the best of هِباتِهِhis gifts الأَعذارُexcuses
آل وَخَيرُ هِباتِهِ الأَعذارُ
His morals waver; his truest promise
is a mirage, and his finest gifts are excuses.
يَدنوhe draws near إِلَيكَto you بِوَجهِهِwith his face مُتَوَدِّداًshowing affection
يَدنو إِلَيكَ بِوَجهِهِ مُتَوَدِّداً
وَفُؤادُهُwhile his heart بِكَat you هازِئٌmocking سَخّارُscoffing
وَفُؤادُهُ بِكَ هازِئٌ سَخّارُ
He draws near you, his face showing affection,
while his heart mocks and scoffs at you.
هُوَhe حينَwhen يَجريruns مَعwith هَواهُhis desire خائِنٌa traitor
هُوَ حينَ يَجري مَع هَواهُ خائِنٌ
وَإِذاand when سَمَتrise أَخلاقُهُhis morals سِمسارُa broker
وَإِذا سَمَت أَخلاقُهُ سِمسارُ
When he follows his desire, he is a traitor,
and when his morals rise, he is a broker.
كَمhow many مَعشَرٍa company خِلناهُمُwe thought them أَنصارَناour supporters
كَم مَعشَرٍ خِلناهُمُ أَنصارَنا
فَإِذاand behold هُمُthey لِعُداتِناfor our enemies أَنصارُsupporters
فَإِذا هُمُ لِعُداتِنا أَنصارُ
How many a band we thought our supporters,
only to find them supporters of our enemies!
رَقَدَslept العِدىthe foes فَتَحَمَّسواso they grew zealous حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen
رَقَدَ العِدى فَتَحَمَّسوا حَتّى إِذا
جَدَّgrew fierce الوَغىbattle رَكِبواthey mounted العُقابthe eagle وَطارواand flew away
جَدَّ الوَغى رَكِبوا العُقاب وَطاروا
The foes slept, and they grew bold, until
battle grew fierce: they mounted the eagle and flew away.
شَرٌّworse مِنَthan الخَصمِthe enemy اللَدودِimplacable عَلىfor الفَتىa young man
شَرٌّ مِنَ الخَصمِ اللَدودِ عَلى الفَتى
الصاحِبُthe companion المُتَذَبذِبُwavering الخُوّارُfainthearted
الصاحِبُ المُتَذَبذِبُ الخُوّارُ
Worse for a young man than a bitter enemy
is the wavering, fainthearted friend.
وَحَذارِand beware أَشراكَthe snares of السِياسَةِpolitics إِنَّهاindeed it is
وَحَذارِ أَشراكَ السِياسَةِ إِنَّها
بِنتٌa daughter أَبوهاher father الزِئبَقُquicksilver الفَرّارُever fleeing
بِنتٌ أَبوها الزِئبَقُ الفَرّارُ
And beware the snares of politics: it is
a daughter whose father is elusive quicksilver.
فيهاin it مِنَfrom الرَقطاءِthe speckled serpent ناقِعُdeadly سُمِّهاits venom
فيها مِنَ الرَقطاءِ ناقِعُ سُمِّها
وَلَهاand it has نُيوبُfangs الذِئبof the wolf وَالأَظفارُand claws
وَلَها نُيوبُ الذِئب وَالأَظفارُ
It holds the speckled serpent's deadly venom,
and has the wolf's fangs and claws.
تَرِدُit visits المَناهِلthe watering places وَهيَwhile they are ماءٌwater سائِغٌpleasant to drink
تَرِدُ المَناهِل وَهيَ ماءٌ سائِغٌ
وَتَعودُand it departs عَنهاfrom them وَالمَناهِلُwhile the watering places نارُfire
وَتَعودُ عَنها وَالمَناهِلُ نارُ
It comes to watering places while their water is sweet,
and departs from them, the watering places now fire.
الكَذِبlying وَالتَمويهُand deception خَيرُthe best of صِفاتِهاits qualities
الكَذِب وَالتَمويهُ خَيرُ صِفاتِها
وَشِعارُهاand its watchword أَنthat لاnot يَدومَshould endure شِعارُa watchword
وَشِعارُها أَن لا يَدومَ شِعارُ
Lies and deception are its finest qualities,
and its watchword is that no watchword should last.
لاdo not تَطلُبَنَّever seek مِنَfrom السِياسَةِpolitics رَحمَةًmercy
لا تَطلُبَنَّ مِنَ السِياسَةِ رَحمَةً
هِيَit is حَيثُwhere طُلَّwas shed unavenged دَمblood وَحَلَّand descended دَمارُdestruction
هِيَ حَيثُ طُلَّ دَم وَحَلَّ دَمارُ
Never seek mercy from politics;
it is wherever blood goes unavenged and ruin descends.
الصَيدُthe prey غَيرَكَsomeone other than you إِنif سَهِرَتyou stay awake دَإِنbut if تَنَمyou sleep
الصَيدُ غَيرَكَ إِن سَهِرَت دَإِن تَنَم
فَالصَيدُthen the prey أَنتyou وَلَحمُكَand your flesh المُختارُthe choicest
فَالصَيدُ أَنت وَلَحمُكَ المُختارُ
If you keep watch, another is the prey; but if you sleep,
then you are the prey, and your flesh the choicest.
ياO قَومَناour people إِنَّindeed العَدُوَّthe enemy بِبابِكُمat your door
يا قَومَنا إِنَّ العَدُوَّ بِبابِكُم
بِئسَhow evil المُغيرِthe raider عَلىupon البِلادِthe land الجارُthe neighbor
بِئسَ المُغيرِ عَلى البِلادِ الجارُ
O our people, the enemy is at your door;
what an evil invader of the land this neighbor is!
وَلَهُand he has بِأَرضِكُمfor your land طَماعَةthe greed of أَشعَبٍAsh'ab
وَلَهُ بِأَرضِكُم طَماعَة أَشعَبٍ
وَرَواغَهand his guile وَلِكَيدِهِand his plotting has اِستِمرارُcontinuance
وَرَواغَه وَلِكَيدِهِ اِستِمرارُ
He has Ash'ab's greed for your land,
and his guile; his scheming never ceases.
لاdo not تَرقُدواsleep عَنهُheedless of him فَلَيسَfor he is not بِراقِدٍasleep
لا تَرقُدوا عَنهُ فَلَيسَ بِراقِدٍ
أَفَتَهجَعونwill you then slumber وَقَدwhile already طَمىhas overflowed التَيّارُthe torrent
أَفَتَهجَعون وَقَد طَمى التَيّارُ
Do not sleep heedless of him, for he is not asleep.
Will you slumber when the torrent has overflowed?
إِنَّindeed الطُيورَbirds تَذودُward off عَنfrom أَوكارِهاtheir nests
إِنَّ الطُيورَ تَذودُ عَن أَوكارِها
أَتَكونُcan ... be أَعقَلَwiser مِنكُمُthan you الأَتيارُthe birds
أَتَكونُ أَعقَلَ مِنكُمُ الأَتيارُ
Surely birds defend their nests;
can birds be wiser than you?
سيرواwalk عَلىin آثارِthe footsteps of موسىMusa وَاِعمَلواand work
سيروا عَلى آثارِ موسى وَاِعمَلوا
إِنif شِئتُمُyou wish أَنthat لاnot تَضيعَbe lost دِيارُhomes
إِن شِئتُمُ أَن لا تَضيعَ دِيارُ
Walk in Musa's footsteps and work,
if you wish no homes to be lost.
زورواvisit ثَراهhis grave وَاِستَمِدّواand draw قُوَّةًstrength
زوروا ثَراه وَاِستَمِدّوا قُوَّةً
مِنهُfrom him فَكَمfor how often أَحياrevived الهَوىlove التَذكارُremembrance
مِنهُ فَكَم أَحيا الهَوى التَذكارُ
Visit his grave and draw strength
from him; how often remembrance has revived love!
قَبرٌa grave يَفوحُwafts الطيبُperfume مِنfrom جَنَباتِهِits sides
قَبرٌ يَفوحُ الطيبُ مِن جَنَباتِهِ
قَبرُthe grave of الكَريمِthe noble man خَميلَةٌa grove مِعطارُrichly perfumed
قَبرُ الكَريمِ خَميلَةٌ مِعطارُ
A grave from whose sides perfume wafts—
the noble man's grave is a fragrant grove.
فَإِذاand when تَمُرُّpasses عَلَيهِover it يَوماًone day نَسمَةٌa breeze
فَإِذا تَمُرُّ عَلَيهِ يَوماً نَسمَةٌ
أَرَجَتgrew fragrant كَأَنَّas though حِجارَهُits stones أَزهارُflowers
أَرَجَت كَأَنَّ حِجارَهُ أَزهارُ
And when, one day, a breeze passes over it,
it grows fragrant, as though the grave's stones were flowers.
Partial English translation: 49 of 98 Arabic lines translated.