هلdid? كانَhad ضَمّخَdrenched in perfume بالعبيرwith perfume الريحاthe wind
هل كانَ ضَمّخَ بالعبير الريحا
مُزْنٌa raincloud يُهّزُّbrandishes البرقُthe lightning فيهwithin it صَفيحاa blade
مُزْنٌ يُهّزُّ البرقُ فيه صَفيحا
Had the wind been drenched in perfume
by a raincloud in which lightning brandishes a blade?
تُهْديit brings تحِيّاتِgreetings of القُلوبِthe hearts وإنّماbut in truth
تُهْدي تحِيّاتِ القُلوبِ وإنّما
تُهْديit brings بهنّwith them الوجْدَlonging والتّبريجاand anguish (probable intended reading)
تُهْدي بهنّ الوجْدَ والتّبريجا
It brings the hearts' greetings, but in truth
with them it brings longing and anguish.
شَرِقَتْit choked بماءon water of الوَرْدِroses بَلّلَsoaked جَيْبَهاits bosom
شَرِقَتْ بماء الوَرْدِ بَلّلَ جَيْبَها
فَسَرَتْthen it traveled by night تُرَقْرِقُmaking shimmer دُرّهits pearls المنْضوحاsprinkled
فَسَرَتْ تُرَقْرِقُ دُرّه المنْضوحا
It choked on rosewater that soaked its bosom,
then traveled by night, making its sprinkled pearls shimmer.
أنفاسُbreaths of طِيبٍfragrance بِتْنَspent the night فيin درْعيmy tunic وقدand already
أنفاسُ طِيبٍ بِتْنَ في درْعي وقد
باتَspent the night الخيالُthe phantom وراءهُنّbehind them طَليحاexhausted
باتَ الخيالُ وراءهُنّ طَليحا
Breaths of fragrance spent the night in my tunic, while
the phantom lay behind them, exhausted.
بلbut ماwhat لهذاwith this البرقlightning صِلاًّa venomous serpent مُطْرِقاًwith lowered head
بل ما لهذا البرق صِلاًّ مُطْرِقاً
ولأيّand for which شمْلِgathering of الشائمينlightning-watchers أُتيحاwas it granted
ولأيّ شمْلِ الشائمين أُتيحا
But why is this lightning a serpent with lowered head,
and for which gathering of lightning-watchers was it granted?
يُدْنيit draws near الصّباحَthe morning بخَطْوهِwith its stride فعلامso why لاnot
يُدْني الصّباحَ بخَطْوهِ فعلام لا
يُدنيdoes it draw near الخَليطَthe companions وقدthough already أجَدّundertook in earnest نُزوحاdeparture
يُدني الخَليطَ وقد أجَدّ نُزوحا
It brings morning near with its stride—so why does it not
bring the companions near, now that they have departed in earnest?
بِتْناwe spent the night يُؤرّقُناkeeping us awake سَناهits radiance لَمُوحاflashing
بِتْنا يُؤرّقُنا سَناه لَمُوحا
ويشُوقُناand stirs our longing غَرَدُwarbling of الحمامِthe doves صَدُوحاresounding
ويشُوقُنا غَرَدُ الحمامِ صَدُوحا
We spent the night sleepless at its flashing radiance,
and the resounding song of doves stirred our longing.
أمُسَهَّدَيْO two sleepless ones ليلِnight of التِّمامِfullest length تعالَياcome, both of you
أمُسَهَّدَيْ ليلِ التِّمامِ تعالَيا
حتىso that نَقومَwe may conduct بمأتمٍa mourning gathering فَنَنُوحَاand lament
حتى نَقومَ بمأتمٍ فَنَنُوحَا
O you two kept awake through the longest night, come,
so that we may hold a mourning gathering and lament.
وذَراand leave, both of you جلابيباًrobes تُشَقّare torn جيوبُهاtheir necklines
وذَرا جلابيباً تُشَقّ جيوبُها
حتىuntil أُضَرّجَهاI stain them دَماًwith blood مسْفُوحاpoured out
حتى أُضَرّجَها دَماً مسْفُوحا
And leave robes whose necklines are rent,
so I may stain them with blood poured out.
فلقدfor indeed تجَهّمَنيscowled at me فِرَاقُparting from أحِبّتيmy loved ones
فلقد تجَهّمَني فِرَاقُ أحِبّتي
وغداand became سَنِيحُthe favorable omen of المُلْهِياتِdiversions بَريحاan ill omen
وغدا سَنِيحُ المُلْهِياتِ بَريحا
For the parting of my loved ones has scowled at me,
and the favorable omens of diversions have turned ominous.
وبَعُدْتُand I traveled far شَأوَthe reach of مطالبٍquests وركائبٍand mounts
وبَعُدْتُ شَأوَ مطالبٍ وركائبٍ
حتىuntil امتَطَيْتُI mounted إلىtoward الغمامthe clouds الرّيحاthe wind
حتى امتَطَيْتُ إلى الغمام الرّيحا
And I journeyed beyond the reach of quests and mounts,
until I rode the wind toward the clouds.
حَجّتْmade pilgrimage بناwith us حرمَthe sanctuary of الإمامthe Imam نجائبٌnoble camels
حَجّتْ بنا حرمَ الإمام نجائبٌ
تَرميflinging إليهtoward him بناwith us السُّهوبَthe steppes الفِيحاwide-open
تَرمي إليه بنا السُّهوبَ الفِيحا
Noble camels made pilgrimage with us to the Imam's sanctuary,
flinging us toward him across the wide-open steppes.
فتَمسّحَتْthen rubbed themselves لِمَمٌlocks of hair بهِagainst him شُعْثٌdisheveled وقدand already
فتَمسّحَتْ لِمَمٌ بهِ شُعْثٌ وقد
جِئْناwe came نُقبّلkissing ركْنَهhis corner الممسوحاrubbed
جِئْنا نُقبّل ركْنَه الممسوحا
Disheveled locks rubbed themselves against him, and
we had come to kiss his reverently touched corner.
أمّاas for الوفودُthe delegations بكُلat every مُطّلَعٍapproach فقدْthen indeed
أمّا الوفودُ بكُل مُطّلَعٍ فقدْ
سَرّحْتَyou released عُقْلَthe hobbles of مَطيّهمْtheir mounts تَسريحاcompletely
سَرّحْتَ عُقْلَ مَطيّهمْ تَسريحا
As for the delegations at every approach, you have
fully released the hobbles of their mounts.
هلis there? ليfor me إلىto الفرْدوْسِParadise منany إذنٍpermission وقَدْand already
هل لي إلى الفرْدوْسِ من إذنٍ وقَدْ
شارَفْتُI approached باباًa gate دونَهاbefore it مفتوحَاopen
شارَفْتُ باباً دونَها مفتوحَا
May I have leave to enter Paradise, now that I have
approached a gate standing open before it?
فيin حيثwhere لاnot الشَعراءthe poets مُفحَمَةٌsilenced ولاnor
في حيث لا الشَعراء مُفحَمَةٌ ولا
شأوُthe reach of المدائحpraises يُدْرِكattains الممدوحاthe praised one
شأوُ المدائح يُدْرِك الممدوحا
There, neither are poets silenced, nor
does the reach of praises attain the one praised.
مَلِكٌa king أناخَbore down علىupon الزّمانTime بكَلْكَلٍwith his breast
مَلِكٌ أناخَ على الزّمان بكَلْكَلٍ
فأذَلّand so subdued صَعْباًstubborn فيunder القِيادِthe reins جَموحاrefractory
فأذَلّ صَعْباً في القِيادِ جَموحا
A king who bore down upon Time with his breast,
subduing it, stubborn and rebellious under the reins.
يُمضيhe dispenses المَناياdeaths والعطاياand gifts وادعاًat ease
يُمضي المَنايا والعطايا وادعاً
تَعِبَتْlabored لهfor him عَزَمَاتُهhis resolves وأُريحاand he was given rest
تَعِبَتْ له عَزَمَاتُه وأُريحا
He dispenses deaths and gifts while at ease;
his resolves labored for him, and he was given rest.
نَدعوهُwe call him مُنْتَقِماًan avenger عزيزاًmighty قَادِراًpowerful
نَدعوهُ مُنْتَقِماً عزيزاً قَادِراً
غفّارَgreat forgiver of مُوبقةِruinous الذّنوبِsins صَفوحاever pardoning
غفّارَ مُوبقةِ الذّنوبِ صَفوحا
We call him an avenger, mighty and powerful,
a great forgiver of ruinous sins, ever pardoning.
أجدُI find السّماحَgenerosity دخيلَan outsider to أنْسابٍlineages ولاand not
أجدُ السّماحَ دخيلَ أنْسابٍ ولا
ألْقاهُI find it إلاexcept منْfrom يديْهِhis two hands صَريحاtrueborn
ألْقاهُ إلا منْ يديْهِ صَريحا
I find generosity an outsider to lineages, and never
find it trueborn except from his two hands.
وهوand he is الغَمامُthe raincloud يَصُوبُrains down منهfrom him حياتُناour life
وهو الغَمامُ يَصُوبُ منه حياتُنا
لاnot كالغمامlike the raincloud المُسْتهلّpouring rain دَلوحاheavy-laden
لا كالغمام المُسْتهلّ دَلوحا
And he is the cloud from which our life rains down,
unlike the rain-pouring, heavy-laden cloud.
نَعَشَrevived الجُدودَfortunes فلوso if يُصافحُhe shook hands with هالكاًa dying man
نَعَشَ الجُدودَ فلو يُصافحُ هالكاً
ماnot وَسّدَتهُlaid him to rest يدُthe hand of المَنونِDeath ضَريحاa grave
ما وَسّدَتهُ يدُ المَنونِ ضَريحا
He revived fortunes; if he shook a dying man's hand,
the hand of Death would not lay him in a grave.
قُلْsay للجبابرةِto the tyrants المُلوكِthe kings تَغَنّمواseize the chance of
قُلْ للجبابرةِ المُلوكِ تَغَنّموا
سِلْماًpeace كفىenough of الحربَwar العَوانَrecurrent لقوحاpregnant
سِلْماً كفى الحربَ العَوانَ لقوحا
Tell the tyrant kings: seize the chance of
peace—enough of recurrent war, pregnant still.
بعيونكمbefore your eyes رَهَجُthe dust of الجنودِthe troops قوافلاًreturning
بعيونكم رَهَجُ الجنودِ قوافلاً
بالأمسِyesterday تنتعلُwore as sandals الدّماءَblood سُفوحاstreaming
بالأمسِ تنتعلُ الدّماءَ سُفوحا
Before your eyes is the dust of troops returning,
who yesterday wore streaming blood as sandals.
أمّتْكَheaded toward you بالأسْرىwith captives وفُودُdelegations of قبائلٍtribes
أمّتْكَ بالأسْرى وفُودُ قبائلٍ
لاnot يَجتدينَكَbeg you for سَيْبَكَyour bounty الممنوحاfreely granted
لا يَجتدينَكَ سَيْبَكَ الممنوحا
Delegations of tribes headed toward you with captives,
not to beg you for your freely granted bounty.
وَصَلواthey joined أسىًgrief بغليلِwith burning thirst for تَذكارٍremembrance كماjust as
وَصَلوا أسىً بغليلِ تَذكارٍ كما
وصَلjoined النّشاوَىthe drunkards بالغَبوقto the evening draught صَبوحاa morning draught
وصَل النّشاوَى بالغَبوق صَبوحا
They joined grief to the burning thirst of remembrance, as
drunkards joined a morning draught to their evening draught.
لوif يُعْرَضُونَthey were shown علىto الدُّجُنّةthe darkness أنكرَتْit would reject
لو يُعْرَضُونَ على الدُّجُنّة أنكرَتْ
ذاكَthat الشحوبَpallor النُّكْرَghastly والتلويحاand emaciation
ذاكَ الشحوبَ النُّكْرَ والتلويحا
Were they shown to the darkness, it would reject
that ghastly pallor and emaciation.
ولقدand indeed نَصَحْتَهُمُyou counseled them علىdespite عُدْوانهمtheir aggression
ولقد نَصَحْتَهُمُ على عُدْوانهم
لكنّهمbut they لاnot يَقْبلونَaccept نَصيحَاa sincere adviser
لكنّهم لا يَقْبلونَ نَصيحَا
You counseled them despite their aggression,
but they accept no sincere adviser,
حتىuntil قَرَنْتَyou paired الشمْلَunity والتفريقَand dispersal فيin
حتى قَرَنْتَ الشمْلَ والتفريقَ في
عَرَصَاتهمْtheir dwelling-grounds والنّبْتَand growth والتّصْويحاand withering
عَرَصَاتهمْ والنّبْتَ والتّصْويحا
until you paired unity and dispersal in
their dwelling-grounds, and growth with withering.
ونَصَرْتَand you gave victory بالجيشwith the army اللُّهامimmense وإنّماbut in truth
ونَصَرْتَ بالجيش اللُّهام وإنّما
أعْدَدْتَهُyou readied it قبلbefore الفُتوحthe conquests فتوحاas victories
أعْدَدْتَهُ قبل الفُتوح فتوحا
And you secured victory with the immense army, but in truth
you prepared it as victory before any conquests.
أُفْقٌa horizon يمورُchurns الأفْقُthe horizon فيهwithin it عجاجةًas a dust-cloud
أُفْقٌ يمورُ الأفْقُ فيه عجاجةً
بحرٌa sea يموجsurges البحرُthe sea فيهwithin it سَبوحاswimming
بحرٌ يموج البحرُ فيه سَبوحا
A horizon in which the horizon churns as a dust-cloud,
a sea in which the sea surges, swimming.
لوif لمnot يَسِرْit had marched فيthrough رَحْبِthe vastness of عَزمِكyour resolve آنفاًearlier
لو لم يَسِرْ في رَحْبِ عَزمِك آنفاً
لمnot يُلْفِwould it have found مُنخَرَقَthe passage through الخُبوتِthe lowlands فسيحاspacious
لم يُلْفِ مُنخَرَقَ الخُبوتِ فسيحا
Had it not first marched through the vastness of your resolve,
it would not have found the lowland passages spacious.
يُزْجيهِdrives it onward أرْوَعُa formidable man لوif يُدافَعُwere challenged باسمِهِwith his name
يُزْجيهِ أرْوَعُ لو يُدافَعُ باسمِهِ
عُلوِيُّthe highest of أفلاكِthe spheres of السّماءheaven أُزيحاwould be displaced
عُلوِيُّ أفلاكِ السّماء أُزيحا
A formidable man drives it onward: were his name set against
the highest of heaven's spheres, it would be swept aside.
قادَhe led الخضارمةَthe mighty الملوكَkings فوارساًas horsemen
قادَ الخضارمةَ الملوكَ فوارساً
قدindeed كانhad been فارسَthe champion of جمْعهاtheir host المشبوحاbroad-limbed
قد كان فارسَ جمْعها المشبوحا
He led the mighty kings as horsemen,
having been the broad-limbed champion of their host.
فكأنّماso it is as though مَلَكَhe possessed القضاءَdestiny مُقدِّراًordaining it
فكأنّما مَلَكَ القضاءَ مُقدِّراً
فيin كُلِّevery أَوبٍdirection وَالحِمامَand Death مُتيحاdispensing it
في كُلِّ أَوبٍ وَالحِمامَ مُتيحا
As though he possessed destiny, ordaining it
in every direction, and Death, dispensing it.
وافىhe arrived بِهَيبَةِwith the awe of ذيDhu الفقارِal-Fiqar كَأَنَّماas though
وافى بِهَيبَةِ ذي الفقارِ كَأَنَّما
وَشّحْتَهُyou girded him بِنِجادِهِwith its baldric تَوْشِيحاfirmly girding
وَشّحْتَهُ بِنِجادِهِ تَوْشِيحا
He arrived with the awe of Dhu al-Fiqar, as though
you had firmly girded him with its baldric.
حتىuntil إذاwhen غَمَرَhe flooded البحارَthe seas كتائباًwith battalions
حتى إذا غَمَرَ البحارَ كتائباً
لوif يرتشفْنَthey sipped أُجاجَهاtheir brine لأميحاit would be drained
لو يرتشفْنَ أُجاجَها لأميحا
Until, when he flooded the seas with battalions—
if they sipped their brine, the seas would be drained—
زخَرَتْsurged غواشيthe shrouds of الموتdeath ناراًas fire تلتظيblazing
زخَرَتْ غواشي الموت ناراً تلتظي
فأرَتْand so showed عَدوّكَyour enemy زندَكyour fire-stick المقدوحاstruck alight
فأرَتْ عَدوّكَ زندَك المقدوحا
Death's shrouds surged as blazing fire,
and showed your enemy your fire-stick struck ablaze.
فكأنّماso it is as though فَغَرَتْgaped إليهِtoward him جَهَنّمٌHell
فكأنّما فَغَرَتْ إليهِ جَهَنّمٌ
منُهنّfrom among them أوor كلَحَتْbared its teeth إليهat him كُلوحاin a snarl
منُهنّ أو كلَحَتْ إليه كُلوحا
As though Hell had gaped toward him
from among them, or bared its teeth at him in a snarl.
وأُمَيّةٌand Umayya تُحفْيpresses insistently السّؤالَthe questioning وماbut what use لِمَنْfor one who
وأُمَيّةٌ تُحفْي السّؤالَ وما لِمَنْ
أودىbrought ruin بهupon him الطُّوفانُthe Flood يذكرُmentions نُوحاNoah
أودى به الطُّوفانُ يذكرُ نُوحا
And Umayya presses its questions; but what use is it for one
destroyed by the Flood to mention Noah?
بُهِتُواthey were stunned فهمso they يَتَوَهّمونَكَimagine you بارِزاًstanding forth
بُهِتُوا فهم يَتَوَهّمونَكَ بارِزاً
والتّاجَand the crown مؤتلقاًgleaming عليكupon you لَمُوحاflashing
والتّاجَ مؤتلقاً عليك لَمُوحا
They were stunned, imagining you standing forth,
with the crown upon you gleaming and flashing.
تتجاوبُechoes back and forth الدّنْياthe world عليهمover them مأتَماًin mourning
تتجاوبُ الدّنْيا عليهم مأتَماً
فكأنّمَاso it is as though صَبّحْتَهُمْyou raided them at dawn تصبيحاa dawn raid
فكأنّمَا صَبّحْتَهُمْ تصبيحا
The world echoes back and forth in mourning over them,
as though you had raided them at daybreak.
لَبِسواthey wore معائبَهمtheir disgraces ورُزْءَand grief for فقيدِهمtheir lost one
لَبِسوا معائبَهم ورُزْءَ فقيدِهم
كاللاّبساتِlike women wearing علىin الحِدادِmourning مُسوحاsackcloth
كاللاّبساتِ على الحِدادِ مُسوحا
They wore their disgraces and grief for their lost one,
like women wearing sackcloth in mourning.
أنْفِذْcarry out قضاءَthe decree of اللّهِGod فيagainst أعدائهِHis enemies
أنْفِذْ قضاءَ اللّهِ في أعدائهِ
لِتُراحَso you may be relieved منof أوتارهاtheir vendettas وتُريحاand give relief
لِتُراحَ من أوتارها وتُريحا
Carry out God's decree against His enemies,
that you may rest from their vendettas and give others rest,
بالسّابقينwith the foremost الأوّلِينَthe first يؤمُّهُمْleads them
بالسّابقين الأوّلِينَ يؤمُّهُمْ
جبريلُGabriel يَعتَنِقُgrapples with الكُماةَthe armored warriors مُشِيحاresolutely
جبريلُ يَعتَنِقُ الكُماةَ مُشِيحا
with the first and foremost, led by
Gabriel, resolutely grappling with armored warriors.
فكأنّso it is as though جَدّكَyour forefather فيamong فوارسِthe horsemen of هاشِمٍHashim
فكأنّ جَدّكَ في فوارسِ هاشِمٍ
منهمamong them بحيثُwhere يرىhe sees الحسينَal-Husayn ذبيحاslaughtered
منهم بحيثُ يرى الحسينَ ذبيحا
It is as though your forefather were among Hashim's horsemen,
one of them, where he sees al-Husayn slaughtered.
أعَليكَconcerning you? تختلِفُdiffer المنَابِرُthe pulpits بعدَماafter
أعَليكَ تختلِفُ المنَابِرُ بعدَما
جَنحتْinclined إليكَtoward you المَشْرِقانِthe two Easts جُنوحاwholly inclining
جَنحتْ إليكَ المَشْرِقانِ جُنوحا
Do the pulpits differ over you, after
the two Easts have inclined wholly toward you?
أمْor فِيكَabout you تخْتلِجُwavers الخلائقُmankind مِرْيَةًin doubt
أمْ فِيكَ تخْتلِجُ الخلائقُ مِرْيَةً
كلاّno indeed وقدand already وَضَحَbecame clear الصّباحُthe morning وُضوحاplainly
كلاّ وقد وَضَحَ الصّباحُ وُضوحا
Or does mankind waver in doubt about you?
No indeed—the morning has become utterly clear.
أُوتِيتَyou were granted فَضْلَthe excellence of خِلافَةٍa caliphate كنُبُوّةٍlike prophethood
أُوتِيتَ فَضْلَ خِلافَةٍ كنُبُوّةٍ
ونَجِيَّand the secret whisper of إلهامٍinspiration كوَحْيٍlike revelation يُوحَىbeing revealed
ونَجِيَّ إلهامٍ كوَحْيٍ يُوحَى
You were granted the excellence of a caliphate like prophethood,
and inspiration's secret whisper, like revelation revealed.
أخَليفَةَO caliph of اللّهِGod الرّضَىwell-pleasing وسبيلَهُand His way
أخَليفَةَ اللّهِ الرّضَى وسبيلَهُ
ومَنَارَهُand His beacon وكِتَابَهُand His book المشروحاexpounded
ومَنَارَهُ وكِتَابَهُ المشروحا
O God's well-pleasing caliph, and His way,
and His beacon, and His expounded book!
ياO خيرَbest of مَنthose whom حجّتْmade pilgrimage إليهِto him مَطيّةٌa mount
يا خيرَ مَن حجّتْ إليهِ مَطيّةٌ
ياO خيرَbest of منthose who أعطىgave الجزيلَabundant bounty مَنوحاbestowed as a gift
يا خيرَ من أعطى الجزيلَ مَنوحا
O best of those to whom a mount has made pilgrimage,
O best of those who have bestowed abundant bounty!
ماذاwhat نقولُcan we say جَلَلْتَyou are exalted عنbeyond أفهامنِاour understanding
ماذا نقولُ جَلَلْتَ عن أفهامنِا
حتىuntil استَوَينْاwe became alike أعْجَماًinarticulate وفَصيحاand eloquent
حتى استَوَينْا أعْجَماً وفَصيحا
What can we say? You are exalted beyond our understanding,
so that we, inarticulate and eloquent, became alike.
نَطَقَتْspoke بكof you السَّبْعُthe Seven المثانيOft-Repeated ألسُناًas tongues
نَطَقَتْ بك السَّبْعُ المثاني ألسُناً
فكَفَيْنَنَاso they spared us التعريضindirect allusion والتّصْريحاand explicit declaration
فكَفَيْنَنَا التعريض والتّصْريحا
The Seven Oft-Repeated Verses became tongues speaking of you,
thus sparing us allusion and explicit declaration.
تَسْعَىyou move بنورِwith the light of اللّهِGod بَينَamong عِبادِهِHis servants
تَسْعَى بنورِ اللّهِ بَينَ عِبادِهِ
لتُضيءَto shine بُرهاناًas a proof لهمfor them وتلوحاand shine forth
لتُضيءَ بُرهاناً لهم وتلوحا
You move with God's light among His servants,
to shine as a proof for them and gleam forth.
وَجَدَfound العِيانُdirect sight سناكyour radiance تحقيقاًa certainty ولمand not
وَجَدَ العِيانُ سناك تحقيقاً ولم
تُحِطِencompass الظّنونُconjectures بكُنهِهِits essence تصريحاexplicitly
تُحِطِ الظّنونُ بكُنهِهِ تصريحا
Direct sight found your radiance a certainty, yet
conjectures did not clearly encompass its essence.
أخشاكَI fear you will تُنسيmake forget الشمسَthe sun مطلعَهاits rising-place كماjust as
أخشاكَ تُنسي الشمسَ مطلعَها كما
أنسىmade forget الملائكَthe angels ذكرُكmention of you التسبيحاglorification
أنسى الملائكَ ذكرُك التسبيحا
I fear you may make the sun forget its rising-place, as
the mention of you made the angels forget their glorification.
صورتyou were fashioned منfrom ملكوتthe dominion of ربكyour Lord صورةًa form
صورت من ملكوت ربك صورةً
وأمَدَّهاand He endowed it عِلماًwith knowledge فكنْتَso you became الرّوحاthe spirit
وأمَدَّها عِلماً فكنْتَ الرّوحا
You were fashioned as a form from your Lord's dominion,
and He endowed it with knowledge, so you became the spirit.
أقسمتُI swore لولاwere it not أنthat دُعيتَyou were called خليفةًa caliph
أقسمتُ لولا أن دُعيتَ خليفةً
لَدُعِيتَyou would have been called منfrom بعدِafter المسيحthe Messiah مسيحاa messiah
لَدُعِيتَ من بعدِ المسيح مسيحا
I swear: had you not been called a caliph,
you would have been called, after the Messiah, a messiah.
شَهِدَتْbore witness بمفخركَto your glory السّمواتُthe heavens العُلىlofty
شَهِدَتْ بمفخركَ السّمواتُ العُلى
وتنزّلَand descended القرآنُthe Qur'an فيكconcerning you مديحاin praise
وتنزّلَ القرآنُ فيك مديحا
The lofty heavens bore witness to your glory,
and the Qur'an descended in praise of you.