بِينيdepart! ثَلاثاًthrice سَلْوَةَsolace of الأَيَّامِthe days
بِيني ثَلاثاً سَلْوَةَ الأَيَّامِ
أوْدَىmade away الحِمامُdeath بِنَاصِرِwith the champion of الإسْلامِIslam
أوْدَى الحِمامُ بِنَاصِرِ الإسْلامِ
Begone, thrice renounced, O solace of the days!
Show me three dates, fruit of days
Death has carried off the champion of Islam.
The loss of the supporter of Islam was grievous
وَدَعاand summoned دِعَامَتَهُits pillar إِلىto تَعْوِيضِهاreplacing it
وَدَعا دِعَامَتَهُ إِلى تَعْوِيضِها
تَأْسِيسُهُhis founding بالتُّرْبِin the dust دَارَan abode of مُقَامِlasting residence
تَأْسِيسُهُ بالتُّرْبِ دَارَ مُقَامِ
And its pillar's replacement was demanded
It called for its pillar to be replaced
by his founding in the dust an abiding home.
It was established by soil, an abode of permanence
ودَهىand afflicted الوَرَىhumankind مِنْthrough ثُكْلِthe loss of هَادِيهِمtheir guide بِماwith what
ودَهى الوَرَى مِنْ ثُكْلِ هَادِيهِم بِما
أعْيَاproved too hard عَلَىfor الأفْهامِunderstanding والأَوْهامِand imagination
أعْيَا عَلَى الأفْهامِ والأَوْهامِ
The loss of their guide afflicted humankind with what
The lands were warned of the bereavement of their guide with what
defied understanding and imagination.
Exhausted the minds and thoughts
هَذِيthese الشُّجونُsorrows الجُونُdark قَدْindeed أخَذَتْblocked عَلىfor
هَذِي الشُّجونُ الجُونُ قَدْ أخَذَتْ عَلى
وَفْدِthe delegation of العَزَاءِconsolation مَطَالِعthe approaches of الإلْمَامِarrival
وَفْدِ العَزَاءِ مَطَالِع الإلْمَامِ
These dark sorrows have barred
These passions, sorrows took for the delegation of condolences the horizons of knowledge
the paths by which consolation's delegation might arrive.
Its eyelids shed bloody tears
وَتَفَاضَتِand overflowed الأجْفَانَthe eyelids حُمْرُthe crimson ones of دُموعِهاtheir tears
وَتَفَاضَتِ الأجْفَانَ حُمْرُ دُموعِها
فَمِنَso from القُلوبِthe hearts عَلىonto الخُدودِthe cheeks دَوامِbloodied tears
فَمِنَ القُلوبِ عَلى الخُدودِ دَوامِ
Crimson tears overflowed their eyelids,
So from the hearts to the cheeks always
so bloodied tears flowed from hearts onto cheeks.
Nothing startled them but news of his existence
مَاnothing رَاعَهُمappalled them إلاexcept نَعِيّthe death-knell of وُجودِهِhis existence
مَا رَاعَهُم إلا نَعِيّ وُجودِهِ
فِيin حَيْثُa place where لاthere is no أَمْنٌsafety منَfrom الأعْدامِannihilation
فِي حَيْثُ لا أَمْنٌ منَ الأعْدامِ
Only the death-knell of his existence appalled them,
Where there is no safety from destruction
where none is safe from annihilation.
Had you turned you’d have said a drinking party
فَلَوِso if الْتَفَتَّyou looked around لَقُلْتَyou would have said شُرْبُdrinkers of مُدَامِwine
فَلَوِ الْتَفَتَّ لَقُلْتَ شُرْبُ مُدَامِ
ولَوِand if اسْتَمَعْتَyou listened لَقُلْتَyou would have said سِرْبُa flock of حَمَامِdoves
ولَوِ اسْتَمَعْتَ لَقُلْتَ سِرْبُ حَمَامِ
Had you looked around, you would have said: wine-drinkers;
Had you listened you’d have said a flock of doves
had you listened, you would have said: a flock of doves.
Its lights wandered lost so I remembered what
أَنْوَارُهُhis lights هامُواthey were enraptured لَهاby them فَذَكَرْتُso I remembered مَاwhat
أَنْوَارُهُ هامُوا لَها فَذَكَرْتُ مَا
نَسِيَتْforgot نَوَارٌNawar مِنof هَوىًlove وهُيَامِand consuming passion
نَسِيَتْ نَوَارٌ مِن هَوىً وهُيَامِ
They were enthralled by his lights; I remembered what
The loves and passions forgot
Nawar forgot of love and consuming passion.
By God, if they had sacrificed themselves in grief
تَاللَّهِby God لَوْif قَتَلُواthey killed عَلَيهِfor him نُفُوسَهُمْtheir own souls
تَاللَّهِ لَوْ قَتَلُوا عَلَيهِ نُفُوسَهُمْ
أسَفاًin grief لَمَاthey would not وَفَّوْاhave fulfilled قَضاءَthe discharge of ذِمامِloyalty's obligation
أسَفاً لَمَا وَفَّوْا قَضاءَ ذِمامِ
By God, had they slain themselves for him
They still wouldn’t have fulfilled the decree of fate
in grief, they would not have discharged their debt of loyalty.
The greatest disaster made lawful a protector of the sanctuary of
خَطْبُthe calamity of الخُطُوبِcalamities أباحَlaid open مُحْتَكِماًruling unchecked حِمَىthe sanctuary of
خَطْبُ الخُطُوبِ أباحَ مُحْتَكِماً حِمَى
مَلِكِthe king of المُلوكِkings فَطاحَso he fell دُونَwithout مُحامِa defender
مَلِكِ المُلوكِ فَطاحَ دُونَ مُحامِ
The calamity of calamities, ruling unchecked, breached the sanctuary
The King of Kings, so it fell short of attainment
of the king of kings; he fell without a defender.
Whence and from where did he face adversity?
أَنَّىhow ومِنْand from أيْنَwhere اسْتَدارَcircled around لَهُto him الرَّدَىdeath
أَنَّى ومِنْ أيْنَ اسْتَدارَ لَهُ الرَّدَى
والجَيْشُwhile the army مِلْءُfilled عَمائِرٍsettlements ومَوامِand deserts
والجَيْشُ مِلْءُ عَمائِرٍ ومَوامِ
How, and from where, did death circle round to him,
And the army fills buildings and dwellings
when his army filled settlements and deserts?
In it the brave ones when they grasped the spears
فِيهِin it الكُماةُthe mailed champions إذاwhen هُمُthey اعْتَقَلواcouched القَناthe spears
فِيهِ الكُماةُ إذا هُمُ اعْتَقَلوا القَنا
وافَوْكcame to you بِالآسادِwith lions والآجامِand thickets
وافَوْك بِالآسادِ والآجامِ
Within it were mailed champions who, when they couched their spears,
And plunged into lions and strong champions
confronted you with lions and their thickets.
Deaf to an attacker, how much transgression turned away from it
أصْماهُstruck him dead رَامٍan archer كَمْhow often ثَنَىturned back عَنْهُfrom him العِدَىthe foes
أصْماهُ رَامٍ كَمْ ثَنَى عَنْهُ العِدَى
صَرْعَىfallen slain يُنَاضلُfighting with arrows دُونَهُin his defense ويُرامِيand exchanging shots
صَرْعَى يُنَاضلُ دُونَهُ ويُرامِي
An archer who had often repelled his foes struck him dead,
Felled by his fighting without equal
leaving them fallen as he fought and shot in his defense.
The light of existence was extinguished by its extinction
نُورُthe light of الوُجودِexistence أُتِيحَwas brought about مِنْfrom إِطْفائِهِits extinguishing
نُورُ الوُجودِ أُتِيحَ مِنْ إِطْفائِهِ
مَاwhat ألْبَسَclothed الدُّنْياthe world مَسوحَin sackcloth of ظَلامِdarkness
مَا ألْبَسَ الدُّنْيا مَسوحَ ظَلامِ
The light of existence—its extinguishing brought about
What clothed the world in robes of darkness
what robed the world in sackcloth of darkness.
The sword of truth, the sword of falsehood destroyed it
سَيْفُthe sword of الهُدىguidance أوْدىmade away بِهِwith him سَيْفُthe sword of الرَّدَىdeath
سَيْفُ الهُدى أوْدى بِهِ سَيْفُ الرَّدَى
قَدْindeed يَفْتِكُstrikes fatally الصّمْصامُthe keen blade بِالصّمْصَامِat a keen blade
قَدْ يَفْتِكُ الصّمْصامُ بِالصّمْصَامِ
The sword of guidance was slain by the sword of death;
One piercing sword can kill another
one keen blade may indeed strike down another.
The stars have no rising, the mountains have no
مَاwhat لِلنُّجُومof the stars طَوالِعاrising مَاwhat للْجِباof the moun-
مَا لِلنُّجُوم طَوالِعا مَا للْجِبا
لِ-tains رَواسِياًstanding firm ماwhat لِلبِحارِof the seas طَواميswelling
لِ رَواسِياً ما لِلبِحارِ طَوامي
What ails the stars, still rising? What ails the moun-
Firm roots, the seas have no waves
tains, standing firm? What ails the seas, still swelling?
Why didn’t it sink, why didn’t it fall, why wasn’t it covered
لِمْwhy لَمْdid not تَغُرْthey sink لِمْwhy لَمْdid not تَزُلْthey shift لِمْwhy لَمْdid not تَغُضthey subside
لِمْ لَمْ تَغُرْ لِمْ لَمْ تَزُلْ لِمْ لَمْ تَغُض
مِنْfrom شِدَّةthe intensity of الحَسَراتِanguish وَالآلامِand pains
مِنْ شِدَّة الحَسَراتِ وَالآلامِ
Why have they not sunk, why not shifted, why not ebbed
By the intensity of sorrow and pain?
from the intensity of anguish and pain?
In one night the life of the Chosen One appeared
فيat بُونَةٍBuna بانَتْdeparted حَياةُthe life of المُرْتَضَىal-Murtada
في بُونَةٍ بانَتْ حَياةُ المُرْتَضَى
يَحْيَىYahya وقِيدَand he was led إِلىto الثَّرىthe earth بِزِمَامِby a halter
يَحْيَى وقِيدَ إِلى الثَّرى بِزِمَامِ
At Buna, the life of al-Murtada departed—
To live while tied to the ground by a bridle
Yahya—and he was led by a halter to the earth.
And there his shrine was drawn to water it
وهُناكَand there خُطَّwas marked out ضَريحُهُhis grave سَقْياًa rain-blessing لَهupon it
وهُناكَ خُطَّ ضَريحُهُ سَقْياً لَه
هَلاwhy not بأفْئِدَةٍin hearts عَلَيهِfor him حِيامِthirsting
هَلا بأفْئِدَةٍ عَلَيهِ حِيامِ
There his grave was marked out—may rain water it!
With hearts that weep over it
Why not in hearts that thirst for him?
When he passed away to the abode of peace, our epoch’s beauties
لَمَّاwhen ثَوَىhe settled in دَارَthe Abode of السَّلامِPeace تَرَحَّلَتْdeparted
لَمَّا ثَوَى دَارَ السَّلامِ تَرَحَّلَتْ
عَنَّاfrom us مَحَاسِنُthe beauties of دَهْرِنَاour age بِسَلامِwith a farewell
عَنَّا مَحَاسِنُ دَهْرِنَا بِسَلامِ
When he settled in the Abode of Peace, there departed
Departed from us in peace
from us, with a farewell, the beauties of our age.
There’s no fragrance in the late and early mornings since
لاno طِيبَsweetness فيin الأَسْحارِthe predawns والآصالِand evenings مُذْsince
لا طِيبَ في الأَسْحارِ والآصالِ مُذْ
طَابَgrew sweet الثَّرَىthe earth مِنْهُthrough him بِخَيْرِwith the finest إِمامِimam
طَابَ الثَّرَى مِنْهُ بِخَيْرِ إِمامِ
There is no sweetness in predawns or evenings since
The soil was scented by the best imam
the earth grew sweet through him, the finest imam.
The appearance of the land ceased from those adornments
عَطَلَتْwere stripped ظُهُورُthe surfaces of الأَرْضِthe earth مِنْof تِلْكَthose الحُلَىornaments
عَطَلَتْ ظُهُورُ الأَرْضِ مِنْ تِلْكَ الحُلَى
إذْwhen حُلِّيَتْwere adorned مِنْهاwith them بُطُونُthe interiors of رِجامِstone cairns
إذْ حُلِّيَتْ مِنْها بُطُونُ رِجامِ
The earth's surface was stripped of those ornaments
When its core was adorned by great men
when the interiors of cairns were adorned with them.
Time itself was too narrow for his magnificence
كانَwas الزَّمانُtime يَضِيقُtoo narrow عَنْهُfor him جَلالَةًin majesty
كانَ الزَّمانُ يَضِيقُ عَنْهُ جَلالَةً
فَإِذَاand suddenly بِهِthere he is فيin تُرْبَةٍearth وسلامِand stones
فَإِذَا بِهِ في تُرْبَةٍ وسلامِ
Time was too narrow for his majesty,
There he is in dust and peace
and now behold him in earth and stones.
His eye departed on the day of his trial
هَبْgrant that عَيْنُهُhis person ذَهَبَتْvanished بِيَوْمِon the day of حِمَامِهِhis death
هَبْ عَيْنُهُ ذَهَبَتْ بِيَوْمِ حِمَامِهِ
ماnot ذَاهِبٌّvanishing أثَرٌa trace لَهُof his بِحِمَامِthrough death
ما ذَاهِبٌّ أثَرٌ لَهُ بِحِمَامِ
Grant that his person vanished on the day he died:
No trace of him remains in ordeals
no trace of him is lost through death.
Ask about his miracles in East and West
سَلْask عَنْabout ظُباهُhis sword-edges مَشارِقاًeastern lands ومَغارِباًand western lands
سَلْ عَنْ ظُباهُ مَشارِقاً ومَغارِباً
تُنْبِئْكَthey will tell you عَنْof إغْمَادِهاtheir sheathing فيin الْهامِskulls
تُنْبِئْكَ عَنْ إغْمَادِها في الْهامِ
Ask eastern and western lands about his sword-edges;
They will tell you of their concealment in awe
they will tell you of their sheathing in skulls.
And look on him submitting and fighting
وانْظُرْand look إليهِat him مُسالِماًmaking peace ومُحَارِباًand waging war
وانْظُرْ إليهِ مُسالِماً ومُحَارِباً
تَجِدِyou will find الهِدَايَةَguidance أُسْوَةَthe equal of الإلْهَامِinspiration
تَجِدِ الهِدَايَةَ أُسْوَةَ الإلْهَامِ
Behold him, making peace and waging war:
You’ll find guidance a model for inspiration
you will find guidance the equal of inspiration.
The encounter with death overcame him though
غَلَبَتْهُovercame him صادِمَةُthe assault of المَنُونِdeath وطَالَماand often indeed
غَلَبَتْهُ صادِمَةُ المَنُونِ وطَالَما
هابَتْهُit feared him أغْلَبَa mighty lion مَاضِيَresolute in الإقْدامِbold advance
هابَتْهُ أغْلَبَ مَاضِيَ الإقْدامِ
Death's assault overcame him, though so often
Its onslaught had overcome the bravest charges
it had feared him, a mighty lion resolute in attack.
And movement drew back from his stillness
وانْجَابَتِand parted الحَرَكاتُmovements عَنْto reveal إسْكانِهِhis stillness
وانْجَابَتِ الحَرَكاتُ عَنْ إسْكانِهِ
ماwhat lies بَيْنَamong أجْداثٍgraves وبَيْنَand among رِمَامِmoldering remains
ما بَيْنَ أجْداثٍ وبَيْنَ رِمَامِ
And movement fell away, leaving him stilled
Between renewal and spears
between graves and moldering remains.
Alas, alas if their echoes
وَاهاًalas وآهاًand ah لَوْif only شَفَىcould heal تَرْدَادُهَاrepeating them
وَاهاً وآهاً لَوْ شَفَى تَرْدَادُهَا
مِنْfrom زَفْرَةٍa sigh مَشْبُوبَةٍaflame كضِرَامِlike a blaze
مِنْ زَفْرَةٍ مَشْبُوبَةٍ كضِرَامِ
Alas, ah! If only repeating them could bring relief
Healed a moaning like the roar of lions
from a sigh aflame like a blazing fire.
Help, be resolute O Excellency, for fate has decreed
أتْهِمْgo to Tihama وَأنْجِدْand go to Najd يَاO نَجِيبُnoble camel فَقَدfor indeed قَضَىhe fulfilled
أتْهِمْ وَأنْجِدْ يَا نَجِيبُ فَقَد قَضَى
نَحْباًhis appointed term أَخُوthe man of الإنْجَادِtravel to Najd وَالإتهامِand travel to Tihama
نَحْباً أَخُو الإنْجَادِ وَالإتهامِ
Go to Tihama and Najd, noble camel, for he has fulfilled
Death of the brother of decisiveness and prosecution
his appointed term, the man of journeys to Najd and Tihama.
How can I show patience? What pained me—but good
كَيْفَhow احْتِسَابِيmy reward-seeking patience with ماwhat ألمَّhas befallen وَإنَّمَاwhen in truth
كَيْفَ احْتِسَابِي ما ألمَّ وَإنَّمَا
حَسَنَاتُthe merits of صَبْرٍpatience فيهِin it كالآثَامِare like sins
حَسَنَاتُ صَبْرٍ فيهِ كالآثَامِ
How can I patiently accept what has befallen, when
Deeds of patience in it are like sins
the merits of patience here are like sins?
Don’t think me drunk on wine
لاdo not تَحْسِبُونيsuppose me صَاحِياًsober مِنْfrom خَمْرَةٍa wine
لا تَحْسِبُوني صَاحِياً مِنْ خَمْرَةٍ
لِلْحُزْنِof sorrow فِيهَاin which العَالَمُونَall people نَدَامِيmy drinking companions
لِلْحُزْنِ فِيهَا العَالَمُونَ نَدَامِي
Do not suppose me sober from a wine
In it the knowledgeable have lasting regret
of sorrow, in which all the world are my drinking companions.
Loyalty passed away with his death and our life
أمِنَis it of الوَفَاءِloyalty وَفَاتُهُhis death وَحَيَاتُناand our living
أمِنَ الوَفَاءِ وَفَاتُهُ وَحَيَاتُنا
أُفٍّfie لِكُفَّارٍon those ungrateful for يَدَthe hand of الإِنْعامِkindness
أُفٍّ لِكُفَّارٍ يَدَ الإِنْعامِ
Is it loyalty that he is dead while we live?
Is shame to ungrateful deniers
Fie on those ungrateful for the hand of kindness!
Far better than events passed is
سَوْأَىa grievous calamity مِنَfrom الأَحْدَاثِfate's events وَافَتْthere came بَعدَهاafter it
سَوْأَى مِنَ الأَحْدَاثِ وَافَتْ بَعدَها
حُسْنَىa blessing لهَاit has فِيwith اللَّهِGod حسنُa noble مَقَامِstation
حُسْنَى لهَا فِي اللَّهِ حسنُ مَقَامِ
A grievous turn of fate, after which there came
A future that in God has the best residence
a blessing with a noble station in God's sight.
When the imam of guidance withdrew his stay
لَمَّاwhen انْتَأىhe departed مَلأَfilled الهُدَىguidance أثْنَاءَهاits midst
لَمَّا انْتَأى مَلأَ الهُدَى أثْنَاءَها
فَكَفَىand sufficed for عَظَائِمهَاits great trials اكْتفَاءَwith the sufficiency of عِظامِgreat men
فَكَفَى عَظَائِمهَا اكْتفَاءَ عِظامِ
When he departed, guidance filled its midst,
His enormities sufficed the enormities of giants
and proved equal to its great trials, as great men do.
O their gain with succession in their duties
يَاO فَوْزَهُمtheir triumph بِخِلافةٍin a caliphate تَعْنُوbow لهَاto it
يَا فَوْزَهُم بِخِلافةٍ تَعْنُو لهَا
خُلَفَاءُthe caliphs of بَيْتَيْthe two houses of هَاشِمٍHashim وَهِشَامِand Hisham
خُلَفَاءُ بَيْتَيْ هَاشِمٍ وَهِشَامِ
How fortunate they are in a caliphate to which bow
The caliphs of my clan of Hashim and Hisham
the caliphs of the houses of Hashim and Hisham!
Lasting in descendants, its rule has no
وتَدُومُand it endures فيamong الأَعقَابِdescendants ليسَthere is no لِحُكْمِهاfor its rule
وتَدُومُ في الأَعقَابِ ليسَ لِحُكْمِها
نَسْخٌabrogation مدَىthroughout الأَحْقَابِthe ages والأَعْوَامِand years
نَسْخٌ مدَى الأَحْقَابِ والأَعْوَامِ
It endures among their descendants; its rule has
Abrogation the length of eons and years
no abrogation through the ages and years.
Satisfy their imam then carry out his pact
أرْضَوْاthey pleased إمَامَهُمُtheir imam فَأَمْضَوْاso they carried out عَهْدَهُhis covenant
أرْضَوْا إمَامَهُمُ فَأَمْضَوْا عَهْدَهُ
وَوَفَوْاand fulfilled لأَنْفِfor the nose of الْبَغْيِrebellion بِالإرْغَامِwith rubbing in dust
وَوَفَوْا لأَنْفِ الْبَغْيِ بِالإرْغَامِ
They pleased their imam and fulfilled his covenant,
And check rebellion forcefully
and duly rubbed rebellion's nose in the dust.
The most deserving of care in his view
قَسَماًan oath بِهِby him لَوْلاwere it not for إمَارَةُthe rule of نَجْلِهِhis son
قَسَماً بِهِ لَوْلا إمَارَةُ نَجْلِهِ
لَغَدَاit would have become الهُدَىguidance نَثْراًscattered بِغَيْرِwithout نِظَامِa binding order
لَغَدَا الهُدَى نَثْراً بِغَيْرِ نِظَامِ
By him I swear: were it not for his son's rule,
Is one no request of a litigant goes past
guidance would have lain scattered, without a binding thread.
By God the advance of his Thursday with its leader
أتَرَاهُdo you think he كُوشِفَwas apprised بالذِيof what هُوَit كَائِنٌwas to become
أتَرَاهُ كُوشِفَ بالذِي هُوَ كَائِنٌ
فَاعْتَامَهُand chose him مِنْfrom جَوْهَرٍsubstance مُعْتَامِmost select
فَاعْتَامَهُ مِنْ جَوْهَرٍ مُعْتَامِ
Do you think he was shown what was to come,
Under the banner to the worshippers of idols
and chose him from the choicest substance?
From every thrust of his lance their shields
وَأقَامَهُand installed him للنَّاسِfor the people يَجْمَعُهُمْuniting them عَلَىunder
وَأقَامَهُ للنَّاسِ يَجْمَعُهُمْ عَلَى
سُلْطَانِهِhis authority وَرَآهُand deemed him خَيْرَthe best قِوَامِsupport
سُلْطَانِهِ وَرَآهُ خَيْرَ قِوَامِ
And installed him for the people, uniting them under
You see with it a thousand bedecked in amulets
his authority, and deemed him their best support?
Their countries trembled from his oath of allegiance by which
دَهَمَتهُمُoverwhelmed them دُهْمُthe darkest الخُطوبِcalamities فَشَدَّand how powerfully ماindeed
دَهَمَتهُمُ دُهْمُ الخُطوبِ فَشَدَّ ما
جَلَّىdispelled دُجَاهَاtheir gloom مِنْهُfrom him بَدْرُa full moon تَمَامِin perfection
جَلَّى دُجَاهَا مِنْهُ بَدْرُ تَمَامِ
Dark calamities overwhelmed them; how powerfully
Souls in bodies passed away
his full moon dispelled their gloom!
And their ribs were detached from hearts
لَمَّاwhen ارْتَضَاهُhe approved him نَضَاهُhe unsheathed him عَضْباًa sharp blade حاسِماًdecisive
لَمَّا ارْتَضَاهُ نَضَاهُ عَضْباً حاسِماً
غُدِرَwere betrayed العِدَىthe foes مِنْfrom رَأْيهِhis judgment بِحُسَامِby a keen sword
غُدِرَ العِدَى مِنْ رَأْيهِ بِحُسَامِ
When he approved him, he unsheathed him as a sharp, decisive blade;
As if they were blossoms without veils
his foes were betrayed by a sword of his devising.
For Muhammad the multitudes of Ahmed were promised
أَوْلىmost deserving ذِمَامٍan obligation بالرِّعَايَةِof protection عِنْدَهُin his eyes
أَوْلى ذِمَامٍ بالرِّعَايَةِ عِنْدَهُ
مَاone which لَمْhas not يُجَاوِزْهُpassed beyond him سُؤالُthe appeal of مُضامِa wronged man
مَا لَمْ يُجَاوِزْهُ سُؤالُ مُضامِ
The claim most worthy of protection in his eyes
Never to cease being flowers of days
is one for which a wronged man's plea goes no farther than him.
And it was as if a brilliant omen in its rise
للَّهِGod's is زَحْفُthe advance of خَمِيسهِhis army بِزَعِيمِهِwith its commander
للَّهِ زَحْفُ خَمِيسهِ بِزَعِيمِهِ
تَحْتَbeneath اللوَاءِthe banner لعُبَّدِagainst worshippers of الأَصْنَامِidols
تَحْتَ اللوَاءِ لعُبَّدِ الأَصْنَامِ
God bless his army's advance with its commander,
In their face from his smiling face
beneath the banner, against the worshippers of idols!
A king whose nobility in kings an elite cultivated
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery موردone plunging رُمْحَهُhis spear أَدرَاعَهُمinto their coats of mail
مِنْ كُلِّ مورد رُمْحَهُ أَدرَاعَهُم
فَتَرَىso you see بِهِin it ألِفاًan alif مُخالِطَmingling with لامِa lam
فَتَرَى بِهِ ألِفاً مُخالِطَ لامِ
Each one plunging his spear into their coats of mail,
It is the pride of swords and pens
so you see in it an alif mingling with a lam.
Good tidings to the people of an Abbasid state
رَجَفَتْtrembled بلادهُمُtheir lands لِبَيْعَتِهِat his pledge of allegiance التِيwhich
رَجَفَتْ بلادهُمُ لِبَيْعَتِهِ التِي
مَرَّتْcoursed بهَاthrough it الأرْوَاحُsouls فيwithin الأجْسَامِbodies
مَرَّتْ بهَا الأرْوَاحُ في الأجْسَامِ
Their lands trembled at his pledge of allegiance, which
Victorious, its banners and flags held high
set souls coursing within their bodies.
Forever they are succeeded by imams
وعَنِand from around القُلوبِthe hearts تَفَقَّأَتْburst open أضْلاعُهُمtheir ribs
وعَنِ القُلوبِ تَفَقَّأَتْ أضْلاعُهُم
فَكأَنَّهاas though they were الأزْهَارُflowers دُونَwithout كِمَامِcalyces
فَكأَنَّها الأزْهَارُ دُونَ كِمَامِ
Their ribs burst open from around their hearts,
The blossoms of glory, loftiest visions
as though these were flowers without their calyces.
In their day they revived yesterday’s caliph
لمُحَمَّدٍthrough Muhammad وُعِدَتْwere promised رعَايَاthe subjects of أحمَدٍAhmad
لمُحَمَّدٍ وُعِدَتْ رعَايَا أحمَدٍ
ألاthat never تَزَالَthey cease to be زَوَاهِرَradiant in الأَيَّامِdays
ألا تَزَالَ زَوَاهِرَ الأَيَّامِ
Through Muhammad, Ahmad's subjects were promised
Similar to it in repeal and enforcement
that their days would never cease to shine.
Those attributes are like the attributes that compared
وكأنَّand as though بِشْراًa gladness سَاطِعاًradiant إشْرَاقُهُits glow
وكأنَّ بِشْراً سَاطِعاً إشْرَاقُهُ
فيupon وَجْهِهَاtheir face مِنْfrom وَجْهِهِhis face البسَّامِever-smiling
في وَجْهِهَا مِنْ وَجْهِهِ البسَّامِ
And it is as though a joy of dazzling radiance
To their father wrapped in clouds
upon their face comes from his ever-smiling face.
My shame at thought rendered impotent by sorrow
مَلِكٌa king نَمَتْهُbrought him forth فيamong المُلوكِkings عِصَابَةٌa company
مَلِكٌ نَمَتْهُ في المُلوكِ عِصَابَةٌ
هِيَit is مَفْخَرُthe pride of الأسْيَافِswords والأقْلامِand pens
هِيَ مَفْخَرُ الأسْيَافِ والأقْلامِ
A king sprung among kings from a company
From rising to its rights and fulfillments
that is the pride of swords and pens.
I would prolong congratulations and condolences
بُشْرَىglad tidings for الأَنامِhumankind بِدَوْلَةٍof a dynasty حَفْصِيَّةٍHafsid
بُشْرَى الأَنامِ بِدَوْلَةٍ حَفْصِيَّةٍ
مَنْصُورَةِvictorious in الرَّايَاتِbanners والأَعْلامِand standards
مَنْصُورَةِ الرَّايَاتِ والأَعْلامِ
Glad tidings to humankind of a Hafsid dynasty,
But for me its completion suffices Abu Tammam
victorious in its banners and standards,
That calamity is not like other calamities
أبَداًforever تُوافِيit comes مِنْهُمُfrom among them بأئِمَّةٍwith imams
أبَداً تُوافِي مِنْهُمُ بأئِمَّةٍ
زُهْرِradiant in المَنَاقِبِvirtues رُجَّحِweighty in الأَحْلامِjudgment
زُهْرِ المَنَاقِبِ رُجَّحِ الأَحْلامِ
forever bringing forth from among them imams
And I swear it’s not like other oaths
of radiant virtues and weighty judgment.
فيin يَوْمِهِمtheir present day أحْيَوْاthey revived خَليفَةَthe caliph of أمْسهِمtheir yesterday
في يَوْمِهِم أحْيَوْا خَليفَةَ أمْسهِم
شَبَهاًin resemblance بِهِto him فيin النَّقْضِuntying والإبْرَامِand binding
شَبَهاً بِهِ في النَّقْضِ والإبْرَامِ
In their present day they have revived yesterday's caliph,
resembling him in untying and binding.
تِلْكَthose الشَّمَائِلُnoble traits كَالشَّمائِلِlike those traits قَدindeed سَمَتْrose high
تِلْكَ الشَّمَائِلُ كَالشَّمائِلِ قَد سَمَتْ
بِأَبِيmy father be ransom for غَمَامa cloud مُقْلِعٌdeparting بغَمَامِwith another cloud
بِأَبِي غَمَام مُقْلِعٌ بغَمَامِ
Those noble traits, like those noble traits, have risen high;
my father be ransom for a cloud departing, yet leaving a cloud!
ياO خَجْلَتِيmy shame لِلْفِكْرfor the mind أقْعَدَهُcrippled it الأسَىgrief
يا خَجْلَتِي لِلْفِكْر أقْعَدَهُ الأسَى
عَنْfrom نَهْضَةٍrising بحقُوقِهاto its due rights وقِيامِand fulfillment
عَنْ نَهْضَةٍ بحقُوقِها وقِيامِ
How ashamed I am of a mind grief has crippled,
from rising to its duties and carrying them through.
كُنْتُI used to be المُطيلَone speaking at length مُهَنِّئاًcongratulating ومُعَزِّياًand consoling
كُنْتُ المُطيلَ مُهَنِّئاً ومُعَزِّياً
لَكِنْbut كفانِيهاspared me that task أبُوAbu تَمَّامِTammam
لَكِنْ كفانِيها أبُو تَمَّامِ
I used to speak at length in congratulations and condolence,
but Abu Tammam has spared me that task:
تِلْكَthat الرّزِيَّةُcalamity لاno رَزِيَّةَcalamity مِثْلُهاis like it
تِلْكَ الرّزِيَّةُ لا رَزِيَّةَ مِثْلُها
والقسْمُand the allotted share لَيْسَis not كَسَائِرlike other الأقْسامِallotted shares
والقسْمُ لَيْسَ كَسَائِر الأقْسامِ
That calamity—no calamity is like it;
and this allotted share is unlike all other shares.
Partial English translation: 105 of 116 Arabic lines translated.