جادَ الغَمامُ رُبَى نجْدٍ وحيّاها

جادَ الغَمامُ رُبَى نجْدٍ وحيّاها

فالرّكْبُ لا يهْتَدي إلا بريّاها

فالرّكْبُ لا يهْتَدي إلا بريّاها

May clouds drench the hills of Najd and greet them;

The clouds rained down on the pastures of Najd and gave it life

for the caravan finds its way only by their fragrance.

So the caravans are guided only by its downpour

ما ضلّ حاديهمُ إلا هدَتْهُ لَها

ما ضلّ حاديهمُ إلا هدَتْهُ لَها

نَواسِمٌ عطّر الأرْجاءَ مسْراها

نَواسِمٌ عطّر الأرْجاءَ مسْراها

Their camel-driver never strays but is guided to them by

None of their guides went astray but it guided them to it

breezes whose passage perfumes the surrounding lands.

Breezes perfumed the surroundings with its fragrance

هبّتْ صَباها بلقْياها مُبَشِّرةً

هبّتْ صَباها بلقْياها مُبَشِّرةً

فكُلُّ قلْبٍ صَبا وجْداً لذِكْراها

فكُلُّ قلْبٍ صَبا وجْداً لذِكْراها

Her east wind blew, heralding a meeting with her;

Its youth blew with its first rain, bringing good news

and every heart yearned passionately at her remembrance.

So every heart was filled with passion at the mention of it

ذِكْرى لها انْعَطَفوا فوقَ الرّحالِ فما

ذِكْرى لها انْعَطَفوا فوقَ الرّحالِ فما

مالَتْ بأعْطافِهِمْ إلا مُحيّاها

مالَتْ بأعْطافِهِمْ إلا مُحيّاها

Remembering her, they turned in their saddles; nothing

It was a memory they turned aside for atop their mounts, so

inclined their bodies but her face.

None turned aside with them but its greetings

للهِ أفئِدة في القُرْبِ راحَتُها

للهِ أفئِدة في القُرْبِ راحَتُها

للوَجْدِ طاعَتُها بالبُعْدِ شَكْواها

للوَجْدِ طاعَتُها بالبُعْدِ شَكْواها

How wondrous are hearts whose repose is in nearness,

Hearts find peace in its proximity and obey

whose obedience is to passion, whose complaint is of distance!

Its passion from afar is their complaint

ورُبَّ ساحِرةِ الألْحاظِ فاتِنةٍ

ورُبَّ ساحِرةِ الألْحاظِ فاتِنةٍ

ما كُنتْ أعرِفُ معْنى الحُبّ لوْلاها

ما كُنتْ أعرِفُ معْنى الحُبّ لوْلاها

And many a captivating woman with bewitching glances—

Many a charmer has seduced me with her glances

I would never have known love's meaning without her.

I'd not have known the meaning of love were it not for her

لمّا انْثَنَتْ وثَنَتْ عنّا محاسِنَها

لمّا انْثَنَتْ وثَنَتْ عنّا محاسِنَها

ما كان أعْدَلَها قَدّاً وأعْداها

ما كان أعْدَلَها قَدّاً وأعْداها

When she turned, turning her beauties away from us,

When she smiles and flashes her beauty

how well-proportioned her figure was, and how hostile she was!

Nothing is more just than her stature and slimness

مَنْ هامَ فيها بعيْنِ الفِكْرِ أبْصَرَها

مَنْ هامَ فيها بعيْنِ الفِكْرِ أبْصَرَها

وفي الكَرى زارَها والوهْم ناجاها

وفي الكَرى زارَها والوهْم ناجاها

Whoever is enraptured with her sees her with the mind's eye;

Whoever contemplates her with discerning eyes will see her

in sleep he visits her, and imagination whispers to her.

And in his dreams will speak to her imaginatively

هَذي معاهِدُ مَنْ هامَ الفؤادُ بِها

هَذي معاهِدُ مَنْ هامَ الفؤادُ بِها

للهِ فيها عُهودٌ قد ألِفْناها

للهِ فيها عُهودٌ قد ألِفْناها

These are the haunts of her with whom the heart is enraptured;

These are the covenants of those whose hearts are consumed by her

how wondrous the days there that we grew to cherish!

By God, we have covenants with her that we've grown used to

إنّا لنُلْقي حَديثاً من صَبابَتِنا

إنّا لنُلْقي حَديثاً من صَبابَتِنا

فَيا نسيمَ الصَّبا بلِّغْهُ إيّاها

فَيا نسيمَ الصَّبا بلِّغْهُ إيّاها

We offer a tale of our ardent longing;

We speak as youths, so O breeze of youth convey to her

O east-wind breeze, convey it to her.

But do not respond, for the breezes only brought what we recognized

ولا تُجِبْ بكلامٍ فالنّواسِمُ ما

ولا تُجِبْ بكلامٍ فالنّواسِمُ ما

هبّتْ على ربْعِها إلا عرَفْناها

هبّتْ على ربْعِها إلا عرَفْناها

And do not answer in words, for breezes never

The dawn was delightful only from its horizons

blow over her dwelling without our recognizing them.

And its breezes delicate only from its greetings

ما راقَ إلا بمرْآها الصّباحُ ولا

ما راقَ إلا بمرْآها الصّباحُ ولا

رقّتْ نواسِمُهُ إلا برَيّاها

رقّتْ نواسِمُهُ إلا برَيّاها

Morning is fair only at the sight of her, nor

For flowers is its splendor, for flowers its fragrance

are its breezes gentle except through her fragrance.

For the moon its rising, for sorcery its illusion

للزُّهْرِ بهْجَتُها للزَّهْرِ نفْحَتُها

للزُّهْرِ بهْجَتُها للزَّهْرِ نفْحَتُها

للبَدْرِ طَلعَتُها للسِّحْرِ مرْآها

للبَدْرِ طَلعَتُها للسِّحْرِ مرْآها

The bright stars have her splendor, the flowers her fragrance;

For pearls its words, for lightning its smile

the full moon has her radiant appearance, magic the sight of her;

For branches its inclination, for gazelles her eyes

للدُرِّ ألفاظُها للبرقِ مَبْسِمُها

للدُرِّ ألفاظُها للبرقِ مَبْسِمُها

للغُصْنِ معطِفُها للظّبيِ عيْناها

للغُصْنِ معطِفُها للظّبيِ عيْناها

pearls have her words, lightning her smiling mouth;

The full moon rose only from its horizon

the branch has her supple figure, the gazelle her eyes.

And dawn was known only from its greetings

لمْ يُرْقبِ البدْرُ إلا من مطالِعِها

لمْ يُرْقبِ البدْرُ إلا من مطالِعِها

لمْ يُعْرَفِ الفجْرُ إلا من مُحيّاها

لمْ يُعْرَفِ الفجْرُ إلا من مُحيّاها

The full moon is beheld only from where she rises;

If only, when it reveals the dawn of its charm,

dawn is known only from her face.

It would guide its youths, for they are lost in the night of passion,

فَليْتَها حينَ تُبْدي صُبْحَ غُرَّتِها

فَليْتَها حينَ تُبْدي صُبْحَ غُرَّتِها

تهْدي فتاها فَفي ليْلِ الهَوى تاها

تهْدي فتاها فَفي ليْلِ الهَوى تاها

If only, when she reveals the dawn of her brow,

A critic blames me for spending the night anxious,

she would guide her young lover, for in love's night he has strayed!

Questioning the meteors about Layla and her gathering

وعاذِلٍ راعَني أنْ بتُّ ذا قلَقٍ

وعاذِلٍ راعَني أنْ بتُّ ذا قلَقٍ

أُسائِلُ الشُهْبَ عن ليْلى وأرْعاها

أُسائِلُ الشُهْبَ عن ليْلى وأرْعاها

And a reprover startled me because I spent the night distraught,

He said "What business have you with the meteors you watch for?"

asking the bright stars about Layla and watching them.

I said "In them I see a semblance of her likeness"

فقال ما لَكَ والشُهْبانَ ترْقُبُها

فقال ما لَكَ والشُهْبانَ ترْقُبُها

فقلتُ فيهنَّ منها خِلتُ أشباها

فقلتُ فيهنَّ منها خِلتُ أشباها

He said, 'Why are you watching the stars?'

He said "You've been ruined by the sorrow of parting from her"

I said, 'In them I thought I saw likenesses of her.'

I said "If it ruined me, then such is its abode"

فقال قد أتلَفَتْ منكَ الفؤادَ أسىً

فقال قد أتلَفَتْ منكَ الفؤادَ أسىً

فقلتُ إن أتْلَفَتْهُ فهْو مثْواها

فقلتُ إن أتْلَفَتْهُ فهْو مثْواها

He said, 'She has destroyed your heart with sorrow.'

He said "What business have you with ruins you lament?"

I said, 'If she destroys it, it is her abode.'

I said "I intended by their tunes to give meaning to them"

فقال ما لَكَ والأطْلالَ تَنْشُدُها

فقال ما لَكَ والأطْلالَ تَنْشُدُها

فقلتُ هِمتُ بمغْناها لمَعْناها

فقلتُ هِمتُ بمغْناها لمَعْناها

He said, 'Why are you searching for the ruined camps?'

He said "You've been tempted after long avoidance of her"

I said, 'I adore her dwelling for her own sake.'

I said "Only her ways tempted me"

فقال قد هِمْتَ منْ بعْد السُلوّ بها

فقال قد هِمْتَ منْ بعْد السُلوّ بها

فقلت لمْ تَثْنِني إلا ثَناياها

فقلت لمْ تَثْنِني إلا ثَناياها

He said, 'You have become enamored of her after finding solace.'

He said "Do you have no sweeter bliss and tryst?"

I said, 'Only her front teeth swayed me.'

I said "Let be, you have removed its furthest aim"

فقال هلْ لكَ في أحْلى سنىً وحُلاً

فقال هلْ لكَ في أحْلى سنىً وحُلاً

فقلتُ دعْ غايَةً أبْعَدتَ مَرْماها

فقلتُ دعْ غايَةً أبْعَدتَ مَرْماها

He said, 'Would you care for one sweeter in radiance and adornment?'

He said "A maiden will make you forget her rapture"

I said, 'Leave that goal—you have set its mark too far.'

I said "Wait, I'll not forget her"

فقال لي غادةٌ تُنْسيكَ بهجَتَها

فقال لي غادةٌ تُنْسيكَ بهجَتَها

فقلتُ مهلاً فإني لستُ أنساها

فقلتُ مهلاً فإني لستُ أنساها

He said, 'I have a maiden to make you forget her beauty.'

He said "Another beauty has come of age"

I said, 'Not so fast, for I do not forget her.'

I said "How much the thirsty need her drink!"

فقال غاديةٌ للفِكْرِ قد نشأتْ

فقال غاديةٌ للفِكْرِ قد نشأتْ

فقلتُ ما أحْوجَ الظّامي لسُقْياها

فقلتُ ما أحْوجَ الظّامي لسُقْياها

He said, 'A morning raincloud has risen for the mind.'

He said "She was gifted to you by one whose likeness is mighty"

I said, 'How sorely the thirsty one needs its water!'

I said "God is the guide through whom she was guided"

فقال أهْداكَها مَن عزَّ مُشْبِهُهُ

فقال أهْداكَها مَن عزَّ مُشْبِهُهُ

فقلتُ للهِ هادٍ منْهُ أهْداها

فقلتُ للهِ هادٍ منْهُ أهْداها

He said, 'One whose equal is rare has given it to you.'

He said "From his sea he cast to her pearls"

I said, 'What a giver—from him came this gift!'

I said "He perfected her construction and manifested her"

فقال منْ بحْرِهِ ألْقى بها دُرَراً

فقال منْ بحْرِهِ ألْقى بها دُرَراً

فقلْتُ أبْدَعَها نظْماً وأبْداها

فقلْتُ أبْدَعَها نظْماً وأبْداها

He said, 'From his sea he cast pearls into it.'

He said "My covenant with refinement is worn out"

I said, 'He wondrously strung it in verse and displayed it.'

I said "The son of Hatim is her intimate friend"

فقال عهْديَ بالآدابِ قد تلِفَتْ

فقال عهْديَ بالآدابِ قد تلِفَتْ

قُلْتُ ابْنُ حاتِمٍ الأرْضَى تَلافاها

قُلْتُ ابْنُ حاتِمٍ الأرْضَى تَلافاها

He said, 'As I last knew them, the literary arts had perished.'

He said "Refinement had been suspended"

I said, 'Ibn Hatim, most pleasing, restored them.'

I said "He is the one whose sorcery adorned it"

فقالَ قدْ كانتِ الآدابُ عاطِلَةً

فقالَ قدْ كانتِ الآدابُ عاطِلَةً

فقلْتُ هذا الذي بالسّحْرِ حَلّاها

فقلْتُ هذا الذي بالسّحْرِ حَلّاها

He said, 'The literary arts had been unadorned.'

Just so, how many treasures are in the wing of night!

I said, 'This is he who adorned them with magic.'

And Ibn Jala came not but to prepare it

كذاك جِنْحُ الدُجَى كمْ فيهِ من سُدَفٍ

كذاك جِنْحُ الدُجَى كمْ فيهِ من سُدَفٍ

وما أتى ابْنُ جَلا إلا وجَلّاها

وما أتى ابْنُ جَلا إلا وجَلّاها

So too the wing of darkness: how many shadows it holds!

These are rhymed prose for the ear of nobility

And Ibn Jala never comes without clearing them away.

Leading to the speech of Ulya that I constructed

هَذي قوافٍ على أسِّ النّسيبِ إلى

هَذي قوافٍ على أسِّ النّسيبِ إلى

خِطاب عُلْياك قد شيّدْتُ مَبْناها

خِطاب عُلْياك قد شيّدْتُ مَبْناها

These are verses, founded on love poetry, leading to

I say: O rider of the saddled camel, where will you hide

an address to your high rank; I have raised their edifice.

Seeking from hopes their furthest extent?

أقول يا راكِبَ الوجْناءِ أينَ بِها

أقول يا راكِبَ الوجْناءِ أينَ بِها

تَخُبُّ تبغي من الآمالِ أقصاها

تَخُبُّ تبغي من الآمالِ أقصاها

I say: O rider of the stout-cheeked she-camel, where on her

If you love the highest refinement

do you trot, seeking the furthest of hopes?

In rank, state, and companions

إنْ كنتَ تهْوى منَ الآدابِ أرْفَعَها

إنْ كنتَ تهْوى منَ الآدابِ أرْفَعَها

قدْراً وأحْفَلَها حالاً وأحْفاها

قدْراً وأحْفَلَها حالاً وأحْفاها

If you desire the loftiest of the literary arts

Aim for the abode of Ibn Hatim's love

in rank, the richest in substance, and the most gracious,

You will attain its sweetest rose and sweet basil

يمّمْ على ظمأٍ مَثْوى ابْن حاتِمِها

يمّمْ على ظمأٍ مَثْوى ابْن حاتِمِها

تفُزْ بأعْذَبِها ورْداً وأحْلاها

تفُزْ بأعْذَبِها ورْداً وأحْلاها

head, thirsty, for the dwelling of their Ibn Hatim;

Those who live for its blossoms when it blooms

you will win their freshest and sweetest draught.

Will find Zuhair's rhymes and pleasures

مَنْ يعْشُ للزُّهْرِ منْها حينَ يُطْلِعُها

مَنْ يعْشُ للزُّهْرِ منْها حينَ يُطْلِعُها

يجِدْ زُهَيْرَ قَوافيها وأعْشاها

يجِدْ زُهَيْرَ قَوافيها وأعْشاها

Whoever seeks their bright stars when he brings them forth

Ask its heights and you will attain its ready pools

will find the Zuhayr and al-A'sha of their rhymes.

Surely gallantry is but some of its traits

واسْألْ عُلاها تُنِلْ كفّيْكَ نائِلها

واسْألْ عُلاها تُنِلْ كفّيْكَ نائِلها

إنّ المكارِمَ بعضٌ مَن سَجاياها

إنّ المكارِمَ بعضٌ مَن سَجاياها

And ask their eminence: it will grant your hands its bounty;

These caravans come for its rhymes, the sweetest

for noble deeds are but some of its qualities.

In eloquence, loveliness, and clarity

هَذي القوافلُ تأتيها لتَظْفرَ منْ

هَذي القوافلُ تأتيها لتَظْفرَ منْ

تلك القَوافي بأحْلاها وأجْلاها

تلك القَوافي بأحْلاها وأجْلاها

These caravans come to them to obtain, from

Their riders set out from it, and it came

those rhymes, the sweetest and most radiant.

To pastures of its gifts, mounts of its gifts

ركابُهُمْ صدرَتْ عنْها وقد وردَتْ

ركابُهُمْ صدرَتْ عنْها وقد وردَتْ

مَوارِداً منْ عَطاياها مَطاياها

مَوارِداً منْ عَطاياها مَطاياها

Their riding camels departed from them, having already reached

Revealing beauty and granting us beauty, so none

watering places of their bounty—those caravans' mounts.

More deserving of sublime truth and loftiness

تُبْدي الجَمالَ وتُولينا الجَميلَ فما

تُبْدي الجَمالَ وتُولينا الجَميلَ فما

أحقَّها بالعُلَى حقّاً وأوْلاها

أحقَّها بالعُلَى حقّاً وأوْلاها

They reveal beauty and bestow kindness on us—how

Take it, Abu Qasim, a beauty matchless

truly worthy of high rank they are, and how deserving!

But one whose palm her beauty made worthy

خُذْها أبا قاسِمٍ حَسْناءَ ليس لَها

خُذْها أبا قاسِمٍ حَسْناءَ ليس لَها

كُفْؤٌ سِوى مَن أرَتْ كفّاهُ حُسْناها

كُفْؤٌ سِوى مَن أرَتْ كفّاهُ حُسْناها

Take her, Abu Qasim, a beauty who has no

Revealing an answer, though we're melting with love

equal save him whose hands revealed her loveliness.

Were it not for the wellspring of courtesy that sustained us

تُبْدي الجوابَ وقد كِدنا نَذوبُ جَوىً

تُبْدي الجوابَ وقد كِدنا نَذوبُ جَوىً

لوْلا مَوارِدُ آدابٍ ورَدْناها

لوْلا مَوارِدُ آدابٍ ورَدْناها

She offers the reply; we had almost melted with yearning,

Overlook generously, for the excuse is clearer than

but for the watering places of letters we had reached.

The fire of tent poles the companions follow for their rapture

ولْتَصْفَحَن كَرماً فالعُذْرُ أوضحُ منْ

ولْتَصْفَحَن كَرماً فالعُذْرُ أوضحُ منْ

نارِ القرَى يهْتدي السّاري لمغْناها

نارِ القرَى يهْتدي السّاري لمغْناها

And graciously forgive, for the excuse is clearer than

Praise is but words, and none reached the hearing

the fire of hospitality that guides the night traveler to its abode.

Unless you were their meaning

إنّ المحامِدَ ألْفاظٌ وما ورَدتْ

إنّ المحامِدَ ألْفاظٌ وما ورَدتْ

على المَسامِعِ إلا كُنتَ مَعْناها

على المَسامِعِ إلا كُنتَ مَعْناها

Indeed, praises are words; never do they fall

And praising our lord and serving him

upon the ears but you are their meaning.

Could preoccupy thought, unless you undertake it

وإنّ أمْداحَ مَولانا وخدْمتَهُ

وإنّ أمْداحَ مَولانا وخدْمتَهُ

قد تشْغل الفِكْرَ إلا إن تَعاطاها

قد تشْغل الفِكْرَ إلا إن تَعاطاها

And praise of our lord, and service to him,

How could each moment not undertake

may preoccupy the mind, unless it undertakes them.

What earns the loyal money and status?

وكيفَ لا يتعاطَى كُلَّ آوِنةٍ

وكيفَ لا يتعاطَى كُلَّ آوِنةٍ

ما يُكْسِبُ المُنْجِدَيْنِ المالَ والجاها

ما يُكْسِبُ المُنْجِدَيْنِ المالَ والجاها

And how could it not undertake, at every moment,

The defender of the faith, his virtues are probed,

what wins the two supporters wealth and rank?

And none surpasses his rank in highness

فناصِرُ الدّين تُسْتجْلَى مناقِبُه

فناصِرُ الدّين تُسْتجْلَى مناقِبُه

وليسَ يُفْرَعُ في العَلياءِ مرْقاها

وليسَ يُفْرَعُ في العَلياءِ مرْقاها

For Nasir al-Din's virtues are brought to light,

The sweetest guiding king, the most generous

and their stairway in the heights cannot be surmounted.

In dew, the highest in rank and loftiness

أحْلى مُلوكِ الوَرى هدْياً وأكْثَرُها

أحْلى مُلوكِ الوَرى هدْياً وأكْثَرُها

ندىً وأرْفَعُها قَدْراً وأعْلاها

ندىً وأرْفَعُها قَدْراً وأعْلاها

The sweetest of mortals' kings in conduct, the greatest

Thus I fell short of answering the poetry

in generosity, the loftiest in rank, and the highest.

Whose excellence the excellent poet adorned with his splendor

لِذاك قصّرتُ عن ردّ الجوابِ على

لِذاك قصّرتُ عن ردّ الجوابِ على

شِعْرٍ سَناهُ سنَى الشّعْرَى بهِ باهَى

شِعْرٍ سَناهُ سنَى الشّعْرَى بهِ باهَى

For that reason I fell short of sending a reply to

For his beauty and kindness, how much

verse whose radiance is that of Sirius, in which he took pride.

Fine favor its intent the most noble!

للحُسْنِ منهُ وللإحسانِ كمْ مِنَحٍ

للحُسْنِ منهُ وللإحسانِ كمْ مِنَحٍ

مُسْتَحْسَنٍ قصْدُها الأرضَى ومَنْحاها

مُسْتَحْسَنٍ قصْدُها الأرضَى ومَنْحاها

How many gifts of beauty and beneficence come from it,

May its composer continue to attain

their most pleasing aim and course admired!

The highest ranks, their marks and qualities

لازالَ ناظِمُهُ حتّى يُبَلَّغَ مِن

لازالَ ناظِمُهُ حتّى يُبَلَّغَ مِن

مراتِبِ العِزِّ أسماها وأسْناها

مراتِبِ العِزِّ أسماها وأسْناها

May its composer live on until he is brought to

And remain guiding people with his guidance, so

the highest and most radiant of the ranks of glory.

Long life, we beseech God for him

ودامَ يَهدِي بما يُهْدي الأنامَ فَفي

ودامَ يَهدِي بما يُهْدي الأنامَ فَفي

طولِ البَقاءِ لهُ نسْتَوْهِبُ اللّهَ

طولِ البَقاءِ لهُ نسْتَوْهِبُ اللّهَ

And may he ever guide mankind with what he gives; as for

long life for him, we seek it as a gift from God.