عِشlive حِقبَةًan age لاnot تَنتَهِيends بَلrather تَبتَدِيbegins
عِش حِقبَةً لا تَنتَهِي بَل تَبتَدِي
وَتَمَلَّand take your fill بِالدُنياof the world وَأَبلِand wear out وَجَدِّدِand renew
وَتَمَلَّ بِالدُنيا وَأَبلِ وَجَدِّدِ
Live an age that never ends, but ever begins.
Live a never-ending era that just begins
And take your fill of the world; wear out and renew.
And be done with this world, act nobly and renew
فَإِذاso whenever تَقَضَّتhas ended مُدَّةٌa span مَعهُودَةٌfamiliar
فَإِذا تَقَضَّت مُدَّةٌ مَعهُودَةٌ
وُصِلَتis joined بِأَسعَدto a happier مُدَّةٍspan لَمnot تُعهَدِpreviously known
وُصِلَت بِأَسعَد مُدَّةٍ لَم تُعهَدِ
Whenever a familiar span has run its course,
So when a known period ends
may it be joined to a happier span, unknown before.
And is tied to a most felicitous unexperienced period
فَتَدُومُso you endure مَخصُوصاًspecially favored بِعِزٍwith might سَرمَدٍeverlasting
فَتَدُومُ مَخصُوصاً بِعِزٍ سَرمَدٍ
لاnot يَنقَضيends وَبِطُولِand with length of عُمرٍlife سَرمَدِeverlasting
لا يَنقَضي وَبِطُولِ عُمرٍ سَرمَدِ
So may you remain singled out for everlasting might
You then particularly endure with eternal glory
that never ends, and for a life of endless length.
That does not diminish and with an eternal long life
رُمseek ماwhat اِشتَهَيتَyou desire تَنَلyou will attain وُسُسand govern ماwhat تَبتَغيyou seek
رُم ما اِشتَهَيتَ تَنَل وُسُس ما تَبتَغي
تَرشُدyou will act rightly وَحاوِلand attempt ماwhat أَرَدتَyou wish تُسَدَّدِyou will be guided to success
تَرشُد وَحاوِل ما أَرَدتَ تُسَدَّدِ
Seek what you desire and you shall gain it; rule what you wish,
Seek what you desired to attain and be rightly guided in what you wanted to accomplish
and you shall act aright; attempt what you want and find success.
And wear the crescent of the horizon as a necklace and speak
وَالبَسand wear هِلالَthe crescent of الأُفقِthe horizon طَوقاًas a neck-ring وَانتَطِقand gird yourself with
وَالبَس هِلالَ الأُفقِ طَوقاً وَانتَطِق
شُهُبَthe bright stars of المَجَرَّةِthe Milky Way وَانتَعِلand shoe yourself بِالفَرقَدِwith al-Farqad
شُهُبَ المَجَرَّةِ وَانتَعِل بِالفَرقَدِ
Wear the horizon’s crescent as a neck-ring, and gird yourself
The stars of the galaxy and wear Alfarqad
with the Milky Way’s bright stars; make al-Farqad your sandal.
And drape over Ash-Shi’raa for crossing clothes
واسحَبand trail عَلىover الشِعرىSirius العَبُورِthe Crossing One مَلابِساًgarments
واسحَب عَلى الشِعرى العَبُورِ مَلابِساً
عَبَرَتhave passed عَلىover جَسَدِthe body of الإِمامِthe Imam الأَمجَدِthe most glorious
عَبَرَت عَلى جَسَدِ الإِمامِ الأَمجَدِ
And trail garments over Sirius, the Crossing Star,
That crossed over the body of the most glorious Imam
that have passed over the most glorious Imam’s body.
In it is the breeze of the Father of the Imams Haydar
فِيهاin them نَسِيمُthe fragrance of أَبِيthe father of الأَئِمَّةِthe Imams حَيدَرٍHaydar
فِيها نَسِيمُ أَبِي الأَئِمَّةِ حَيدَرٍ
وَنَسيمُand the fragrance of خَيرِthe best of الأَنبِياءِthe prophets مُحَمَّدِMuhammad
وَنَسيمُ خَيرِ الأَنبِياءِ مُحَمَّدِ
In them is the fragrance of Haydar, father of the Imams,
And the breeze of the best of Prophets Muhammad
and the fragrance of Muhammad, best of the prophets.
And tie the crown upon yourself and know that it
وَاعقِدand fasten عَلَيكَupon yourself التاجَthe crown وَاعلَمand know أَنَّهُthat it
وَاعقِد عَلَيكَ التاجَ وَاعلَم أَنَّهُ
بِالعِزِّwith glory مَعقُودٌbound وَإِنand even if لَمnot يُعقَدِfastened
بِالعِزِّ مَعقُودٌ وَإِن لَم يُعقَدِ
And fasten the crown upon yourself, and know that it
Is tied with glory even if it is not tied
is bound with glory, even if not fastened.
In it embedded are many glories
قَدindeed رُصِّعَتhave been inlaid فيهِin it مَناقِبُvirtues جَمَّةcountless
قَد رُصِّعَت فيهِ مَناقِبُ جَمَّة
تُغنِيهِspare it the need عَنfor دُرٍّpearls بِهِwithin it وَزَبَرجَدِand chrysolite
تُغنِيهِ عَن دُرٍّ بِهِ وَزَبَرجَدِ
Countless virtues have been set within it,
That suffice it from pearls and peridot
sparing it any need for pearls and chrysolite within.
And hang the sword that resembles its sheath
وَتَقَلَّدِand gird yourself with العَضبَthe keen sword الشَبِيهَsimilar بِغِمدِهِto its scabbard
وَتَقَلَّدِ العَضبَ الشَبِيهَ بِغِمدِهِ
فَكَأَنَّماso as though هُوَit مُصلَتٌdrawn لَمnot يُغمدِsheathed
فَكَأَنَّما هُوَ مُصلَتٌ لَم يُغمدِ
And gird on the keen sword resembling its scabbard,
So it is as if it is an unsheathed well-honed sword
as though it were drawn, never sheathed.
Many defeated remnants due to its sharpness as if
كَثُرَتhave grown numerous بِحَدَّيهِon its two edges الفُلولُthe notches كَأَنَّهُas though it were
كَثُرَت بِحَدَّيهِ الفُلولُ كَأَنَّهُ
مِمّاfrom what يُكَسِّرُit shatters فيamong الطُلىthe necks فَمُthe mouth of أَدرَدِa toothless man
مِمّا يُكَسِّرُ في الطُلى فَمُ أَدرَدِ
Its two edges bear so many notches that it seems,
It is that which breaks the lips of the eloquent
from hacking at necks, a toothless man’s mouth.
It is singular in the sheath unless it
هُوَit مُفرَدٌalone فيin الغِمدِthe scabbard إِلّاexcept أَنَّهُthat it
هُوَ مُفرَدٌ في الغِمدِ إِلّا أَنَّهُ
فيin الرَوعِbattle-terror يُزوِجُmakes a pair of كُلَّevery شَيءٍthing مُفرَدِsingle
في الرَوعِ يُزوِجُ كُلَّ شَيءٍ مُفرَدِ
It lies alone in its scabbard, yet
Pairs everything singular in might
in battle it makes a pair of every single thing.
In the palm of the most splendid, if he gestures with his sword
فيin كَفِّthe hand of أَروَعَan awe-inspiring man لَوif أَشارَhe gestured بِسَيفِهِwith his sword
في كَفِّ أَروَعَ لَو أَشارَ بِسَيفِهِ
لَفَرىhe would cleave وَحدُّwhile the edge of السَيفِthe sword غَيرُnot مُجَرَّدِunsheathed
لَفَرى وَحدُّ السَيفِ غَيرُ مُجَرَّدِ
In the hand of an awe-inspiring man who, if he gestured with his sword,
You would see the sword’s sharpness is not bare
would cleave, though the sword’s edge remained sheathed.
And ride the steeds of the Prophet's son, spirited
وَاركَبand ride جِيادَthe steeds of ابنِthe son of النَبِيِّthe Prophet طَوامِحاًhigh-headed
وَاركَب جِيادَ ابنِ النَبِيِّ طَوامِحاً
مِثلَlike الصُقورشthe falcons دَوالِجاًstriding فيthrough العَسجَدِgold
مِثلَ الصُقورش دَوالِجاً في العَسجَدِ
And ride the Prophet’s son’s steeds, high-headed,
Like an eagle, galloping into the wilderness
like falcons, striding through gold.
Of every strong-boned steed well-girded
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَلفُوفِcompact-built الجِيادِthe steeds مُقَلَّصٍlong-legged
مِن كُلِّ مَلفُوفِ الجِيادِ مُقَلَّصٍ
كَالسِبدِlike the wolf سِيدِthe wolf of الرَدهَةِthe rocky hollow المُتَمَرِّدِthe untamed
كَالسِبدِ سِيدِ الرَدهَةِ المُتَمَرِّدِ
Each a well-knit, long-legged steed,
Like the lead, the chief of the defiant herd
like the wolf, the untamed wolf of the rocky hollow.
Trotting easily with the gait of its saddle
مُتَرَفِّقٍmoving gently يَمشيwalking بِحِليَةِwith the ornaments of سَرجِهِits saddle
مُتَرَفِّقٍ يَمشي بِحِليَةِ سَرجِهِ
مَشيَwith the gait of المُقَيَّدِthe fettered وَهوَand it is غَيرُnot مُقَيَّدِfettered
مَشيَ المُقَيَّدِ وَهوَ غَيرُ مُقَيَّدِ
Moving gently, it walks in its saddle’s finery,
The gait of the tethered though it is not tethered
with a fettered gait, though it is unfettered.
And when it runs under the stallion by its Lord
وَإِذاand when جَرىit runs تَحتَbeneath العَجاجِthe dust بِرَبِّهِwith its master
وَإِذا جَرى تَحتَ العَجاجِ بِرَبِّهِ
طَبَعَit stamps الأَهِلَّةَcrescents فيon صِفاحِthe broad faces of الجَلمَدِhard rock
طَبَعَ الأَهِلَّةَ في صِفاحِ الجَلمَدِ
But when it races beneath the dust with its master,
It imprints the new moon on the surface of the ice
it stamps crescents upon the faces of hard rock.
And behind your back a banner raised
وَوَراءَand behind ظَهرِكَyour back رايَةٌa banner مَرفُوعَةٌraised
وَوَراءَ ظَهرِكَ رايَةٌ مَرفُوعَةٌ
تَهدِيit guides الخَمِيسَthe army مِنَout of الضَلالِstraying فَيَهتَدِيso it finds its way
تَهدِي الخَمِيسَ مِنَ الضَلالِ فَيَهتَدِي
Behind your back a banner is raised,
Guiding the misguided from misguidance to guidance
guiding the army from straying, and it finds its way.
Like the beautiful doe havinglovelocks
كَالغادَةِlike a graceful maiden الحَسناءِthe beautiful ذاتُpossessing ذَوائِبٍtresses
كَالغادَةِ الحَسناءِ ذاتُ ذَوائِبٍ
تَهفُوfluttering وَذاتُand possessing تَعَطُّفٍswaying grace وَتَأَوُّدِand supple bending
تَهفُو وَذاتُ تَعَطُّفٍ وَتَأَوُّدِ
Like a lovely, graceful maiden, with tresses
Fondling and with affection and amity
that flutter, and with graceful swaying and bending.
Whenever the morning breeze fluttered with it
فيin لَونِthe color of عِرضِكَyour honor كُلَّماwhenever خَفَقَتfluttered بِهاthrough it
في لَونِ عِرضِكَ كُلَّما خَفَقَت بِها
رِيحُthe wind of الصَباthe east خَفَقَتfluttered قُلُوبُthe hearts of الحُسَّدِthe envious
رِيحُ الصَبا خَفَقَت قُلُوبُ الحُسَّدِ
In the color of your honor; whenever it is stirred
The hearts of the envious fluttered
by the east wind, the hearts of the envious flutter.
The Imam tied its branches with his right hand
عَقَدَtied الإِمامُthe Imam فُرُوعَهاits streamers بِيَمِينِهِwith his right hand
عَقَدَ الإِمامُ فُرُوعَها بِيَمِينِهِ
عَقداًa knot تَكَفَّلَgave assurance بِالبَقاءِof continuance الأَسعَدِmost fortunate
عَقداً تَكَفَّلَ بِالبَقاءِ الأَسعَدِ
The Imam tied its streamers with his right hand,
A bond he guaranteed for the most felicitous survival
in a knot assuring the most fortunate continuance.
And next to it the white standards as if they were
وَحِيالَهاand opposite it بِيضُthe white البُنودِstandards كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَحِيالَها بِيضُ البُنودِ كَأَنَّها
رَوضٌa meadow يَرِفُّshimmering عَلىupon القَناthe spear-shafts المُتَأَوِّدِswaying
رَوضٌ يَرِفُّ عَلى القَنا المُتَأَوِّدِ
Opposite it are white standards, as though they were
A meadow overflowing on the beloved river
a meadow shimmering upon swaying spear-shafts:
Of gold and chiseled and latticed
مِنof مُذهَبٍgilded وَمُفَضَّضِand silvered وَمُخَلَّقٍand saffron-perfumed
مِن مُذهَبٍ وَمُفَضَّضِ وَمُخَلَّقٍ
وَمُزَوَّقٍand painted وَمُعَصفَرِand safflower-dyed وَمُوَرَّدِand rose-colored
وَمُزَوَّقٍ وَمُعَصفَرِ وَمُوَرَّدِ
some gilded, some silvered, some saffron-perfumed,
And feathered and gilded and reddened
some painted, some safflower-dyed, some rose-colored.
And Al-Buzal the carrier of domes as if they were
وَالبُزلُand the full-grown camels حامِلَةُbearing القِبابِthe canopied litters كَأَنَّهاas though they were
وَالبُزلُ حامِلَةُ القِبابِ كَأَنَّها
سَكرىdrunk لِكَثرَةِfrom the abundance of ماwhat تَرُوحُthey travel at evening وَتَغتَدِيand travel at morning
سَكرى لِكَثرَةِ ما تَرُوحُ وَتَغتَدِي
The full-grown camels bearing canopied litters seem
Intoxicated from too much roving and wandering
drunk from all their evening and morning journeys,
From Sab'Sab to Sab'Sab or jungle
فيacross سَبسَبٍan open plain عَنafter سَبسَبٍan open plain أَوor مَجهَلٍa trackless waste
في سَبسَبٍ عَن سَبسَبٍ أَو مَجهَلٍ
عَنafter مَجهَلِa trackless waste أَوor فَدفَدٍa barren upland عَنafter فَدفَدِa barren upland
عَن مَجهَلِ أَو فَدفَدٍ عَن فَدفَدِ
across plain after plain, or trackless waste
From jungle or creek to creek
after trackless waste, or barren upland after upland.
They left the station of the Prophet's son and came
تَرَكَتthey left مَحَلَّthe abode of ابنِthe son of الرَسولِthe Messenger وَأَقبَلَتand came onward
تَرَكَت مَحَلَّ ابنِ الرَسولِ وَأَقبَلَت
مَنصُوصَةًurged swiftly onward تَبغِيseeking مَحَلَّthe abode of السُؤدُدِlordship
مَنصُوصَةً تَبغِي مَحَلَّ السُؤدُدِ
They left the dwelling of the Messenger’s son and came,
Erect, seeking the abode of As-Sudud
urged swiftly onward, seeking the abode of lordship.
And their necks craned in yearning
وَتَشَوَّفَتand stretched eagerly أَعناقُهاtheir necks فيon رَبوَتيthe two heights of
وَتَشَوَّفَت أَعناقُها في رَبوَتي
مِصرٍEgypt إِلىtoward البَلَدِthe land القَصِيِّdistant الأَبعَدِthe farthest
مِصرٍ إِلى البَلَدِ القَصِيِّ الأَبعَدِ
Their necks craned eagerly upon the two heights
In Egypt for the most distant foreign land
of Egypt, toward the distant, far-off land.
And travelled until they crossed under the darkness
وَسَرَتand traveled by night إِلىuntil أَنthat جاوَزتthey passed تَحتَbeneath الدُجىthe darkness
وَسَرَت إِلى أَن جاوَزت تَحتَ الدُجى
رَملَthe sands of العَرِيشِal-Arish وَرَملَand the sands of ذاتِDhat الغَرقَدِal-Gharqad
رَملَ العَرِيشِ وَرَملَ ذاتِ الغَرقَدِ
They journeyed by night until, beneath the darkness, they passed
The sand of Arish and the sand of DhatAl-Gharqad
the sands of al-Arish and the sands of Dhat al-Gharqad.
And disliked the water of Al-Jifar and tried
وَتَكَرَّهَتand recoiled from ماءَthe water of الجِفارِal-Jifar وَحاوَلَتand sought
وَتَكَرَّهَت ماءَ الجِفارِ وَحاوَلَت
ماءًwater بِشَطٍّon the bank of قُويقَQuwayq عَذبَsweet المَوردِthe watering place
ماءً بِشَطٍّ قُويقَ عَذبَ المَوردِ
They recoiled from the waters of al-Jifar, and sought
Water of a coast, fresh sweet water
water along Quwayq’s bank, sweet to drink.
And avoided the sea of Tyre, seeking
وَتَيامَنَتand turned rightward عَنaway from بَحرِthe sea of صُورٍTyre تَبتَغيseeking
وَتَيامَنَت عَن بَحرِ صُورٍ تَبتَغي
بِالشامِin Syria أُمَّthe mother-city of الناجِعينَseekers of bounty القُصَّدِthe purposeful
بِالشامِ أُمَّ الناجِعينَ القُصَّدِ
They turned rightward from the sea of Tyre, seeking
Through Syria the refuge of the determined
in Syria the mother-city of resolute seekers of bounty.
And came to Tripoli, their hearts almost
وَأَتَتand reached طَرابُلُساًTripoli تَكادُalmost قُلُوبُهاtheir hearts
وَأَتَت طَرابُلُساً تَكادُ قُلُوبُها
تَطغىoverflow مِنَwith الشَوقِlonging المُقيِمِthat makes one rise المُقعِدِthat makes one sit
تَطغى مِنَ الشَوقِ المُقيِمِ المُقعِدِ
They came to Tripoli, their hearts almost
Overflowing from residing lasting longing
overflowing with longing that made them rise and sit.
And intended to pass Marqiyya and it has changed
وَتَيَمَّمَتand headed toward مَرَقِيَّةَMaraqiyya وَقَدِand already اِنطَوَتthey had folded inward
وَتَيَمَّمَت مَرَقِيَّةَ وَقَدِ اِنطَوَت
مِمّاfrom what تَجُوبُthey traverse البِيدَthe deserts طَيَّlike the folding of مُجَلَّدِa bound volume
مِمّا تَجُوبُ البِيدَ طَيَّ مُجَلَّدِ
They made for Maraqiyya, already drawn lean
From frequenting the Baid Mount
from crossing deserts, folded like a bound volume.
And it complained of the abundance of clouds and of how much
وَشَكَتand complained بِهاthere فَرطَthe excess of السَحابِclouds وَفَرطَماand the excess of what
وَشَكَت بِها فَرطَ السَحابِ وَفَرطَما
بِقُلُوبِهاin their hearts مِنof لَوعَةٍburning anguish لَمnot تَبرُدِhad cooled
بِقُلُوبِها مِن لَوعَةٍ لَم تَبرُدِ
There they lamented the clouds’ excess, and the excess
The intensity of yearning in their hearts did not cool
of burning in their hearts that had not cooled.
And aimed for Hama and the clouds hindered it
وَنَوَتand made for حَماةَHama وَالغَمامُwhile the clouds يَصُدُّهاbarred them
وَنَوَت حَماةَ وَالغَمامُ يَصُدُّها
عَنfrom قَصدِهاtheir goal صَدَّlike the barring of الحِيامِthirst-stricken camels الوُرَّدcoming to water
عَن قَصدِها صَدَّ الحِيامِ الوُرَّد
They made for Hama, while the clouds barred them
From intending like the thorns of Wars hinder
from their goal, like thirsty camels turned from water.
And aimed for Krak des Chevaliers and the fullness of their chests
وَنَوَتand made for كَفَرطابَKafartab وَمِلءُand filling صُدُورِهاtheir breasts
وَنَوَت كَفَرطابَ وَمِلءُ صُدُورِها
شَوقٌlonging أَحَرُّhotter مِنthan الجَحيمِhellfire المُوقَدِkindled
شَوقٌ أَحَرُّ مِن الجَحيمِ المُوقَدِ
They made for Kafartab, their breasts filled
Is a longing hotter than hellfire
with longing hotter than blazing hellfire.
And they traversed the land of Ma`arrah and spread
وَتَجاوَزَتand passed beyond أَرضَthe land of المَعَرَّةِal-Ma‘arra وَانتَشَتand inhaled
وَتَجاوَزَت أَرضَ المَعَرَّةِ وَانتَشَت
رِيحَthe scent of الحَياةِlife مِنَfrom السَبِيلِthe road الأَقصَدِmost direct
رِيحَ الحَياةِ مِنَ السَبِيلِ الأَقصَدِ
They passed the land of al-Ma‘arra and inhaled
The breeze of life from the straightest path
the scent of life from the most direct road.
And at Sermin land they were relieved after
وَبِأَرضِand in the land of سَرمِينٍSarmin أُرِيحَتthey were rested بَعدَماafter
وَبِأَرضِ سَرمِينٍ أُرِيحَت بَعدَما
شَكَتِthey complained of العَياءَexhaustion مِنَfrom الذَمِيلِtrotting السَرمَدِceaseless
شَكَتِ العَياءَ مِنَ الذَمِيلِ السَرمَدِ
In the land of Sarmin they were rested, after
Complaining of perennial weariness to the eternal
complaining of exhaustion from ceaseless trotting.
And it came intending the best intender
وَغَدَتand set out at morning مُيَمِّمَةًheading toward أَجَلَّthe noblest مُيَمَّمٍone sought
وَغَدَت مُيَمِّمَةً أَجَلَّ مُيَمَّمٍ
قَدراًin rank وَأَقرَبَand nearer نائِلاًin giving مِنthan مَوعِدِa promise
قَدراً وَأَقرَبَ نائِلاً مِن مَوعِدِ
They set out toward the noblest man one could seek
In destiny and nearest obtainer from meeting
in rank, whose gifts come sooner than a promise.
Until it came to the king, the light of his forehead
حَتّىuntil أَتَتthey reached مَلِكاًa king ضِياءُthe radiance of جَبِينِهِhis brow
حَتّى أَتَت مَلِكاً ضِياءُ جَبِينِهِ
كَضِياءِlike the radiance of بَدرِthe full moon of الحِندِسِpitch darkness المُتَوَقِّدِblazing
كَضِياءِ بَدرِ الحِندِسِ المُتَوَقِّدِ
Until they reached a king whose brow shone
Like the light of the glowing full moon
like the blazing full moon of a pitch-dark night.
So he gave them the house of bliss and relieved them
فَأَحَلَّهاso he lodged them دارَin the abode of النَعِيمِbliss وَفَكَّهاand freed them
فَأَحَلَّها دارَ النَعِيمِ وَفَكَّها
بَعدَafter الإِياسِdespair مِنَfrom العَذابِthe torment المُوصَدِshut fast
بَعدَ الإِياسِ مِنَ العَذابِ المُوصَدِ
He lodged them in the abode of bliss and freed them,
After despairing from shuttered tribulation
after despair, from torment sealed around them.
My soul be sacrificed for the habituated king, his soul
رُوحِيmy soul فِداa ransom for المَلِكِthe king المُعَوِّدِwho accustoms رُوحَهُhis soul
رُوحِي فِدا المَلِكِ المُعَوِّدِ رُوحَهُ
بِالحِلمِto forbearance أَفضَلَthe finest عادَةِhabit of المُتَعَوِّدِone acquiring habits
بِالحِلمِ أَفضَلَ عادَةِ المُتَعَوِّدِ
My soul be the ransom of the king who schools his soul
Habituated with the highest of customs of the habituated
in forbearance, the finest habit one can acquire.
If he is munificent and erred
إِنif سِيلَasked جادَhe gives generously وَإِنand if أَصابَhe encounters خَطِيَّةًa fault
إِن سِيلَ جادَ وَإِن أَصابَ خَطِيَّةً
أَغضىhe overlooks فَلَمand does not يَحقِدharbor resentment وَلَمand does not يَتَوَجَّدِtake offense
أَغضى فَلَم يَحقِد وَلَم يَتَوَجَّدِ
When asked, he gives; when he encounters a fault,
He connives and neither envies nor gathers rancor
he overlooks it, neither harboring grudges nor taking offense.
Women gave birth from men inclinations
وَلَدَgave birth النِساءُwomen مِنَamong الرِجالِmen خَلائِقاًto multitudes
وَلَدَ النِساءُ مِنَ الرِجالِ خَلائِقاً
لاnot يَنحَصُونَcan be counted وَمِثلُهُand his like لَمnot يُولَدِhas been born
لا يَنحَصُونَ وَمِثلُهُ لَم يُولَدِ
Women have borne multitudes of men
That cannot be counted and none like him has been born
beyond counting, but his like has never been born.
Thanking the Imam for the number of his bounties
شَكَرُواthey thanked الإِمامَthe Imam عَلىfor تَواتُرِthe succession of فَضلِهِhis bounty
شَكَرُوا الإِمامَ عَلى تَواتُرِ فَضلِهِ
شُكرَas the thanks of الخَمِيلَةِthe thicket لِلغَمامِto the raincloud المُغتَدِيcoming at morning
شُكرَ الخَمِيلَةِ لِلغَمامِ المُغتَدِي
They thanked the Imam for his repeated bounty
Thanking of the lover to the encroaching cloud
as a thicket thanks the morning raincloud.
As for the Commander of the Faithful, he knows
أَمّاas for أَمِيرُthe Commander of المُؤمِنينَthe Faithful فَعالِمٌso he knows
أَمّا أَمِيرُ المُؤمِنينَ فَعالِمٌ
أَنَّthat الجَميلَkindness إِلَيكَto you غَيرُnot مُفَنَّدِill-judged
أَنَّ الجَميلَ إِلَيكَ غَيرُ مُفَنَّدِ
As for the Commander of the Faithful, he knows
That generosity is not refuted to you
that kindness shown to you is never ill-judged.
So remove from the countries and its people
فَلتَدفَعَنَّso you shall surely repel عَنِfrom البِلادِthe lands وَأَهلِهاand their people
فَلتَدفَعَنَّ عَنِ البِلادِ وَأَهلِها
نُوَباًcalamities يُخافُis feared وَقُوعُهاtheir coming وَكَأَنand as though قَدِalready
نُوَباً يُخافُ وَقُوعُها وَكَأَن قَدِ
You shall surely ward off from the lands and their people
Blame, feared to fall as if it already had
calamities whose coming is feared—as though already here.
And may you be praised as you were praised in Tupl
وَلتُحمَدَنَّand you shall surely be praised كَماas حُمِدتَyou were praised بتُبَّلٍat Tubbal
وَلتُحمَدَنَّ كَما حُمِدتَ بتُبَّلٍ
وَالخَيلُwhile the horses تَعثَرُstumbled بِالقَناover spear-shafts المُتَقَصِّدُshattered
وَالخَيلُ تَعثَرُ بِالقَنا المُتَقَصِّدُ
And you shall surely be praised as you were praised at Tubbal,
And the horses stumble amongst the purposeful river
when horses stumbled over shattered spear-shafts.
Unbelief from you and your brother flees
وَالشِركُand polytheism مِنكَfrom you وَمِنand from شَقِيقِكَyour brother هارِبٌfleeing
وَالشِركُ مِنكَ وَمِن شَقِيقِكَ هارِبٌ
هَرَبَas the flight of الشَحاحِthe wary bird مِنَfrom الغَمامِthe cloud المُرعِدِthundering
هَرَبَ الشَحاحِ مِنَ الغَمامِ المُرعِدِ
And polytheism fled from you and your brother,
Fleeing of the juvenile from the flashing thunder
as a wary bird flees a thundering cloud.
Were it not for your smiting swords, those who are at the frontiers
لَولاbut for سُيُوفُكُمُyour swords البَواتِرُthe severing لالتَقىwould have met
لَولا سُيُوفُكُمُ البَواتِرُ لالتَقى
مَنthose بِالثُغورِat the frontiers وَمِنand those بِبُرقَةِat Burqat مُنشِدِMunshid
مَن بِالثُغورِ وَمِن بِبُرقَةِ مُنشِدِ
But for your cleaving swords, there would have met
And who are at Barqah would have met
those on the frontiers and those at Burqat Munshid.
But your resolves refused to bend
لَكِنbut أَبَتrefused عَزَماتُكُمُyour resolves أَنto تَنثَنِيturn back
لَكِن أَبَت عَزَماتُكُمُ أَن تَنثَنِي
أَوuntil تَنثَنيshould return رِيّانَةًquenched كَبِدُthe liver of الصَدِيthe thirsty one
أَو تَنثَني رِيّانَةً كَبِدُ الصَدِي
But your resolves refused to turn back
Or bend yielding, even the skin of the wolf
until the thirsty one’s liver returned quenched.
You have supported Islam, indeed your swords
أَسنَدتُمُyou upheld الإِسلامَIslam إِنَّindeed سُيُوفَكُمyour swords
أَسنَدتُمُ الإِسلامَ إِنَّ سُيُوفَكُم
لِمَعاقِلِfor the strongholds of الإِسلامِIslam أَفضَلُthe finest مُسنِدِsupport
لِمَعاقِلِ الإِسلامِ أَفضَلُ مُسنِدِ
You have upheld Islam; indeed your swords
Are the greatest support to fortresses of Islam
are the finest support for Islam’s strongholds.
Were it not for you, the soft cloud would be unattainable
لَولاكُمُwithout you كانَwould be النَدىgenerosity مُتَعَذِّرَdifficult الthe
لَولاكُمُ كانَ النَدى مُتَعَذِّرَ ال
مَلقىencounter وَكانَand would be الفَضلُbounty مَغلُولَfettered اليَدِthe hand
مَلقى وَكانَ الفَضلُ مَغلُولَ اليَدِ
Without you, generosity would be hard to
And grace handcuffed
encounter, and bounty’s hand would be fettered.
The Father of Ulwān has become peerless amongst you
أَمسىhas become أَبُوAbu العُلوانِal-‘Ulwan فِيكُمُamong you أَوحَدَاًpeerless
أَمسى أَبُو العُلوانِ فِيكُمُ أَوحَدَاً
فَسَهِرتُso I kept vigil فِيهِin his praise عَلىover الكَلامِwords الأَوحَدِpeerless
فَسَهِرتُ فِيهِ عَلى الكَلامِ الأَوحَدِ
Abu al-‘Ulwan has become peerless among you,
So I have stayed up late composing unmatched poetry for him
so I kept vigil over peerless words in his praise.
And in it I composed whimsical elegies
وَنَظَمتُand I composed فِيهِin his praise مِنَfrom القَرِيضِpoetry شَوارِداًrare verses
وَنَظَمتُ فِيهِ مِنَ القَرِيضِ شَوارِداً
أَنسَتmade forget بَنيthe sons of الدُنياthe world شَوارِدَthe rare verses of أَحمَدِAhmad
أَنسَت بَني الدُنيا شَوارِدَ أَحمَدِ
And I wove for him rare verses of poetry
That make me forget the elegies of Ahmad
that made the world’s sons forget Ahmad’s rare verses.
His virtues have been enumerated, they said
قالَتsaid مَناقِبُهُhis virtues وَقَدand already عَدَّدتُهاI had counted them
قالَت مَناقِبُهُ وَقَد عَدَّدتُها
أَقصِرdesist فَإنَّfor indeed الغَيثَrain غَيرُnot مُعَدَّدِcountable
أَقصِر فَإنَّ الغَيثَ غَيرُ مُعَدَّدِ
His virtues said, as I enumerated them,
Be concise for the rain is not enumerated
“Enough! Rain cannot be counted.
Shut your eyes to them for the sun’s glow may
غَمِّضclose جُفُونَكَyour eyelids دُونَهُنَّbefore them فَرُبَّماfor often
غَمِّض جُفُونَكَ دُونَهُنَّ فَرُبَّما
أَعشىdazzles ضِياءُthe light of الشَمسِthe sun جَفنَthe eyelid of الأَرمَدِone with inflamed eyes
أَعشى ضِياءُ الشَمسِ جَفنَ الأَرمَدِ
Close your eyelids before them, for often
Blind the eyes of the blind
the sun’s light dazzles an inflamed eye.”
You have depleted your wealth upon generosity and have not left
فَرَّغتَyou emptied مالَكَyour wealth فيinto الجَميلِnoble deeds وَلَمand did not تَدَعleave
فَرَّغتَ مالَكَ في الجَميلِ وَلَم تَدَع
فيon اليَومِthis day ماwhat يُعطىis given وَيُوهَبُand bestowed فيon الغَدِthe morrow
في اليَومِ ما يُعطى وَيُوهَبُ في الغَدِ
You have spent all your wealth on noble deeds, and left nothing
To give and bestow in the day what should in tomorrow
today to be given and bestowed tomorrow.
O best one my riding beast has arrived to
ياO خَيرَbest of مَنthose whom وَصَلَتthey reached إِلَيهِto him وَعَرَّسَتand halted for the night
يا خَيرَ مَن وَصَلَت إِلَيهِ وَعَرَّسَت
بِفِنائِهِin his courtyard خُوصُnarrow-eyed الرِكابِriding camels الوُخَّدِswift-striding
بِفِنائِهِ خُوصُ الرِكابِ الوُخَّدِ
O best of those they reach, and in whose courtyard halt for the night
And his courtyard has housed the necks of the canopied mounts
the narrow-eyed, swift-striding riding camels!
Ascending to highness is not easy
لَيسَis not الصُعودُthe ascent إِلىto العَلاءِeminence بِهَيِّنٍeasy
لَيسَ الصُعودُ إِلى العَلاءِ بِهَيِّنٍ
فَيُنالَso it may be attained إِنَّindeed المَجدَglory صَعبُdifficult المَصعَدِof ascent
فَيُنالَ إِنَّ المَجدَ صَعبُ المَصعَدِ
It is no easy thing to ascend to eminence
Indeed glory is of steep access
and attain it; glory’s ascent is steep.
Whoever has grasped your palm has not ceased to be certain
مَنwhoever شامَbeholds كَفَّكَyour hand لَمnot يَزَلceases مُتَيَقِّناًcertain
مَن شامَ كَفَّكَ لَم يَزَل مُتَيَقِّناً
أَنthat الغَمامَthe clouds بِجُودِafter the generosity of كَفِّكَyour hand يَقتَدِيmodels itself
أَن الغَمامَ بِجُودِ كَفِّكَ يَقتَدِي
Whoever beholds your hand remains certain
That the clouds emulate in generosity the palm of your hand
that the clouds take your hand’s generosity as their model.
If only the ancients saw you, they would have seen
لَيتَwould that الأَوائِلَthe ancients أَبصَرُوكَhad seen you فَأَبصَرواand thus seen
لَيتَ الأَوائِلَ أَبصَرُوكَ فَأَبصَروا
زَودَthe greater worth of الأَخِيرِthe later one وَنَقصَand the lesser measure of فَضلِthe merit of المُبتَديthe first one
زَودَ الأَخِيرِ وَنَقصَ فَضلِ المُبتَدي
Would that the ancients had seen you, and thus seen
The equipment of the latter most and the inferiority of the primitive
the later one’s greater worth and the first one’s lesser merit.
You have beautified life as if you are
حَسُنَتbecame beautiful بِكَthrough you الدُنياthe world كَأَنَّكَas though you were غُرَّةٌa forehead blaze
حَسُنَت بِكَ الدُنيا كَأَنَّكَ غُرَّةٌ
بَيضاءُwhite فيon وَجهِthe face of الزَمانِtime الأَسوَدِthe black
بَيضاءُ في وَجهِ الزَمانِ الأَسوَدِ
Through you the world is fair, as though you were a blaze
A white good omen in the face of pitch-black time
of white upon the black face of time.
Partial English translation: 123 of 124 Arabic lines translated.