تَحَلَّتْadorned themselves بِعَلْياكَwith your lofty glory الليالِيthe nights العَواطِلُunadorned
تَحَلَّتْ بِعَلْياكَ الليالِي العَواطِلُ
وَدانَتْand yielded لِسُقياكَto your rain-giving السّحابُthe clouds الهَواطِلُpouring
وَدانَتْ لِسُقياكَ السّحابُ الهَواطِلُ
The unadorned nights adorned themselves with your lofty glory,
And the pouring clouds yielded to your rain-giving.
وَماand not زِينَةُthe adornment of الأزْمانِthe ages إلاexcept مَنَاقِبٌvirtues
وَما زِينَةُ الأزْمانِ إلا مَنَاقِبٌ
يُفَرِّعُهاmake them branch أَصْلانِtwo roots بَأسٌvalor وَنائِلُand bounty
يُفَرِّعُها أَصْلانِ بَأسٌ وَنائِلُ
The ages have no adornment but virtues
Springing from two roots: valor and bounty.
إِذاwhen الصَّوْلُmight وَالطَّوْلُand bounty اسْتَقَرّاboth settled بِرَاحَةٍin a palm
إِذا الصَّوْلُ وَالطَّوْلُ اسْتَقَرّا بِرَاحَةٍ
تَرَقَّتْascended لَهاbelonging to it نَحْوَtoward النُّجُومِthe stars أنامِلُfingers
تَرَقَّتْ لَها نَحْوَ النُّجُومِ أنامِلُ
When might and bounty settle in a palm,
Its fingers ascend toward the stars.
وَمَنْand whoever دَانَfollowed هَذاthis الدّينَfaith حَقّاًtruly بِنَصْرِهby championing it
وَمَنْ دَانَ هَذا الدّينَ حَقّاً بِنَصْرِه
فَلَيْسَso there is no لهfor him مِنْamong أهْلِthe people of دُنْيَاهُhis world خاذِلُone who forsakes him
فَلَيْسَ له مِنْ أهْلِ دُنْيَاهُ خاذِلُ
Whoever truly serves this faith by championing it
Has none in his world who will forsake him.
لَكَto you الخَيْرُblessings هَذِيthese العُجْمُnon-Arabs وَالعُرْبُand Arabs تَغْتَدِيset out at dawn
لَكَ الخَيْرُ هَذِي العُجْمُ وَالعُرْبُ تَغْتَدِي
بِهَاwith them مُنْشَآتٌlofty ships أوor تَرُوحُdepart at dusk رَوَاحِلُmounts
بِهَا مُنْشَآتٌ أو تَرُوحُ رَوَاحِلُ
Blessings upon you! These non-Arabs and Arabs journey at dawn,
Aboard lofty ships, or travel at dusk on mounts.
تَمَلَّكَهاpossessed them رغْبٌlonging وَرعْبٌand dread مُخَامِرٌpervading
تَمَلَّكَها رغْبٌ وَرعْبٌ مُخَامِرٌ
فَرُسْلٌhence envoys عَلىunder حُكْمِthe command of المُنىhopes وَرَسائِلُand letters
فَرُسْلٌ عَلى حُكْمِ المُنى وَرَسائِلُ
Longing and an all-pervading dread possessed them,
Hence envoys and letters at the bidding of hope.
وَرَدَّand turned عَلَىwith رَغْمِthe abasement of الأنُوفِthe noses وُجوهَهَاtheir faces
وَرَدَّ عَلَى رَغْمِ الأنُوفِ وُجوهَهَا
إِلَيكَtoward you أَساطيلٌfleets سَطَتْstruck وَجَحافِلُand massed armies
إِلَيكَ أَساطيلٌ سَطَتْ وَجَحافِلُ
And, with their noses humbled, their faces were turned
Toward you by fleets that struck and massed armies.
أمَاindeed ومَغازيكand by your campaigns التِيwhich دُونَbarring مَحْوِهاtheir erasure
أمَا ومَغازيك التِي دُونَ مَحْوِها
وقَائِعُbattles خَطَّتْهاinscribed them القنَاthe spears والقَنَابِلُand squadrons
وقَائِعُ خَطَّتْها القنَا والقَنَابِلُ
Indeed, by your campaigns, whose erasure is thwarted
By battles inscribed by spears and squadrons:
لقَدindeed زُرْتَyou visited أرضthe land of الشّركِidolatry وهيَwhile it was مَعالِمlandmarks
لقَد زُرْتَ أرض الشّركِ وهيَ مَعالِم
فَقَوَّضthen struck camp عَنْهاfrom it الجَيْشُthe army وهيَwhile it was مَحَامِلُloads to be carried
فَقَوَّض عَنْها الجَيْشُ وهيَ مَحَامِلُ
You visited the land of idolatry when it was standing landmarks;
Then the army struck camp, leaving it as loads to be borne.
كَفَيْتَyou spared الهُدىguidance مَحْذُورَهُwhat it feared وَكَفلْتَهand safeguarded it
كَفَيْتَ الهُدى مَحْذُورَهُ وَكَفلْتَه
فَلاso may not ريعbe frightened كافٍa defender منْكَlike you يَرعَاهُwatches over him كافِلُa guardian
فَلا ريع كافٍ منْكَ يَرعَاهُ كافِلُ
You shielded guidance from its dread and took it into your care;
May a defender like you, watched over by a guardian, never be alarmed.
وَمهَّدتَand you secured أكْنَافَthe reaches of البَسيطَةِthe earth باسِطاًspreading
وَمهَّدتَ أكْنَافَ البَسيطَةِ باسِطاً
ظِلالَshades of أمَانٍsafety لَيسَthere is not مِنْهُنَّamong them زَائِلُone that fades
ظِلالَ أمَانٍ لَيسَ مِنْهُنَّ زَائِلُ
You secured the earth's far reaches, spreading
Shades of safety, not one of which will fade.
فَلاso no خَائِفٌfearful person إِلاexcept بِمَثْوَاكat your dwelling آمِنٌsafe
فَلا خَائِفٌ إِلا بِمَثْوَاك آمِنٌ
وَلاand no آيِسdespairing person إلاexcept لجَدْواكَfor your bounty آمِلُhopeful
وَلا آيِس إلا لجَدْواكَ آمِلُ
No fearful soul is anything but safe at your dwelling,
And no despairing soul but hopes for your bounty.
هَنِيئاًmay it bring joy لكَto you التَّمْكينُdominion دَهْركyour age حَافِدٌa ready servant
هَنِيئاً لكَ التَّمْكينُ دَهْرك حَافِدٌ
يُجيبُanswers إذاwhen تَدْعُوyou call ودرّكand your milk-yield حافِلُplentiful
يُجيبُ إذا تَدْعُو ودرّك حافِلُ
May your dominion bring you joy! Your age is a ready servant,
Answering when you call, and your milk-yield is plentiful.
فَعِلمٌthus, knowledge كَمَاlike عبَّتْsurged بِحَارٌseas زَواخِرٌoverflowing
فَعِلمٌ كَمَا عبَّتْ بِحَارٌ زَواخِرٌ
وحِلمٌand forbearance كَماlike قَرَّتstood firm جبَالٌmountains مَوَاثِلُstanding tall
وحِلمٌ كَما قَرَّت جبَالٌ مَوَاثِلُ
Knowledge like heaving, overflowing seas,
And forbearance like mountains standing firm,
إلَىalongside غَضِّfresh آدابٍliterary graces لَوif الرَّوضُthe garden نالَهاattained them
إلَى غَضِّ آدابٍ لَو الرَّوضُ نالَها
لَكانَthen it would be مُحالاًimpossible أنْthat يُرَىit be seen وهْوَwhile it is ماحِلُbarren
لَكانَ مُحالاً أنْ يُرَى وهْوَ ماحِلُ
Alongside fresh literary graces that, were a garden to attain them,
It could never be seen barren.
إِذاwhen عَرَضَتْthey were displayed قُلتُI said السّطُورthe lines أزاهِرٌblossoms
إِذا عَرَضَتْ قُلتُ السّطُور أزاهِرٌ
تَرِفُّflutter نَعِيماًin luxuriance وَالطروسُand the pages خَمَائِلُleafy groves
تَرِفُّ نَعِيماً وَالطروسُ خَمَائِلُ
When they are displayed, I say: the lines are blossoms,
Fluttering in luxuriance, and the pages are leafy groves.
أبَىrefused بِلُبَابِwith the essence of السّحرِmagic إِلاexcept تَلَفُّظَاًutterance
أبَى بِلُبَابِ السّحرِ إِلا تَلَفُّظَاً
كَمالُكyour perfection يُنَبِيproclaims أنَّthat تُونسَTunis بَابِلُBabylon
كَمالُك يُنَبِي أنَّ تُونسَ بَابِلُ
It will utter nothing but the essence of magic—
Your perfection, proclaiming that Tunis is Babylon.
وللَّهِand God be praised تِبيانٌeloquence سَحَبْتَyou trailed ذُيولَهits trains
وللَّهِ تِبيانٌ سَحَبْتَ ذُيولَه
فأَوَّلُso the first مَنْwho أزْرَىshowed contempt بِسُحْبَانَfor Sahban وائِلُWa'il
فأَوَّلُ مَنْ أزْرَى بِسُحْبَانَ وائِلُ
And God be praised for eloquence whose trains you trailed!
Thus Wa'il was first to disparage Sahban,
كَماas بَادَرتْhastened وَأداًto bury alive بنِيَّاتِthe little daughters of قُسِّهَاits Quss
كَما بَادَرتْ وَأداً بنِيَّاتِ قُسِّهَا
إيَادٌIyad وَهُنَّand they were الآنِسَاتُcharming العَقَائِلُnoble maidens
إيَادٌ وَهُنَّ الآنِسَاتُ العَقَائِلُ
As the little daughters of its Quss were hurriedly buried alive
By Iyad, though they were charming, noble maidens.
يَراعٌa reed pen وَأَسْيَافٌand swords تصرفُare wielded طاعَةًin obedience
يَراعٌ وَأَسْيَافٌ تصرفُ طاعَةً
لأمركto your command كُلٌّeach قاصِدُintent on الحُكْمِjudgment فَاصِلُdecisive
لأمرك كُلٌّ قاصِدُ الحُكْمِ فَاصِلُ
A reed pen and swords are wielded in obedience
To your command, each intent on judgment, each decisive.
وَماand not النَّيِّرُthe luminary الوَهَّاجُblazing غيْرُكَother than you غُرةًa radiant brow
وَما النَّيِّرُ الوَهَّاجُ غيْرُكَ غُرةً
بآيَةby the sign of ماthat تَنجَابُare swept away عَنْهَاfrom it الظَّلائِلُthe shadows
بآيَة ما تَنجَابُ عَنْهَا الظَّلائِلُ
And none but you is the blazing luminary, a radiant brow,
As shown by the shadows that lift away from it.
لأوَارِهَاbefore its blaze تُبدِيshows ذُكاءُDhuka (the sun) تَضاؤُلاdiminishment
لأوَارِهَا تُبدِي ذُكاءُ تَضاؤُلا
وَلاand no نُورَlight إلاexcept دُونَهاbefore it مُتَضَائِلُdiminishing
وَلا نُورَ إلا دُونَها مُتَضَائِلُ
Before its blaze, Dhuka, the sun, appears diminished,
And every light dwindles before it.
كَمالاتُperfections of يَحيىYahya المرتضَىal-Murtada نقْصُshortcomings of منthose who مضَىpassed before
كَمالاتُ يَحيى المرتضَى نقْصُ من مضَى
فكَيفَso how ادَّعَتclaimed فَضلَsuperiority of الذَّواتِpersons الأوائِلُthe ancients
فكَيفَ ادَّعَت فَضلَ الذَّواتِ الأوائِلُ
Yahya al-Murtada's perfections reveal the shortcomings of those gone before;
How, then, did the ancients claim personal superiority?
تَحَصَّلbecame established هَذاthis إذْsince تَأصَّلَtook root لِلنُهَىin reason
تَحَصَّل هَذا إذْ تَأصَّلَ لِلنُهَى
وَهَلْand should يُبتَغَىbe sought بالبَحثِthrough inquiry ماwhat هُوَit حاصِلُalready established
وَهَلْ يُبتَغَى بالبَحثِ ما هُوَ حاصِلُ
This is established, since it is rooted in reason;
Should one seek through inquiry what is already established?
إمَامُan imam of هُدىًguidance أعداؤُهُhis enemies لِسُمُوِّهthrough his ascendancy
إمَامُ هُدىً أعداؤُهُ لِسُمُوِّه
عَلَيهَاover them أمَانٌsafety والحُتُوفُand deaths غَوَائِلُtreacherous perils
عَلَيهَا أمَانٌ والحُتُوفُ غَوَائِلُ
A guiding imam, whose mastery over his enemies
Brings safety, while deaths are treacherous.
فرفْعٌso, raising ونصْبٌand crucifixion فيon الجُذوعِthe tree trunks بماfor what جنَتْthey committed
فرفْعٌ ونصْبٌ في الجُذوعِ بما جنَتْ
وجرّand dragging تُوالِيهkeep it going إليْهَاtoward them السَّلاسلُthe chains
وجرّ تُوالِيه إليْهَا السَّلاسلُ
Thus they are raised and crucified on tree trunks for their crimes,
And chains keep dragging them toward those trunks.
وتَقَنَأand turn crimson طَعْناًthrough thrusting فيinto نُحُورهمُtheir throats القَنَاthe spears
وتَقَنَأ طَعْناً في نُحُورهمُ القَنَا
وفيand against هَامِهمtheir skulls ضرْباًthrough striking تَصِلُّclang المنَاصِلthe blades
وفي هَامِهم ضرْباً تَصِلُّ المنَاصِل
And spears turn crimson, thrusting into their throats,
And blades clang, striking their skulls.
وَليداًas an infant وكَهْلاًand as a mature man أحْرَزَhe secured المَجْدَglory وَالْعُلىand eminence
وَليداً وكَهْلاً أحْرَزَ المَجْدَ وَالْعُلى
لَهُhis are مِنْهُماfrom both إِرْثاًby inheritance سَنَامٌa hump وكَاهِلُand withers
لَهُ مِنْهُما إِرْثاً سَنَامٌ وكَاهِلُ
As infant and mature man, he secured glory and eminence;
From both he holds, by inheritance, the hump and withers.
وَماand not فَارَقَتْdeparted from فيin السِّلمpeace والحَرْبand war ماwhat انْتَحَىhe pursued
وَما فَارَقَتْ في السِّلم والحَرْب ما انْتَحَى
مَقَاصِدُpurposes فاروقِيَّةٌof al-Faruq وشَمَائِلُand character traits
مَقَاصِدُ فاروقِيَّةٌ وشَمَائِلُ
What he pursued, in peace or war, was never forsaken by
The purposes and traits of al-Faruq.
حَمَىhe protected وحَبَاand bestowed فالسيِّدُso the wolf الجَعْدُshaggy بَاخِعٌsubmissive
حَمَى وحَبَا فالسيِّدُ الجَعْدُ بَاخِعٌ
لِسُلطانِهِto his sovereignty والصّيِّبُand the raincloud والجُودُand generosity بَاخِلُmiserly
لِسُلطانِهِ والصّيِّبُ والجُودُ بَاخِلُ
He protected and bestowed; the shaggy wolf submits
To his sovereignty, while raincloud and generosity seem miserly.
ومَنْand whoever لِنُفَيلٍto Nufayl مِنْof عَدِيٍّ'Adi نِجَارُهُhis lineage
ومَنْ لِنُفَيلٍ مِنْ عَدِيٍّ نِجَارُهُ
فَمِنْthen from رَاحَتَيْهhis two palms تَسْتَهِلُّpour down النَّوَافِلُthe gifts
فَمِنْ رَاحَتَيْه تَسْتَهِلُّ النَّوَافِلُ
He whose lineage runs to Nufayl of 'Adi,
From his two palms gifts pour down.
عَلَيهِupon him صَلاةُthe blessing of اللّهِGod مَاas long as مَتَعَrises high الضُّحَىthe forenoon
عَلَيهِ صَلاةُ اللّهِ مَا مَتَعَ الضُّحَى
وَماand as long as جَنَحَتْincline تُصْبِيstirs longing صَبَاهَاtheir east wind الأصائِلُthe late afternoons
وَما جَنَحَتْ تُصْبِي صَبَاهَا الأصائِلُ
God's blessing be upon him as long as the forenoon rises,
And as long as late afternoons decline, their east wind stirring longing.
أمَاindeed نَجلَbegot الخَطَّابُal-Khattab مِنْهfrom him مُظَاهِراًa supporter
أمَا نَجلَ الخَطَّابُ مِنْه مُظَاهِراً
أبَاAbu حَفْصِهِhis Hafs للّهِGod be praised نَجْلٌan offspring ونَاجِلُand a begetter
أبَا حَفْصِهِ للّهِ نَجْلٌ ونَاجِلُ
Indeed, al-Khattab begot in him a supporter
Of his Abu Hafs—God bless offspring and begetter!
قَرِيعُchampion of بَنِيthe sons of فَهْرٍFihr يُقَارِعُbattles دُونَهاin their defense
قَرِيعُ بَنِي فَهْرٍ يُقَارِعُ دُونَها
أعَادِيهاtheir enemies والباسِلُand the valiant الذِّمْرُfierce warrior نَاكِلُrecoils
أعَادِيها والباسِلُ الذِّمْرُ نَاكِلُ
The champion of the sons of Fihr battles in their defense
Against their foes, while the bold, fierce warrior recoils.
لُؤَيُّLu'ayy قُرَيْشٍof Quraysh عَاقِدٌa binder لِلِوائِهَاof its banner
لُؤَيُّ قُرَيْشٍ عَاقِدٌ لِلِوائِهَا
ويَحْيَىand Yahya لَهُfor him دُونَapart from الأَئِمَّةِthe imams حَامِلُa bearer
ويَحْيَى لَهُ دُونَ الأَئِمَّةِ حَامِلُ
Quraysh's Lu'ayy binds its banner,
And Yahya, apart from the other imams, bears it for him.
لَقَدْindeed مَنَحَgranted اللّهُGod القَبُولَacceptance بِنَيْلِهِthrough his giving
لَقَدْ مَنَحَ اللّهُ القَبُولَ بِنَيْلِهِ
لذلِكَfor that reason مَاindeed التَفَّتْrallied عَلَيْهِaround him القَبَائِلُthe tribes
لذلِكَ مَا التَفَّتْ عَلَيْهِ القَبَائِلُ
God has indeed granted acceptance through his giving;
That is why the tribes have rallied around him.
تَهَادَتْswayed gracefully بِهَاديهاwith its guide الخِلافَةُthe caliphate نَخْوَةًproudly
تَهَادَتْ بِهَاديها الخِلافَةُ نَخْوَةً
لأنbecause حَلsettled on منْهُin him ذَرَاهاits heights حُلاحِلُa mighty chief
لأن حَل منْهُ ذَرَاها حُلاحِلُ
The caliphate sways proudly with its guide,
For a mighty chief in him has settled on its heights.
هُوhe البَحْرthe sea مَعْروفاًin kindness وَمَعْرِفَةًand in knowledge فَهَلْso can
هُو البَحْر مَعْروفاً وَمَعْرِفَةً فَهَلْ
يَخيبُbe disappointed عَلىupon العِرْفانِknowing والعُرْفُand bounty سابِلُpours down
يَخيبُ عَلى العِرْفانِ والعُرْفُ سابِلُ
He is the sea in kindness and knowledge; can one
Be disappointed after knowing him, when his bounty pours down?
تَصونُguard بُيوتُthe houses of المالِwealth عندَunder سِواهothers than him ماwhat
تَصونُ بُيوتُ المالِ عندَ سِواه ما
حَوَتْthey contained وبجَدواهand through his bounty تُذالُare freely dispensed الوَذائِلُthe ingots
حَوَتْ وبجَدواه تُذالُ الوَذائِلُ
Under others, the treasuries guard what
They contain; through his bounty, ingots are freely dispensed.
علَىupon وَسْمِهِhis mark أمْضَيْتُI confirmed فَأْلِيَmy good omen وَاسمُهand his name
علَى وَسْمِهِ أمْضَيْتُ فَأْلِيَ وَاسمُه
فَلاno indeed ونَدَاهby his bounty الغَمْرabundant ماnot الفَأْلُthe omen فائِلُmistaken
فَلا ونَدَاه الغَمْر ما الفَأْلُ فائِلُ
On his mark and his name I confirmed my good omen;
No—by his abundant bounty—the omen is not mistaken.
جَزَىmay reward اللّهُGod ذَاكَthat الفَضْلَgraciousness أفْضَلَthe best of مَاwhat جَزىHe has rewarded
جَزَى اللّهُ ذَاكَ الفَضْلَ أفْضَلَ مَا جَزى
فَعَنْfor through طوْلِهِhis bounty المَذْكُورِrenowned تُنْسَىare forgotten الطَّوَائِلُthe vendettas
فَعَنْ طوْلِهِ المَذْكُورِ تُنْسَى الطَّوَائِلُ
May God reward that graciousness with the finest reward He gives;
For through his renowned bounty, vendettas are forgotten.
ولاand may not زالَhe cease فيin الأعْلَىthe highest place سَلامَةَfor soundness of مَنْطِقٍspeech
ولا زالَ في الأعْلَى سَلامَةَ مَنْطِقٍ
يَرىhe regards مَاwhat رأَىregarded فيin نُطْقِهِhis speech الراءَthe letter ra واصِلُWasil
يَرى مَا رأَى في نُطْقِهِ الراءَ واصِلُ
And may he ever remain on high, for soundness of speech,
Regarding the letter ra as Wasil regarded it in his speech.
تَغَمَّدْتَyou covered صَفْحاًwith pardon عَثْرَتِيmy stumble وإقَالَةًand forgiveness
تَغَمَّدْتَ صَفْحاً عَثْرَتِي وإقَالَةً
فَمَاso what أنَاI فيabout تِلْكَthat الإقَالَةِforgiveness قَائِلُto say
فَمَا أنَا في تِلْكَ الإقَالَةِ قَائِلُ
You covered my stumble with pardon and forgiveness;
What can I say of such forgiveness?
وَأَوْرَثَتْنِيand it bestowed on me إثْرَafter الخُمُولِobscurity نَبَاهَةًdistinction
وَأَوْرَثَتْنِي إثْرَ الخُمُولِ نَبَاهَةً
وَمَاand not يَسْتَوِيare equal قَدْرَاًin worth نَبِيهٌa distinguished person وخَامِلُand an obscure person
وَمَا يَسْتَوِي قَدْرَاً نَبِيهٌ وخَامِلُ
It bestowed distinction on me after obscurity;
The distinguished and the obscure are not equal in worth.
حُلَىadornments ذِيof one possessing اتِّئَادٍdeliberation وازْدِيادٍand increase مِنin العُلَىeminence
حُلَى ذِي اتِّئَادٍ وازْدِيادٍ مِن العُلَى
تُفَضِّلُهُgive him precedence فيamong العَالمِينَall peoples الفَوَاضِلُthe generous virtues
تُفَضِّلُهُ في العَالمِينَ الفَوَاضِلُ
Adornments of one deliberate, ever growing in eminence—
Generous virtues give him precedence among all peoples.
مَتَىwhenever آدَbent ثِقْلُthe weight of الدَّيْنِdebt عاتِقَthe shoulder of مَعْشَرٍa people
مَتَى آدَ ثِقْلُ الدَّيْنِ عاتِقَ مَعْشَرٍ
فَغَيْرُكthen anyone but you عَنْfrom إِعْتَاقِهِfreeing it مُتَثَاقِلُreluctant
فَغَيْرُك عَنْ إِعْتَاقِهِ مُتَثَاقِلُ
Whenever debt's weight bends the shoulder of a people,
Anyone but you is slow to set it free.
وَأَيّand what امْرِئman شَفّwasted الصّدىthirst وَوَبَالُهand its affliction
وَأَيّ امْرِئ شَفّ الصّدى وَوَبَالُه
فَلَمْand has not يَشْفِهِhealed him مِنْfrom جَودِthe rain of جُودِكyour generosity وَابِلُa downpour
فَلَمْ يَشْفِهِ مِنْ جَودِ جُودِك وَابِلُ
What man has thirst and its affliction wasted,
Whom a downpour from your bounty's rain has not healed?
أَلاtake heed لِيَمُتْlet die غَيْظاًof rage بِماat what شِمتَyou watched in the lightning شامِتٌa gloater
أَلا لِيَمُتْ غَيْظاً بِما شِمتَ شامِتٌ
فَنَوْلُكَfor your bounty نَامٍgrowing وَاشْتِمَالُكَand your embrace شَامِلُall-encompassing
فَنَوْلُكَ نَامٍ وَاشْتِمَالُكَ شَامِلُ
Ah, let a gloater die of rage at the lightning you have watched!
For your bounty grows, and your embrace enfolds all.
Translation model: Sol 6.1