رأيت بعيني فوق ما كنت أسمع — Ibn Hani Andalusia

رأيْتُ بعيني فوقَ ما كنتُ أسمعُ

وقد راعني يوْمٌ من الحَشرِ أرْوَعُ

I saw with my own eye more than I used to hear.

A day struck me with awe, more terrifying than the Gathering.

غداةَ كأنّ الأُفْقَ سُدّ بمثلِهِ

فعادَ غروبُ الشمسِ من حيثُ تطلع

That morning, the horizon seemed blocked by its own like,

so the sun's setting returned from where it rises.

فلمْ أدرِ إذ سلَّمتُ كيفَ أُشيِّعُ

ولم أدْرِ إذ شَيّعْتُ كيفَ أُودِّع

When I greeted him, I did not know how to escort him,

and when I escorted him, I did not know how to bid farewell.

وكيف أخوض الجيشَ والجيشُ لُجّةٌ

وإنّي بمن قد قاده الدهَر مولَع

How could I venture through the army, when the army was an ocean,

while I was devoted to the one whom Time had led?

وأينَ وما لي بين ذا الجمْع مسْلَكٌ

ولا لجوادي في البسيطة موضع

And where could I go, with no passage through this gathering,

and no place on the earth for my steed?

ألا إنّ هذا حَشْدُ من لم يذُقْ لَهُ

غِرارَ الكرى جَفنٌ ولا بات يهجَع

Indeed, this is the host of one for whom no eyelid has tasted

even a little sleep, nor has he spent the night slumbering.

نصيحتُهُ للمُلْكِ سَدّتْ مذاهبي

وما بين قِيدِ الرُّمحِ والرُّمح إصبع

His devotion to the kingdom has closed my paths,

with not a finger's breadth between one spear's reach and the next.

فقد ضَرِعَتْ منْه الرّواسي لما رأتْ

فكيف قلوب الإنس والإنس أضرع

The firm mountains have bowed before him at what they saw;

how then the hearts of men, when men are more easily humbled?

فلا عسكرٌ من قبلِ عَسكرِ جوهرٍ

تَخُبُّ المطايا فيه عَشراً وتوضِع

No army before the army of Jawhar

had mounts trot and gallop through it for ten days.

تسيرُ الجبالُ الجامداتُ بسَيرِهِ

وتسجُدُ من أدْنَى الحفيفِ وتركَعُ

The motionless mountains move with his march,

and prostrate themselves at the slightest rustle, and bow.

إذا حَلّ في أرضٍ بناها مَدائنِاً

وإن سار عن أرضٍ ثَوَتْ وهي بلقع

When he settles in a land, he builds it into cities;

when he departs from a land, it remains a wilderness.

سَمَوْتُ لهُ بعد الرّحيلِ وفاتَني

فأقسمْتُ ألاّ لاءَمَ الجنبَ مَضجَع

I made for him after his departure, but he had outstripped me;

so I swore no bed should receive my side.

فلمّا تداركْتُ السُّرادِقَ في الدّجَى

عَشَوْتُ إليْه والمشاعلُ تُرفَع

When I caught up with the pavilion in the darkness,

I approached its light while torches were raised.

فتَخرُقُ جَيبَ المُزْن والمُزْنُ دالِحٌ

وتُوقِدُ موجَ اليَمِّ واليَمُّ أسفَع

They pierced the bosom of the clouds, heavy with rain,

and set the sea's waves aflame, though the sea was dark.

فبِتُّ وباتَ الجيشُ جَمّاً سميرُهُ

يُؤرِّقُني والجِنُّ في البِيدِ هُجّع

So I spent the night, with the army thickly gathered; its night companion

kept me awake, while the jinn in the deserts slept.

وهَمهَمَ رَعْدٌ آخِرَ اللّيلِ قاصِفٌ

ولاحَتْ مع الفَجرِ البَوراقُ تَلمع

Crashing thunder rumbled at the end of the night,

and lightning appeared with dawn, flashing.

وأوحَتْ إلينا الوَحشُ ما اللّهُ صانِعٌ

بنا وبكم من هوْل ما نتسمّع

The wild beasts signaled to us: 'What will God do

with us and you, amid the terror of what we hear?'

ولم تعلمِ الطيرُ الحوائمُ فوقَنا

إلى أين تستذري ولا أين تَفزَع

The birds circling above us did not know

where to find shelter, or where to flee for refuge,

إلى أنْ تَبَدّى سيْفُ دولةِ هاشمٍ

على وجهِهِ نورٌ من اللّه يَسْطَع

until the sword of Hashim's dynasty appeared,

with light from God shining upon his face.

كأنّ ظِلالَ الخافِقاتِ أمامَهُ

غمائِمُ نَصْرِ اللّه لا تَتَقَشّع

The shadows of the fluttering banners before him seemed

clouds of God's victory that never disperse.

كأنّ السيوفَ المُصْلَتاتِ إذا طَمَتْ

على البَرِّ بحْرٌ زاخِرُ الموجِ مُترَع

The drawn swords, when they surged, seemed

a sea upon the land, brimming with swelling waves.

كأنّ أنابِيبَ الصِّعادِ أراقمٌ

تَلَمَّظُ في أنيابِها السمُّ مُنقَع

The shafts of the tall spears seemed speckled serpents,

flicking their tongues, with poison steeped in their fangs.

كأنّ العِتاقَ الجُرْدَ مجْنوبَةً لَهُ

ظِباءٌ ثَنَتْ أجيادَها وهي تُتْلع

The sleek, thoroughbred horses led beside him seemed

gazelles bending their necks as they lifted their heads.

كأنّ الكُماةَ الصِّيدَ لمّا تغَشْمَرَتْ

حوالَيْهِ أُسْدُ الغِيلِ لا تتكعكَع

The proud armored champions, when they rushed fiercely

around him, seemed lions of the thickets that never retreat.

كأنّ حُماةَ الرَّجْلِ تحتَ ركابِهِ

سُيولُ نَداهُ أقبَلتْ تتدفّع

The defenders on foot beneath his stirrups seemed

torrents of his bounty, surging forward.

كأنّ سِراعَ النُّجْبِ تُنشَرُ يَمْنَةً

على البِيدِ آلٌ في الضّحى يترفّع

The swift noble camels, deployed to the right, seemed

a mirage rising over the deserts in the morning light.

كأنّ صِعابَ البُختِ إذ ذُلِّلَتْ لهُ

أُسارى مُلوكٍ عضَّها القِدُّ ضُرَّع

The unruly Bactrian camels, when tamed for him, seemed

captive kings, humbled by biting leather thongs.

كأنّ خلاخِيلَ المطايا إذا غدتْ

تَجَاوَبُ أصْداءُ الفَلا تترجّع

The anklets of the mounts, when they set out, seemed

answering echoes of the wilderness, reverberating.

يُهَيِّجُ وَسواسُ البُرِينَ صَبابَةً

عليها فتُغرَى بالحنينِ وتُولَع

The whisper of the nose-rings stirs longing

in them, till they crave and love their yearning cries.

لقد جَلّ مَن يَقتادُ ذا الخَلقَ كلَّه

وكلٌّ له من قائمِ السيْفِ أطوَع

Great indeed is the one who leads this entire host,

and all obey him more readily than a sword's hilt.

تَحُفُّ به القُوّادُ والأمرُ أمرُهُ

ويَقدمُهُ زِيُّ الخِلافةِ أجمَع

Commanders surround him, and the command is his;

the caliphate's full array of regalia precedes him.

ويَسحَبُ أذيالَ الخِلافَةِ رادِعاً

به المسكُ من نَشرِ الهُدى يَتضَوّع

He trails the skirts of the caliphate, stained with perfume;

musk wafts from him with the fragrance of guidance.

له حُلَلُ الإكرامِ خُصَّ بفضلها

نَسائجَ بالتِّبْرِ المُلمَّعِ تَلمَع

He has robes of honor, distinguished by their excellence,

woven fabrics glittering with gleaming gold.

بُرودُ أمِيرِ المُؤمِنِينَ بُرودُه

كساهُ الرِّضَى منهُنَّ ما ليس يُخلَع

The robes of the Commander of the Faithful are his robes;

favor has clothed him in those that will never be taken off.

وبين يَدَيْهِ خيلُه بسُرُوجِهِ

تُقادُ عليهِنَّ النُّضَارُ المُرَصَّع

Before him his horses, bearing his saddles,

are led, adorned with inlaid gold.

وأعْلامُهُ مَنْشُورَةٌ وقِبابُهُ

وحُجّابُهُ تُدْعَى لأمْرٍ فتُسرع

His banners are unfurled, and his pavilions spread out;

his chamberlains are summoned for a task and hasten.

مليكٌ ترى الأملاكَ دونَ بِساطِهِ

وأعناقُهُم مِيلٌ إلى الأرض خُضَّع

A king before whose carpet you see other kings,

their necks bent toward the earth in submission,

قِياماً على أقدامِهَا قد تَنَكّبَتْ

صوارمَها كلٌّ يُطيعُ ويَخضَع

standing on their feet, having slung

their sharp swords over their shoulders; each obeys and submits.

تَحِلُّ بيوتُ المالِ حيثُ يَحِلُّهُ

وجَمُّ العطايا والرِّواقُ المُرَفَّع

The treasuries settle wherever he settles,

with abundant gifts and the lofty pavilion.

إذا ماجَ أطنابُ السُّرادقِ بالضُّحَى

وقامَتْ حَواليْهِ القَنا تتَزَعْزَع

When the pavilion's ropes sway in the morning light,

and the spears stand quivering around him,

وسَلَّ سيوفَ الهند حول سريره

ثمانون ألفاً دارعٌ ومُقَنَّع

and Indian swords are drawn around his throne

by eighty thousand armored and helmeted men,

رأيتَ مَنِ الدنيا إليه مَنوطَةٌ

فيَمضي بما شاء القضاءُ ويَصْدَع

you see the one upon whom the world depends,

who carries out what fate has willed and proclaims it.

وتَصْحبُهُ دارُ المقامة حيثما

أناخَ وشَمْلُ المسلمينَ المجمَّع

The abode of permanence accompanies him wherever

he pitches camp, along with the Muslims' gathered unity.

وتعنو له الساداتُ من كُلِّ مَعْشَرٍ

فلا سّيدٌ منه أغرُّ وأمنَعُ

The chiefs of every people bow before him;

no chief is nobler or more unassailable than he.

فللّه عينَا مَن رآه مُخيّماً

إذا جمَعَ الأنصارَ للإذنِ مجْمَع

God bless the eyes that saw him encamped,

when an assembly gathered his supporters for admission.

وأقبلَ فوجٌ بعد فوجٍ فشاكرٌ

له أو سَؤولٌ أو شفيعٌ مُشَفَّع

Company after company approached: one giving thanks

to him, another petitioning, another interceding successfully.

فلم يفْتَأُوا من حُكم عدلٍ يَعُمُّهُمْ

وعارفَةٍ تُسْدَى إليهم وتُصْنَع

They never lacked a just judgment embracing them,

or kindness bestowed and done for them.

يسوسُهُمُ منْهُ أبٌ متَكَفِّلٌ

بَرعي بَنِيهِ حافِظٌ لا يُضَيِّع

In him, a father governs them, undertaking

the care of his children, protecting them without neglect.

فسِتْرٌ عليهم في المُلِمّاتِ مُسْبَلٌ

وكَنْزٌ لهم عند الأئمّة مُودَع

He is a covering drawn over them in calamities,

and a treasure for them, entrusted to the imams.

بَطيءٌ عن الأمرِ الذي يكرهونَهُ

عَجُولٌ إليهِمْ بالنَّدى مُتَسَرِّع

He is slow to do the thing they hate,

but swift and eager to bring them bounty.

وللّه عَيْنَا مَنْ رآه مُقَوِّضاً

إذا جعلتْ أُولى الكتائبِ تسرع

God bless the eyes that saw him breaking camp,

when the first battalions began to hasten.

ونُودِيَ بالتّرحال في فحمةِ الدجى

فجاءتهُ خيْلُ النّصرِ تَردي وتمزَع

Departure was proclaimed in the blackness of night,

and the steeds of victory came to him, galloping and racing.

فلاحَ لها من وجهِهِ البدرُ طالعاً

وفي خَدّهِ الشِّعْرَى العَبورُ تَطَلَّع

From his face the full moon appeared to them, rising,

and upon his cheek Sirius, the Crossing Star, rose.

وأضحى مُرَدّىً بالنِّجادِ كأنّهُ

هِزَبْرُ عَرينٍ ضَمّ جَنْبَيْهِ أشجع

He appeared draped in his sword-belt, as though

a lion in its lair, a serpent clasping its flanks.

فكبّرَتِ الفُرْسانُ للّهِ إذ بَدا

وظَلّ السّلاحُ المنتضى يتقعقع

The horsemen proclaimed God's greatness when he appeared,

and the drawn weapons kept rattling.

وحفَّ بهِ أهلُ الجِلادِ فمُقدِمٌ

وماضٍ وإصْلِيتٌ وطَلْقٌ وأروع

Battle-hardened men surrounded him: bold attackers,

resolute warriors, dauntless fighters, radiant men, and imposing heroes.

وعَبَّ عُبابُ الموكبِ الفخم حولَهُ

وزَفّ كما زَف الصّباحُ المُلَمَّع

The swell of the grand procession surged around him,

and swept onward as the gleaming morning sweeps.

وثار بِرَيّا المندليِّ غبارُهُ

ونُشِّرَ فيه الروضُ والروضُ مُوقِع

Its dust rose with the fragrance of Mandal aloeswood,

and a garden unfolded within it, a variegated garden.

وقد رُبّيَتْ فيهِ الملوكُ مراتِباً

فمن بين متبوعٍ وآخَرَ يَتبَع

Kings within it had been raised in ordered ranks,

some followed, and others following.

تسير على أقدارها في عجاجَةٍ

ويقدُمُهَا منْه العزيزُ الممنَّع

They marched according to their stations amid a cloud of dust,

and his mighty, unassailable person went before them.

وما لَؤمَتْ نَفسٌ تُقِرُّ بفضلهِ

وما اللؤمُ إلاّ دَفعُ ما ليس يُدفَع

No soul acknowledging his excellence is base;

baseness is only denying what cannot be denied.

لقد فازَ منْهُ مشرقُ الأرضِ بالّتي

تَفيضُ لها من مغرِبِ الأرض أدمُع

The east of the earth has gained from him the gift for which

tears flow from the west of the earth.

ألا كلُّ عَيشٍ دونَهُ فمحرَّمٌ

وكلُّ حريمٍ بعده فمضيَّع

Indeed, all life without him is forbidden,

and every sanctuary after him is left unprotected.

وإنّ بِنا شوقاً إليْهِ ولَوعَةً

تَكادُ لها أكبادُنَا تَتَصَدّع

We feel longing for him and anguish

that nearly split our livers apart.

ولكنما يُسلي من الشوقِ أنّهُ

لنا في ثُغورِ المجدِ والدِّين أنفع

Yet what consoles our longing is that

he serves us better at the frontiers of glory and religion,

وأنّ المَدَى منه قريبٌ وأنّنَا

إليه من الإيماءِ باللّحظِ أسرَع

and that the distance from him is short, and we

are swifter to him than the signal of a glance.

فسِرْ أيها المَلْكُ المُطاعُ مُؤيَّداً

فللدّينِ والدنْيا إليك تَطَلُّعُ

Go, then, O obeyed king, supported and strengthened;

religion and the world look eagerly toward you.

وقد أشعرَتْ أرضُ العِراقَينِ خِيفَةً

تكادُ لها دارُ السّلام تَضَعْضَع

The land of the two Iraqs has clothed itself in fear,

from which Dar al-Salam nearly totters.

وأعطَتْ فلسطينُ القِيادَ وأهلُهَا

فلم يَبْقَ منْها جانِبٌ يَتَمنّع

Palestine and its people have yielded the reins,

and no part of it remains resistant.

وما الرّملَةُ المقصورةُ الحَظوِ وحدها

بأوّلِ أرضٍ ما لها عنك مَفَزع

Nor is Ramla alone, with its curtailed fortune,

the first land to find no refuge from you.

وما ابنُ عُبَيدِ اللّهِ يدعوكَ وحدَهُ

غداةَ رأى أن ليسَ في القوس مَنزَع

Nor does Ibn Ubayd Allah alone call upon you,

having seen that no draw remained in the bow.

بل الناسُ كلُّ الناسِ يدعوك غيَره

فلا أحَدٌ إلاّ يَذِلُّ ويَخضَع

Rather, the people, all the people besides him, call upon you;

there is no one who does not humble himself and submit.

وإنّ بأهلِ الأرضِ فَقراً وفاقَةً

إليك وكلُّ النّاس آتيك مُهْطِع

The people of the earth are poor and needy

for you, and all come hastening toward you.

ألا إنّما البرهانُ ما أنتَ مُوضِحٌ

من الرّأيِ والمقدارُ ما أنْتَ مُزْمِع

The only proof is what you make clear

of judgment, and destiny is what you resolve.

رحلتَ إلى الفُسطاطِ أيمنَ رِحْلَةٍ

بأيمنِ فالٍ في الذي أنتَ مُجمِع

You departed for Fustat on a most auspicious journey,

with the happiest omen for what you intend.

ولمّا حثثْتَ الجيشَ لاحَ لأهْلِهِ

طريقٌ إلى أقصَى خُراسانَ مَهيَع

When you urged the army onward, its men saw

an open road to the farthest reaches of Khurasan.

إذا استقبَلَ الناسُ الرّبيعَ وقد غَدَتْ

مُتونُ الرُّبَى في سُندُسٍ تتلفّع

When people welcomed spring, already

the hilltops were wrapping themselves in fine silk.

وقد أخضَلَ المُزْنُ البلادَ ففُجِّرَتْ

ينابيعُ حتى الصّخْرُ أخضَلُ أمرَع

The rain clouds had drenched the lands, and springs

burst forth, until even the rock was moist and verdant.

وأصْبحَتِ الطُّرقُ التي أنْتَ سالِكٌ

مُقدَّسَةَ الظُّهْرانِ تُسقى وتُربَع

The roads you travel became

hallowed in their surfaces, watered and made verdant.

وقد بسَطتْ فيها الرياضُ دَرانِكاً

منَ الوَشيِ إلاّ أنّها ليس تُرقَع

The gardens spread thick carpets along them,

of brocade, except that these are never patched.

وغَرّدَ فيها الطيرُ بالنّصْرِ واكتَسَتْ

زرابيَّ من أنوارها لا تُوَشَّع

Birds sang of victory there, and the roads were clothed in

carpets of their blossoms, needing no weaving.

سقاها فروّاهَا بك اللّه آنِفاً

فنِعْمَ مَرَادُ الصّيْفِ والمُتَرَبَّع

God has lately watered and quenched them through you;

what a fine summer pasture and spring abode!

وما جِهلتْ مِصرٌ وقد قيل مَن لها

بأنّكَ ذاك الهِبْرِزِيُّ السَّمَيذَع

Egypt was not unaware, when it was asked who would serve her,

that you are that illustrious, noble lord,

وأنّك دونَ الناس فاتِحُ قُفْلِهَا

فأنْتَ لها المَرْجُوُّ والمُتَوقَّع

and that you, above all others, will open her lock;

you are the one she hopes for and awaits.

فإنْ يكُ في مصرٍ رجالُ حلومِهَا

فقد جاءهم نِيلٌ سوى النيلِ يُهرِع

If Egypt has men of sound judgment,

another Nile besides the Nile has come rushing to them.

ويمّمَهُمْ مَنْ لا يَغيرُ بنعْمَةٍ

فَيَسْلُبَهُمْ لكن يزيدُ فيُوسِع

One has turned toward them who does not alter a blessing

to rob them, but adds and gives abundantly.

ولو قد حططتَ الغيثَ في عُقرِ دارهمْ

كشَفتَ ظلامَ المَحْلِ عنهم فأمرعوا

If you brought the rain into the heart of their dwelling,

you would dispel the darkness of drought, and they would flourish.

وداويتَهم من ذلك الدّاء إنّهُ

إلى اليَومِ رِجْزٌ فيهمُ ليسَ يُقْلِع

You would cure them of that illness, which

to this day is a scourge among them that does not abate.

وكفكَفْتَ عنهم مَن يجور ويعتَدي

وأمّنْتَ منهم من يخافُ ويجْزَع

You would restrain those who oppress and transgress against them,

and give safety to those among them who fear and tremble.

إذاً لَرَأوْا كيفَ العطايا بحقِّها

لسائِلها منهُمْ وكيْفَ التبرُّع

Then they would see how gifts are rightly given

to those among them who ask, and how freely generosity flows.

وأنساهمُ الإخشيدَ مَن شِسْعُ نَعلِهِ

أعزُّ من الإخشيدِ قدْراً وأرفَع

He would make them forget al-Ikhshid, he whose sandal-thong

is nobler in worth and higher than al-Ikhshid.

سيعلمُ مَن ناواك كيف مصيرُهُ

ويُبْصِرُ مَن قارعتَهُ كيفَ يُقْرَع

Whoever opposes you will learn his fate,

and whoever you confront will see how he is struck down.

إذا صُلْتَ لم يَكُرمْ على السيْفِ سيّدٌ

وإن قلتَ لم يُقْدِمْ على النطق مِصْقَع

When you attack, no lord is too honored for the sword;

when you speak, no eloquent orator dares utter a word.

تقيك اللّيالي والزمانُ وأهلُهُ

ومُصْفِيكَ محْضَ الودِّ والمُتصَنِّع

The nights, time, and its people shield you,

both those offering you pure affection and those pretending.

فكْلُّ امرِىءٍ في الناس يسعى لنفسِهِ

وأنتَ امرُؤ بالسّعي للملك مُولَع

Every man among the people strives for himself,

but you are a man devoted to striving for the kingdom.

تعبْتَ لكيما تُعقِبَ الملكَ راحَةً

فمَهْلاً فِداكَ المستريحُ المُوَدِّع

You have labored to bring the kingdom rest;

take it gently: may the rested and carefree be your ransom.

فأشْفِقْ على قَلْبِ الخِلافَةِ إنّهُ

حَناناً وإشفاقاً عليك مُرَوَّع

Have pity on the heart of the caliphate, for it

is frightened for you out of tenderness and concern.

تحمَّلْتَ أعْباءَ الخلافَةِ كلّهَا

وغيرُكَ في أيّام دُنْياهُ يَرتَع

You have borne all the burdens of the caliphate,

while others revel through their worldly days.

فواللّهِ ما أدري أصدرُكَ في الذّي

تُدَبّرُهُ أم فضْلُ حلمك أوسع

By God, I do not know whether your breast, in what

you administer, or your surpassing forbearance is more spacious.

نصَحتَ الإمامَ الحَقَّ لمّا عرَفتَهُ

وما النُّصْحُ إلاّ أن يكونَ التَّشيُّعُ

You served the true imam loyally when you recognized him;

true loyalty is nothing but Shi'a allegiance.

فأنْتَ أمينُ اللّهِ بعد أمِينِهِ

وفي يدِكَ الأرزاقُ تُعطي وتَمنَع

You are God's trustee after His trustee,

and sustenance is in your hand: you give and withhold.

وما بلغَ الإسكندرُ الرتبَةَ التي

بلغْتَ ولا كِسرَى الملوكِ وتُبّع

Alexander never reached the rank that

you reached, nor Kisra among kings, nor Tubba'.

سموتَ من العَلْيا إلى الذّروة التّي

تُرى الشمسُ فيها تحت قدرِكَ تَضْرَع

You rose from the heights to the summit where

the sun is seen bowing beneath your station,

إلى غايَةٍ ما بعدَهَا لكَ غايَةٌ

وهل خلفَ أفلاكِ السموات مطلع

to a goal beyond which no further goal remains for you.

Is there a place of rising beyond the spheres of heaven?

إلى أينَ تَبغي ليس خَلفك مذهبٌ

ولا لجوادٍ في لحاقك مطمع

Where do you seek to go? No path lies behind you,

nor has a thoroughbred any hope of catching you.