أعمَىblind البَصيرَةin insight مَنْwhoever تَقدَّمهleads him الهَوىpassion
أعمَى البَصيرَة مَنْ تَقدَّمه الهَوى
وحِجَاهand his intellect بِالرّأيthrough judgment الرّشيدsound بَصيرُclear-sighted
وحِجَاه بِالرّأي الرّشيد بَصيرُ
Blind in insight is he whom passion leads,
though his intellect sees clearly through sound judgment.
سَلْask عَنْabout مَغازِيهhis campaigns البِلادَthe lands وأَهْلَهاand their people
سَلْ عَنْ مَغازِيه البِلادَ وأَهْلَها
يُنْبِئْكwill inform you عنabout سَرْدِthe recounting الفُتوحِof the conquests خَبيرُone well informed
يُنْبِئْك عن سَرْدِ الفُتوحِ خَبيرُ
Ask the lands and their people about his campaigns;
one well informed will recount the conquests to you.
أرْبَتْsurpassed طَواِئفُهhis detachments علىbeyond مَاwhat قَبْلَهاpreceded them
أرْبَتْ طَواِئفُه على مَا قَبْلَها
والغُنْمُand the gain فيin خَوْضbraving الخطارdangers خَطيرُgreat
والغُنْمُ في خَوْض الخطار خَطيرُ
His detachments surpassed those that came before;
rich is the gain in braving dangers.
تَتَنَعَّمُdelight الأسماعُthe ears والأبْصارُand the eyes فيin
تَتَنَعَّمُ الأسماعُ والأبْصارُ في
سُلْطانِهِhis dominion فَبِشَارَةٌso glad tidings وَبَشيرُand their bearer
سُلْطانِهِ فَبِشَارَةٌ وَبَشيرُ
Ears and eyes delight in
his dominion: glad tidings and their bearer.
عُزِبَتْwere ascribed (probable textual correction) إِلىto عُمَرَUmar الُفتوحُthe conquests وعَزمُهand his resolve
عُزِبَتْ إِلى عُمَرَ الُفتوحُ وعَزمُه
لاnot يأتَلِيslackens أوْuntil يُفْتَحَis conquered المَعْمورُthe inhabited world
لا يأتَلِي أوْ يُفْتَحَ المَعْمورُ
Conquests were ascribed to Umar, and his resolve
never slackens until the inhabited world is conquered.
مَاذاwhat يحَبِّرُembellishes أوor يُحَرّرُcomposes مادِحٌa panegyrist
مَاذا يحَبِّرُ أو يُحَرّرُ مادِحٌ
والعِزُّand glory أقْعَسُunshakable والمَقَامُand the station كَبِيرُgreat
والعِزُّ أقْعَسُ والمَقَامُ كَبِيرُ
What can a panegyrist embellish or compose,
when glory is unshakable and his station great?
جُمِعَتْwere gathered تَفاريقُthe scattered parts العُلىof excellence فيin واحدٍone man
جُمِعَتْ تَفاريقُ العُلى في واحدٍ
ألْقَىsurrendered أزمتَهُمْtheir reins لَهto him الجُمْهورُthe multitude
ألْقَى أزمتَهُمْ لَه الجُمْهورُ
The scattered excellences were gathered in one man,
to whom the multitude surrendered their reins.
وَرِثَinherited الهُدىguidance والنورَand light عَنfrom آبائِهِhis forefathers
وَرِثَ الهُدى والنورَ عَن آبائِهِ
أسْنَىthe noblest الْمَواريثِlegacies الهُدىguidance وَالنورُand light
أسْنَى الْمَواريثِ الهُدى وَالنورُ
He inherited guidance and light from his forefathers;
guidance and light are the noblest legacies.
ماnot يَزْدَهِيtakes pride ملْكٌa kingdom وسُلْطَانand dominion بِهِin him
ما يَزْدَهِي ملْكٌ وسُلْطَان بِهِ
إلاexcept that تَخايَلَstrutted proudly مِنْبَرٌa pulpit وَسَريرُand a throne
إلا تَخايَلَ مِنْبَرٌ وَسَريرُ
No kingdom or dominion takes pride in him
without pulpit and throne strutting proudly.
جَرَّdrew onward الكَتائِبَthe battalions رَافِعاًraising رَايَاتهhis banners
جَرَّ الكَتائِبَ رَافِعاً رَايَاته
فَتَكَافأَso matched المَرْفوعُthe raised والمَجْرُورُand the drawn
فَتَكَافأَ المَرْفوعُ والمَجْرُورُ
He drew the battalions onward, raising his banners,
so the raised and the drawn matched one another.
مِنْfrom كُلِّevery مُثقلةِheavy الخُطَىfootsteps رَجراجَةٍsurging
مِنْ كُلِّ مُثقلةِ الخُطَى رَجراجَةٍ
تَرْتَجُّtrembles مِنهاbecause of it الأرْضُthe earth وهيَthough it is وَقُورُsteady
تَرْتَجُّ مِنها الأرْضُ وهيَ وَقُورُ
Each a heavy-stepping, surging host,
making the earth quake, though it is steady.
مَلأتْfilled مَناديحَthe wide expanses المَلاof the wilderness فَكَأنَّهاso as though they were
مَلأتْ مَناديحَ المَلا فَكَأنَّها
طِرْسٌa parchment عَلَيْهon it مِنof الصُّفوفِthe ranks سُطورُlines
طِرْسٌ عَلَيْه مِن الصُّفوفِ سُطورُ
They filled the broad expanses, as though these were
a parchment with the ranks inscribed as lines.
فَتَكاثَفَتْso they massed أُمَماًin multitudes تَلوحُappearing فَعِنْدَهاso amid them
فَتَكاثَفَتْ أُمَماً تَلوحُ فَعِنْدَها
يَخْفَىis hidden صُعُودٌan ascent وسْطَهاin their midst وحُدورُand a descent
يَخْفَى صُعُودٌ وسْطَها وحُدورُ
They massed as visible multitudes, so that
heights and hollows were hidden in their midst.
مَنْwhoever يَعْتَبِرreflects يَدلُلهguides him فيin الدُّنياthis world عَلىtoward
مَنْ يَعْتَبِر يَدلُله في الدُّنيا عَلى
حَشْرِthe gathering القِيامةof the Resurrection جَمْعُهاtheir host المَحْشورُmustered
حَشْرِ القِيامة جَمْعُها المَحْشورُ
Whoever reflects is guided in this world toward
the Resurrection's gathering by their mustered host.
وكأنَّهمand as though they وكأنَّand as though سُبَّقَthe foremost خَيْلِهمof their horses
وكأنَّهم وكأنَّ سُبَّقَ خَيْلِهم
وَسْطamid العَجَاجthe swirling dust ضَراغِمٌlions وصُقورُand falcons
وَسْط العَجَاج ضَراغِمٌ وصُقورُ
And they seem, and their foremost horses seem,
amid the dust, like lions and falcons.
ألِفَgrew accustomed to الإمَامُthe Imam لِقَوْدِهاto lead them غُبْرَdust-gray expanses الفَلاof the wilderness
ألِفَ الإمَامُ لِقَوْدِها غُبْرَ الفَلا
فلَهاso they have رَواحٌevening departure نَحْوَهاtoward them وبُكورُand early departure
فلَها رَواحٌ نَحْوَها وبُكورُ
The Imam grew accustomed, in leading them, to the dust-gray wastes;
toward those wastes they march evening and morning.
وَشَرىand traded الحَدائِقَthe gardens بالوَدائِقfor scorching heat مُوقِناًcertain
وَشَرى الحَدائِقَ بالوَدائِق مُوقِناً
أنَّthat اقْتِناءَacquiring البِرّrighteousness لَيْسَnot يَبُورُcomes to nothing
أنَّ اقْتِناءَ البِرّ لَيْسَ يَبُورُ
And he traded gardens for scorching heat, certain
that acquiring righteousness never comes to nothing.
فَأَعَزُّthus the dearest مَسْكونٍdwelling لَدَيْهِto him سُرَادِقٌa pavilion
فَأَعَزُّ مَسْكونٍ لَدَيْهِ سُرَادِقٌ
وأَحَبُّand the most beloved مَصْحوبٍcompanion إليهِto him هَجِيرُmidday heat
وأَحَبُّ مَصْحوبٍ إليهِ هَجِيرُ
Thus his most cherished dwelling is a pavilion,
and his best-loved companion the midday heat.
إنْif يُدْمِنِpersists in السّفَرَtravel البَعيدfar مَطارِحاًin destinations
إنْ يُدْمِنِ السّفَرَ البَعيد مَطارِحاً
فَلأوْجُهِso for the faces البُشَراءِof glad-tidings bearers عَنْهُfrom him سُفورُunveiling
فَلأوْجُهِ البُشَراءِ عَنْهُ سُفورُ
If he keeps travelling to far-off destinations,
the faces of his glad-tidings bearers are unveiled.
أيَجُوزُis it possible أنْthat يُرْتَابَdoubt be felt فيabout إظْهَارِهhis triumph
أيَجُوزُ أنْ يُرْتَابَ في إظْهَارِه
ولهُand for him المَلائِكُthe angels والمُلوكُand the kings ظَهيرُa supporter
ولهُ المَلائِكُ والمُلوكُ ظَهيرُ
Can his triumph be doubted,
when angels and kings stand as his supporters?
لِبَنيfor the sons of أبيAbu حَفْصٍHafs أبيهِhis father مَقارِمٌmighty chiefs
لِبَني أبي حَفْصٍ أبيهِ مَقارِمٌ
فيin نَصْرِهِsupporting him تأثِيرُهاtheir impact مَأثُورُrenowned
في نَصْرِهِ تأثِيرُها مَأثُورُ
The sons of his father Abu Hafs have mighty chiefs,
whose deeds in supporting him are renowned.
قَوْمٌa people إِذَاwhen وَرَدواentered الوَغىbattle لمnot يَصْدُرواwithdraw
قَوْمٌ إِذَا وَرَدوا الوَغى لم يَصْدُروا
إلاexcept إذاwhen شُفِيَتْwere healed هُناكthere صُدُورُhearts
إلا إذا شُفِيَتْ هُناك صُدُورُ
A people who enter battle never withdraw
until their hearts have found their cure there.
هَزلتهُمmade them lean العَلْياlofty glory لأنْbecause سَمِنَتْgrew fat بِهِمْthrough them
هَزلتهُم العَلْيا لأنْ سَمِنَتْ بِهِمْ
فِيهاwithin it وُحوشwild beasts جُوّعٌhungry وَطُيورُand birds
فِيها وُحوش جُوّعٌ وَطُيورُ
Glory made them lean, for through them grew fat
the hungry beasts and birds in its domain.
هُمْthey شَمَّرُواtucked up their robes إذwhen أسْبَلَتْlet robes trail أضْدادُهُمtheir adversaries
هُمْ شَمَّرُوا إذ أسْبَلَتْ أضْدادُهُم
شَتّانَfar apart ماindeed الإِسْبَالُletting robes trail والتشمِيرُand tucking them up
شَتّانَ ما الإِسْبَالُ والتشمِيرُ
They tucked up their robes when their foes let theirs trail;
how far apart are trailing robes and tucking them up!
وَطَريرُand the keen edge هِنْديَّاتِهمof their Indian swords مُتَفَلِّلٌnotched
وَطَريرُ هِنْديَّاتِهم مُتَفَلِّلٌ
وصَحيحُand the intact خُطّيَّاتِهمْof their Khatti spears مَكْسورُbroken
وصَحيحُ خُطّيَّاتِهمْ مَكْسورُ
The keen edges of their Indian swords are notched,
and their once-intact Khatti spears are broken.
تَصِفُdescribe الصّباحَthe morning طلاقةًin cheerfulness صَفَحاتُهُمtheir faces
تَصِفُ الصّباحَ طلاقةً صَفَحاتُهُم
وطَلاقَةُand the cheerfulness اليَوْمِof the day الأغَرِّradiant بُسُورُa scowl
وطَلاقَةُ اليَوْمِ الأغَرِّ بُسُورُ
Their faces describe the morning's cheer,
yet a radiant day's cheer is a scowl beside them.
فيin عُقْرِهاtheir heartland زارواvisited العُداةthe enemies لِعقْرِهاto slaughter them
في عُقْرِها زاروا العُداة لِعقْرِها
فارْتَاحَso rejoiced زُوّارvisitors وطَاحَand fell مَزورُthe visited
فارْتَاحَ زُوّار وطَاحَ مَزورُ
They visited their foes in their heartland to slaughter them;
the visitors rejoiced, while the visited fell.
تَخِذُواmade الحِفَاظَsafeguarding honor شِعارَهمtheir inner garment ودِثارَهُمand their outer garment
تَخِذُوا الحِفَاظَ شِعارَهم ودِثارَهُم
لِيَبينَso it may part عنfrom مجدٍglory بَنوْهُthey built it دَثورُruin
لِيَبينَ عن مجدٍ بَنوْهُ دَثورُ
They made safeguarding honor their inner and outer garments,
so ruin might stay apart from the glory they built.
لاnot يَعْرِفونَknow الذُّعرَfear يَوْمَon a day of كَريهةٍbattle
لا يَعْرِفونَ الذُّعرَ يَوْمَ كَريهةٍ
والمَوْتُand Death مِنfrom كرَّاتِهِمtheir charges مَذْعورُterrified
والمَوْتُ مِن كرَّاتِهِم مَذْعورُ
They know no fear on a day of battle,
while Death itself is terrified by their charges.
كَثرواsurpassed الوَرَىmankind أيْداًin strength بِيُمنِthrough the blessing of مُؤَيِّدa supporter
كَثروا الوَرَى أيْداً بِيُمنِ مُؤَيِّد
حَظُّthe share الكَرىof sleep مِنْfrom طرْفِهِhis eye مَنُزورُscant
حَظُّ الكَرى مِنْ طرْفِهِ مَنُزورُ
They surpassed mankind in strength through the blessing of a champion
whose eye gives sleep only a scant share.
لِلسِّلْمِfor peace والهَيْجاءand battle غَيْثٌlife-giving rain ديمَةٌsteady rain
لِلسِّلْمِ والهَيْجاء غَيْثٌ ديمَةٌ
مِنْهُfrom him ولَيْثٌand a lion لِلطغاةِfor tyrants هَصورُcrushing
مِنْهُ ولَيْثٌ لِلطغاةِ هَصورُ
For peace and battle, there is steady, life-giving rain
from him, and for tyrants a lion that crushes.
لمnot يُبْقِleft لِلأَمْرfor the authority العَلِيّexalted قِيامُهhis rising
لم يُبْقِ لِلأَمْر العَلِيّ قِيامُه
ثَأراًa blood-debt فَمَنْso who ذاis it بَعدafter ذَاكthat يَثُورُrebels
ثَأراً فَمَنْ ذا بَعد ذَاك يَثُورُ
His defense of the exalted authority left no
blood-debt unpaid; who, after that, would rebel?
تَتَقَبّلُaccept الأمْلاكthe kings مُلْهَمَthe inspired part رَأيِهِof his judgment
تَتَقَبّلُ الأمْلاك مُلْهَمَ رَأيِهِ
فيماin what يُدَبِّرُهُhe arranges it لَهُمْfor them تَدْبيرُgovernance
فيما يُدَبِّرُهُ لَهُمْ تَدْبيرُ
Kings accept his inspired counsel;
in what he arranges for them lies governance.
ولَقدand indeed تناهَىreached the utmost فيin التُّقَىpiety فَتَشاهَرَتْso became renowned
ولَقد تناهَى في التُّقَى فَتَشاهَرَتْ
حِجَجٌyears نوافِلَfree gifts طَوْلهِof his bounty وشُهورُand months
حِجَجٌ نوافِلَ طَوْلهِ وشُهورُ
He has reached the utmost piety; renowned are
years and months for the free gifts of his bounty.
عُلِّقتُهI became attached to him حَفْصيّHafsid العلاقَةin attachment بِالعُلىto eminence
عُلِّقتُه حَفْصيّ العلاقَة بِالعُلى
والخَيْرُand goodness مِلْءُfilling وُجودِهhis being والخيرُand generosity
والخَيْرُ مِلْءُ وُجودِه والخيرُ
I became enamored of him, a Hafsid bound to eminence;
and goodness and generosity fill his being.
وكأنَّماand as though رَمَضانُRamadan فيon رَمْضَاءscorching ground مِنْfrom
وكأنَّما رَمَضانُ في رَمْضَاء مِنْ
أسَفٍsorrow لإزْماعِat the resolve for الوَدَاعfarewell تَفورُseethes
أسَفٍ لإزْماعِ الوَدَاع تَفورُ
And Ramadan seems to stand on scorching ground,
seething with sorrow at the resolve to take leave.
تَفْطِيرهhis feeding at fast-breaking الصُّوّامَthose fasting عِدْلُequal to أجُورهِمtheir rewards
تَفْطِيره الصُّوّامَ عِدْلُ أجُورهِم
ولَهand for him إلىin addition to تِلكَthose الأجورِrewards أُجورُrewards
ولَه إلى تِلكَ الأجورِ أُجورُ
His feeding those who fast earns the equal of their rewards,
and beyond those rewards, he has further rewards.
إمّاeither عُلُومٌknowledge تُسْتَفَادُis acquired لَديهِin his presence أوْor
إمّا عُلُومٌ تُسْتَفَادُ لَديهِ أوْ
أَعْمالُdeeds بِرّof goodness قَصْدُهاtheir intent مَبْرُورُblessed
أَعْمالُ بِرّ قَصْدُها مَبْرُورُ
Either knowledge acquired in his presence, or
deeds of goodness whose intent is blessed.
يَهْنِيهِcongratulates him عِيدٌEid بالبَشائِرِwith glad tidings عائِدٌreturning
يَهْنِيهِ عِيدٌ بالبَشائِرِ عائِدٌ
وافاهُcame to him يُوميgestures نَحْوَهاtoward them ويُشيرُand points
وافاهُ يُومي نَحْوَها ويُشيرُ
Eid congratulates him, returning with glad tidings;
it came to him, gesturing and pointing toward them.
حَضَرَattended المُصَلَّىthe prayer ground وَهْوَwhile he is مَشْهودٌwitnessed بِمَنby those who
حَضَرَ المُصَلَّى وَهْوَ مَشْهودٌ بِمَن
تَتَزَيَّنُis adorned الدُّنياthe world بهby them مَحْضورُattended
تَتَزَيَّنُ الدُّنيا به مَحْضورُ
He attended the prayer ground, witnessed by those
who adorn the world, with their company about him.
قَدalready رَفَّهُbrought him ease التعزيرُhonor والتَوقيرُand reverence إذْwhile
قَد رَفَّهُ التعزيرُ والتَوقيرُ إذْ
قَدْalready حَفّهُsurrounded him التَهليلُdeclaring God's oneness والتَكبيرُand declaring God's greatness
قَدْ حَفّهُ التَهليلُ والتَكبيرُ
Honor and reverence had brought him ease, while
declarations of God's oneness and greatness surrounded him.
تَضْفُوdrapes amply عَلَيهِover him مِنof السَّكينَةserenity بُرْدَةٌa mantle
تَضْفُو عَلَيهِ مِن السَّكينَة بُرْدَةٌ
جَيْبُthe collar الطَّهارَةِof purity فَوْقَهَاabove it مَزْرُورُbuttoned
جَيْبُ الطَّهارَةِ فَوْقَهَا مَزْرُورُ
A mantle of serenity drapes amply over him,
with purity's collar buttoned above it.
وتُمِدُّand augments نورَthe light الشّمْسِof the sun مِنهfrom him غُرّةٌa radiant brow
وتُمِدُّ نورَ الشّمْسِ مِنه غُرّةٌ
يَرْتَدُّrecoils عنهاfrom it الطّرْفُthe gaze وهْوَwhile it is حَسيرُexhausted
يَرْتَدُّ عنها الطّرْفُ وهْوَ حَسيرُ
And his radiant brow adds to the sun's light;
the gaze recoils from it, exhausted.
ثمَّthen انثَنىturned back وثَناؤُهُand his praise مُتَضَوِّعٌspreading fragrance
ثمَّ انثَنى وثَناؤُهُ مُتَضَوِّعٌ
كالرَّوْضlike a garden نَمَّrevealed شَذاهُits scent وهْوَwhile it is مَطيرُrain-drenched
كالرَّوْض نَمَّ شَذاهُ وهْوَ مَطيرُ
Then he turned back, his praise spreading fragrance,
like a rain-drenched garden revealed by its scent.
سَمْحاًgenerous لأفْواهto the mouths of المُلوكِthe kings بِراحَةٍwith a palm
سَمْحاً لأفْواه المُلوكِ بِراحَةٍ
لَثَمُواthey kissed أنَامِلَهاits fingertips وَهُنّwhile they are بُحُورُseas
لَثَمُوا أنَامِلَها وَهُنّ بُحُورُ
freely offering to the mouths of kings a palm
whose fingertips they kissed—fingertips that were seas.
وَالناسُand the people مِنsome being داعٍone praying لهfor him ومؤَمنٍand one saying Amen
وَالناسُ مِن داعٍ له ومؤَمنٍ
لاmay not زَايلَتْهُleave him سَعَادَةٌhappiness وظُهُورُand victory
لا زَايلَتْهُ سَعَادَةٌ وظُهُورُ
The people, some praying for him and others saying "Amen":
May happiness and victory never leave him!
Translation model: Sol 6.1