أَحوالapparently 'I attempt'; unclear spelling بالأقلامwith pens وعظadmonishing الأعاندthe obstinate
أَحوال بالأقلام وعظ الأعاند
ووعظهمand admonishing them بالمرهفاتwith keen blades النواضدthe arrayed ones
ووعظهم بالمرهفات النواضد
[I attempt] to admonish the obstinate with pens,
Advice for the stubborn with pens, and preaching to the hostile
and to admonish them with keen, arrayed blades.
And preaching to them with piercing compositions
وعظتI admonished سفاهاًfools قدmay يرونthey regard سفاهةfolly
وعظت سفاهاً قد يرون سفاهة
عظاتيmy counsels بالقرآنthrough the Qur'an أوor بالقصائدthrough poems
عظاتي بالقرآن أو بالقصائد
I have admonished fools who may regard as folly
I preached to the foolish, they may see my preaching as foolishness
my counsels through the Qur'an or through poems.
With the Quran or with poems
ورمتand I sought لهمtoward them خفضlowering الجناحthe wing تكرماًout of generosity
ورمت لهم خفض الجناح تكرماً
وماand not الشرevil إنif لمnot يلقit encounters شراًevil بخامدdying down
وما الشر إن لم يلق شراً بخامد
I sought to lower my wing to them in generosity;
And I showed them lowering my wing as an act of generosity
but evil, unless met by evil, will not die down.
Evil will not encounter evil with a blunt edge
لأنbecause جرتflowed الأقلامthe pens بالحبرwith ink حجةas proof
لأن جرت الأقلام بالحبر حجة
فمنthen after بعدهاthem بالبيضwith bright blades ماءthe fluid القماحدof the napes
فمن بعدها بالبيض ماء القماحد
Since the pens have flowed with ink as proof,
Because the pens have judged with ink as proof
after them, bright blades draw the fluid of the napes.
So after it with white water of polished blades
رويداًbe patient فإنfor indeed الدهرtime إنif جارit deals unjustly تارةon one occasion
رويداً فإن الدهر إن جار تارة
فعنthen after تارةanother occasion يثنيit turns back بأمرwith an outcome مساعدfavorable
فعن تارة يثني بأمر مساعد
Be patient: if time deals unjustly on one occasion,
Slowly, for if fate was unjust once
on another it turns back with a favorable outcome.
It will make up for it another time with assisting order
وماand not نهنهتنيit restrained me النفسthe soul للنومfor sleep فيin الثوىthe lodging
وما نهنهتني النفس للنوم في الثوى
ونهنهتهاand I restrained it إِلاexcept لبعضfor certain المكائدstratagems
ونهنهتها إِلا لبعض المكائد
My soul has not held me back to sleep in my lodging,
My soul did not encourage me to sleep in shelters
and I have restrained it only for certain stratagems.
And I only encouraged it for some schemes
لعمرby the life أبيof my father إنif طاولتthey overreach أوor تعجرفتact arrogantly
لعمر أبي إن طاولت أو تعجرفت
إليناtoward us العداthe enemies فالمبتليthen the one tested غيرnot سامدheedless
إلينا العدا فالمبتلي غير سامد
By my father's life, if the enemies overreach or act arrogantly
By the life of my father, if the enemies grew arrogant and haughty
toward us, the man they test is not heedless.
The afflicted one is not submissive
ألاindeed ربماperhaps عضbites الظلومthe oppressor بكفهhis hand
ألا ربما عض الظلوم بكفه
إذاwhen ماindeed رآىhe sees زادthe provisions الجليدof the hardy man المجالدthe combatant
إذا ما رآى زاد الجليد المجالد
Indeed, the oppressor may bite his hand
Perhaps the oppressor bites his palm
when he sees the hardy combatant's provisions.
When he sees the Yaljalid sharp ready blades
وكمand how many أمةa community قدindeed أعرضتturned away عنfrom عظاتهاits counsels
وكم أمة قد أعرضت عن عظاتها
لسبقbecause of the precedence القضاof fate فيconcerning حتفهاits doom المتواردdescending successively
لسبق القضا في حتفها المتوارد
How many a community has turned away from its counsels,
And how many nations turned away from their preaching
because fate had already decreed its descending doom.
Due to fate overtaking them, incoming
فلاso do not تبتئسgrieve أنindeed الظلومthe oppressor لهfor him إِذاwhen
فلا تبتئس أن الظلوم له إِذا
تألفتgather الراياتthe banners أخذةa seizure راصدby one lying in wait
تألفت الرايات أخذة راصد
Do not grieve: for the oppressor, when
So do not grieve if the unjust, when
the banners gather, a watchful one will seize him.
The banners unite, have a watcher
وإنيand I indeed وماand whatever خولتI was entrusted with منof أمرa charge عزنيproved hard for me
وإني وما خولت من أمر عزني
لمتبعsurely following أثرthe footsteps الشراةof the Shurat الصناددthe stalwarts
لمتبع أثر الشراة الصنادد
And I, whatever daunting charge I have been entrusted with,
And I - and what I was authorized with -
shall follow the footsteps of the stalwart Shurat.
Am a follower of the path of honorable cavaliers
أجودI give freely بنفسيmy life دونin defense of دينيmy faith سماحةgenerously
أجود بنفسي دون ديني سماحة
لأبلغto attain فيin العلياthe heights منالthe reward المجاهدof the fighter
لأبلغ في العليا منال المجاهد
I freely give my life in defense of my faith,
I am generous with myself, not my religion, magnanimously
to attain, in the heights, the fighter's reward.
To attain the highest rewards of the mujahid
وماand not الدينreligion إنif لمnot ينعشrevives السيفthe sword أمرهits cause
وما الدين إن لم ينعش السيف أمره
بمنتعشreviving عنfrom معظماتthe mighty depths اللحائدof the graves
بمنتعش عن معظمات اللحائد
Religion, unless the sword revives its cause,
And what is religion if the sword does not revive its matter
will not rise from the mighty depths of the graves.
With a reviver, away from the shields of warriors
وكلand every امرىءperson يرضىaccepts المذلةhumiliation ملبساًas clothing
وكل امرىء يرضى المذلة ملبساً
فماthen not بينهbetween him فرقa difference وبينand between الولائدthe slave girls
فما بينه فرق وبين الولائد
Anyone content to wear humiliation
And whoever is content with humiliation as a garment
differs in nothing from slave girls.
Then there is no difference between him and newborns
وأيand what حياةlife للكريمfor the noble man إذاwhen رآىhe sees
وأي حياة للكريم إذا رآى
دناةthe base الورىamong humankind أربابmasters أهلof the people المساجدof the mosques
دناة الورى أرباب أهل المساجد
What life is there for the noble man when he sees
And what life is there for the dignified one when he sees
the base among humankind ruling the people of the mosques?
The lowly people masters of the people of mosques
كفىsuffices المرءa man عاراًas disgrace إنif تراهyou see him مروعاًterrified
كفى المرء عاراً إن تراه مروعاً
تروعهfrighten him السفَّاهthe fools بينamong الخرائدthe fair maidens
تروعه السفَّاه بين الخرائد
It is disgrace enough for a man to be seen terrified,
It is enough shame for a man if you see him terrified
frightened by fools among the fair maidens.
Terrified by the foolish among the scattered
هيit is النفسthe soul إنif وافتهit encounters him سهلاًeasy قيادهhis leading
هي النفس إن وافته سهلاً قياده
دعتهit calls him إلىto فعلthe deeds اللئامof the base القعاددthe idle ones
دعته إلى فعل اللئام القعادد
Such is the soul: if it finds him easily led,
It is the soul, if it finds its path easy
it calls him to the deeds of base, idle men.
It calls him to the acts of villains and sedentary
ومنand whoever لمdoes not يقدlead فيalong منهجthe path الحقof truth نفسهhis soul
ومن لم يقد في منهج الحق نفسه
فليسthen he is not لغيرfor anyone other than النفسthe soul فيهalong it بقائدa guide
فليس لغير النفس فيه بقائد
Whoever fails to lead his soul along the path of truth
And whoever does not sacrifice himself in the path of truth
is no guide to anyone else along it.
Then he has no guide other than his soul
وماand not الحرانthe free man, if لمnot يقحمhe plunges into الوعرrugged ground نفسهhimself
وما الحران لم يقحم الوعر نفسه
ويجزيand repays العداthe enemies صاعاًa measure بصاعwith a measure بماthrough what جدhe earnestly does
ويجزي العدا صاعاً بصاع بما جد
No man is free unless he plunges himself into rugged ground
And al-Harran did not thrust himself into roughness
and repays his enemies measure for measure through earnest striving.
And repay the enemy a cup for a cup with what was appropriate
وماand not غائبan absent one يحميguards حماكyour domain بغائبtruly absent
وما غائب يحمي حماك بغائب
وماand not شاهدa present one لمnot يبدhe offers نصراًsupport بشاهدtruly present
وما شاهد لم يبد نصراً بشاهد
One absent who guards your domain is not truly absent,
And an absent one does not protect your absence
and one present who offers no support is not truly present.
And a witness did not show visible support with a witness
وماand not عاقلa clever man فيin أمرthe affairs ديناهof his worldly life; unclear spelling عاقلاًtruly wise
وما عاقل في أمر ديناه عاقلاً
إذاif كانhe is فيin أديانهhis religious commitments غيرnot جاهدstriving
إذا كان في أديانه غير جاهد
No man clever in his worldly affairs is truly wise
And the reasonable one regarding the matter of his religion is not reasonable
if he does not strive in his religious commitments.
If he is not striving regarding his faith
وماand not سالمa safe one قدindeed أهملneglected الدينreligion سالماًtruly safe
وما سالم قد أهمل الدين سالماً
وماand not جاهدone striving تحتamid الجلادsword-fighting ببائدperishing
وما جاهد تحت الجلاد ببائد
No one who has neglected religion is truly safe,
And the safe one who neglected religion is not safe
and no one striving amid swordplay truly perishes.
And the mujahid under the sword is not bid farewell
وماand not الوجدsorrow إلاَّexcept أنthat أرىI see الدينreligion مدحراdriven back
وما الوجد إلاَّ أن أرى الدين مدحرا
وماand not العيشlife إلاَّexcept غرةa delusion ياO ابنson آمدof Amid
وما العيش إلاَّ غرة يا ابن آمد
No sorrow equals seeing religion driven back,
And no harm except the harm is tomorrow
and life is nothing but a delusion, O son of Amid.
And no benefit except on the day of promises
وماand no ضررharm إلاexcept المضرةthe harm فيin غدtomorrow
وما ضرر إلا المضرة في غد
ولاand no نفعgain إلاexcept النفعthe gain يومon the day المواعدof promised encounters
ولا نفع إلا النفع يوم المواعد
There is no harm but the harm of tomorrow,
And under the shade of the sword, honor is sought
and no gain but gain on the day of promised encounters.
And acts of obedience are attained from every refuge
وتحتand beneath غرارthe edge السيفof the sword يلتمسis sought العلاexaltation
وتحت غرار السيف يلتمس العلا
وتدَّركand are won الطاعاتacts of obedience منfrom كلevery ماردrebel
وتدَّرك الطاعات من كل مارد
Beneath the sword's edge, exaltation is sought,
And without the houri's eyes are doors of firmness
and obedience is won from every rebel.
With keys of blue high minarets
ومنand before دونthe houris حورof wide eyes العينgates أبوابof hardship شدةline_52
ومن دون حور العين أبواب شدة
مفاتحيهاtheir keys زرقthe blue tips العواليof spears القواصدaimed straight
مفاتحيها زرق العوالي القواصد
Before the wide-eyed houris stand gates of hardship,
And in our hands are white light blades
whose keys are the blue tips of straight-aimed spears.
Heavy preys, sharpened with the whetstones
وبيضand bright blades بأيديناin our hands خفافlight صوارمkeen cutters
وبيض بأيدينا خفاف صوارم
ثقالheavy الظبىin their edges مشحوذةwhetted بالمباردwith files
ثقال الظبى مشحوذة بالمبارد
Bright blades in our hands are light, keen cutters,
Trained to sever skulls, they showed
heavy of edge, whetted with files.
A way for our imams, Khalil and Rashid
معوَّدةaccustomed هتكto splitting الجماجمskulls أظهرتthey revealed
معوَّدة هتك الجماجم أظهرت
سبيلthe path اماميناof our two imams خليلKhalil وراشدand Rashid
سبيل امامينا خليل وراشد
Accustomed to splitting skulls, they have revealed
Leave me, leave me to seek elevation today in the highness
the path of our two imams, Khalil and Rashid.
So I elevate to earn praise
ذرينيlet me be ذرينيlet me be أبتغيI seek اليومtoday فيamong العلاthe heights
ذريني ذريني أبتغي اليوم في العلا
سمواًa lofty station فأسموso I rise لاكتسابto acquire المحامدpraises
سمواً فأسمو لاكتساب المحامد
Let me, let me seek today among the heights
Leave me, for death in the ferocity of battle
a lofty station, and rise to win praise.
Is honorable, not like death on pillows
ذرينيlet me be فإنfor indeed الموتdeath فيin حومةthe thick الوغىof battle
ذريني فإن الموت في حومة الوغى
كريمnoble ولاand not كالموتlike death فوقupon الوسائدpillows
كريم ولا كالموت فوق الوسائد
Let me: death in the thick of battle
And what is upon you today if I die a death
is noble, unlike death upon pillows.
That marries me to the eternally young houris
وماذاand what عليكharm to you اليومtoday إنif متُّI die موتةa death
وماذا عليك اليوم إن متُّ موتة
تزوجنيthat weds me بالقاصراتto restrained-gaze maidens الخوالدthe immortal ones
تزوجني بالقاصرات الخوالد
What harm is it to you today if I die a death
If I go in the morning wearing cotton clothes
that weds me to immortal maidens of restrained gaze?
And sleep at night on the greens, O mother of Khalid
إذاif بثيابin clothes القطنof cotton أغدوI set out in the morning غدوةone morning
إذا بثياب القطن أغدو غدوة
وأمسيand I spend the evening علىupon الخضراءthe green expanse ياO أمUmm خالدKhalid
وأمسي على الخضراء يا أم خالد
If at morning I set out in cotton robes,
For I have a nose that grew up for God, my substratum
and by evening am upon the green expanse, O Umm Khalid?
And determination and aspirations of loud tombs
فليfor I have أنَفٌpride قدindeed شبkindled فيfor اللّهGod مهجتيmy life-blood
فلي أنَفٌ قد شب في اللّه مهجتي
وعزمand resolve وهمَّاتand aspirations دوينjust beneath الفراقدthe Farqad stars
وعزم وهمَّات دوين الفراقد
Mine is a pride that has kindled my life-blood for God,
And I carried a burden none can withstand except
and resolve, and aspirations just beneath the Farqad stars.
A thick, thick one to the enemy lying in wait
وحمّلتand I was burdened with عبأa load لاnot يقومcan bear بهit سوىexcept
وحمّلت عبأ لا يقوم به سوى
غليظone stern غليظstern للعداtoward enemies بالمراصدat the watchposts
غليظ غليظ للعدا بالمراصد
I have been burdened with a load none can bear except
Goodness to you, enough coquetry and tears, and know
one stern—stern toward enemies at the watchposts.
That I hasten and head to the battlefields
لكfor you الخيرgood كفيcease العذلreproach والدمعand tears واعلميand know
لك الخير كفي العذل والدمع واعلمي
بأنيthat I إلىinto الهيجاءbattle أًسرعthe swiftest واردentrant
بأني إلى الهيجاء أًسرع وارد
May good be yours: cease reproach and tears, and know
Will life be except that I wade with my sword
that I am the swiftest to enter the battle.
In the basin of death, an unpleasant fate
هلis العيشlife إلاanything but أنthat أخوضI plunge into بمنصلىwith my sword
هل العيش إلا أن أخوض بمنصلى
حياضthe pools المناياof death فيat كريهthe grim المواردwatering-places
حياض المنايا في كريه الموارد
Is life anything but my plunging, with my sword,
When a skilled horseman falls prostrate
into death's pools at the grim watering-places?
And settles in it bowing, which bowing
إذاwhen خرَّfalls للأذقانonto the chins والأنفand the nose فارسa horseman
إذا خرَّ للأذقان والأنف فارس
وغودرand is left فيهاthere ساجداًprostrate أيَّutterly ساجدprostrate
وغودر فيها ساجداً أيَّ ساجد
When a horseman falls chin and nose first,
And a lion bursts in them for his back
and is left there prostrate—a prostrate man indeed;
He sees laughing, lying not supported
وفطرand is split open ليثa lion فيin العجاجthe dust لظهرهonto his back
وفطر ليث في العجاج لظهره
يرىis seen ضاحكاًsmiling مستلقياًlying supine غيرnot عامدintending it
يرى ضاحكاً مستلقياً غير عامد
and a lion lies split open in the dust, upon his back,
And another, torn in two in them
seen smiling, supine, not of his own choosing;
With his legs in one side and side with forearm
وآخرand another كالشطرينlike two halves فيهاthere مجدَّلاًfelled
وآخر كالشطرين فيها مجدَّلاً
فرجلاهthen his two legs فيin شطرone half وشطرand another half بساعدwith an arm
فرجلاه في شطر وشطر بساعد
and another lies felled there, as though in two halves,
And death toyed with his face and reddened his fang
his legs in one half, and an arm with the other;
And the young man backed away from it in fear, not deviating
وكلّحand grimaces وجهthe face الموتof death واحمرّand reddens نابهits fang
وكلّح وجه الموت واحمرّ نابه
وكاعand quails الفتىthe young man منfrom خوفهfear of it غيرwithout حائدturning aside
وكاع الفتى من خوفه غير حائد
and death's face grimaces and its fang grows red,
And it provoked the ferocity of ferocious heat
and the young man quails in fear of it, yet does not swerve;
The ferocity of the raging raiders intertwined
وأجّجand kindled هيجاءbattle الهياجof fury تأججاًinto flame
وأجّج هيجاء الهياج تأججاً
لجاجthe obstinacy هياجof fury الهائجof the raging one المتمائدthe swaying one
لجاج هياج الهائج المتمائد
and the fury of battle is fanned into flame
And the fragments revolved in them as if
by the stubborn fury of the swaying, raging one;
Its din were crushing thunder
ودارتand it wheeled وثارand rose النقعthe dust فيهاwithin it كأنماas though
ودارت وثار النقع فيها كأنما
دويُّthe roar رحاهاof its mill قاصفاتcrashing blasts الرواعدof thunder
دويُّ رحاها قاصفات الرواعد
and it wheels, dust rising within it, as though
And thunderbolts overlooked it from the side
the roar of its mill were crashing thunderclaps;
Witnessing tremendous horror, not returning
وجانبهاand shunned it الرعديدthe coward وازورand turned aside جانباًto one side
وجانبها الرعديد وازور جانباً
يعاينhe beholds هولاًa terror مهولاًdreadful غيرnot عائدreturning
يعاين هولاً مهولاً غير عائد
and the coward shuns it, turning aside,
And there only remained like an eagle to its prey
beholding a dreadful terror, never to return;
And no room remained in it for the joggers
ولمand not يبقremained إلاexcept كالهزّبرone like a lion لصيدهاto hunt its prey
ولم يبق إلا كالهزّبر لصيدها
ولمand not يبقremained فيهاin it موضعa place للرعاددfor trembling cowards
ولم يبق فيها موضع للرعادد
and none remains to hunt its prey but one like a lion,
There, entertain my eye, and if you cry, then pour
and no place remains in it for trembling cowards.
Upon me blood after the solid tears
هناكthere سليask عنيabout me وإنand if كعْتI quail فاسفكيthen pour out
هناك سلي عني وإن كعْت فاسفكي
عليَّover me دماًblood بعدafter الدموعthe tears الجوامدthe frozen ones
عليَّ دماً بعد الدموع الجوامد
There, ask about me; and if I have quailed, then pour
Or else, then a pebble, then a forbidden pebble
blood over me, after the frozen tears.
Is your crying. Will you not die under the adversities?
وإلاotherwise فحجرthen forbidden ثمthen حجرforbidden محرَّمprohibited
وإلا فحجر ثم حجر محرَّم
بكاؤكyour weeping أماif متّI die تحتamid الشدائدhardships
بكاؤك أما متّ تحت الشدائد
Otherwise, forbidden—utterly forbidden—
Since I did not betray a pledge to God
is your weeping if I die amid hardships,
And did not deviate from the path of purposes
علىon condition أننيthat I ماnot خنتbetrayed للّهwith God موثقاًa covenant
على أنني ما خنت للّه موثقاً
ولاnor زغتI strayed عنfrom قصدthe straight course الطريقof the path المقاصدthe goals
ولا زغت عن قصد الطريق المقاصد
provided I have betrayed no covenant with God,
If the wicked deny my conduct in justice
nor strayed from the path's straight course toward its goals.
And the order of the lowly extinguishers opposed it
فإنand if تنكرdeny الأشرارthe wicked فيregarding العدلjustice سيرتيmy conduct
فإن تنكر الأشرار في العدل سيرتي
وقدthough عاقهاhindered it أمرُthe command الدناةof the base المخامدthe inert ones
وقد عاقها أمرُ الدناة المخامد
If the wicked deny the justice of my conduct,
Fearing all the falsifiers because of my power
though the command of base, inert men has hindered it,
And good hope of the righteous, witnesses to my traits
فخوفthen the fear جميعof all المبطلينwrongdoers لسطوتيof my onslaught
فخوف جميع المبطلين لسطوتي
وحسنand the goodness رجاof the hope الأخيارof the righteous طراًall together شواهديmy witnesses
وحسن رجا الأخيار طراً شواهدي
the fear all wrongdoers have of my onslaught,
And they found me, when they rebelled, rising
and the good hopes of all righteous men, are my witnesses.
With my burden, steadfast in the covenants
وقدand indeed وجدتنيfound me القومthe people عندamid عتوّهاtheir insolence
وقد وجدتني القوم عند عتوّها
نهوضاًrising بحمليto my burden ثابتاًsteadfast فيin المعاهدthe covenants
نهوضاً بحملي ثابتاً في المعاهد
The people, in their insolence, have found me
And the brothers did not witness any hesitation from me
rising to my burden, steadfast in my covenants.
The eve of what was seen, like principles
ولمand not تشهدwitnessed الاخوانthe brothers منيfrom me تململاًrestlessness
ولم تشهد الاخوان مني تململاً
عشيةthat evening ماnot شاهدتI watched مثلlike القواعدwomen who stay at home
عشية ما شاهدت مثل القواعد
My brothers have witnessed no restlessness in me
And the day I killed the people, it was clear to everyone
that evening; I did not merely watch like women who stay at home.
That justice is the religion of the witness
ويومand on the day قتلتI killed القومthe people بانbecame clear لكلto everyone منwho
ويوم قتلت القوم بان لكل من
عليهاis upon it بأنthat العدلjustice دينthe creed المشاهدof the one present
عليها بأن العدل دين المشاهد
On the day I killed the people, it became clear to everyone
And I am not, if I manifest harm with harm
upon the earth that justice is the creed of the man before them.
And adversity appears, a condemner of a hostile
ولستand I am not إذاwhen أبلىI am tried بشرّwith the worst بليةaffliction
ولست إذا أبلى بشرّ بلية
وخطبand an ordeal تجلىappears ناكلاًshrinking back عنfrom معاندan adversary
وخطب تجلى ناكلاً عن معاند
I am not, when tried by the worst affliction,
Does Abdullah think that his desire
and an ordeal appears, one to shrink from an adversary.
To reveal the wars of truth is revealing tables
أيحسبdoes he suppose عبدAbd اللّهAllah أنthat مرامهhis aim
أيحسب عبد اللّه أن مرامه
لكشفto dispel حروبthe wars الحقof truth كشفuncovering الموائدthe dining tables
لكشف حروب الحق كشف الموائد
Does Abd Allah suppose that his aim
They saw us rising, so enmity wore the garment of haughtiness
of dispelling truth's wars is like uncovering dining tables?
And every elevation in it is spiteful to the envious
رآناhe saw us سموناwe had risen فارتدىso he donned الحسدenvy عتوةin insolence
رآنا سمونا فارتدى الحسد عتوة
وكلand every سموrise فيهhas in it رغمhumiliation لحاسدfor an envier
وكل سمو فيه رغم لحاسد
He saw us rise, and cloaked himself in envy through insolence;
And he plotted to extinguish the lamp with his hatred
every rise brings humiliation to an envier.
But we did not throw it, difficult fate
وناطand fastened himself لاطفاءto extinguishing السراجthe lamp ببغيهthrough his aggression
وناط لاطفاء السراج ببغيه
وهيهاتand far from it ماwhat رمناهwe sought صعبdifficult المواردin its approaches
وهيهات ما رمناه صعب الموارد
He sought, through his aggression, to extinguish the lamp;
Leave the ancient glorious pride to its people
but far from it! What we sought is hard to approach.
For I am not worthy of heights and praise
دعleave الفخرpride والمجدand glory الأثيلdeep-rooted لأهلهto its rightful people
دع الفخر والمجد الأثيل لأهله
فلستfor you are not بأهلworthy للعلاof greatness والمحامدand praises
فلست بأهل للعلا والمحامد
Leave pride and deep-rooted glory to those worthy of them;
And you are nothing but like what you do
you are not worthy of greatness and praise.
Equal, equal, ask and ask, not one
وماand not أنتyou إلاexcept مثلlike ماwhat أنتyou فاعلdo
وما أنت إلا مثل ما أنت فاعل
سواءexactly alike سواءexactly alike سلْask وسلْand ask غيرother than واحدone person
سواء سواء سلْ وسلْ غير واحد
You are nothing but the likeness of what you do,
I protected the wicked injustice with zeal
exactly, exactly—ask, and ask more than one.
Because you do not deny its actions
حميتyou defended علىon behalf of الجورinjustice الخبيثfoul حميةwith zeal
حميت على الجور الخبيث حمية
لأنكbecause you عنconcerning أفعالهits deeds غيرnot جاحدdisavowing
لأنك عن أفعاله غير جاحد
You zealously defended foul injustice,
I was absent and absented the generous one to support him
for you do not disavow its deeds.
And I absented the path of heights and tombs
خفيتyou hid yourself وأخفيتand concealed الجوادthe generous one لنصرهto support him
خفيت وأخفيت الجواد لنصره
وأخفيتand concealed منهاجthe path العلاof greatness والفراقدand the Farqad stars
وأخفيت منهاج العلا والفراقد
You hid yourself, and hid the generous one to aid him,
I strove and the slow one said and is gone
and concealed the path of greatness and the Farqad stars.
With it a similar saying: O Lord, the striver for the sedentary
سعيتyou strove وقدand indeed قالsaid السلوفthe forebears وقدand indeed مضىpassed down
سعيت وقد قال السلوف وقد مضى
بهاabout it مثلa proverb ياoh ربmany a ساعstriver لقاعدfor one sitting idle
بها مثل يا رب ساع لقاعد
You strove; the forebears have spoken, and down has come
Your children have certainly built faults
a proverb about it: 'Oh, how many a striver serves one who sits!'
That will be displayed to you at the excavations
لقدindeed شادتbuilt up الأولادthe offspring منكمfrom among you مثالباًdisgraces
لقد شادت الأولاد منكم مثالباً
تكونwill be لكمfor you منشورةmade public فيin المحافدthe courts
تكون لكم منشورة في المحافد
Your offspring have built up disgraceful faults
I imagine you being called on a miserable day
that will be made public for you in the courts.
So you tumble and do not covet pursued prey
أخالكI suppose you أنif تدعىare called ليومto a day كريهةof battle
أخالك أن تدعى ليوم كريهة
فتكبواthen you stumble ولاand not تهوىyou desire طرادa pursuit مطاردby a pursuer
فتكبوا ولا تهوى طراد مطارد
I fancy that, if called to a day of battle,
So, leader of foolishness, rejoice, for whoever
you would stumble, with no taste for a pursuer's chase.
I was afflicted with is alert, not sleeping
فياso, O قائدleader السفاهof fools أبشرrejoice فإنfor indeed منthe one who
فيا قائد السفاه أبشر فإن من
بليتyou are afflicted بهwith him مستيقضawake غيرnot راقدsleeping
بليت به مستيقض غير راقد
O leader of fools, rejoice: the man
Beware, I have fought one whom if I obeyed
with whom you are afflicted is awake, not sleeping.
I would return, gaining interest
تجنبkeep away لقدindeed حاربتyou fought منone whom لوif أطعتهyou had obeyed him
تجنب لقد حاربت من لو أطعته
لعدتyou would have returned مقيلاًat rest عائداًcoming back بالفوائدwith benefits
لعدت مقيلاً عائداً بالفوائد
Keep away! You have fought a man whom, had you obeyed,
But what was destined of misery upon you was destined
you would have returned at ease, bringing benefits.
So long to the deviant, distanced
ولكنbut قضيwas decreed ماwhat قدalready قضيwas decreed منof شقاوةmisery
ولكن قضي ما قد قضي من شقاوة
عليكagainst you فبعداًso away للغويwith the erring one المباعدthe outcast
عليك فبعداً للغوي المباعد
But what was decreed of misery has been decreed
You have betrayed the one who disgraced you, so depart in misery
against you; away, then, with the erring outcast!
And they are with shrouds for the day of mutual killing
لقدindeed خنتyou betrayed منthe one who أخزاكdisgraced you فارحلso depart بتعسةin wretchedness
لقد خنت من أخزاك فارحل بتعسة
وهمand concern yourself بأكفانwith shrouds ليومfor the day التجالدof sword-fighting
وهم بأكفان ليوم التجالد
You betrayed the one who disgraced you; depart in wretchedness,
What you fear will overwhelm you soon, and is there in it
and concern yourself with shrouds for the day of sword-fighting.
An escape for a fleer from a pursued?
سيغشاكwill engulf you ماwhat تخشىyou fear قريباًsoon وهلand is there بهاin it
سيغشاك ما تخشى قريباً وهل بها
منfrom الليلthe night إذwhen يغشىit covers فرارescape لشاردfor a fugitive
من الليل إذ يغشى فرار لشارد
Soon what you fear will engulf you; and therein, is there
Next to you in the shining truth is a poem
escape for a fugitive from the night when it descends?
That counts and identifies from beneficial types
ودونكand take this فيon الحقthe truth المنيرradiant قصيدةa poem
ودونك في الحق المنير قصيدة
تعدit is reckoned وتكنيand given a byname منamong ذواتthose possessing الفوائدbenefits
تعد وتكني من ذوات الفوائد
Here, for you, is a poem on the radiant truth,
I made it named and titled in religion
reckoned and given a byname among works of benefit.
Blossoming, every composer sings it
جعلتI gave لهاto it فيin الدينreligion اسماًa name وكنيةand a byname
جعلت لها في الدين اسماً وكنية
مزهرةblossoming يشدوchants بهاwith it كلevery ناشدreciter
مزهرة يشدو بها كل ناشد
I have given it, in religion, a name and a byname,
So no wonder what was said like it was said
a blossoming poem sung by every reciter.
And no wonder its buttons with amulets
فلاso no عجبwonder إنif قيلit is said ماnot قيلwas spoken مثلهاanything like it
فلا عجب إن قيل ما قيل مثلها
ولاand no عجبwonder أزرارهاits buttons بالقلائدwith necklaces
ولا عجب أزرارها بالقلائد
No wonder if it is said that none like it has been spoken;
On the doctrine of righteousness, the Friend, and Ahmad
and no wonder at its buttons adorned with necklaces,
And the gathering of honorable prophets, glorious
علىin ملةthe faith البرof the Righteous One والخليلand al-Khalil وأحمدand Ahmad
على ملة البر والخليل وأحمد
وجمعand all النبيينthe prophets الكرامthe noble الأماجدthe illustrious
وجمع النبيين الكرام الأماجد
in the faith of the Righteous One, al-Khalil, and Ahmad,
Upon them, from me, greetings of God
and all the noble, illustrious prophets.
For an eternal duration, endless
عليهمupon them سلامpeace اللّهof God منيfrom me تحيةas a greeting
عليهم سلام اللّه مني تحية
مدىfor the span of أبدeternity لاnot ينتهيcomes to an end فيهwithin it آبدan everlasting one
مدى أبد لا ينتهي فيه آبد
Upon them be God's peace, a greeting from me,
for an eternity in which no everlasting one comes to an end.
Partial English translation: 144 of 146 Arabic lines translated.