نحنwe لِلَّهِto God ماnot لِحَيٍّfor a living being بَقاءُlasting existence
نحن لِلَّهِ ما لِحَيٍّ بَقاءُ
وَقُصارىand the ultimate fate سِوىall except الإِلهِGod فناءُextinction
وَقُصارى سِوى الإِلهِ فناءُ
We belong to God; no living being endures.
We belong to God, and to Him is the final return
The ultimate fate of all but God is extinction.
No living being has a lasting stay
نحنwe لِلَّهِto God راجعونَreturning فمنso whoever ماdied (first part)
نحن لِلَّهِ راجعونَ فمن ما
تdied (completion) ومنand whoever عاشَlived ألفَa thousand عامٍyears سواءُalike
ت ومن عاشَ ألفَ عامٍ سواءُ
We return to God; he who dies
We belong to God and to Him we shall return
and he who lives a thousand years are alike.
Whether one dies young or lives a thousand years, the outcome is the same
يَفرحُrejoices المرءُa person فيin الصَباحِthe morning وماand does not يَعknows (first part)
يَفرحُ المرءُ في الصَباحِ وما يَع
لمُknows (completion) ماذاwhat يُكِنُّهُconceals it الإِمساءُnightfall
لمُ ماذا يُكِنُّهُ الإِمساءُ
A man rejoices in the morning, not knowing
A man rejoices in the morning, unaware of what the evening will bring
what nightfall conceals.
The pleasures of this world are brief and futile
وَمتاعُand enjoyment الدنياthe world قَليلٌlittle وماand whatever يَلdelights (first part)
وَمتاعُ الدنيا قَليلٌ وما يَل
ذهوdelights (irregular continuation) بهin it المرءُa person منof حُطامٍdebris هباءُdust
ذهو به المرءُ من حُطامٍ هباءُ
The world's enjoyment is little; whatever
Sorrow has made people disgusted with life
worldly debris a man delights in is dust.
We have been terrified by the awful news
زهَّدَmade indifferent الناسُthe people فيto الحَياةِlife مُلِمٌّa calamity
زهَّدَ الناسُ في الحَياةِ مُلِمٌّ
رَوَّعَتناterrified us بِهَولهِwith its horror الأَنباءُthe news
رَوَّعَتنا بِهَولهِ الأَنباءُ
A calamity has made people indifferent to life;
Oh Qasr Al-Heelwan, you were the most splendid palace
the news terrified us with its horror.
Where the air was sweet and pleasant
قَصرَO palace حُلوانَHelwan كنتَyou were أَنضَرَfairest قصرٍpalace
قَصرَ حُلوانَ كنتَ أَنضَرَ قصرٍ
فيهin it يحلوis sweet وَيُستَطابُand is deemed pleasant الهواءُthe air
فيه يحلو وَيُستَطابُ الهواءُ
Palace of Helwan, you were the fairest palace,
You were majestic, intimidating the brave
where the air is sweet and pleasant.
And the warriors would bow before you
كنتَyou were ذاpossessing هَيبَةٍmajesty يُحاذِرُهاfears it الدَهTime (first part)
كنتَ ذا هَيبَةٍ يُحاذِرُها الدَه
رُTime (completion) وَتَكبوand stumbles أمامَهاbefore it البَأساءُadversity
رُ وَتَكبو أمامَها البَأساءُ
You possessed a majesty feared
How have you become desolate?
by Time, before which adversity stumbled.
So that enemies can now climb your strong walls
كيفَhow أَصبَحتَyou have become مُستَضاماًbrought low وَلِلخَطand for calamity (first part)
كيفَ أَصبَحتَ مُستَضاماً وَلِلخَط
بِcalamity (completion) إلىto رُكنِكَyour bastion المَنيعِimpregnable ارتِقاءُascent
بِ إلى رُكنِكَ المَنيعِ ارتِقاءُ
How have you been brought low, with calamity
We never knew you to be like this, your nights shaken
climbing to your impregnable bastion?
Or subject to such destruction
ماnot كذاthus عَهدُناour knowledge بِعزِّكَof your glory تَرميassails
ما كذا عَهدُنا بِعزِّكَ تَرمي
هِit اللَياليthe nights أوor يَعتَريهِovertakes it انقِضاءan ending
هِ اللَيالي أو يَعتَريهِ انقِضاء
We never knew your glory thus: assailed
Just yesterday, within your walls was Al-Abbas
by the nights, or overtaken by an ending.
Reviving the living with his light
كانَwas بالأَمسِyesterday فيin ذَراكَyour shelter أبوfather of العَبّal-Abbas (first part)
كانَ بالأَمسِ في ذَراكَ أبو العَبّ
اسِal-Abbas (completion) تَحياlive بِبشرهِthrough his cheerfulness الأَحياءُthe living
اسِ تَحيا بِبشرهِ الأَحياءُ
Yesterday, within your shelter dwelt Abu al-Abbas;
But the calamities have taken away his warmth
the living drew life from his cheerful countenance.
Though he suffered for your prosperity
فَطَوَتso folded up بُردَهُhis mantle الخُطوبُcalamities وكانتand had been
فَطَوَت بُردَهُ الخُطوبُ وكانت
قبلُpreviously تَشقىsuffering بِسَعدهِat his good fortune وَتُساءand distressed
قبلُ تَشقى بِسَعدهِ وَتُساء
Then calamities folded up his mantle, though
And what weeping from those who mourned him
before they suffered and grieved at his good fortune.
As they buried this noble one, with nobles crying over him
وَيحَalas for منthose who شَيَّعوهُfollowed his bier قدindeed أَودعواthey placed القَبthe grave (first part)
وَيحَ من شَيَّعوهُ قد أَودعوا القَب
رَthe grave (completion) كريماa noble man يَبكىweeps عليهfor him العلاءgreatness
رَ كريما يَبكى عليه العلاء
Alas for those who followed his bier! Into the grave they laid
They found solace in tears, for grief is but
a noble man for whom greatness weeps.
When hearts and thoughts overflow
وَاِرتَضَواand they were content بِالبُكاwith weeping وماand not الحُزنُgrief إِلّاexcept
وَاِرتَضَوا بِالبُكا وما الحُزنُ إِلّا
أنthat تَسيلَflow القُلوبُthe hearts والأَحشاءand the entrails
أن تَسيلَ القُلوبُ والأَحشاء
And they were content with weeping; yet grief is nothing but
He lived amongst us, gentle and virtuous
the flowing of hearts and entrails.
Quenching thirsty souls
عاشlived فيناamong us عَذبَsweet البَشاشَةِcheerfulness وَالأخand character (first part)
عاش فينا عَذبَ البَشاشَةِ وَالأخ
لاقِcharacter (completion) تَروىare quenched بهthrough him النفوسُthe souls الظِماءthirsty
لاقِ تَروى به النفوسُ الظِماء
He lived among us, sweet in cheerfulness and character;
And he left while bosoms still craved
through him, thirsty souls were quenched.
What no water could satisfy
وَتَولّىand he departed وفيand in الصُدورthe breasts منof الوَجlonging (first part)
وَتَولّى وفي الصُدور من الوَج
دِlonging (completion) عليهfor him ماthat which ليسis not يُرويهِquenches it ماءwater
دِ عليه ما ليس يُرويهِ ماء
He departed, leaving in our breasts a longing
Egypt's glory ended when he left
for him that no water can quench.
Just as the beauty of its ornaments
عُطَّلَتwas bereft مِصرُEgypt منof سناهُhis radiance كماjust as قدalready
عُطَّلَت مِصرُ من سناهُ كما قد
عُطِّلَتwas stripped منof حُلّيهاher jewels الحَسناءthe beautiful woman
عُطِّلَت من حُلّيها الحَسناء
Egypt was bereft of his radiance, just as
What speech could console after him?
a beautiful woman is bereft of her jewels.
Only his words brought comfort
كلُّevery خَطبٍcalamity فيat جَنبِthe side of خطبِكyour calamity ياO مِصEgypt (first part)
كلُّ خَطبٍ في جَنبِ خطبِك يا مِص
رُEgypt (completion) يُرَجّىis hoped for للناسِfor people فيهin it عزاءconsolation
رُ يُرَجّى للناسِ فيه عزاء
Every calamity beside yours, O Egypt,
What can lamenters say to those who've lost a dear soul?
offers people some hope of consolation.
What can poets attempt?
ماwhat يقولsay الراثونَthe elegists فيconcerning فقدِthe loss of تَوفيTawfiq (first part)
ما يقول الراثونَ في فقدِ تَوفي
قٍTawfiq (completion) وماذاand what تحاوِلُattempt الشعراءُthe poets
قٍ وماذا تحاوِلُ الشعراءُ
What can the elegists say of Tawfiq's loss,
Some sayings ease the pain, while others make
and what can the poets attempt?
The eloquent stammer
والرَزاياand calamities فيin بَعضِهاsome of them يُطلقُis given free rein القَوspeech (first part)
والرَزايا في بَعضِها يُطلقُ القَو
لُspeech (completion) وَتَعياand are helpless فيin بَعضِهاsome of them البُلغاءُthe eloquent
لُ وَتَعيا في بَعضِها البُلغاءُ
Some calamities give speech
Your master was the best whose radiance illuminated the land
free rein; others leave the eloquent helpless.
His light over his crown dimmed all other lights
إِنَّindeed مَولاكَyour lord كانَwas أَحسَنَfairest مَنthose who تُزtakes pride (first part)
إِنَّ مَولاكَ كانَ أَحسَنَ مَن تُز
هىtakes pride (completion) بِأَنوارِin the lights of وجههِhis face البَطحاءُthe broad gravel plain
هى بِأَنوارِ وجههِ البَطحاءُ
Indeed, your lord was the fairest of those
His wisdom would clear the clouds of disasters
whose radiant faces make the broad plain proud.
When opinions faltered before him
كانَwas لِلتّاجfor the crown فوقabove مَفرقِهhis hair-parting ضَوlight (first part)
كانَ لِلتّاج فوق مَفرقِه ضَو
ءٌlight (completion) لدَيهِbeside it تُحقَّرُare belittled الأَضواءthe lights
ءٌ لدَيهِ تُحقَّرُ الأَضواء
The crown upon his head bore a light
He knew best how to gain praise
beside which all other lights seemed paltry.
If only praise immortalized souls!
كانused to يجلوdispel دُجىdarkness الكوارثِcalamities إنif جلَّgrew grave (first part)
كان يجلو دُجى الكوارثِ إن جلَّ
تgrew grave (completion) بِرَأيٍwith judgment تَعنوbow لهto it الآراءjudgments
ت بِرَأيٍ تَعنو له الآراء
He dispelled the darkness of calamities, when they grew grave,
Oh honorable Tawfiq family, you donned patience as your cloak
with judgment to which all other judgments bowed.
So patience is an excellent garment
كانَwas أدرىmost knowledgeable المَلاhumankind بكَسبِat earning ثناءٍpraise
كانَ أدرى المَلا بكَسبِ ثناءٍ
آهِah لوif only خلَّدَmade immortal النُفوسَthe souls ثَناءpraise
آهِ لو خلَّدَ النُفوسَ ثَناء
He knew best among mankind how to earn praise;
You are steadfast in the knowledge of what fate brings
ah, if only praise could make souls immortal!
Say then, who can escape death?
آلَO house of توفيقٍTawfiq الكِرامَnoble البَسواput on الصَبpatience (first part)
آلَ توفيقٍ الكِرامَ البَسوا الصَب
رَpatience (completion) رِداءًas a robe فالصَبرfor patience نَعمَexcellent is الرِداءthe robe
رَ رِداءً فالصَبر نَعمَ الرِداء
Noble house of Tawfiq, put on patience
Where are the people who built and ruled the land?
as a robe—what a fine robe patience is.
Craved by the elite
أنتُمyou الراسخونَfirmly grounded فيin علمِknowledge of ماwhat كاwas (first part)
أنتُم الراسخونَ في علمِ ما كا
نَwas (completion) فقولواso say مَنwho ذاthat one عداهُpassed him by الفَناءextinction
نَ فقولوا مَن ذا عداهُ الفَناء
You are firmly grounded in knowledge of what has been;
They owned the earth for ages then became
then say: whom has death spared?
Its citizens and lodgers in their graves
أينwhere قومٌa people شادواbuilt up البِلادَthe lands وَسادوand ruled
أين قومٌ شادوا البِلادَ وَسادو
هاthem وكانتand was تَهواهُمُloving them العَلياءeminence
ها وكانت تَهواهُمُ العَلياء
Where are the people who built the lands and ruled
To each soul is a book and appointed time
them, while eminence held them dear?
When it comes, the decree can't be reversed
ملَكواpossessed الأَرضَthe earth حِقبَةًan age ثمَّthen أَمسَواthey became
ملَكوا الأَرضَ حِقبَةً ثمَّ أَمسَوا
وهُمُand they فيin بُطونِهاits depths نُزَلاءُlodgers
وهُمُ في بُطونِها نُزَلاءُ
They possessed the earth for an age, then became
God's way in His creation does not exclude
lodgers within its depths.
Kings or prophets
كلُّevery نفسٍsoul لهاit has كتابٌa book وميعاand an appointed time (first part)
كلُّ نفسٍ لها كتابٌ وميعا
دٌappointed time (completion) إذاwhen جاءَcomes لاnot يُرَدُّis turned back قَضاءُa decree
دٌ إذا جاءَ لا يُرَدُّ قَضاءُ
Every soul has a book and an appointed time;
I won't console you, for I say
when it comes, no decree can be turned back.
The wise are consoled by the likes of this
سُنَّةُlaw اللَهِof God فيamong البَريَّةِHis creatures لمnot يُسwere exempted (first part)
سُنَّةُ اللَهِ في البَريَّةِ لم يُس
تَثنَwere exempted (completion) منهاfrom it الملوكُkings وَالأَنبياءand prophets
تَثنَ منها الملوكُ وَالأَنبياء
This is God's law among His creatures: never have
Thank God in the eve and morn, for misery is always
kings or prophets been exempted from it.
Shadowed by bliss
لاnot أُعَزّيكُمُI console you وَأَنّيand how could لِقَوليfor my words
لا أُعَزّيكُمُ وَأَنّي لِقَولي
أنthat تُعَزّىbe consoled بِمثلهِby its like الحُكماءthe wise
أن تُعَزّى بِمثلهِ الحُكماء
I offer you no consolation; how could words like mine
If darkness falls over your sky, Al-Abbas with his light
bring consolation to the wise?
Can illuminate it
احمِدواpraise اللَهَGod فيin العَشِيَّةِthe evening وَالإِصand daybreak (first part)
احمِدوا اللَهَ في العَشِيَّةِ وَالإِص
باحِdaybreak (completion) فَالبُؤسُfor misery قدindeed تَلاهُfollowed it هناءُhappiness
باحِ فَالبُؤسُ قد تَلاهُ هناءُ
Praise God in the evening and at
Al-Abbas has shown us after his father
daybreak, for misery has been followed by happiness.
How great men face mighty events
إنif يكُنshould خرَّfell منfrom سمائِكمُyour sky بَدfull moon (first part)
إن يكُن خرَّ من سمائِكمُ بَد
رٌfull moon (completion) فعَبّاسُكمthen your Abbas بهby him يُستَضاءُlight is obtained
رٌ فعَبّاسُكم به يُستَضاءُ
If a full moon has fallen from your sky,
He inherited rule from his father, and when
then your Abbas gives light.
He assumed power, hope filled us
قدindeed أَراناshowed us العباسُAbbas بعدafter أبيهhis father
قد أَرانا العباسُ بعد أبيه
كيفَhow تَلقىconfront العظائمَgreat ordeals العُظماءُthe great
كيفَ تَلقى العظائمَ العُظماءُ
Abbas has shown us, after his father,
And we saw him as a towering glory, a wall erected
how the great confront great ordeals.
Around the nation with his rule
وَرِثَinherited المُلكkingship عنfrom أبيهhis father فلمّاand when
وَرِثَ المُلك عن أبيه فلمّا
قامَtook charge بالأَمرِof affairs دبَّcrept فيناwithin us الرجاءُhope
قامَ بالأَمرِ دبَّ فينا الرجاءُ
He inherited kingship from his father; and when
How excellent that his ambition leaves hardship subdued
he took charge, hope stirred within us.
His pride humbled, his stance firm
وَاجتَلَيناهُand we beheld him طَودَa mountain مجدٍof glory وَسوراًand a wall
وَاجتَلَيناهُ طَودَ مجدٍ وَسوراً
دارَencircled منهُfrom him حولَaround البِلادِthe land بِناءُa structure
دارَ منهُ حولَ البِلادِ بِناءُ
We beheld him—a mountain of glory and a wall
And firm principles, wisdom and refusal
whose structure encircled the land.
Of qualities beyond grasp or counting
حَبَّذاhow excellent منهfrom him همَّةٌresolve تَترُكُmakes الصَعthe difficult (first part)
حَبَّذا منه همَّةٌ تَترُكُ الصَع
بَthe difficult (completion) ذَلولاًdocile وَعزَّةٌand might قَعساءُunyielding
بَ ذَلولاً وَعزَّةٌ قَعساءُ
How fine his resolve, which makes the difficult
May he forever adorn time with goodness
docile, and his unyielding might!
And bestow gifts without end
وَثَباتٌand steadfastness فيin طَيِّهِits folds وَثباتٌleaps
وَثَباتٌ في طَيِّهِ وَثباتٌ
لِلمَعاليtoward lofty attainments وَحكمَةٌand wisdom وَإِباءُand proud refusal
لِلمَعالي وَحكمَةٌ وَإِباءُ
And steadfastness enfolding leaps
toward exalted aims, and wisdom and proud defiance.
وَصِفاتٌand qualities عنregarding كُنهِهاtheir essence يَعجزُfalls short الوَصdescription (first part)
وَصِفاتٌ عن كُنهِها يَعجزُ الوَص
فُdescription (completion) وفيهاand in them يُستَغرَقُis exhausted الإِحصاءُenumeration
فُ وفيها يُستَغرَقُ الإِحصاءُ
And qualities whose essence defies
description, and exhausts all enumeration.
دامَmay he continue يَكسوclothes الزَمانَtime حُسناًin beauty وَيُسدىand bestows
دامَ يَكسو الزَمانَ حُسناً وَيُسدى
أَنعُماًblessings لاnot يَشوبهُنَّtaints them انتِهاءُan ending
أَنعُماً لا يَشوبهُنَّ انتِهاءُ
May he ever clothe time in beauty and bestow
blessings that no ending can taint.
Partial English translation: 72 of 78 Arabic lines translated.