دَالَtook over السُّكُونُstillness مِنَfrom الحَرَاكِmotion الدَّائِمِceaseless
دَالَ السُّكُونُ مِنَ الحَرَاكِ الدَّائِمِ
وَأَقَرَّand gave rest to بَعْدَafter السُّهْدِsleeplessness عَيْنَthe eye of النَّائِمِthe sleeper
وَأَقَرَّ بَعْدَ السُّهْدِ عَيْنَ النَّائِمِ
Stillness took over from ceaseless motion,
and, after sleeplessness, gave rest to the sleeper's eye.
دُنْيَاa world يَعُودُends up العَقْلُthe mind فِيamid تَصْرِفِهَاits vicissitudes
دُنْيَا يَعُودُ العَقْلُ فِي تَصْرِفِهَا
حَيْرَانَbewildered بَيْنَbetween غَرِيمِهَاits debtor (loser) وَالغَانِمِand the one who gains
حَيْرَانَ بَيْنَ غَرِيمِهَا وَالغَانِمِ
A world whose vicissitudes leave the mind
bewildered between its loser and its winner,
حَتَّىuntil لَيَسْأَلُindeed asks مَنْwhich one أَضَلَّهُمَاthe more astray of the two إِذَاwhen
حَتَّى لَيَسْأَلُ مَنْ أَضَلَّهُمَا إِذَا
مَاemphatic particle قَاسَcompares بَيْنَbetween حَلِيمِهَاits prudent man وَالحَالِمِand the dreamer
مَا قَاسَ بَيْنَ حَلِيمِهَا وَالحَالِمِ
till it even asks which of the two is more astray, when
it compares its prudent man with the dreamer.
إنْif تَأْسَgrieves مِصْرَEgypt فَمَاthen not أَسَاهَاher grief أَنَّهَاthat she is
إنْ تَأْسَ مِصْرَ فَمَا أَسَاهَا أَنَّهَا
مَفْجُوعَةٌbereaved فِيof لَوْذَعِيٍّa brilliant person عَالِمِa scholar
مَفْجُوعَةٌ فِي لَوْذَعِيٍّ عَالِمِ
If Egypt grieves, her grief is not merely that she is
bereaved of a brilliant scholar,
أَوْor كَاتِبٍa writer كَالنِّيلِlike the Nile فِيin فَيضَانِهِits flood
أَوْ كَاتِبٍ كَالنِّيلِ فِي فَيضَانِهِ
أَوْor خَاطِبٍan orator كَالزَّاخِرِlike the surging sea المُتَلاطِمِwith clashing waves
أَوْ خَاطِبٍ كَالزَّاخِرِ المُتَلاطِمِ
or a writer like the Nile in flood,
or an orator like a surging sea of clashing waves,
أَوْor جِهْبِذٍa consummate scholar مُتَثَبِّتٍcircumspect مُسْتَعْصِمٍholding fast
أَوْ جِهْبِذٍ مُتَثَبِّتٍ مُسْتَعْصِمٍ
بِالحَقِّto truth لاnot يَلْوِيyields بِلَوْمَةِbefore the blame of لائِمِa reproacher
بِالحَقِّ لا يَلْوِي بِلَوْمَةِ لائِمِ
or a consummate scholar, circumspect and holding fast
to truth, unbending before a reproacher's blame,
أَوْor ذَائِدٍa defender عَنْof مَجْدِthe glory of أُمَّتِهِhis nation إِذَاwhen
أَوْ ذَائِدٍ عَنْ مَجْدِ أُمَّتِهِ إِذَا
عَزَّwas scarce النَّصِيرُthe helper وَصَالَand attacked كُلُّevery مُخَاصِمِadversary
عَزَّ النَّصِيرُ وَصَالَ كُلُّ مُخَاصِمِ
or a defender of his nation's glory, when
champions are scarce and every adversary attacks,
أَوْor بَاحِثٍa seeker عَمَّاof what طَوَتْconcealed أَسْفَارُهَاher books
أَوْ بَاحِثٍ عَمَّا طَوَتْ أَسْفَارُهَا
طَيَّas the concealment of الجَوَاهِرِjewels فِيin بُطُونِthe depths of مَنَاجِمِmines
طَيَّ الجَوَاهِرِ فِي بُطُونِ مَنَاجِمِ
or a seeker of what her books concealed,
as jewels are hidden in the depths of mines.
تَبْكِيshe weeps for أُولَئِكَthose كُلَّهُمْall of them فِيin رَاحِلٍone departed
تَبْكِي أُولَئِكَ كُلَّهُمْ فِي رَاحِلٍ
رَاعَappalled القُلُوبَthe hearts بِأَيِّwith what a خَطْبِcalamity دَاهِمِsuddenly descending
رَاعَ القُلُوبَ بِأَيِّ خَطْبِ دَاهِمِ
She weeps for all of them in one departed man,
who appalled hearts with what an overwhelming calamity!
فَتَعَدَّدَتْso multiplied أَرْزَاؤُهَاher bereavements وَتَفَاقَمَتْand worsened
فَتَعَدَّدَتْ أَرْزَاؤُهَا وَتَفَاقَمَتْ
فِيin رُزْئِهِthe loss of him المُتَعَدِّدِmanifold المُتَفَاقِمِworsening
فِي رُزْئِهِ المُتَعَدِّدِ المُتَفَاقِمِ
Thus her bereavements multiplied and grew more grievous
in the manifold, deepening loss of him.
شَيْخَO elder of العُرُوبَةِArabdom أَيْنَwhere صَائِنُthe guardian of إِرْثِهَاits heritage
شَيْخَ العُرُوبَةِ أَيْنَ صَائِنُ إِرْثِهَا
وَمُعِيدُand restorer of نَضْرَةِthe freshness of عَهْدِهَاits age المُتَقَادِمِancient
وَمُعِيدُ نَضْرَةِ عَهْدِهَا المُتَقَادِمِ
O shaykh of Arabdom, where is the guardian of its heritage,
and restorer of the freshness of its ancient age?
بَلْrather أَيْنَwhere فِيin الفُسْطَاطِFustat مَوْئِلُthe refuge of قَوْمِهَاits people
بَلْ أَيْنَ فِي الفُسْطَاطِ مَوْئِلُ قَوْمِهَا
مِنْof بَارِحٍone departing يُخْلِسvacates المَزَارِthe place of visitation لِقَادِمِfor one arriving
مِنْ بَارِحٍ يُخْلِس المَزَارِ لِقَادِمِ
But where, in Fustat, is the refuge of its people,
with a departing guest yielding his place to an arriving one?
يَفِدُcomes as a visitor الغَرِيبُthe stranger إِلَيْهِto him وَهْوَand he كَأَنَّهُas though he
يَفِدُ الغَرِيبُ إِلَيْهِ وَهْوَ كَأَنَّهُ
يَمْشِيwalks مِنَof الأَشْوَاقِlongings بَيْنَamong مَعَالِمِlandmarks
يَمْشِي مِنَ الأَشْوَاقِ بَيْنَ مَعَالِمِ
The stranger comes to him, and it is as though he
walks among landmarks of longing.
فَالدَّارُso the house مِنْthrough لُطْفِthe graciousness of الضِّيَافَةِhospitality دَارُهُhis house
فَالدَّارُ مِنْ لُطْفِ الضِّيَافَةِ دَارُهُ
وَوَلِيُّهَاand its master المَخْدُومُthe one served شِبْهُlike الخَادِمِthe servant
وَوَلِيُّهَا المَخْدُومُ شِبْهُ الخَادِمِ
For the house, through gracious hospitality, becomes his own,
and its master, though served, is like a servant.
دَارٌa house أَجَدَّrenewed بِهَاin it النَّوَىdistance from home لِنَزِيلِهَاfor its guest
دَارٌ أَجَدَّ بِهَا النَّوَى لِنَزِيلِهَا
أَشْهَىthe most delightful الطَّرَائِفِnovelties مِنْof قِرُىguest hospitality وَمَكَارِمِand generous acts
أَشْهَى الطَّرَائِفِ مِنْ قِرُى وَمَكَارِمِ
A house where distance from home renewed for its guest
the choicest delights of hospitality and generosity.
تَتَنَافَسُvie with one another الزِّينَاتُthe adornments تَرْحِيباًin welcome بِهِto him
تَتَنَافَسُ الزِّينَاتُ تَرْحِيباً بِهِ
وَيُكَاثِرُand rivals in abundance الإِينَاسُcompanionable warmth جُودَthe bounty of الطَّاعِمِthe host who feeds
وَيُكَاثِرُ الإِينَاسُ جُودَ الطَّاعِمِ
Its adornments vie to welcome him,
and companionable warmth rivals the host's bounty.
فَلِعَيْنِهِso for his eye وَلِسَمْعِهِand for his hearing وَلِقَلْبِهِand for his heart
فَلِعَيْنِهِ وَلِسَمْعِهِ وَلِقَلْبِهِ
وَلِجِسْمِهِand for his body فِيهَاin it فُنُونُvarieties of وَلائِمِfeasts
وَلِجِسْمِهِ فِيهَا فُنُونُ وَلائِمِ
Thus for his eye, his hearing, and his heart,
and for his body, there are feasts of every kind within.
فَدَحَweighed heavily المُصَابُthe calamity وَقَدْand indeed أَلَمَّbefell بِقَسْوَرٍupon a lion
فَدَحَ المُصَابُ وَقَدْ أَلَمَّ بِقَسْوَرٍ
وَردٍtawny ذَكِيِّkeen الطَّرْفِof gaze أَرْوَعَimposing باسمِsmiling
وَردٍ ذَكِيِّ الطَّرْفِ أَرْوَعَ باسمِ
The calamity weighed heavily, having struck a lion,
tawny, keen-eyed, imposing, and smiling;
سُقِيَتْwas watered نَضَارَةُthe freshness of وَجْهِهِhis face صَفْوَthe pure essence of النَّدَىdew
سُقِيَتْ نَضَارَةُ وَجْهِهِ صَفْوَ النَّدَى
مِنْfrom شَيبِهِhis gray hair بَعْدَafter الشَّبَابِyouth الفَاحِمِcoal-black
مِنْ شَيبِهِ بَعْدَ الشَّبَابِ الفَاحِمِ
the freshness of his face was watered with pure dew
from his gray hair, after his coal-black youth;
بِأَصَمَّupon one deaf إِلاَّexcept أَنْthat تُحَدِّثَهُspeaks to him العُلَىgreatness
بِأَصَمَّ إِلاَّ أَنْ تُحَدِّثَهُ العُلَى
بِحَدِيثِwith talk of غَايَاتٍaims سَمَتْrose high وَعَظَائِمِand mighty deeds
بِحَدِيثِ غَايَاتٍ سَمَتْ وَعَظَائِمِ
a man deaf—unless greatness spoke to him
of lofty aims and mighty undertakings,
أَوْor أَنْthat يُبَاحَis disclosed لَهُto him بِحَاجَةِof the need of آمِلٍa hopeful person
أَوْ أَنْ يُبَاحَ لَهُ بِحَاجَةِ آمِلٍ
أَوْor أَنْthat تُسَرَّis confided إِلَيْهِto him شَكْوَىa complaint of كَاتِمِone concealing his distress
أَوْ أَنْ تُسَرَّ إِلَيْهِ شَكْوَى كَاتِمِ
or a hopeful man's need were disclosed to him,
or a reticent man's complaint were whispered to him;
بِمُحَبِّبٍupon one endearing فِيin قَلْبِthe heart of كلِّevery مُوَادِعٍpeaceable person
بِمُحَبِّبٍ فِي قَلْبِ كلِّ مُوَادِعٍ
وَمُبَغَّضٍand hated فِيin وَجْهِthe face of كُلِّevery مُصَادِمِadversary
وَمُبَغَّضٍ فِي وَجْهِ كُلِّ مُصَادِمِ
a man endearing to the heart of every peaceable soul,
and loathed in the sight of every adversary.
جَلْدٌsteadfast عَلَىagainst الآفَاتِcalamities لَمْdid not يُحْرِقْgrind عَلَىover
جَلْدٌ عَلَى الآفَاتِ لَمْ يُحْرِقْ عَلَى
سُؤْلٍa desire إِذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle فَاتَwent unfulfilled نstray letter nūn; no lexical meaning سِنَّthe tooth of النَّادِمِthe regretful man
سُؤْلٍ إِذَا مَا فَاتَ ن سِنَّ النَّادِمِ
Steadfast against calamities, he never ground, over
an unfulfilled wish, the tooth of a regretful man.
وَعَلَىand despite التَّبَايُنِdifferences فِيin العَوَاقِبِoutcomes يَنْثَنِيhe returns
وَعَلَى التَّبَايُنِ فِي العَوَاقِبِ يَنْثَنِي
بِجَدِيدِwith new فَخْرٍglory أَوْor بِعِرْضِwith honor سَالِمِintact
بِجَدِيدِ فَخْرٍ أَوْ بِعِرْضِ سَالِمِ
And, despite the differing outcomes, he would return
with new glory or with his honor intact.
حَسْبُsufficient for المُجَاهِدِthe striver سَعْيُهُhis effort إِنْif لَمْdoes not يَفُزْwin
حَسْبُ المُجَاهِدِ سَعْيُهُ إِنْ لَمْ يَفُزْ
شَرَفُthe nobility of المَرَامِthe aim مُشَرِّفٌennobling لِلرَّائِمِfor the seeker
شَرَفُ المَرَامِ مُشَرِّفٌ لِلرَّائِمِ
For one who strives, his striving suffices if he does not win;
a noble aim ennobles its seeker.
سَلَخَshed الغَوَالِيthe precious ones مِنْof سِنِيهِhis years مُكَافِحاًfighting
سَلَخَ الغَوَالِي مِنْ سِنِيهِ مُكَافِحاً
دُونَin defense of العُرُوبَةِArabdom كُلَّevery بَاغٍaggressor آثِمِsinful
دُونَ العُرُوبَةِ كُلَّ بَاغٍ آثِمِ
He shed the precious years of his life, fighting
every sinful aggressor in defense of Arabdom,
وَمُعَاتِباًand reproaching أسيَافَهَاits swords أُغْمِدَتْwere sheathed
وَمُعَاتِباً أسيَافَهَا أُغْمِدَتْ
وَالغِمْدُand the scabbard أَكَّالٌa devourer لِنَصْلِof the blade of الصَّارِمِthe keen sword
وَالغِمْدُ أَكَّالٌ لِنَصْلِ الصَّارِمِ
and reproaching its swords for having been sheathed,
for the scabbard devours the keen sword's blade;
وَمُعَالِجاًand tackling أَزَمَاتِهَاits crises مَاhowever أَعْضَلَتْthey proved intractable
وَمُعَالِجاً أَزَمَاتِهَا مَا أَعْضَلَتْ
بِمَضَاءِwith the resolve of مِقْدَامٍa bold man وَدُرْبَةِand the experience of حَازِمِa resolute man
بِمَضَاءِ مِقْدَامٍ وَدُرْبَةِ حَازِمِ
and tackling its crises, however intractable,
with a bold man's resolve and a resolute man's experience;
وَمُقَرِّباًand drawing together شُقَقَthe gulfs of الخِلافِdisagreement وَوَاصِلاًand rejoining
وَمُقَرِّباً شُقَقَ الخِلافِ وَوَاصِلاً
مَاwhat قَطَّعَتْهُhad severed it يَدُthe hand of الشِّقَاقِdiscord الفَاصِمِsundering
مَا قَطَّعَتْهُ يَدُ الشِّقَاقِ الفَاصِمِ
and narrowing the gulfs of disagreement, and rejoining
what the hand of sundering discord had severed.
جَاهِدْstrive against عَدُوَّكَyour enemy مَاas much as اسْتَطَعْتَyou can جِهَادَهُstriving against him
جَاهِدْ عَدُوَّكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتَ جِهَادَهُ
أَمَّاas for أَخَاكَyour brother فَمَاthen as much as اسْتَطَعْتَyou can فَسَالِمِthen make peace
أَمَّا أَخَاكَ فَمَا اسْتَطَعْتَ فَسَالِمِ
Strive against your enemy to the utmost of your power;
as for your brother, make peace as far as you can.
حَقthe claim of البِلادِthe country عَلَيْكَupon you أَعْلَىhigher حُرْمَةًin sanctity
حَق البِلادِ عَلَيْكَ أَعْلَى حُرْمَةً
مِنْthan أَنْthat يُضَاعَbe squandered بِمُزْرِيَاتِthrough the degrading effects of سَخَائِمِrancors
مِنْ أَنْ يُضَاعَ بِمُزْرِيَاتِ سَخَائِمِ
The country's claim upon you is too sacred
to be squandered through degrading rancors.
ياO أُمَّةَnation of الضَّادِthe letter ḍād الَّتِيwhich فِيin حُبِّهَاlove for her
يا أُمَّةَ الضَّادِ الَّتِي فِي حُبِّهَا
بَذَلَhe gave النَّفِيسَwhat was precious وَلَمْand not يَكُنْbe بِمُسَاوِمِa bargainer
بَذَلَ النَّفِيسَ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ بِمُسَاوِمِ
O nation of ḍād, for love of whom
he gave what was precious and never bargained,
إِنْif تُكْرِمِيyou honor بِالحَقِّtruly ذِكْرَىthe memory of مَاجِدٍa noble man
إِنْ تُكْرِمِي بِالحَقِّ ذِكْرَى مَاجِدٍ
فَالمَجْدُfor glory لاnot يُرْضِيهِpleases it نَوْحُthe lamentation of حَمَائِمِdoves
فَالمَجْدُ لا يُرْضِيهِ نَوْحُ حَمَائِمِ
if you would truly honor a noble man's memory,
glory is not pleased by the mourning of doves.
عَلِمَknew الأُولَىthose who مَاتُواdied وَلَيْتَand would that بَنِيِمُوtheir sons (irregular spelling)
عَلِمَ الأُولَى مَاتُوا وَلَيْتَ بَنِيِمُو
عَلِمُواthey knew بِأَنَّthat المَوْتَdeath ضَرْبَةُthe blow of لازِمِan unrelenting claimant
عَلِمُوا بِأَنَّ المَوْتَ ضَرْبَةُ لازِمِ
Those who died knew—and would that their sons
knew that death is the blow of an unrelenting claimant,
وَبِأَنَّand that عُمْراًa life يُسْتَطَالُis prolonged عَلَىamid القَذَىgrit in the eye
وَبِأَنَّ عُمْراً يُسْتَطَالُ عَلَى القَذَى
إِنْeven if طَالَit lasts long لاnot يَعْدُوgoes beyond تَمَهُّلَthe delay of غَارِمِa debtor
إِنْ طَالَ لا يَعْدُو تَمَهُّلَ غَارِمِ
and that a life prolonged with grit in the eye,
however long, is no more than a debtor's delay,
وَبِأَنَّand that خَاتِمَةَthe end of المَطَافِthe journey قَرِيبَةٌnear
وَبِأَنَّ خَاتِمَةَ المَطَافِ قَرِيبَةٌ
لأخِيfor the brother of الشَّقَاءِmisery وَلِلقَرِيرِand for the contented one النَّاعِمِliving in comfort
لأخِي الشَّقَاءِ وَلِلقَرِيرِ النَّاعِمِ
and that the journey's end is near
for the brother of misery and the contented man at ease.
يَاO بَانِياًbuilder للهِfor God أَرْوَعَthe most splendid مَسْجِدٍmosque
يَا بَانِياً للهِ أَرْوَعَ مَسْجِدٍ
نَظَمَarranged البَدَائِعَmarvels فِيهِin it أَبْرَعُthe most skillful نَاظِمِarranger
نَظَمَ البَدَائِعَ فِيهِ أَبْرَعُ نَاظِمِ
O builder, for God, of a most splendid mosque,
where the most skillful designer arranged marvels,
نَهَضَrose البِنَاءُthe building إِلَىto السَّمَاءِthe sky وَقَوَّضَتْand brought down
نَهَضَ البِنَاءُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَقَوَّضَتْ
رَبَّthe master of البِنَاءِthe building يَدُthe hand of الزَّمَانِtime الهَادِمِthe destroyer
رَبَّ البِنَاءِ يَدُ الزَّمَانِ الهَادِمِ
the building rose to the sky, yet laid low
was its master by time's demolishing hand.
هِيَit حِكْمَةٌwisdom للهِGod's بَالِغَةٌconsummate وَإِنْand even if
هِيَ حِكْمَةٌ للهِ بَالِغَةٌ وَإِنْ
خَفِيَتْit was hidden وَذَلِكَand that is حُكْمُthe judgment of أَعْدَلِthe most just حَاكِمِjudge
خَفِيَتْ وَذَلِكَ حُكْمُ أَعْدَلِ حَاكِمِ
It is God's consummate wisdom, even if
it is hidden; such is the judgment of the most just judge.
أَلعَبْدُthe servant يُعْطِيgives مِنْfrom حُطَامٍworldly chaff بَائِدٍperishing
أَلعَبْدُ يُعْطِي مِنْ حُطَامٍ بَائِدٍ
وَاللهُand God يَجْزِيrewards بِالنَّعِيمِwith bliss الدَّائِمِeverlasting
وَاللهُ يَجْزِي بِالنَّعِيمِ الدَّائِمِ
The servant gives from worldly chaff that perishes,
and God rewards with everlasting bliss.
Translation model: Sol 6.1