يَوْمٌa day أَثَارَstirred كَوَامِنَthe hidden depths of الأَشْجَانِsorrows
يَوْمٌ أَثَارَ كَوَامِنَ الأَشْجَانِ
وَأَدَالَand gave ascendancy لِلذِّكْرَىto remembrance مِنَover السُّلْوَانِsolace
وَأَدَالَ لِلذِّكْرَى مِنَ السُّلْوَانِ
A day that stirred the hidden depths of sorrow,
A day that stirred the depths of sorrow,
And gave remembrance victory over solace.
And unleashed memories from days of yore,
لأْياًbelatedly يُثَابُis recompensed بِهِthrough it فَقِيدٌa departed man لَمْnot يَكُنْwas
لأْياً يُثَابُ بِهِ فَقِيدٌ لَمْ يَكُنْ
فِيamong قَوْمِهِhis people لِيُثَابَto be recompensed بِالنِّسْيَانِwith oblivion
فِي قَوْمِهِ لِيُثَابَ بِالنِّسْيَانِ
Belatedly it honors a departed man who should never
For one who passed away, never to return,
Have been repaid by his people with oblivion.
Unlike others lauded for oblivion.
ذَاكَthat man الَّذِيwho أَذْكَىquickened عَوَائِمَهُمْtheir vessels وَقَدْand already
ذَاكَ الَّذِي أَذْكَى عَوَائِمَهُمْ وَقَدْ
خَاسَتْdecayed فَجَرَّأَهَاand so emboldened them عَلَىagainst الحِدْثَانِtime's calamities
خَاسَتْ فَجَرَّأَهَا عَلَى الحِدْثَانِ
He who quickened their vessels, when they had
The one who revived their dying coals
Fallen into decay, emboldening them against time's calamities.
When indifference had cooled their fires,
مَاwhatever شِئْتَyou wish إِطْرَاءًin praise فَقُلْthen say فِيهِof him وَفِيand of
مَا شِئْتَ إِطْرَاءً فَقُلْ فِيهِ وَفِي
أَصْحَابِهِhis companions الصُّيَّابَةِthe elite الشُّجْعَانِthe brave
أَصْحَابِهِ الصُّيَّابَةِ الشُّجْعَانِ
Say whatever praise you wish of him and of
Say what you will in praise of him and his courageous,
His choice, courageous companions:
Noble friends: Saad, Adli, Tharwat and their like
سَعْدٌSaad وَعَدْلِيٌّand Adli وَثَرْوَتُand Tharwat وَالأُولَىand those who
سَعْدٌ وَعَدْلِيٌّ وَثَرْوَتُ وَالأُولَى
دَرَجُواpassed away مِنَamong الزَّعَمَاءِthe leaders وَالأَقْرَانِand peers
دَرَجُوا مِنَ الزَّعَمَاءِ وَالأَقْرَانِ
Saad, and Adli, and Tharwat, and those
Peers and chieftains walked ahead of their folk,
Who passed away among the leaders and peers.
Each met his destined end in Egypt, their memory
كُلٌّeach قِضَتْهُpaid him مِصْرُEgypt حَقَّthe due of وَدَاعِهِhis farewell
كُلٌّ قِضَتْهُ مِصْرُ حَقَّ وَدَاعِهِ
بِمُخَلَّدَاتِwith immortalizing tributes الذِّكْرِremembrance فِيin الأَذْهَانِminds
بِمُخَلَّدَاتِ الذِّكْرِ فِي الأَذْهَانِ
Egypt paid each man the homage due at his farewell,
Enshrined forever in people’s minds,
With tributes that immortalize his memory in people's minds.
Except the one who made no fortune for himself,
إِلاَّexcept الَّذِيthe man who لَمْnot يَتَّخِذْset aside ذُخْراًa reserve لَهُfor himself
إِلاَّ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ ذُخْراً لَهُ
مِنْfrom صَوْلَةٍmight سَلَفَتْthat had passed وَمِنْand from سُلْطَانِauthority
مِنْ صَوْلَةٍ سَلَفَتْ وَمِنْ سُلْطَانِ
Except the man who laid aside no reserve for himself
From power gained or high office held before.
From his former might and authority.
Though fortune smiled on Rushdi all his days,
رُشْدِيRushdi وَكَانَand was الحَوْلُpower دَهْراًfor an age حَوْلَهُaround him
رُشْدِي وَكَانَ الحَوْلُ دَهْراً حَوْلَهُ
وَالمَالُand wealth لَوْif يَبْغِيهِhe sought it طَوْعُat the command of بَنَانِfingertips
وَالمَالُ لَوْ يَبْغِيهِ طَوْعُ بَنَانِ
Rushdi—though power had long surrounded him,
And wealth was his, if he wanted to build.
And wealth, had he sought it, lay at his fingertips.
He ended a hostage to a wretched cell, his sons
أَمْسَىhe became رَهِينَa captive of قَرَارَةٍa hollow مَقْرُورَةٍcold
أَمْسَى رَهِينَ قَرَارَةٍ مَقْرُورَةٍ
وَبَنُوهُand his sons فِيin حَرَبٍpenury وَفِيand in حِرمَانِdeprivation
وَبَنُوهُ فِي حَرَبٍ وَفِي حِرمَانِ
He now lies captive in a cold hollow,
Suffering war and deprivation. Such is the fate
And his sons live in penury and deprivation.
Of integrity: not all men share the selfsame fate.
عُقْبَىthe outcome of نَزَاهَتِهِhis integrity وَلَيْسَتْand is not تَسْتَوِيalike
عُقْبَى نَزَاهَتِهِ وَلَيْسَتْ تَسْتَوِي
فِيamong النَّاسِpeople عُقْبَاهَاits outcome بِكُلِّin every مَكَانِplace
فِي النَّاسِ عُقْبَاهَا بِكُلِّ مَكَانِ
Such was his integrity's reward; its reward is not
Will his people forget Rushdi’s grace under duress?
The same among people in every land.
The strength he showed in his faith? How he charged ahead,
رُشْدِيRushdi وَهَلْand can يَنْسَىforget لِرُشْدِيof Rushdi قَوْمُهُhis people
رُشْدِي وَهَلْ يَنْسَى لِرُشْدِي قَوْمُهُ
حُسْنَthe excellence of البَلاءِservice وَقُوَّةَand strength of الإِيمَانِfaith
حُسْنَ البَلاءِ وَقُوَّةَ الإِيمَانِ
Rushdi—can his people forget Rushdi's
Offering his soul so they’d be saved from disgrace and defeat?
Noble service and strength of faith?
His only passion was his country. He did not waver,
إِذْwhen رَاحَhe set out يَبْذُلُoffering فِيin الطَّلِيعَةِthe vanguard نَفْسَهُhimself
إِذْ رَاحَ يَبْذُلُ فِي الطَّلِيعَةِ نَفْسَهُ
لِنَجَاتِهِمْfor their deliverance مِنْfrom ذِلَّةٍabasement وَهَوَانِand humiliation
لِنَجَاتِهِمْ مِنْ ذِلَّةٍ وَهَوَانِ
When he went forth, offering himself in the vanguard,
No matter the torment or suffering for its sake.
To save them from abasement and humiliation.
Were it not for the enemies of his race,
مَحَضَgave wholeheartedly البِلادَthe country هَوَاهُhis love غَيْرُnot مُسَاوِمٍa bargainer
مَحَضَ البِلادَ هَوَاهُ غَيْرُ مُسَاوِمٍ
مَهْمَاwhatever يُكَابِدُhe endures فِيin الهَوَىlove وَيُعَانِيand suffers
مَهْمَا يُكَابِدُ فِي الهَوَى وَيُعَانِي
He gave his country undivided love, without bargaining,
His heart would never have burned with hate.
Whatever he endured and suffered for that love.
And though often wronged, he returned harm with pardon,
وَبِقَلْبِهِand in his heart لَوْلاwere it not for أَعَادِيthe enemies of قَوْمِهِhis people
وَبِقَلْبِهِ لَوْلا أَعَادِي قَوْمِهِ
لَمْnot تَتَّقِدْwould ignite يَوْماًever لَظَىa blaze of شَنَآنِhatred
لَمْ تَتَّقِدْ يَوْماً لَظَى شَنَآنِ
And in his heart, but for his people's enemies,
Forgiving the sins of those who attacked him.
No flame of hatred would ever have burned.
If one like him held power, he would wield it prudently
وَلَطَالَمَاand how often لَقِيَhe met الأَذَىharm مُتَغَمِّداًenfolding
وَلَطَالَمَا لَقِيَ الأَذَى مُتَغَمِّداً
ذَنْبَthe sin of المُسِيءِthe offender إِلَيْهِagainst him بِالغُفْرَانِin forgiveness
ذَنْبَ المُسِيءِ إِلَيْهِ بِالغُفْرَانِ
And how often he endured injury, enfolding
With wisdom, valor and discernment.
The offender's sin against him in forgiveness.
مَنْwho مِثْلُهُlike him وَلِيَtook charge of الأُمُورَaffairs فَسَاسَهَاand so governed them
مَنْ مِثْلُهُ وَلِيَ الأُمُورَ فَسَاسَهَا
بِالحَزْمِwith firmness وَالإِقْدَامِand boldness وَالعِرْفَانِand understanding
بِالحَزْمِ وَالإِقْدَامِ وَالعِرْفَانِ
Who, like him, took charge of affairs and governed them
He would rule with justice and sincerity,
With firmness, boldness, and understanding?
Pure in heart and word.
مُتَصَرِّفاًadministering فِيهَاin them تَصَرُّفَthe conduct of عَادِلٍa just man
مُتَصَرِّفاً فِيهَا تَصَرُّفَ عَادِلٍ
صَافِيpure of السَّريرَةِinner intent طَاهِرِuntainted in الإِعْلانِpublic conduct
صَافِي السَّريرَةِ طَاهِرِ الإِعْلانِ
Administering them as a just man would,
Why enumerate his many sweet traits?
Pure in his inner self, unsullied in his public conduct.
Virtues beyond recounting,
مَاذَاwhat أُعَدِّدُshall I enumerate مِنْof شَمَائِلَcharacter traits حُلْوَةٍsweet
مَاذَا أُعَدِّدُ مِنْ شَمَائِلَ حُلْوَةٍ
وَفَضَائِلٍand virtues هِيَthey are فَوْقَabove كُلِّevery بَيَانِexpression
وَفَضَائِلٍ هِيَ فَوْقَ كُلِّ بَيَانِ
What can I enumerate of his gracious traits,
The beauty of a free soul whom none could fault
And virtues that lie beyond all expression,
Except to spurn guile itself?
وَجَمَالِand beauty of نَفْسٍa soul حُرَّةٍfree مَاnothing عَابَهاmarred it
وَجَمَالِ نَفْسٍ حُرَّةٍ مَا عَابَها
إِلاَّexcept تَنَزُّهُهَاits abstention عَنِfrom البُهْتَانِslander
إِلاَّ تَنَزُّهُهَا عَنِ البُهْتَانِ
And the beauty of a free soul that nothing marred
His honesty brought their villainy to light
Except its refusal to stoop to slander?
For it is the wont of villains to attack the noble.
تَجْنِيbrings harm صَرَاحَتُهَاits frankness عَلَيْهِupon him وَإِنَّمَاyet it is only
تَجْنِي صَرَاحَتُهَا عَلَيْهِ وَإِنَّمَا
خُبْثُthe malice of اللِّئّامِthe base عَلَىagainst الأَعِزَّةِthe honorable جَانِdoes harm
خُبْثُ اللِّئّامِ عَلَى الأَعِزَّةِ جَانِ
Its frankness brings him harm; yet it is only
This is the way from early days gone by
The malice of the base that wrongs the honorable.
That set free against slave morality.
هِيَit is شِيمَةُthe nature of الأَحْرَارِthe free مِنْsince قِدَمٍancient times وَكَمْand how often
هِيَ شِيمَةُ الأَحْرَارِ مِنْ قِدَمٍ وَكَمْ
جَارَتْhas acted unjustly عَلَيْهَاagainst it شِيمَةُthe nature of العُبْدَانِslaves
جَارَتْ عَلَيْهَا شِيمَةُ العُبْدَانِ
It is the way of the free from of old; and how often
Believe him: do not disguise from him anything
Has the nature of slaves wronged it!
When something weighs upon you.
يَعْنِيhe means مَقَالَتَهُwhat he says وَلاand not تُلْفِيهِyou find him فِيin
يَعْنِي مَقَالَتَهُ وَلا تُلْفِيهِ فِي
حَالٍa situation يُغَمُّis obscured عَلَيْكَto you مَاwhat هُوَhe عَانِintends
حَالٍ يُغَمُّ عَلَيْكَ مَا هُوَ عَانِ
He means what he says; you never find him in
Raillery rejected his truth, upon which one cannot impose raillery.
A situation where his meaning is obscure to you.
O you whose stature reached highest heavens
تَأْبَىrefuses لَهُfor him الرَّوَغَانevasion شِيمَتُهُhis nature وَلاand not
تَأْبَى لَهُ الرَّوَغَان شِيمَتُهُ وَلا
يُطْلَىis passed off المُحَالُabsurdity عَلَيْهِon him بِالرَّوَغَانِthrough evasion
يُطْلَى المُحَالُ عَلَيْهِ بِالرَّوَغَانِ
His nature forbids him evasion; nor
And whose morals made you sublime!
Can absurdity be palmed off on him through evasion.
Return forever to your Lord’s reward in bliss,
يَاO مَنْyou who بِرِفْعَةِthrough the loftiness of شَأْنِهِhis standing بَلَغَreached الذُّرَىthe summits
يَا مَنْ بِرِفْعَةِ شَأْنِهِ بَلَغَ الذُّرَى
وَازْدَادَand increased بِالأَخْلاقِthrough moral character رِفْعَةَin loftiness of شَانِstanding
وَازْدَادَ بِالأَخْلاقِ رِفْعَةَ شَانِ
O you who reached the summits through your lofty standing,
Exulting in grace and favour.
And through your character rose higher still,
رِدْattain فِيin النَّعِيمِbliss ثَوَابَthe reward of رَبِّكَyour Lord خَالِداًabiding forever
رِدْ فِي النَّعِيمِ ثَوَابَ رَبِّكَ خَالِداً
مُتَمَتِّعاًdelighting بِالعَفْوِin pardon وَالرِّضْوَانِand divine favor
مُتَمَتِّعاً بِالعَفْوِ وَالرِّضْوَانِ
Receive your Lord's reward in bliss, abiding forever,
Delighting in forgiveness and divine favor.
Partial English translation: 46 of 50 Arabic lines translated.