أحَقّاًtruly? طَربتَyou yearned إلَىfor الرّبْرَبِthe gazelle herd
أحَقّاً طَربتَ إلَى الرّبْرَبِ
ومُذْand since شَطَّتgrew distant الدارُthe dwelling لَمْdid not تَطْرَبyou feel longing
ومُذْ شَطَّت الدارُ لَمْ تَطْرَب
Did you truly yearn for the herd of gazelles,
Did you really rejoice at tambourines,
though, since the dwelling grew distant, you had felt no longing?
While the house crumbled, you did not rejoice?
رُوَيْدَكَtake your time أعْرضhas turned away عنكَfrom you الشبابُyouth
رُوَيْدَكَ أعْرض عنكَ الشبابُ
وحسْبُكand enough for you بالعارِضِwith the cheek-beard الأشْيَبgray-haired
وحسْبُك بالعارِضِ الأشْيَب
Easy now! Youth has turned away from you,
Restrain yourself, youth has turned away from you,
and your gray cheek-beard is warning enough.
It is enough for you to have white hair as a companion.
فَكَيْفَso how تَعِنُّdo you appear لِعينِto the eye of المَهاthe oryx
فَكَيْفَ تَعِنُّ لِعينِ المَها
وتُشرِقُand you shine لِلْمُشْرقِfor the radiant one الأشْنَبpearly-toothed
وتُشرِقُ لِلْمُشْرقِ الأشْنَب
How, then, do you appear before the oryx's eye,
So how can you desire the eye of the alluring one,
and beam at the radiant, pearly-toothed one?
And the shining one with prominent teeth please you?
وَإنّand indeed الغَرامَpassion عَلَىin كَبْرةٍold age
وَإنّ الغَرامَ عَلَى كَبْرةٍ
لإحْدىis surely one of الكَبائِرِthe grave sins فَاسْتَعْتِبso seek pardon
لإحْدى الكَبائِرِ فَاسْتَعْتِب
Indeed, passion in old age
Indeed infatuation in old age,
is surely one of the grave sins; so seek pardon.
Is one of the major sins, so seek forgiveness.
أبَعْدَafter, then? نُضوبِthe drying up of مِياهthe waters of الصِّباyouth
أبَعْدَ نُضوبِ مِياه الصِّبا
وَتَصْويحand the withering of يانِعِهits ripe growth المُخْصِبlush
وَتَصْويح يانِعِه المُخْصِب
After the waters of youth have run dry,
After the water of youth has dried up,
and its lush, ripe growth has withered,
And its lush greenery has withered,
تحِنُّyou yearn إلىfor مَلْعَبٍa playground للظّباءfor gazelles
تحِنُّ إلى مَلْعَبٍ للظّباء
بِكُثْبانِamong the dunes of رامَةَRamah أوor غُرَّبGhurrab
بِكُثْبانِ رامَةَ أو غُرَّب
do you yearn for a playground of gazelles
You yearn for the playground of gazelles,
among the dunes of Ramah or Ghurrab?
Among the sand dunes of Ramah or Ghurrab.
فهَلاso why not إلىto مَلْعبٍa playground لِلأسودِfor lions
فهَلا إلى مَلْعبٍ لِلأسودِ
نَعمتyou delighted بِمَنظرِهِin its spectacle المُعْجبwondrous
نَعمت بِمَنظرِهِ المُعْجب
Why not turn instead to a playground of lions,
Why not head to the playground of lions,
and delight in its wondrous spectacle?
Delighted by its awe-inspiring view.
يُقَامُis waged الجِهَادُholy war بِهَاwith them والجِلادُand close combat
يُقَامُ الجِهَادُ بِهَا والجِلادُ
لِكلِّfor every فَتىًyoung man مِدْرَهٍchampion مِحْرَبseasoned warrior
لِكلِّ فَتىً مِدْرَهٍ مِحْرَب
With them, holy war and close combat are waged
Jihad and execution are carried out in it,
for every young champion, seasoned in war.
For every sharp-witted heroic young man.
وَيَضْرَىand he grows practiced عَلىin الفَتْكِslaughter بِالضّارِياتof the beasts of prey
وَيَضْرَى عَلى الفَتْكِ بِالضّارِيات
وإنand if غَالَبَhe contests القِرْنَthe opponent لَمْnot يُغْلَبhe is defeated
وإن غَالَبَ القِرْنَ لَمْ يُغْلَب
He grows practiced in killing beasts of prey,
He takes pride in attacking the vicious,
and if he contests an opponent, he is not defeated.
And if he overcomes the spearpoint he is not overcome.
تَرَاهُyou see him مُبيداًan annihilator لأهلِof the people of الصليبthe Cross
تَرَاهُ مُبيداً لأهلِ الصليب
بِفَلّby shattering خمسهمُtheir army الأصْلَبmost unyielding
بِفَلّ خمسهمُ الأصْلَب
You see him annihilating the people of the Cross,
You see him annihilating the people of the cross,
by shattering their most unyielding host.
With the sharp edge of his five-fingered sword.
ضَوارbeasts of prey ضَوارِبُstriking أظفارِهَاtheir claws
ضَوار ضَوارِبُ أظفارِهَا
تُعِيرُlend الظُّبَىsword-edges رقّةَfineness of المَضْربthe cutting stroke
تُعِيرُ الظُّبَى رقّةَ المَضْرب
Beasts of prey whose striking claws
The claws of its lionesses,
lend sword-edges the fineness of their stroke:
Mock the gentleness of the deer's hoof.
فَمِنْso among them أَسَدٍa lion شَرِسٍsavage مُحْنَقٍenraged
فَمِنْ أَسَدٍ شَرِسٍ مُحْنَقٍ
ومِنْand among them نَمِرٍa leopard حَردٍfurious مُغْضَبangered
ومِنْ نَمِرٍ حَردٍ مُغْضَب
among them, a savage, enraged lion,
It has ferocious lions, angry and roaring,
and a furious, angered leopard.
And snarling, hissing leopards.
أثِيرَتْwere roused حَفَائِظُهَاtheir wrath فانْبَرَتso they sprang forth
أثِيرَتْ حَفَائِظُهَا فانْبَرَت
تَسَابَقُracing one another فيin شأوِهاtheir course الأرْحَبbroadest
تَسَابَقُ في شأوِها الأرْحَب
Their wrath was roused, so they sprang forth,
Their instincts have been aroused, so they charge forth,
racing one another along their broadest course.
Racing in their vast plain.
تُصِيمthey deafen المَسَامِعَthe ears مِنْfrom زَأْرهاtheir roaring
تُصِيم المَسَامِعَ مِنْ زَأْرها
عَوادِيَcharging كالضُّمَّرlike lean steeds الشزُّبgaunt
عَوادِيَ كالضُّمَّر الشزُّب
They deafen ears with their roaring,
Their roars deafen the ears,
charging like lean, gaunt steeds.
Like howling hyenas in the valleys.
وَتَنْبُوand recoil العُيونthe eyes لإقْدَامِهاat their advance
وَتَنْبُو العُيون لإقْدَامِها
مُذربةَsharpened النابِfang والمِخْلَبand claw
مُذربةَ النابِ والمِخْلَب
Eyes recoil at their advance,
Eyes avert out of fear of their attack,
with sharpened fangs and claws.
Brandishing fangs and claws.
لُيُوثٌlions إِذاwhen ذمَرَتْthey roar صَمّمَتthey press on resolutely
لُيُوثٌ إِذا ذمَرَتْ صَمّمَت
وإنand though لَغَبَtires الذّمْرُthe brave warrior لمnot تُغْلَبthey are overcome
وإن لَغَبَ الذّمْرُ لم تُغْلَب
Lions that, when they roar, press on resolutely,
They are lionesses, when they snarl they become resolute,
and though the brave warrior tires, they are not overcome.
And if snarling is scarce, they are not subdued.
كَواشِرُbaring عَنْto reveal مُرْهفاتٍfinely honed points حَدادٍsharp
كَواشِرُ عَنْ مُرْهفاتٍ حَدادٍ
متىwhenever تصْدَعِthey sunder الشملَthe union لمnot يُشعَبit is rejoined
متى تصْدَعِ الشملَ لم يُشعَب
Baring finely honed, sharp points,
Biting at grievous, cutting blades,
which, whenever they sunder a union, leave it beyond repair:
If the bond is severed, it will not be mended.
نُيوبfangs نَبَتْنhave grown مِنfrom النّائِباتcalamities
نُيوب نَبَتْن مِن النّائِبات
وأزْرَينَand they put to shame بالصارِمِthe keen sword المُقْضِبsevering
وأزْرَينَ بالصارِمِ المُقْضِب
fangs that have sprung from calamities
Fangs sprouted from she-lions,
and put the keen, severing sword to shame.
And forearms with the slaughtering sword.
تَنُوءthey lumber ثِقالاًheavily ولَكِنّهاbut they
تَنُوء ثِقالاً ولَكِنّها
أخَفُّlighter وُثوباًin leaping منthan الجُنْدُبa grasshopper
أخَفُّ وُثوباً من الجُنْدُب
They lumber heavily, yet they are
Their tread is heavy but they
lighter in leaping than a grasshopper.
Are lighter garbed than the locust.
كأنّas though لَهاthey had مَأرَباًa goal فيin السّماءthe sky
كأنّ لَها مَأرَباً في السّماء
فَتَسْمُوso they rise aloft لِتَظْفَرَto attain بِالمَأرَبthe goal
فَتَسْمُو لِتَظْفَرَ بِالمَأرَب
As though they had a goal in the sky,
As if for them there is a battlefield in the sky,
they rise aloft to attain that goal.
So they ascend to gain the high ground.
ومُقْتحِمٍand one plunging into غَمراتthe depths of الرّدىdeath
ومُقْتحِمٍ غَمرات الرّدى
إذَاwhen ماemphatic particle ادّعىboast الناسُpeople لمnot يكذِبhe lies
إذَا ما ادّعى الناسُ لم يكذِب
And a man who plunges into the depths of death,
And a raider of the pitfalls of destruction,
when people boast, does not lie.
If people claim, he will not deny.
يُلاعِبُهاhe plays with them حَيْثُwhere جَدّis in earnest الحِمامُdeath
يُلاعِبُها حَيْثُ جَدّ الحِمامُ
فتفْزَعُso they flee مِنْهُfrom him إلىto مَهْرَبa refuge
فتفْزَعُ مِنْهُ إلى مَهْرَب
He plays with them where death is in earnest,
He toys with them when battle is heated,
so they flee from him to a refuge.
So they flee from him in panic.
يَكُرُّhe charges عَلَيْهَاupon them وَلاand no جُنَّةٌshield
يَكُرُّ عَلَيْهَا وَلا جُنَّةٌ
سوىexcept كُرَةٍa ball سهْلَةeasy to المَجْذبpull along
سوى كُرَةٍ سهْلَة المَجْذب
He charges upon them with no shield
He pounces on them and no shield
save a ball, easily pulled along.
Except leaping nimbly aside.
يُدَحْرِجُهاhe rolls it ماشِياًwalking ثِنْيَهاbehind it
يُدَحْرِجُها ماشِياً ثِنْيَها
عَلىwith حَذرٍcaution مِشْيَةthe gait of الأنكبone walking askew
عَلى حَذرٍ مِشْيَة الأنكب
He rolls it, walking behind it
He knocks them down slowly bending them,
warily, with the gait of one walking askew.
Treading carefully like a lynx.
عَجِبتُI marveled لَهاat them أحجَمَتْthey recoiled رَهْبَةًin fear
عَجِبتُ لَها أحجَمَتْ رَهْبَةً
وأقْدَمَand he advanced بأساًin valor وَلَمand did not يرْهَبfear
وأقْدَمَ بأساً وَلَم يرْهَب
I marveled at them: they recoiled in fear,
I was amazed that she hesitated in fear,
while he advanced in valor and felt no fear.
And he advanced in might but did not dread.
وَقَتْهُprotected him الأَواقيthe safeguards علَىdespite أنّهُthe fact that he
وَقَتْهُ الأَواقي علَى أنّهُ
تَسَنّمَهَاhe mounted them صّعْبَةdifficult of المَرْكَبriding
تَسَنّمَهَا صّعْبَة المَرْكَب
Safeguards protected him, although
The eagles of death watched him
he mounted them, difficult as they were to ride.
From their vantage point thinking he had mounted it with difficulty.
وَثاوٍand one staying بِمَطْبَقَةٍbeneath a cover فَوْقَهabove him
وَثاوٍ بِمَطْبَقَةٍ فَوْقَه
مَتَىwhenever تَطْفُbobs up هامَتُهُhis head تَرْسُبit sinks
مَتَى تَطْفُ هامَتُهُ تَرْسُب
And one staying beneath an overhead cover:
And the bowstrings of the mighty archer tensed around him,
whenever his head bobs up, it sinks again.
So he bubbled in the blink of an eye into a drinking trough.
يُهَجْهِجُhe shouts بالليثِat the lion كَيماso that يَهيجit becomes excited
يُهَجْهِجُ بالليثِ كَيما يَهيج
ويأوِيand takes refuge إِلىto الكَهفِthe cave كالثّعلبlike a fox
ويأوِي إِلى الكَهفِ كالثّعلب
He shouts at the lion to rouse it,
And they slithered there with their tails,
and takes refuge in the cave like a fox.
Fleeing the slaughter like a scorpion.
كذلكَthus حتّىuntil هوَتْswooped down نَحوَهَاtoward them
كذلكَ حتّى هوَتْ نَحوَهَا
عُقابُthe eagle of المنيّةdeath مِنْfrom مَرْقَبa lookout
عُقابُ المنيّة مِنْ مَرْقَب
Thus it continued until there swooped toward them
So what fortresses have been turned
the eagle of death from a lookout.
Into hedgehogs by the shooting arrows!
وعَاجَتْand turned عَلَيْهَاupon them قَواسِيthe merciless ones of القِسِيّthe bows
وعَاجَتْ عَلَيْهَا قَواسِي القِسِيّ
فَعَبّتْso they gulped مِنof الْحَيْنdoom فيat مَشْرَبa drinking-place
فَعَبّتْ مِن الْحَيْن في مَشْرَب
And the merciless bows turned upon them,
And what great feats, if enumerated,
so they gulped down doom at that drinking-place.
Would exhaust the verbose orator.
وشَالَتْand they raised هُنَاكَthere بِأذْنَابِهاtheir tails
وشَالَتْ هُنَاكَ بِأذْنَابِها
لِيَاذاًseeking refuge منfrom العقرِmaiming كالعَقْربlike a scorpion
لِيَاذاً من العقرِ كالعَقْرب
There they lifted their tails,
Wondrous strange things dazzled minds,
seeking escape from maiming, like a scorpion.
Brought together under the king of the Maghreb.
فَياso, oh! لِقَساوِرَwhat lions قدindeed صُيّرَتْhave been transformed
فَيا لِقَساوِرَ قد صُيّرَتْ
قَنَافِذَhedgehogs بالأَسْهُمِby the arrows الصُّيَّبhitting the mark
قَنَافِذَ بالأَسْهُمِ الصُّيَّب
Ah, lions that have been turned
If the mind is generous it will not go astray,
into hedgehogs by arrows that struck home!
And if the poem is brief it will not sin.
ويَاand oh! لمَآثِرَwhat glorious feats لَوْif عُدِّدَتْthey were enumerated
ويَا لمَآثِرَ لَوْ عُدِّدَتْ
لأَعيَتْwould surely prove too much عَلىfor المُسهِبthe copious speaker المُطنِبlong-winded
لأَعيَتْ عَلى المُسهِب المُطنِب
And what glorious feats! Were they enumerated,
A guiding imam whose light is penetrating,
they would exhaust even a copious, long-winded speaker.
And the blossom of stars has no holes.
غَرَائِبُwonders شَتّىof many kinds بهرْنhave dazzled العقولminds
غَرَائِبُ شَتّى بهرْن العقول
جُمِعْنَwere gathered لَدَىbefore مَلِكthe king of المَغرِبthe Maghrib
جُمِعْنَ لَدَى مَلِك المَغرِب
Wonders of many kinds, which have dazzled minds,
On the doctrines of Imam Ar-Ridha,
have been gathered before the king of the Maghrib.
He bases his principles and doctrinal schools.
فَإنْso if جَوّدَexcels الفكرُthought لمnot يُغربِit offers a novelty
فَإنْ جَوّدَ الفكرُ لم يُغربِ
وإنْand if قصّرfalls short الشعرpoetry لمnot يُذنبit commits a fault
وإنْ قصّر الشعر لم يُذنب
So if thought excels, it offers nothing novel;
He calls people to his cause,
and if poetry falls short, it is not to blame.
Pleasing God and the Prophet.
إمَامُan imam of هُدىًguidance نُورُهhis light ثَاقِبٌpiercing
إمَامُ هُدىً نُورُه ثَاقِبٌ
وَزهْرُand the brilliant ones of الكَواكبِthe stars لمْnot تثقُبthey have pierced
وَزهْرُ الكَواكبِ لمْ تثقُب
An imam of guidance, whose light pierces through,
Supporter of guidance, he guided views
while the brilliant stars have failed to pierce.
To it, gaining a share without aiming.
عَلىupon مَذْهبٍa doctrine للإمَامِof the imam الرّضىthe well-approved
عَلى مَذْهبٍ للإمَامِ الرّضى
تَقَيلهhe followed his example وَعلىand upon مَشْعَبa branching path
تَقَيله وَعلى مَشْعَب
He stands upon the doctrine of the revered imam,
Alone, he humbled himself in his glory,
following his example and his branching path.
His position is the zenith of the celestial sphere.
يُهيبُhe calls لِدَعْوَتِهِto his cause بالأنَامِupon humankind
يُهيبُ لِدَعْوَتِهِ بالأنَامِ
فَيُرْضيthus he pleases الإلَهGod ويُرْضيand he pleases النّبيthe Prophet
فَيُرْضي الإلَه ويُرْضي النّبي
He summons humankind to his cause,
He has the nobility of the family, above kings,
thus pleasing God and pleasing the Prophet.
And the perfume of the bride and ancestry.
ظَهيرُa backer of الهِدايةِguidance أهدَىthe best-guided of الظهورthe backers
ظَهيرُ الهِدايةِ أهدَى الظهور
إلَيْهَاtoward it نَصيباًin his share وَلَمْand never يَنْصبhe tires
إلَيْهَا نَصيباً وَلَمْ يَنْصب
A backer of guidance, the best-guided of backers
Abu Al-Hasan Al-Murtadha raised him
in his share of it, and never weary.
To the most pure, good gathering.
وَحِيداًpeerless تَواضَعَhe humbled himself فيin عزّةmight
وَحِيداً تَواضَعَ في عزّة
وَمَوْطِنُهand his dwelling هامَةُthe crown of الكَوْكَبthe star
وَمَوْطِنُه هامَةُ الكَوْكَب
Peerless, he is humble in his might,
And he attained his happiness from his father
and his dwelling is the crown of a star.
Muhammad, the eminent chosen one.
لَهُhis is شرَفُnobility of البيتِthe house دونَbeyond الملوكthe kings
لَهُ شرَفُ البيتِ دونَ الملوك
وطيبُand purity of الأرُومَةancestral stock والمَنْسَبand lineage
وطيبُ الأرُومَة والمَنْسَب
His is nobility of house beyond other kings,
He fulfilled the rights of the exalted,
and purity of ancestral stock and lineage.
With efforts on the most difficult path.
نَمَاهُraised his lineage أبوAbu (father of) حَفْصٍHafs المُرْتَضىthe well-approved
نَمَاهُ أبو حَفْصٍ المُرْتَضى
إلىto المَحْتِدancestral stock الأطْهَرpurest الأطْيَبfinest
إلى المَحْتِد الأطْهَر الأطْيَب
Through Abu Hafs, the well-approved, his lineage rises
His brilliant virtues are too lofty
to the purest, finest ancestral stock.
To be undermined by fickle time.
وأحْرَزَand he gained سُؤْدَدَهُhis lordly eminence عَنْfrom أبِيAbu (father of)
وأحْرَزَ سُؤْدَدَهُ عَنْ أبِي
مُحَمّدٍMuhammad السّيّدthe lord المُنْجبbegetter of noble offspring
مُحَمّدٍ السّيّد المُنْجب
And he gained his lordly eminence from Abu
He assumed its emirate which gained,
Muhammad, the lord who begot noble offspring.
Through his position, the noblest position.
وَفَىhe fulfilled لِلْعُلَىfor high glory بِحُقُوقِthe dues of العُلىhigh glory
وَفَى لِلْعُلَى بِحُقُوقِ العُلى
نُهوضاًrising علىupon المَرْكبِthe mount الأصْعَبmost difficult
نُهوضاً على المَرْكبِ الأصْعَب
He paid high glory all the dues of high glory,
And through it he called to a cause that tore apart,
rising upon the most difficult mount.
With its lights, the veils of the unseen.
وَجَلّتْand are too exalted مَنَاقِبُهُhis merits الزُّهْرُradiant أنْto
وَجَلّتْ مَنَاقِبُهُ الزُّهْرُ أنْ
تُقَوّضَbe pulled down بالحُولِby the cunning القُلَّبshifty
تُقَوّضَ بالحُولِ القُلَّب
And his radiant merits are too exalted
With a long reach, determined and aspiring,
to be pulled down by cunning, shifty men.
Yet a comforting neighbor, loved and pleasing.
تَقَلّدَهَاhe assumed it إمْرَةًas rulership أحْرَزَتْwhich gained
تَقَلّدَهَا إمْرَةً أحْرَزَتْ
بِمَنْصِبهِthrough his standing شَرَفَthe honor of المنْصِبoffice
بِمَنْصِبهِ شَرَفَ المنْصِب
He assumed it as a rulership that gained
He ascended loftily and drew near lowly,
through his standing the dignity of office.
So glad tidings to you of the farthest yet nearest!
وَقَامand he upheld بِهَاit دَعْوَةًas a call مَزَّقَتْwhich tore apart
وَقَام بِهَا دَعْوَةً مَزَّقَتْ
بِأنْوَارهَاwith its lights حُجُبَthe veils of الْغيهَبdeep darkness
بِأنْوَارهَا حُجُبَ الْغيهَب
And he upheld it as a call that tore apart
I have not seen the sun of morning before him,
with its lights the veils of deepest darkness.
Or a deep, surging sea at sunset.
بَعيدُfar of المَدىreach بِالقَناby spears مُحْتَمٍprotected
بَعيدُ المَدى بِالقَنا مُحْتَمٍ
قريبُnear of النّدىbounty بالتقىwith piety مُحتَبgirded
قريبُ النّدى بالتقى مُحتَب
Far-reaching, defended by spears,
near in bounty, girded with piety.
نَأىhe grew distant راقِياًrising وَدَنَاand drew near قارياًoffering hospitality
نَأى راقِياً وَدَنَا قارياً
فبُشرَاكso glad tidings to you بالأبعَدof the farthest الأقرَبthe nearest
فبُشرَاك بالأبعَد الأقرَب
He rose far above, yet drew near in hospitality,
so glad tidings to you of the farthest and nearest!
ولَمand not أرَI saw شَمسthe sun of الضُّحىforenoon قَبلَهbefore him
ولَم أرَ شَمس الضُّحى قَبلَه
وَبَحراًand a sea وطَوْداًand a towering mountain عَلىin مَغْرِبthe West
وَبَحراً وطَوْداً عَلى مَغْرِب
And never before him had I seen the forenoon sun,
and a sea and a towering mountain—all in the West.
Partial English translation: 94 of 100 Arabic lines translated.