بَقاءُthe life of الخلائقِcreatures رَهْنُis pledged to الفَناءِextinction
بَقاءُ الخلائقِ رَهْنُ الفَناءِ
وقَصْرُand the brevity of التَّدانِيcloseness وَشيكُis swift التَّنائيseparation
وقَصْرُ التَّدانِي وَشيكُ التَّنائي
The life of all creatures is pledged to extinction.
And every brief closeness is soon followed by separation.
لقدindeed حَلَّhas come مَنْone whose يَومُهُday لاقترابٍwas drawing near
لقد حَلَّ مَنْ يَومُهُ لاقترابٍ
وَقَدْand already حانhas arrived مَنْone whose عُمْرُهlife لانتِهاءِwas nearing its end
وَقَدْ حان مَنْ عُمْرُه لانتِهاءِ
The one whose day was drawing near has arrived at it;
the one whose life was nearing its end has reached it.
هلِcan المُلكُkingship يَملِكُcommand ريبَthe uncertainty of المَنونِdeath
هلِ المُلكُ يَملِكُ ريبَ المَنونِ
أَمِor can العِزُّpower يَصْرِفُturn aside صَرْفَthe turn of القضاءِfate
أَمِ العِزُّ يَصْرِفُ صَرْفَ القضاءِ
Can kingship command the uncertainties of death?
Can power turn aside the decree of fate?
هُوَit is الْمَوْتُdeath يصدَعُthat tears apart شَمْلَthe company of الجميعeveryone
هُوَ الْمَوْتُ يصدَعُ شَمْلَ الجميع
وَيَكسوand it clothes الرُّبوعَdwellings ثيابَin garments of العفاءِdesolation
وَيَكسو الرُّبوعَ ثيابَ العفاءِ
It is death that tears every gathering apart
and clothes dwellings in the garments of desolation.
يَبزُّit strips away الحياةَlife ببطشٍwith a grip شديدٍfierce
يَبزُّ الحياةَ ببطشٍ شديدٍ
ويَلقىand it meets النفوسَsouls بدَاءٍwith an illness عياءِincurable
ويَلقى النفوسَ بدَاءٍ عياءِ
With a fierce grip it strips away life
and meets souls with an incurable illness.
أَلَمْhave you not تَرَseen كَيْفَhow استَباحَتْlaid claim يَداهُits hands
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ استَباحَتْ يَداهُ
كَريمa noble one الملوكِamong rulers وَعِلْقَand a treasure of السَّناءِsplendor
كَريم الملوكِ وَعِلْقَ السَّناءِ
Have you not seen how its hands laid claim
to a noble one among rulers, a treasure of splendor?
وَوافىand it brought بسَيِّدَةِthe lady of السَّيِّداthe ladies
وَوافى بسَيِّدَةِ السَّيِّدا
تِthe ending of the preceding word مأْوىthe abode of البِلىdecay ومُناخand the resting place of الفناءِextinction
تِ مأْوى البِلى ومُناخ الفناءِ
And it brought the lady of ladies
to decay’s abode, the resting place of extinction.
هُوَit is الرُّزْءُthe calamity أَلْوىthat broke بعزمِthe resolve of القُلوبِhearts
هُوَ الرُّزْءُ أَلْوى بعزمِ القُلوبِ
مُصاباًas a blow وَأَوْدىand destroyed بحُسنِthe strength of العزاءِconsolation
مُصاباً وَأَوْدى بحُسنِ العزاءِ
This is a loss that has broken the resolve of hearts
and destroyed the power to bear grief well.
فماso there is no فِيin العويلwailing لَهُfor it منany كفِيءٍequal
فما فِي العويل لَهُ من كفِيءٍ
وَلاnor فِيin الدُّموعtears لَهُfor it منany شِفاءِcure
وَلا فِي الدُّموع لَهُ من شِفاءِ
No wailing can match this loss,
nor can tears bring it relief.
فَهيهاتَfar from it فِيهِagainst it غَناءُthe benefit of الزفيرِsighing
فَهيهاتَ فِيهِ غَناءُ الزفيرِ
وَهيهاتَand far from it مِنهُover it انتصَارُthe victory of البُكاءِweeping
وَهيهاتَ مِنهُ انتصَارُ البُكاءِ
Sighing is of no use against it;
weeping cannot prevail over it.
وأَنَّىand how يُدافَعُcan be repelled سُقمٌan illness بسُقمٍby an illness
وأَنَّى يُدافَعُ سُقمٌ بسُقمٍ
وَكَيْفَand how يُعالَجُcan be treated داءٌan ailment بداءِwith an ailment
وَكَيْفَ يُعالَجُ داءٌ بداءِ
How can one sickness repel another?
How can one ailment cure another?
فَتلكَso those are مآقيthe corners of eyes جُفونٍof eyelids رِواءٍfilled with tears
فَتلكَ مآقي جُفونٍ رِواءٍ
مُفَجَّرَةٍgushing forth منfrom قلوبٍhearts ظِماءِthirsty
مُفَجَّرَةٍ من قلوبٍ ظِماءِ
Look at those tear-filled eyes,
pouring forth from thirsty hearts.
فلاso no صدرَbreast إِلّاexcept حريقٌburning بنارٍwith fire
فلا صدرَ إِلّا حريقٌ بنارٍ
ولاand no جَفنَeyelid إِلّاexcept غَريقٌdrowning بماءِin water
ولا جَفنَ إِلّا غَريقٌ بماءِ
Every breast burns with fire;
every eyelid drowns in water.
فقَدfor nearly كادَit would يَصدَعُsplit صُمَّthe hardest السِّلامِstones
فقَد كادَ يَصدَعُ صُمَّ السِّلامِ
وَيُضرِمُand kindle نارَthe fire of الأَسىsorrow فِيin الهواءِthe air
وَيُضرِمُ نارَ الأَسى فِي الهواءِ
The beating of hearts and the tearing of collars
have nearly split the hardest stone
وَجِيبُthe beating of القلوبِhearts وشَقُّand the tearing of الجُيوبِcollars
وَجِيبُ القلوبِ وشَقُّ الجُيوبِ
وشَجوُand the ache of النَّحيبِsobbing ولَهْفُand the anguish of النِّداءِcries
وشَجوُ النَّحيبِ ولَهْفُ النِّداءِ
and kindled sorrow’s fire in the air.
So have the ache of sobbing and the anguish of cries.
فمنso here is مُقلَةٍan eye شَرِقَتْchoked بالدُّمُوعِwith tears
فمن مُقلَةٍ شَرِقَتْ بالدُّمُوعِ
ومنand here is وَجْنَةٍa cheek شَرِقَتْdrenched بالدِّماءِwith blood
ومن وَجْنَةٍ شَرِقَتْ بالدِّماءِ
Here is an eye choking on tears;
there is a cheek drenched in blood.
وسَافِرَةٍand a woman unveiled منfrom قِناعِthe veil of الحياءِmodesty
وسَافِرَةٍ من قِناعِ الحياءِ
ونابذةٍand one casting away صَبْرهاher patience بالعراءِinto the open
ونابذةٍ صَبْرها بالعراءِ
One woman has cast off the veil of modesty,
and another has thrown her patience away.
وبيضٍand women in white صَبَغْنَdyed بلَوْنِwith the color of الحِداmourn-
وبيضٍ صَبَغْنَ بلَوْنِ الحِدا
دِ-ing حُمْرَthe red البُنودِbanners وبيضَand the white المُلاءِrobes
دِ حُمْرَ البُنودِ وبيضَ المُلاءِ
Women in white have dyed with mourning’s color
red banners and white robes.
نَواشِجَsobbing women فِيin سابغاتِfull-length المُسُوحmourning garments
نَواشِجَ فِي سابغاتِ المُسُوح
وضافيand with flowing الشُّعورِhair بلُبسٍin clothing سَواءِalike
وضافي الشُّعورِ بلُبسٍ سَواءِ
They sob in long mourning garments,
their hair hanging loose, all dressed alike.
أَنَجْماًhas a star هَوىfallen فِيin سماءِthe sky of المعاليgreatness
أَنَجْماً هَوى فِي سماءِ المعالي
لتبكِso that they weep عَلَيْكِfor you نُجومُthe stars of السَّماءِheaven
لتبكِ عَلَيْكِ نُجومُ السَّماءِ
Has a star fallen from the sky of greatness,
that the stars of heaven should weep for you?
فحاشىfar be it لِرُزْئِكَthat your loss أَنshould يَقْتَضيهِbe adequately met by it
فحاشى لِرُزْئِكَ أَن يَقْتَضيهِ
عويلُthe wailing of الرِّجَالِmen ولَدْمُand the breast-beating of النِّساءِwomen
عويلُ الرِّجَالِ ولَدْمُ النِّساءِ
Far be it from your loss to be met adequately
by men’s wailing and women’s beating of their breasts.
لِبيضِfor the generous أَيادِيكِdeeds of your hands فِيin الصَّالِحاتِgood works
لِبيضِ أَيادِيكِ فِي الصَّالِحاتِ
تمسَّكَclung وجهُthe face of الضُّحىmorning بالضِّياءِto the light
تمسَّكَ وجهُ الضُّحى بالضِّياءِ
For your generous deeds of goodness,
the face of morning clings to its light.
وقلَّand it is too little لفقدِكِfor your loss أَنthat يَحْتَبِيit should wrap itself
وقلَّ لفقدِكِ أَن يَحْتَبِي
عَلَيْهِaround it الصَّباحُmorning بثوبِin the robe of المساءِevening
عَلَيْهِ الصَّباحُ بثوبِ المساءِ
And in your absence, it is only fitting
that morning wrap itself in evening’s robe.
فياso what grief أَسَفof the kingdom المُلكِfor منa woman of ذاتِhonor عِزٍّcan be
فيا أَسَف المُلكِ من ذاتِ عِزٍّ
تعوَّضit took instead منهاof her بعزِّthe dignity of العَزاءِmourning
تعوَّض منها بعزِّ العَزاءِ
How the kingdom grieves for a woman of honor,
finding only the dignity of mourning in her place;
وروْحِand comfort of القبورِgraves لمجدٍfor glory مُقيمabiding
وروْحِ القبورِ لمجدٍ مُقيم
وتَرْحand grief of القصورِpalaces لربعٍfor a dwelling خَلاءِempty
وتَرْح القصورِ لربعٍ خَلاءِ
the graves gain the comfort of abiding glory,
while the palaces grieve for an empty dwelling.
ولوand if قَبِلَaccepted الموْتُdeath منهاfor her الفِدَاءَa ransom
ولو قَبِلَ الموْتُ منها الفِدَاءَ
لضاقَsurely too few would be الأنامُall people لَهَاfor her عنas فداءِransom
لضاقَ الأنامُ لَهَا عن فداءِ
If death would accept a ransom for her,
all humankind would be too little to redeem her.
لئِنْthough حُجِبَتْshe was hidden تحتَbeneath رَدْمِthe piled earth of اللُّحُودِgraves
لئِنْ حُجِبَتْ تحتَ رَدْمِ اللُّحُودِ
وَمِنْwhile قَبلُbefore فِيon شُرُفاتِthe heights of العَلاءِeminence
وَمِنْ قَبلُ فِي شُرُفاتِ العَلاءِ
Though she is hidden beneath the piled earth of graves,
where once she stood on the heights of eminence,
فتلكthen those مآثِرُهاher noble deeds فِيin التُّقىpiety
فتلك مآثِرُها فِي التُّقى
وبذْلِand giving of اللُّهىgifts مَاthere is لَهَاfor them منno خَفاءِconcealment
وبذْلِ اللُّهى مَا لَهَا من خَفاءِ
her acts of piety
and her generous gifts remain plain to see.
جزاكِmay He reward you بأعمالكِfor your deeds الزَّاكِياthe pure-
جزاكِ بأعمالكِ الزَّاكِيا
تِ-ones خَيْرُthe best المُجازِينَof those who reward خَيْرَthe best الجزاءِreward
تِ خَيْرُ المُجازِينَ خَيْرَ الجزاءِ
May the best of those who reward repay you for your pure deeds
with the finest reward.
ولُقِّيتِand may you be given فِيin ضَنْكِthe narrowness of ذَاكَthat الضَّريحِgrave
ولُقِّيتِ فِي ضَنْكِ ذَاكَ الضَّريحِ
نسيمَthe breeze of النعيمbliss وطِيبَand the sweetness of الثَّواءِrest
نسيمَ النعيم وطِيبَ الثَّواءِ
And in the narrowness of that grave, may you receive
the breeze of bliss and the sweetness of rest.
فياand how many رُبَّan act of زُلْفىcloseness لدىin المشْرِقَيْthe two east-
فيا رُبَّ زُلْفى لدى المشْرِقَيْ
نِ-ern lands أَبْضَعْتِyou sent forth فابْتَعْتِهاand gained it بالعلاءِthrough nobility
نِ أَبْضَعْتِ فابْتَعْتِها بالعلاءِ
How often, in the two eastern lands, you gained closeness
through noble gifts you sent forth.
وعاريand someone bare الجَناحَيْنِof both wings نُبِّئتِyou heard about عَنهُhim
وعاري الجَناحَيْنِ نُبِّئتِ عَنهُ
فأَمسىand he became وَقَدْwhen رِشْتِهِyou feathered him بالعطاءِwith giving
فأَمسى وَقَدْ رِشْتِهِ بالعطاءِ
You heard of someone whose wings were bare,
and your giving furnished him with feathers.
ودعْوةِand the prayer of عانٍa captive بأَقصىon the farthest الدُّروبِroads
ودعْوةِ عانٍ بأَقصى الدُّروبِ
سمعتِyou heard لوجهِfor the sake of سميعthe Hearer of الدُّعاءِprayer
سمعتِ لوجهِ سميع الدُّعاءِ
You heard the prayer of a captive on a distant road
for the sake of the One who hears prayer.
وَذيand one حُبوَةٍsitting بفناءِat the threshold of المَقامِthe dwelling
وَذي حُبوَةٍ بفناءِ المَقامِ
سَنَحْتِyou appeared لَهُto him بِسِجالِwith abundant gifts of الحِباءِlargesse
سَنَحْتِ لَهُ بِسِجالِ الحِباءِ
And when a needy person sat at your doorway,
you appeared to him with abundant gifts.
فلِلَّهِby God, what منa night visitor طارِقٍof the nights للياليthere was
فلِلَّهِ من طارِقٍ لليالي
رماكِthat struck you بيوْمٍwith a day كيومِlike the day of البراءِparting
رماكِ بيوْمٍ كيومِ البراءِ
By God, what a visitor of the nights
struck you with a day of parting!
فودَّعْتِand you bade farewell فِيهِon it إِمامَthe guide of الهُدىthe righteous
فودَّعْتِ فِيهِ إِمامَ الهُدى
وَدَاعَa farewell of نوىًseparation مَاwith no لَهَاfor it منany لِقَاءِreunion
وَدَاعَ نوىً مَا لَهَا من لِقَاءِ
On that day you bade the guide of the righteous farewell,
a farewell of separation with no meeting to follow:
نَجيبكِyour noble son والمصطفىand the chosen one للخلافَfor the caliph-
نَجيبكِ والمصطفى للخلافَ
ةِ-ate منof سَلَفَيthe two forebears of خاتَمِthe Seal of الأَنبياءِthe Prophets
ةِ من سَلَفَي خاتَمِ الأَنبياءِ
your noble son, chosen for the caliphate,
of the forebears of the Seal of the Prophets.
وماand they did not رَدَّturn aside عنكِfrom you سِهامthe arrows of الحِمامِdeath
وما رَدَّ عنكِ سِهام الحِمامِ
بحرْزِby the protection of الجنابِthe court وعزِّand the honor of الفِناءِits grounds
بحرْزِ الجنابِ وعزِّ الفِناءِ
Yet death’s arrows were not turned from you
by a guarded court and the honor of its grounds,
ودَهرٍor an age مُطيعٍobedient وسورٍor a wall منيعٍimpregnable
ودَهرٍ مُطيعٍ وسورٍ منيعٍ
وقصرٍor a palace رفيعٍlofty مشيدِsolidly البناءِbuilt
وقصرٍ رفيعٍ مشيدِ البناءِ
by an obedient age and an impregnable wall,
or by a lofty palace, solidly built;
وزَأْرِor the roaring of الأُسودِlions وخفقِor the fluttering of البنودِbanners
وزَأْرِ الأُسودِ وخفقِ البنودِ
وجمعor the gathering of الحشودِtroops بملءfilling الفضاءِthe open space
وجمع الحشودِ بملء الفضاءِ
nor by lions’ roars and fluttering banners,
or by assembled troops filling the open space,
بكلِّwith every كمِيٍّwarrior جريءbold الجَنانِof heart
بكلِّ كمِيٍّ جريء الجَنانِ
وكلِّand every أَميرٍcommander منيفِlofty اللِّواءِof standard
وكلِّ أَميرٍ منيفِ اللِّواءِ
with every warrior bold of heart
and every commander whose standard rose high.
وَوالٍand a ruler رعىentrusted to his care اللهُGod مَاwhat قَدْindeed رَعاهُHe entrusted to his care
وَوالٍ رعى اللهُ مَا قَدْ رَعاهُ
فأبلاهُand He endowed him فِيin الصُّنعaction خَيْرَthe finest البلاءِexcellence
فأبلاهُ فِي الصُّنع خَيْرَ البلاءِ
Nor by a ruler over what God had entrusted to his care,
whom God had endowed with excellence in action.
تبلَّجَshone forth عنهfrom him سناthe radiance of يعرُبٍYaʿrub
تبلَّجَ عنه سنا يعرُبٍ
تبلُّجَlike the shining of قَرْنِthe edge of الضَّحىmorning عنfrom ذُكاءِthe sun
تبلُّجَ قَرْنِ الضَّحى عن ذُكاءِ
The radiance of Yaʿrub shone from him
as the edge of morning shines forth from the sun.
وهُزَّتْand were drawn مضاربُهُhis sheaths عنto reveal حُسامٍa sword
وهُزَّتْ مضاربُهُ عن حُسامٍ
وَفُرَّتْand were bared نواجِذُهُhis molars عنto reveal ذَكاءِkeen resolve
وَفُرَّتْ نواجِذُهُ عن ذَكاءِ
His sword was drawn from its sheath,
and his bared teeth flashed with keen resolve.
فتىًa young man قارضَwho gave اللهَto God عنfrom نَفسa soul حُرٍّfree
فتىً قارضَ اللهَ عن نَفس حُرٍّ
بَراهاhe formed it لِتخْليدِfor the perpetuation of حُرِّnoble الثناءِpraise
بَراها لِتخْليدِ حُرِّ الثناءِ
A young man who gave of his free soul to God,
who formed it to earn enduring, noble praise;
وَأَقحَمَهاand he thrust it مُخطراتِinto perils of الحُروبِwars
وَأَقحَمَها مُخطراتِ الحُروبِ
وأَحْبَسَهاand he devoted it فِيin سبيلthe path of السَّواءِwhat is right
وأَحْبَسَها فِي سبيل السَّواءِ
he thrust it into the perils of war
and devoted it to the just path.
وجاهَدَand he strove فِيfor اللهِGod حقَّthe full measure of الجهادِstriving
وجاهَدَ فِي اللهِ حقَّ الجهادِ
وأَغْنىand he sufficed عنِfor المُلْكِthe kingdom حقَّthe full measure of الغَناءِservice
وأَغْنى عنِ المُلْكِ حقَّ الغَناءِ
He strove for God with all due striving
and gave the kingdom all the aid it needed.
وَشدَّand he built عَلَىaround الدينthe faith سورَa wall of الأَمانِsafety
وَشدَّ عَلَى الدين سورَ الأَمانِ
وَسدَّand he closed عنto الشِّركِunbelief بابَthe door of النَّجاءِescape
وَسدَّ عن الشِّركِ بابَ النَّجاءِ
He built a wall of safety around the faith
and closed the door of escape to unbelief.
وسيفٌand a sword إِذَاwhen لأَلأَتْهُmade it glitter الحُروthe war-
وسيفٌ إِذَا لأَلأَتْهُ الحُرو
بُ-s طارَflew العُداةُthe enemies بِهِby it كالهباءِlike dust
بُ طارَ العُداةُ بِهِ كالهباءِ
And his sword, when war made it glitter,
scattered enemies like dust.
وَأَلْبَسَهُand clothed him النصرُvictory ثوبَin a garment of الجَلالِmajesty
وَأَلْبَسَهُ النصرُ ثوبَ الجَلالِ
وتَوَجَّهَand crowned him الصبرُpatience تاجَwith a crown of البهاءِsplendor
وتَوَجَّهَ الصبرُ تاجَ البهاءِ
Victory clothed him in majesty,
and patience crowned him with splendor.
فَلَوْso if أفصحَcould speak الدهرُtime عمَّاof what يكِنُّit conceals
فَلَوْ أفصحَ الدهرُ عمَّا يكِنُّ
لناداهُit would call him يَاO صَفْوَةَchosen one of الأَوْلِياءِthe faithful
لناداهُ يَا صَفْوَةَ الأَوْلِياءِ
If time could speak what it conceals,
it would call to him: O chosen one among the faithful!
هُوhe is المَلِكُthe ruler العامِرِيُّthe ʿĀmirid المُسمَّىso called
هُو المَلِكُ العامِرِيُّ المُسمَّى
يَدَاهُhis two hands كفيلَيْare guarantors of حياةِthe life of الرَّجاءِhope
يَدَاهُ كفيلَيْ حياةِ الرَّجاءِ
He is the ʿĀmirid ruler so called;
his two hands sustain the life of hope.
عزاءٌconsolation to you إِمامَO guide of الهُدىthe righteous فالنُّفوfor the soul-
عزاءٌ إِمامَ الهُدى فالنُّفو
سُ-s مَاthere is إِنْindeed no سِواكَbut you لَهَاfor them مِنany عَزاءِconsolation
سُ مَا إِنْ سِواكَ لَهَا مِن عَزاءِ
Take comfort, guide of the righteous, for souls
have no consolation but you.
وَعُوِّضْتَand may you be given in her stead منهاfor her جزيلَabundant الثَّوابِreward
وَعُوِّضْتَ منها جزيلَ الثَّوابِ
وَمَدَّand may He extend لَكَfor you اللهُGod طُولَlength of البقاءِlife
وَمَدَّ لَكَ اللهُ طُولَ البقاءِ
May you be given rich reward in her stead,
and may God grant you long life.
Translation model: Sol 6