سَقَتmay water أَندِيَّةُdews القَطرِthe rain
سَقَت أَندِيَّةُ القَطرِ
دِيارَthe dwellings of الحَيِّthe tribe بِالغَمرِwith abundant water
دِيارَ الحَيِّ بِالغَمرِ
May the dews of rain water
The rain clouds watered the lands of life with abundant rain,
the tribe’s dwellings with a deluge—
Lands with twisting roads,
دِياراًdwellings بِلّوىamid the winding sands of النَبرِal-Nabr
دِياراً بِلّوى النَبرِ
رَعىmay guard اللَهُGod لِوىthe winding sands of النَبرِal-Nabr
رَعى اللَهُ لِوى النَبرِ
dwellings amid the winding sands of al-Nabr.
May God protect the twisting roads,
May God guard the winding sands of al-Nabr.
To the martyr's tomb and beyond,
إِلىto المَشهَدِal-Mashhad فَالمَعهthen al-Maʿhad (begins here)
إِلى المَشهَدِ فَالمَعه
دِcompletion of al-Maʿhad فَالأَلويَةِthen the sand-bends العُفرِthe tawny
دِ فَالأَلويَةِ العُفرِ
To al-Mashhad, then al-Maʿhad,
To the high flags of glory,
then the tawny sand-bends;
To what faces the open desert from watchful eyes,
إِلىto ماwhat قابَلَfaces الرَحبal-Raḥba (begins here)
إِلى ما قابَلَ الرَحب
ةَcompletion of al-Raḥba مِنof ناظِرَةِNāẓira البِشرِal-Bishr
ةَ مِن ناظِرَةِ البِشرِ
To what faces al-Raḥba
To the monastery overlooking the summit of the river,
in Nāẓirat al-Bishr;
To the register whose depths spew dust,
إِلىto الدَيرِthe monastery الَّذيthat يُشرِlooks down (begins here)
إِلى الدَيرِ الَّذي يُشرِ
فُcompletion of ‘looks down’ مِنfrom عالِيَةِthe upper reaches of النَهرِthe river
فُ مِن عالِيَةِ النَهرِ
To the monastery that looks down
To Kendyia and the rugged valleys,
from the river’s upper reaches;
To Azba and its brick fortresses,
إِلىto السَجلِal-Sajl الَّذيwhich تَدفَsurge (begins here)
إِلى السَجلِ الَّذي تَدفَ
عُcompletion of ‘surge’ مِنfrom قِيعانِهاits lowlands الغُبرِthe dusty
عُ مِن قِيعانِها الغُبرِ
To al-Sajl, where the waters surge
To where the tamarisk and lotus tree grow,
from its dusty lowlands;
To Al-Raqqa, Marjain, and Al-Burjain and crossing,
إِلىto كندِيَّةِKindiyya المَرجِal-Marj
إِلى كندِيَّةِ المَرجِ
إِلىto الأَودِيَةِthe valleys الصُعرِthe slanting
إِلى الأَودِيَةِ الصُعرِ
To Kindiyyat al-Marj,
To the eastern banks of Siffin,
to the slanting valleys;
And the march of armies sluggish,
إِلىto الزَبّاءِal-Zabbāʾ وَالمُشرِand the heights (begins here)
إِلى الزَبّاءِ وَالمُشرِ
فِcompletion of ‘the heights’ مِنamong أَلواذِهاits flanks البُجرِthe massive
فِ مِن أَلواذِها البُجرِ
To al-Zabbāʾ and the heights
To the plateau and what lies beyond,
among its massive flanks;
Of flatland and uneven terrain,
إِلىto ماwhat أَنبَتَgrew الحِزّاthe rugged uplands (begins here)
إِلى ما أَنبَتَ الحِزّا
نُcompletion of ‘the rugged uplands’ مِنof طَلحٍacacias وَمِنand of سِدرِlote trees
نُ مِن طَلحٍ وَمِن سِدرِ
To what the rugged uplands grow
To Al Qarah, Ad-Dayrayn, Al-‘Ubayran, and Ath-Thahr,
of acacias and lote trees;
To the monument, the stair, and the yellow sands,
إِلىto الرَقَّةِal-Raqqa وَالمَرجَيand the two meadows (begins here)
إِلى الرَقَّةِ وَالمَرجَي
نِcompletion of ‘the two meadows’ وَالبُرجَينِand the two towers وَالعِبرِand the riverbank
نِ وَالبُرجَينِ وَالعِبرِ
To al-Raqqa and the two meadows,
To As-Sabhah, An-Nuqrah and the flowing spring,
and the two towers and the riverbank;
To the living district where glory and triumph settled,
إِلىto شَرقِيِّthe eastern side of صِفّينٍṢiffīn
إِلى شَرقِيِّ صِفّينٍ
وَمَجرىand the route of العَسكَرِthe army المَجرِthe vast
وَمَجرى العَسكَرِ المَجرِ
To the eastern side of Ṣiffīn,
To the citadel and palace blessed among palaces,
and the route of the vast army;
Abode of masters, pride, and glory,
إِلىto القُطِعal-Quṭiʿ وَماand what وَلاadjoins
إِلى القُطِع وَما وَلا
هاit مِنof سَهلٍlevel ground وَمِنand of وَعرِrugged terrain
ها مِن سَهلٍ وَمِن وَعرِ
To al-Quṭiʿ and what adjoins
You see them in the sky of might like brilliant stars,
it, of level ground and rugged terrain;
Circling the full moon and shining sun,
إِلىto القارَةِal-Qāra وَالدَيرَيand the two monasteries (begins here)
إِلى القارَةِ وَالدَيرَي
نِcompletion of ‘the two monasteries’ وَالعِبرَينand the two riverbanks وَالظَهرِand the upland
نِ وَالعِبرَين وَالظَهرِ
To al-Qāra and the two monasteries,
When the Master raises his banner,
and the two riverbanks and the upland;
The Master, whose banner sails,
إِلىto المَعلَمِal-Maʿlam وَالدَرهَand al-Darham (begins here)
إِلى المَعلَمِ وَالدَرهَ
مِcompletion of al-Darham وَالدَيمُومَةِand the wilderness الصُفرِthe tawny
مِ وَالدَيمُومَةِ الصُفرِ
To al-Maʿlam and al-Darham,
My father Al-‘Ulwan, Lord of generosity and plenty,
and the tawny wilderness;
A youth perfumed with praise, enriched beyond perfume,
إِلىto الصَبحَةِal-Ṣabḥa وَالنُقرَand al-Nuqra (begins here)
إِلى الصَبحَةِ وَالنُقرَ
ةِcompletion of al-Nuqra وَالعَينِand the spring الَّتيthat تَجريflows
ةِ وَالعَينِ الَّتي تَجري
To al-Ṣabḥa and al-Nuqra,
If you are his neighbor, fear not poverty,
and the spring that flows;
His hands touch rock and water flows from stone,
إِلىto الحَيِّthe tribe الَّذيthat حَلَّsettled
إِلى الحَيِّ الَّذي حَلَّ
مَحَلَّthe abode of العِزِّhonor والنَصرِand victory
مَحَلَّ العِزِّ والنَصرِ
To the tribe that settled
We saw him peerless in generosity in good and bad times,
in the abode of honor and victory;
We toured the world from far Khorasan to Egypt,
إِلىto القَلعَةِthe citadel وَالقَصرِand the palace
إِلى القَلعَةِ وَالقَصرِ
الَّذيwhich بُورِكَwas blessed مِنas a قَصرِpalace
الَّذي بُورِكَ مِن قَصرِ
To the citadel and the palace,
And saw one who gives and another who withholds,
a palace truly blessed;
We measured generosity against generosity,
مَحَلِّthe abode of السادَةِthe lords الغُرِّthe illustrious
مَحَلِّ السادَةِ الغُرِّ
ذَويpossessors of السُؤدُدِnobility وَالفَخرِand pride
ذَوي السُؤدُدِ وَالفَخرِ
The abode of illustrious lords,
And fine repute against repute,
possessed of nobility and pride.
Until we came upon the son of the glorious King,
تَراهُمyou see them فيin سَماthe heavens of العِزَّglory (begins here)
تَراهُم في سَما العِزَّ
ةِcompletion of ‘glory’ مِثلَlike الأَنجُمِthe stars الزُهرِthe radiant
ةِ مِثلَ الأَنجُمِ الزُهرِ
You see them in the heavens of glory,
The best of the people of this time,
like radiant stars,
We are not shy to profess,
حَواليaround أَبلَجِone bright in السنcountenance (begins here)
حَوالي أَبلَجِ السن
ةِcompletion of ‘countenance’ مِثلَlike الشَمسِthe sun وَالبَدرِand the full moon
ةِ مِثلَ الشَمسِ وَالبَدرِ
Around a man of shining countenance,
And those before in ancient times,
like the sun and the full moon.
When we smell the scent of his palms,
إِذاwhen يَمَّمَهُheads toward him الساريthe night-traveler
إِذا يَمَّمَهُ الساري
هَدىhe guides الساريthe night-traveler الَّذيwho يَسريtravels by night
هَدى الساري الَّذي يَسري
When a night-traveler heads toward him,
It enriches us beyond rainwater,
he guides the traveler on his night journey:
A generous one born to his mother
أَبيAbū العُلوانِal-ʿUlwān رَبِّlord of الجُوgenerosity (begins here)
أَبي العُلوانِ رَبِّ الجُو
دِcompletion of ‘generosity’ ذِيpossessor of النائِلِbounty وَالوَفرِand abundance
دِ ذِي النائِلِ وَالوَفرِ
Abū al-ʿUlwān, lord of generosity,
On the night of the decree,
possessor of bounty and abundance.
Embodying pure ancestry and lineage,
فَتىًa youth عَطّرَهُperfumed him الحَمدُpraise
فَتىً عَطّرَهُ الحَمدُ
فَأَغناهُand spared him the need عَنِfor العِطرِperfume
فَأَغناهُ عَنِ العِطرِ
A youth whom praise has perfumed,
Of few faults and doubts,
sparing him any need for perfume.
Abundant in giving and plenty,
إِذاif كُنتَyou are لَهُto him جاراًa neighbor
إِذا كُنتَ لَهُ جاراً
فَلاthen do not تَخشَfear مِنَof الفَقرِpoverty
فَلا تَخشَ مِنَ الفَقرِ
If you are his neighbor,
Of unsullied honor, untouched by shame and disgrace,
then fear no poverty.
So ask me, for I have become knowledgeable,
تَمَسُّtouch الصَخرَthe rock أَيدِيهِhis hands
تَمَسُّ الصَخرَ أَيدِيهِ
فَيَجريand flows الماءُthe water فيin الصَخرِthe rock
فَيَجري الماءُ في الصَخرِ
His hands touch the rock,
He clothes himself in humility, bare of arrogance,
and water flows through the rock.
The just one, the impartial,
رَأَيناهُwe saw him فَريدَpeerless in الجُوgenerosity (begins here)
رَأَيناهُ فَريدَ الجُو
دِcompletion of ‘generosity’ فيamong nomads بَدوٍand among وَفيtownsfolk حَضرِline_53
دِ في بَدوٍ وَفي حَضرِ
We saw him peerless in generosity,
Turning from the evils of the wretched and vile,
among nomads and townsfolk alike.
He is the star guiding those who sail the earth,
وَطُفناand we traveled through الأَرضَthe earth مِنfrom أَقصىthe farthest reaches of
وَطُفنا الأَرضَ مِن أَقصى
خَراسانَKhurasan إِلىto مِصرِEgypt
خَراسانَ إِلى مِصرِ
And we traveled the earth from the farthest reaches of
He is the sea, none can fathom his depth,
Khurasan to Egypt.
This is pure, fresh water,
وَأَبصَرناand we saw الَّذيthe one who يُعطيgives
وَأَبصَرنا الَّذي يُعطي
وَشاهَدناand we witnessed الَّذيthe one who يَقريfeeds guests
وَشاهَدنا الَّذي يَقري
And we saw the one who gives,
Healthy buds and breast,
and witnessed the one who feeds guests.
You see people making pilgrimage,
وَقِسناand we measured الجُودَgenerosity بِالجُودِagainst generosity
وَقِسنا الجُودَ بِالجُودِ
وَحُسنَand the beauty of الذِكرِrenown بِالذِكرِagainst renown
وَحُسنَ الذِكرِ بِالذِكرِ
And we measured generosity against generosity,
To his pouring rains,
and fair renown against renown.
As caravans flocked to the spring,
فَوافَيناthen we came to ابنَthe son of فَخرِFakhr المُلal-Mulk (begins here)
فَوافَينا ابنَ فَخرِ المُل
كِcompletion of al-Mulk أَفتىthe most chivalrous of أَهلِthe people of ذاthis العَصرِage
كِ أَفتى أَهلِ ذا العَصرِ
Then we came to the son of Fakhr al-Mulk,
He rose in destiny and rank,
the most chivalrous man of this age.
Beyond the status of the elite,
وَماand not نَخجَلُwe are ashamed إِنif قُلناwe say
وَما نَخجَلُ إِن قُلنا
وَمَنand those who فيin سالِفthe past of الدَهرِtime
وَمَن في سالِف الدَهرِ
Nor are we ashamed to say:
His glories left him without need for poet or poem,
and of those in ages past.
So neither my praise benefits him,
إِذاwhen شِمناwe discerned نَدىthe dew of كَفَّيtwo palms
إِذا شِمنا نَدى كَفَّي
هِhis أَغناناit spared us the need عَنِfor القَطرِthe rain
هِ أَغنانا عَنِ القَطرِ
When we discerned the dew of his two palms,
Nor does my thanks elevate him,
it spared us any need for rain.
The dawn's glow needs no proof of sunrise,
كَريمٌa noble man وَلَدَتهُbore him أُمُّmother
كَريمٌ وَلَدَتهُ أُمُّ
هُhis فيon لَيلَةِthe Night of القَدرِDecree
هُ في لَيلَةِ القَدرِ
A noble man, born to his mother
A man well-known, more than my verse and prose,
on the Night of Decree,
If I fall short or my mind fails me, it is due to my excuse,
فَوافىso he came زاكِيَpure in النَبعَstock (begins here)
فَوافى زاكِيَ النَبعَ
ةِcompletion of ‘stock’ مَحضَunmixed in الفَرعِbranch وَالنَحرِand breast
ةِ مَحضَ الفَرعِ وَالنَحرِ
He came, pure in stock,
Nay! The Merciful is He who creates the unseen and the seen,
unmixed in branch and breast;
And paved my way and facilitated my affair,
قَليلَlittle in العَيبِfault وَالرَيبِand suspicion
قَليلَ العَيبِ وَالرَيبِ
كَثيرَabundant in السَيبِbounty وَالوَفرِand wealth
كَثيرَ السَيبِ وَالوَفرِ
With little fault or suspicion,
And showered me until my blossoms thrived,
and abundant bounty and wealth;
And I professed His blessings in public and seclusion,
نَقِيَّpure in العِرضِhonor لاnot يُدنَis stained (begins here)
نَقِيَّ العِرضِ لا يُدنَ
سُcompletion of ‘is stained’ بِالفَحشاءِby obscenity وَالنُكرِand evil
سُ بِالفَحشاءِ وَالنُكرِ
Unsullied in honor, never stained
As the meadows praise the rain,
by obscenity or evil.
My Lord who judges with fairness in prohibition and command,
فَسَلنيso ask me إِنَّنيindeed I أَصبَحbecame (begins here)
فَسَلني إِنَّني أَصبَح
تُI (verb ending) بِالمِفضالِabout the lavish giver ذاpossessed of خُبرknowledge
تُ بِالمِفضالِ ذا خُبر
Then ask me: I have become
A year passes after a year,
well acquainted with this lavish giver.
And a month after a month,
هُوَhe الكاسيthe one clothed مِنَin السُؤدُnobility (begins here)
هُوَ الكاسي مِنَ السُؤدُ
دِcompletion of ‘nobility’ وَالعاريand the one stripped مِنَof الكِبرِarrogance
دِ وَالعاري مِنَ الكِبرِ
He is clothed in nobility
Yet you remain constantly under divine protection and veil,
and stripped of arrogance.
You are the benevolent, the beautiful, in hardship and ease,
هُوَhe العادِلُthe just وَالعادِand the one turning away (begins here)
هُوَ العادِلُ وَالعادِ
لُcompletion of ‘the one turning away’ عَنfrom فِعلِacts of الخَناindecency المُزريthe degrading
لُ عَن فِعلِ الخَنا المُزري
He is just, and turns away
The defender, the preventer,
from degrading acts of indecency.
Of the inhabitants of these borderlands,
هُوَhe النَجمُthe star الَّذيthat يَسريjourneys by night
هُوَ النَجمُ الَّذي يَسري
بِهِby it فيon الأَرضthe earth مَنwhoever يَسريtravels by night
بِهِ في الأَرض مَن يَسري
He is the star that travelers follow
May God keep you forever joyful in my eye and breast,
as they journey by night across the earth.
You have lasted and outlasted,
هُوَhe البَحرُthe sea وَماand how أَجهَfoolish (begins here)
هُوَ البَحرُ وَما أَجهَ
لَcompletion of ‘foolish’ مَنwhoever قَدhas قاسَcompared him بِالبَحرِto the sea
لَ مَن قَد قاسَ بِالبَحرِ
He is the sea—how foolish
Beyond my power and means,
is anyone who has compared him to the sea!
You have drawn near and enriched me,
فَهَذاfor this one طَيِّبٌwholesome عَذبٌsweet; fresh
فَهَذا طَيِّبٌ عَذبٌ
سَليمُsafe in الوِردِcoming to water وَالصَدرِand returning from water
سَليمُ الوِردِ وَالصَدرِ
For this one is wholesome and sweet,
And provided until the resurrection,
safe to come to for water and to leave.
And secured from harm those born of my loins,
تَرىyou see الناسَthe people يَحُجُّونَmake pilgrimage
تَرى الناسَ يَحُجُّونَ
إِلىto تَيّارِهِhis torrent الغَمرِthe abundant
إِلى تَيّارِهِ الغَمرِ
You see people making pilgrimage
While through your blessings I have thrived,
to his abundant torrent,
And did not hope to thrive,
كَماas حَجَّتmade pilgrimage إِلىto المَنهَthe watering place (begins here)
كَما حَجَّت إِلى المَنهَ
لِcompletion of ‘the watering place’ أَسرابُflocks of القَطاsandgrouse الكُدريthe dusky
لِ أَسرابُ القَطا الكُدري
As to the watering place came
And with your increased years, God increased my life,
flocks of dusky sandgrouse.
I will reward you, though neither my coat nor mitre can reward you,
عَلاhe rose فيin القَدرِrank وَالرِفعَand eminence (begins here)
عَلا في القَدرِ وَالرِفعَ
ةِcompletion of ‘eminence’ عَنabove قَدرِthe rank of ذَويpossessors of القَدرِrank
ةِ عَن قَدرِ ذَوي القَدرِ
In rank and eminence he rose
And I will gift you lasting praise,
above the rank of men of standing.
Throughout the ages of time,
وَأَغنَتهُand spared him the need مَعالِيهِhis lofty deeds
وَأَغنَتهُ مَعالِيهِ
عَنِfor الشاعِرِthe poet وِالشِعرِand poetry
عَنِ الشاعِرِ وِالشِعرِ
His lofty deeds have spared him
And attributes it broadcasts far and wide,
any need for poets or poetry.
For only repute remains in this life,
فَماso not يَنفَعُهُbenefits him حَمديmy praise
فَما يَنفَعُهُ حَمدي
وَلاand not يَرفَعُهُraises him شُكريmy thanks
وَلا يَرفَعُهُ شُكري
My praise therefore does him no good,
And what is within it, save remembrance.
nor does my thanks raise him higher.
وَضَوءُand the light of الصُبحِmorning لاnot يَحتاneeds (begins here)
وَضَوءُ الصُبحِ لا يَحتا
جُcompletion of ‘needs’ بُرهاناًproof عَلىof الفَجرِdawn
جُ بُرهاناً عَلى الفَجرِ
And morning’s light needs no
proof that dawn has come.
فَتىًa youth مَعرُوفُهُhis kindness أَكثَgreater (begins here)
فَتىً مَعرُوفُهُ أَكثَ
رُcompletion of ‘greater’ مِنthan نَظميmy verse وَمِنand than نَثريmy prose
رُ مِن نَظمي وَمِن نَثري
A youth whose kindness is greater
than my verse or my prose.
فَإِنso if قَصَّرتُI fall short أَوor أَقصَfalls short (begins here)
فَإِن قَصَّرتُ أَو أَقصَ
رَcompletion of ‘falls short’ بيwith me فَهميmy understanding فَمِنthen part of عُذريmy excuse
رَ بي فَهمي فَمِن عُذري
So if I fall short, or am held back
by my understanding, that is my excuse.
كَلاmay guard الرَحمنُthe Merciful مَنwhoever يَكلاguards
كَلا الرَحمنُ مَن يَكلا
أَخاa brother in الغَيبِabsence وَلاand not يَدريhe knows
أَخا الغَيبِ وَلا يَدري
May the Merciful guard the man who guards
his absent brother without his knowing;
وَمَنand whoever وَفَّرَincreased ليfor me جاهيmy standing
وَمَن وَفَّرَ لي جاهي
وَمَنand whoever يَسَّرَeased ليfor me أَمريmy affairs
وَمَن يَسَّرَ لي أَمري
And who has increased my standing,
and eased my affairs;
وَمَنand whoever أَمطَرَنيrained upon me حَتّىuntil
وَمَن أَمطَرَني حَتّى
ثَنانيbent me مُونِقاًlovely زَهريmy blossoms
ثَناني مُونِقاً زَهري
And showered me with rain until
my lovely blossoms bent me down;
وَمَنand the one whom أُثنيI praise عَلىfor نُعماfavors (begins here)
وَمَن أُثني عَلى نُعما
هُhis فيin سِرِّيmy private life وَفيand in جَهريmy public life
هُ في سِرِّي وَفي جَهري
And whose favors I praise
in private and in public,
كَماas يُثنيpraises عَلىfor الغَيثِthe rain
كَما يُثني عَلى الغَيثِ
مُروجُthe meadows of البَلَدِthe land القَفرِthe barren
مُروجُ البَلَدِ القَفرِ
As the rain is praised by
the meadows of a barren land.
أَمَولايَO my lord الَّذيwho يَعدِacts justly (begins here)
أَمَولايَ الَّذي يَعدِ
لُcompletion of ‘acts justly’ فيin النَهيprohibition وَفيand in الأَمرِcommand
لُ في النَهي وَفي الأَمرِ
O my lord, who acts justly
in forbidding and commanding,
هَناكَmay it bring you joy العامُthe year مِنamong عامٍa year
هَناكَ العامُ مِن عامٍ
وَهَذاand this الشَهرُmonth مِنamong شَهرِa month
وَهَذا الشَهرُ مِن شَهرِ
May this year bring you joy among years,
and this month among months!
فَلاmay you not زِلتَcease to be مِنَfrom الأَقداfates (begins here)
فَلا زِلتَ مِنَ الأَقدا
رِcompletion of ‘fates’ فيin حِرزٍa refuge وَفيand in سِترِa shelter
رِ في حِرزٍ وَفي سِترِ
May you ever be shielded from fate,
in protection and shelter.
فَأَنتَfor you المُحسِنُthe benefactor المُجمِthe gracious one (begins here)
فَأَنتَ المُحسِنُ المُجمِ
لُcompletion of ‘the gracious one’ فيin عُسرٍhardship وَفيand in يُسرِease
لُ في عُسرٍ وَفي يُسرِ
For you are the benefactor, gracious
in hardship and in ease.
وَأَنتَand you الدافِعُthe defender المانِعُthe protector
وَأَنتَ الدافِعُ المانِعُ
عَنon behalf of سُكّانِthe inhabitants of ذاthis الثَغرِfrontier
عَن سُكّانِ ذا الثَغرِ
And you are the defender and protector
of the inhabitants of this frontier.
كَلاكَmay guard you اللَهُGod ماhow أَحلاsweet (begins here)
كَلاكَ اللَهُ ما أَحلا
كَyou فيin عَينيmy eyes وَفيand in صَدريmy breast
كَ في عَيني وَفي صَدري
May God protect you—how sweet you are
in my eyes and in my breast!
تَطَوَّلتَyou bestowed favors وَخَوَّلتَand you granted riches
تَطَوَّلتَ وَخَوَّلتَ
عَلىaccording to قَدرِكَyour worth لاnot قَدريmy worth
عَلى قَدرِكَ لا قَدري
You have bestowed favors and riches
according to your worth, not mine.
وَأَدنَيتَand you drew me near وَأَغنيتَand you enriched me
وَأَدنَيتَ وَأَغنيتَ
وَأَقنيتَand you endowed me with possessions إِلىuntil الحَشرِthe Resurrection
وَأَقنيتَ إِلى الحَشرِ
And you drew me near and enriched me,
and endowed me with possessions until the Resurrection.
وَآمَنتَand you made secure مِنَfrom البَأساhardship (begins here)
وَآمَنتَ مِنَ البَأسا
ءِcompletion of ‘hardship’ مَنwhoever يُولَدis born مِنof ظَهريmy back; my loins
ءِ مَن يُولَد مِن ظَهري
And you secured from hardship
whoever is born of my loins.
وَأَثرَيتُand I became wealthy بِنُعماكَthrough your favors
وَأَثرَيتُ بِنُعماكَ
وَماand not أَمَّلتُI hoped أَنto أُثريbecome wealthy
وَما أَمَّلتُ أَن أُثري
I grew wealthy through your favors,
though I had never hoped to grow wealthy.
وَقَدand indeed زِدتَyou gave more فَزادَso may add اللَGod (begins here)
وَقَد زِدتَ فَزادَ اللَ
هُcompletion of ‘God’ فيto عُمرِكَyour lifespan مِنfrom عُمريmy lifespan
هُ في عُمرِكَ مِن عُمري
And you gave more; may God add
years from my life to yours.
سَأَجزيكَI shall repay you وَماbut not يَجزيrepays
سَأَجزيكَ وَما يَجزي
كyou لاneither طِرسيmy parchment وَلاnor حِبريmy ink
ك لا طِرسي وَلا حِبري
I shall repay you—though neither
my parchment nor my ink repays you.
وَأَقنِيكَand I shall endow you with ثَناًpraise يَبقىthat endures
وَأَقنِيكَ ثَناً يَبقى
عَلىthrough غابِرَةِthe remaining stretch of الدَهرِtime
عَلى غابِرَةِ الدَهرِ
And I shall endow you with praise that endures
through all the ages to come,
وَأَوصافاًand descriptions لَهاfor them نَشرٌa fragrance
وَأَوصافاً لَها نَشرٌ
ذَكِيُّsweet in الطَيِّfolding وَالنَشرِand unfolding
ذَكِيُّ الطَيِّ وَالنَشرِ
And descriptions with a fragrance
sweet in folding and unfolding.
وَماand nothing يَبقىendures عَلىbeyond الدُنياthe world
وَما يَبقى عَلى الدُنيا
وَماand what فيهاis in it سِوىexcept الذِكرِrenown
وَما فيها سِوى الذِكرِ
And nothing outlasts this world
and all within it, save renown.
Partial English translation: 93 of 140 Arabic lines translated.