فيin الرَكبِthe caravan بَينَamong هَوادجِthe howdahs of الآرامِthe gazelles
في الرَكبِ بَينَ هَوادجِ الآرامِ
قَمرٌa moon يسايِرُهُنَّkeeps pace with them تَحتَbeneath لِثامِa veil
قَمرٌ يسايِرُهُنَّ تَحتَ لِثامِ
In the caravan, among the gazelles' howdahs,
A moon accompanying them beneath their veils
a moon keeps pace with them beneath a veil.
Among the caravan between the valleys of peace
تِلكَthose الرَكائبُthe riding camels سارَtraveled قَلبيmy heart خَلفَهاbehind them
تِلكَ الرَكائبُ سارَ قَلبي خَلفَها
مُتَتَبِّعاًfollowing لِمَواطِئِalong the tracks of الأَقدامِthe feet
مُتَتَبِّعاً لِمَواطِئِ الأَقدامِ
Those mounts—my heart traveled behind them,
My heart followed those maidens
following the places where their feet had trodden.
Tracking the footsteps impressed in the sand
يَومٌa day وَقَفتُI stood بِهِon it كَئيباًsorrowful حائِراًbewildered
يَومٌ وَقَفتُ بِهِ كَئيباً حائِراً
لِلبينِbecause of separation أَسألُI ask رَحمةَthe mercy of الأَنعامِthe livestock
لِلبينِ أَسألُ رَحمةَ الأَنعامِ
A day on which I stood sorrowful and bewildered,
A day I stood there, distressed and confused
at parting, begging the herd-beasts for mercy.
Seeking mercy from the flock for the separation
سارواthey departed وَقَدand already قَطَعَcut off النَسيجُthe fabric كَلامَهُمtheir speech
ساروا وَقَد قَطَعَ النَسيجُ كَلامَهُم
وَجداًin yearning وَخَطَّتand inscribed عَبرتايَmy two tears كَلاميmy words
وَجداً وَخَطَّت عَبرتايَ كَلامي
They departed, the fabric [possibly: sobbing] having cut off their speech,
They left, and their conversation was severed
in yearning; my two tears wrote my words.
My sincerity wept, and my words were outlined
مِنfrom كُلِّevery أَصفَرَsallow شاحِبٍpale قَدalready راعَهُalarmed him
مِن كُلِّ أَصفَرَ شاحِبٍ قَد راعَهُ
جَزَعِيmy anguish فَاورَثَهُso bequeathed to him الشُحوبُpallor سَقاميmy sickness
جَزَعِي فَاورَثَهُ الشُحوبُ سَقامي
From every sallow, pale one alarmed by
Every pale face it met was shocked by my agony
my anguish, pallor had bequeathed him my sickness.
So it inherited pallor and my disease
وَبَداand appeared مُقلّدهُhis neck بَعقديْwith two necklaces of لُؤلؤٍpearls
وَبَدا مُقلّدهُ بَعقديْ لُؤلؤٍ
مِنfrom دُرِّthe pearls of أَجفانٍeyelids وَدُرِّand the pearls of نِظامِa string
مِن دُرِّ أَجفانٍ وَدُرِّ نِظامِ
And his neck appeared adorned with two pearl necklaces,
And it appeared wearing my necklace of pearls
of pearls from eyelids and pearls on a string.
From the pearls of eyelids and the string of sleepiness
ياO جيرةَneighbors of الحَيِّthe encampment الأُلىwho قَضَتِdecreed النَوىseparation
يا جيرةَ الحَيِّ الأُلى قَضَتِ النَوى
بِبعادِهِمtheir remoteness فَقَضَتso decreed بِقُربِthe nearness of حِماميmy death
بِبعادِهِم فَقَضَت بِقُربِ حِمامي
O neighbors of the camp, for whom separation decreed
Oh neighbor of the pleasant, alive quarter that spent my companionship
remoteness, thereby decreeing my death near.
So it spent my nearness to doves
فَارقتمُyou departed from طَرفيmy eye القَريحَwounded وَحلتُمُand you intervened
فَارقتمُ طَرفي القَريحَ وَحلتُمُ
بِالسُهدِwith sleeplessness ماwhat lies بَينيbetween me وَبَينَand between مَناميmy sleep
بِالسُهدِ ما بَيني وَبَينَ مَنامي
You abandoned my wounded eye and set
You left my eye and took to barren plains
sleeplessness between me and my slumber.
Between me and my sleep
وَتَرَكتُمُand you left ليfor me مُهجَةًa heart مَسلوبةًstolen
وَتَرَكتُمُ لي مُهجَةً مَسلوبةً
فيin كَفِthe palm of كُلِّevery مُغرِّبٍwestward-blowing نَسّامِgentle breeze
في كَفِ كُلِّ مُغرِّبٍ نَسّامِ
And you left me a stolen heart
And left me a plundered pavilion
in the palm of every gentle westward breeze.
In the palm of every western breeze
وَجَوانِحاًand ribs حَرّىburning تَذوبُmelt مِنfrom الأَسىsorrow
وَجَوانِحاً حَرّى تَذوبُ مِن الأَسى
وَجوارِحاًand limbs أَمسَتhave become رَميمَthe crumbling remains of عِظامِbones
وَجوارِحاً أَمسَت رَميمَ عِظامِ
And burning ribs that melt with sorrow,
Passions that melt from sadness
and limbs reduced to crumbling bones.
And limbs that became like brittle bones
نَزلَdescended الفِراقُseparation بِناupon us فَماso no لَكَfor you مَوضِعٌplace
نَزلَ الفِراقُ بِنا فَما لَكَ مَوضِعٌ
ياO صَبرُpatience عِنديwith me فَاِرتَحِلso depart بِسَلامِin peace
يا صَبرُ عِندي فَاِرتَحِل بِسَلامِ
Separation descended upon us; you have no place,
Separation descended upon us, so patience has no place with me
O patience, with me—depart in peace.
So depart in peace
وَتَعهَّديand cherish ياO نَفسُsoul ماwhat لَمnever تعهَدِيyou have known
وَتَعهَّدي يا نَفسُ ما لَم تعهَدِي
تَركاًabandonment لَهُof it مِنof صبوةٍamorous longing وَهُيامِand love-madness
تَركاً لَهُ مِن صبوةٍ وَهُيامِ
And cherish, O soul, what you have never known
And pull yourself together, oh soul, as you have not composed yourself
to abandon: yearning and love's delirium.
Leaving it with infatuation and passions
وَإِذاand if خَشيتِyou fear عَلىfor الصَبابةِpassionate longing سَلوةًforgetting love
وَإِذا خَشيتِ عَلى الصَبابةِ سَلوةً
فَتَعَوَّذيthen seek refuge بِجَمالهمin their beauty وَغَراميand my passion
فَتَعَوَّذي بِجَمالهم وَغَرامي
And if you fear forgetfulness may overtake your longing,
And if you fear corruption of the youth
seek refuge in their beauty and my passion.
Then seek refuge in their beauty and my love
وَإِذاand if رمتكِstrikes you يَدthe hand of الزَمانtime بِنَكبةٍwith misfortune
وَإِذا رمتكِ يَد الزَمان بِنَكبةٍ
فَاِستَنجِديthen seek aid بوزيرِناfrom our vizier المِقدامِthe intrepid
فَاِستَنجِدي بوزيرِنا المِقدامِ
And if time's hand strikes you with misfortune,
And if the hand of time afflicts you with adversity
seek aid from our intrepid vizier,
Then seek the aid of our intrepid minister
ذيpossessor of الدَولةِsovereign power العُظمىsupreme الَّذيwho مَنwhoever أَمَّهُseeks him
ذي الدَولةِ العُظمى الَّذي مَن أَمَّهُ
فَجِوارُهُthen his protection حَرمٌan inviolable sanctuary عَلىagainst الأَيَّامِthe days
فَجِوارُهُ حَرمٌ عَلى الأَيَّامِ
the possessor of supreme power—whoever seeks him
Of great power, both of them
finds his protection a sanctuary against the days.
A vast sea of realities are collected
الراشدُthe rightly guided الهاديthe guide الأَمينُthe trustworthy المُقتَدِيthe follower
الراشدُ الهادي الأَمينُ المُقتَدِي
بِسَدادِby the rectitude of أَمرِthe command of الواحدِthe One العَلَّامِthe All-Knowing
بِسَدادِ أَمرِ الواحدِ العَلَّامِ
The rightly guided, the guide, the trustworthy, who follows
In his eyelid a moon that illuminates
the righteous command of the One, the All-Knowing.
When the night of tribulations grows dark in the sky of rulings
قَدindeed ساسَgoverned أَطرافَthe far reaches of البِلادِthe land بِحكمةٍwith wisdom
قَد ساسَ أَطرافَ البِلادِ بِحكمةٍ
غمَضَتْwere hidden سَرائِرُهاits secrets عَنfrom الأَوهامِimaginations
غمَضَتْ سَرائِرُها عَن الأَوهامِ
He has governed the far reaches of the land with a wisdom
Wearing the sword over determination
whose secrets lie beyond imagining.
Which in times of strife is sharper than the sword
باديmanifest in الحَصافةdiscernment أَصغراهُhis two smallest organs (heart and tongue) كِلاهُماboth of them
بادي الحَصافة أَصغراهُ كِلاهُما
بحرٌa sea كَبيرٌgreat بِالحَقائقِwith truths طامِoverflowing
بحرٌ كَبيرٌ بِالحَقائقِ طامِ
His discernment is manifest; each of his two smallest organs—heart and tongue—
A might mixed with qualities of gentleness
is a mighty sea overflowing with truths.
Like water blended with flasks in the cup
فيin جَفنِهِhis sheath قَمَرٌa moon يُنيرshines إِذاwhen دَجاgrew dark
في جَفنِهِ قَمَرٌ يُنير إِذا دَجا
لَيلُthe night of المَشاكلِperplexities فيin سَماthe sky of الأَحكامِjudgments
لَيلُ المَشاكلِ في سَما الأَحكامِ
In his sheath is a moon that shines whenever
The souls are reassured by his awe so they scarcely
the night of perplexities grows dark in the sky of judgments.
Disturb the slumber, marvels of dreams
مُتَقَلِّدgirt with الصّمصامِthe keen sword فَوقَover عَزيمةٍa resolve
مُتَقَلِّد الصّمصامِ فَوقَ عَزيمةٍ
هِيَit فيin الوَغىbattle أَمضىsharper مِنthan الصّمصامِthe keen sword
هِيَ في الوَغى أَمضى مِن الصّمصامِ
He girds on the keen sword over a resolve
Horses surging in the iron sea foamed over
that in battle is sharper than the keen sword.
In every army like the waves of determination
بَأسٌvalor تُمازِجُهُmingles with it خَلائقُqualities of رقَّةٍgentleness
بَأسٌ تُمازِجُهُ خَلائقُ رقَّةٍ
كَالماءِlike water مازجَmingled with قرقفاًwine فيin الجامِthe goblet
كَالماءِ مازجَ قرقفاً في الجامِ
Valor mingled with qualities of gentleness,
Flowing after the most marvelous of his worries
like water mingled with wine in a goblet.
Quenching the black eyeliner and the saliva of swords
أَمِنَتfelt secure بِهَيبَتِهِthrough his awe-inspiring presence النُّفوسُsouls فلمso did not تكدْnearly
أَمِنَت بِهَيبَتِهِ النُّفوسُ فلم تكدْ
تُؤذيtrouble النِيامَsleepers رَوائعُthe terrors of الأَحلامِdreams
تُؤذي النِيامَ رَوائعُ الأَحلامِ
His awe-inspiring presence made souls secure, so scarcely
So ask the nomads where their group ended up
did the terrors of dreams trouble those asleep.
Facing the domination of that relentless warrior
جَرَّارُleader of hosts of خَيلٍcavalry بِالحَديدِwith iron تَموَّجَتsurged in waves
جَرَّارُ خَيلٍ بِالحَديدِ تَموَّجَت
فيin كُلِّevery جَيشٍarmy كَالغِطمِّlike the deep sea لُهامِvast
في كُلِّ جَيشٍ كَالغِطمِّ لُهامِ
A leader of cavalry surging in waves of iron,
The enormity of vanguards roared in his face
in every vast host, like the deep sea.
Until they scattered unlike any enormity
تَجريgallop عَلىalong آثارِthe tracks of أَروعَan awe-inspiring man هَمُّهُhis aim
تَجري عَلى آثارِ أَروعَ هَمُّهُ
إِظماءُmaking thirsty مكحلةٍa musket وَريِّand slaking حُسامِa sword
إِظماءُ مكحلةٍ وَريِّ حُسامِ
They gallop in the tracks of an awe-inspiring man whose aim is
Their hearts shuddered in fear when
to make a musket thirst and slake a sword.
They were met with the standards of flags
فَسَلِso ask البَداوةَthe nomads أَينَwhere أَمسىended up جَمعَهاtheir host
فَسَلِ البَداوةَ أَينَ أَمسى جَمعَها
بِازاءِin the face of سَطوةِthe onslaught of ذَلِكَthat الضِّرغامِlion
بِازاءِ سَطوةِ ذَلِكَ الضِّرغامِ
Ask the desert tribes where their host ended up
The only thing they encountered was a violent collision
before the onslaught of that lion.
Which they realized in war was a true collision
هَبَّتrose ضِخامُmighty طَلائعٍvanguards فيin وَجهِهِhis face
هَبَّت ضِخامُ طَلائعٍ في وَجهِهِ
حَتّىuntil أَنهزَمنَthey were routed فَبُؤْنَso they returned غَيرno longer ضِخامِmighty
حَتّى أَنهزَمنَ فَبُؤْنَ غَير ضِخامِ
Mighty vanguards rose to confront him,
So they dispersed over the plain when they saw
until they were routed and returned no longer mighty.
The scattering of their joints and ambitions around them
خَفَقَتْfluttered قُلوبُهُمtheir hearts اِرتِياعاًin terror عِندَماwhen
خَفَقَتْ قُلوبُهُم اِرتِياعاً عِندَما
وافاهُمُhe came upon them بِخَوافقِwith fluttering الأَعلامِthe banners
وافاهُمُ بِخَوافقِ الأَعلامِ
Their hearts fluttered in terror when
And so they became as if the earth spewed out their cowardice
he came upon them with fluttering banners.
And as if they hastened over embers
ماnot كانَwas حينَwhen لَقَوهthey met him إِلّاbut صَدمةًa blow
ما كانَ حينَ لَقَوه إِلّا صَدمةً
عَلِمواthey learned بِهاthrough it فيin الكَرِّthe charge صِدقَthe reality of صِدامِa clash
عَلِموا بِها في الكَرِّ صِدقَ صِدامِ
When they met him, he was nothing but a blow,
Hastening their escape to the burrows
through which, in the charge, they learned what a true clash meant.
And into them the remnants of skulls surrendered them
فَتناثَرواso they scattered فَوقَover الصَعيدthe ground وَقَدand already رَأَواthey had seen
فَتناثَروا فَوقَ الصَعيد وَقَد رَأَوا
نَثرthe scattering of المَفاصِلِjoints حَولَهُمaround them وَالهامِand heads
نَثر المَفاصِلِ حَولَهُم وَالهامِ
They scattered over the ground, having seen
They left their dead for the beasts of the desert, having taken
joints and heads strewn around them.
The position of beasts in the burrows
وَغَدَواand they went كَأَنَّas though الأَرضَthe earth تَطردُdrove out فَلَّهمtheir routed remnant
وَغَدَوا كَأَنَّ الأَرضَ تَطردُ فَلَّهم
وَكَأَنَّهُمand as though they يَسعَونَrun فَوقَover ضِرامِblazing fire
وَكَأَنَّهُم يَسعَونَ فَوقَ ضِرامِ
They went as though the earth drove out their routed remnant,
And their bold one whose soul
and as though they ran over blazing fire.
Sought to comfort it by surrendering
يَتَعجَّلونَthey hasten إِلىtoward الإِكامِthe hills فِرارَهمtheir flight
يَتَعجَّلونَ إِلى الإِكامِ فِرارَهم
وَإَلَيهِand to him تُسلمهمsurrender them ذُرىthe summits of الآكامِthe hills
وَإَلَيهِ تُسلمهم ذُرى الآكامِ
They hastened their flight toward the hills,
Filled the expanse, their moaning, to the point that
and the hilltops surrendered them to him.
Even the echo of desolation began to moan for them
تَرَكواthey left لوحشِto the beasts of القَفرِthe waste قَتلاهُمtheir slain وَقَدand already
تَرَكوا لوحشِ القَفرِ قَتلاهُم وَقَد
تخِذواthey took مَقامَthe abode of الوَحشِwild beasts فيin الآجامِthe thickets
تخِذوا مَقامَ الوَحشِ في الآجامِ
They left their slain to the beasts of the waste, having
And its swords wept with their bodily fluids until
taken the beasts' abode in the thickets.
Their sheaths bent, and their lids flowed perpetually
وَغَداand began جَريئُهُمُtheir bold man الَّذيwho ثَبَتَتَhad remained steadfast لَهُfor him
وَغَدا جَريئُهُمُ الَّذي ثَبَتَتَ لَهُ
نَفسٌa soul يِمَنِّيهاhe feeds it hopes بِالاستسلامِof surrender
نَفسٌ يِمَنِّيها بِالاستسلامِ
And their bold man, who had retained a steadfast
God is the greatest! Such is the consequence of those who are insolent
soul, began to feed it hopes of surrender.
Requiting the making and ingratitude
مَلأfilled البِقاعَthe countryside أَنينُهُمtheir groaning حَتّىuntil لَقَدindeed
مَلأ البِقاعَ أَنينُهُم حَتّى لَقَد
أَمسىbegan يَئنُّto groan لَهُمfor them صَدىthe echo of الاهضامِthe ravines
أَمسى يَئنُّ لَهُم صَدى الاهضامِ
Their groaning filled the countryside, until indeed
Oh tribe of nomads, that is Mohammed
the echo of the ravines began to groan for them.
Who came to you with justice and laws
وَبَكَتand wept بِماءwith the water of جُسومِهِمtheir bodies أَسيافُهُhis swords
وَبَكَت بِماء جُسومِهِم أَسيافُهُ
حتَّىuntil انثنَتthey turned back وجُفونهنَّand their scabbards دواميbleeding
حتَّى انثنَت وجُفونهنَّ دوامي
And his swords wept with the water of their bodies,
The affairs were entrusted to his wisdom, so he managed them
until they turned back, their scabbards bleeding.
With the fangs of swords and the heads of pens
اللهGod أكبرُis greatest تلكَthat عُقبىthe fate of مَنwhoever بَغىtransgressed
الله أكبرُ تلكَ عُقبى مَن بَغى
جزىrepaid بِكُفرwith ingratitude for صَنيعةٍa favor وَذِمامِand bonds of honor
جزى بِكُفر صَنيعةٍ وَذِمامِ
God is greatest! Such is the end of whoever transgresses,
An opinion as the dawn broke clearly and intuition
repaying favors and bonds of honor with ingratitude.
That possessed proper negation and affirmation
ياO مَعشَرcompany of الأَعرابِthe Bedouins ذاكَthat is مُحَمَّدٌMuhammad
يا مَعشَر الأَعرابِ ذاكَ مُحَمَّدٌ
وافاكُمُhe came to you بِالقَسطِwith justice وَالأَحكامِand legal rulings
وافاكُمُ بِالقَسطِ وَالأَحكامِ
O Bedouin folk, that is Muhammad,
The master, the support, by which became
who has come to you with justice and law.
The approach of justice and clear signs
عَهِدتْentrusted themselves لحكمتهِto his wisdom الأُمورُaffairs فَساسهاso he governed them
عَهِدتْ لحكمتهِ الأُمورُ فَساسها
بِظُبىwith the edges of النِّصالِblades وَأَرؤُسِand the tips of الأَقلامِpens
بِظُبى النِّصالِ وَأَرؤُسِ الأَقلامِ
Affairs entrusted themselves to his wisdom, and he governed them
Spreading security on the roads, so every mounted one began
with the edges of blades and the points of pens.
To sing its praise, each owner of a horse
رَأيٌjudgment كَماas سَفرَshone forth الضُحىthe morning وَبَديهةٌand quick insight
رَأيٌ كَما سَفرَ الضُحى وَبَديهةٌ
مَلَكَتpossessed سَدادَsound judgment in النَقضِannulment وَالابرامِand ratification
مَلَكَت سَدادَ النَقضِ وَالابرامِ
Judgment clear as the unveiled morning, and quick insight
And the countries were strengthened by his grace, and whoever
that possesses sound judgment in rescinding and ratifying.
Sought refuge within them, of foreigner or countryman
السَيِّدُthe lord السَنَدُthe mainstay الَّذيwho أَضحىhas become بِهِthrough him
السَيِّدُ السَنَدُ الَّذي أَضحى بِهِ
نَهجُthe path of العَدالةِjustice واضحُclear in الأَعلامِthe landmarks
نَهجُ العَدالةِ واضحُ الأَعلامِ
The lord, the mainstay, through whom
And for the diction of history a seal, by prayer
the path of justice has become clearly marked.
Record his supremacy, and it is the best seal
نَشرَspread الأَمانَsecurity عَلىalong المَسالكِthe roads فَاِنبَرىso came forward
نَشرَ الأَمانَ عَلى المَسالكِ فَاِنبَرى
بِثَناهُwith praise of him يَحدوchants to drive camels كُلّevery رَبِّholder of خِطامِa halter
بِثَناهُ يَحدو كُلّ رَبِّ خِطامِ
He spread safety along the roads, and forth came
every halter-holder, chanting his praise.
وَشَدَتand sang بِمنَّتِهِof his beneficence البِلادُthe lands وَمَنand whoever ثَوىdwelt
وَشَدَت بِمنَّتِهِ البِلادُ وَمَن ثَوى
فيهاin them مِنamong الأَعرابِthe Bedouins وَالأَعجامِand the non-Arabs
فيها مِن الأَعرابِ وَالأَعجامِ
The lands sang of his beneficence, as did those who dwelt
there, Bedouins and non-Arabs alike.
ولِمنطِقِand for the wording of التأْريخِthe chronogram خَتمٌa conclusion بالدُّعاwith prayer
ولِمنطِقِ التأْريخِ خَتمٌ بالدُّعا
لِعُلاهُfor his exaltation أَرِّخْrecord the date وهوand it is خيرُthe finest خِتامِending
لِعُلاهُ أَرِّخْ وهو خيرُ خِتامِ
And the chronogram's wording closes with a prayer
for his exaltation; date it: 'And it is the finest ending.'
Partial English translation: 80 of 86 Arabic lines translated.