إِلَىto أَهْلِهَاtheir own people تَنْعَىannounce the death of النُّهَىwisdom وَالعَزائِمُand firm resolves
إِلَى أَهْلِهَا تَنْعَى النُّهَى وَالعَزائِمُ
فَتىًa gallant man فَوْقَbeyond مَاwhat تَهْوَىdesire العُلَىglory وَالْعَظَائِمُand mighty deeds
فَتىً فَوْقَ مَا تَهْوَى العُلَى وَالْعَظَائِمُ
To their own people, wisdom and resolve announce the death
Of a gallant man beyond all that glory and mighty deeds desire.
بِبَنِيْكَamong your sons إسْمَاعِيلُIsmail غُيِّبَwas hidden شَارِقٌa rising sun
بِبَنِيْكَ إسْمَاعِيلُ غُيِّبَ شَارِقٌ
وَقُوِّضَand was dismantled بُنْيَانٌan edifice وَأُغْمِدَand was sheathed صَارِمُa keen sword
وَقُوِّضَ بُنْيَانٌ وَأُغْمِدَ صَارِمُ
Among your sons, Ismail, a rising sun has been hidden;
An edifice brought down, and a keen sword sheathed.
عَزيزٌgrievous إلىto مِصْرَEgypt المُفَدَّاةِthe cherished رُزْؤُهَاher bereavement
عَزيزٌ إلى مِصْرَ المُفَدَّاةِ رُزْؤُهَا
بِأَنْهَضِof the most capable مَنْone whom تَرْجُوهُshe looks to وَالخَطْبُwhile calamity دَاهِمُis descending
بِأَنْهَضِ مَنْ تَرْجُوهُ وَالخَطْبُ دَاهِمُ
Grievous to cherished Egypt is her loss
Of the ablest man she looks to when calamity descends.
لِوَجْهِكَof your face رَسْمٌa likeness خَالِدٌeverlasting فِيin ضَمِيرِهَاher heart
لِوَجْهِكَ رَسْمٌ خَالِدٌ فِي ضَمِيرِهَا
تَدُولُcome and go بِهَاwithin her الدُّوَلاتُdynasties وَالرَّسْمُand the likeness
تَدُولُ بِهَا الدُّوَلاتُ وَالرَّسْمُ
Your face has an undying likeness in her heart;
Dynasties come and go within her, while the likeness—
فَكَمْso how many a مَوْقِفٍstand لِلذوْدِfor defense عَنْهَاon her behalf وَقَفْتَهُyou took
فَكَمْ مَوْقِفٍ لِلذوْدِ عَنْهَا وَقَفْتَهُ
تُعَانِيyou endure صًرُوفاًvicissitudes جَمَّةًmany وَتُقَاوِمُand resist
تُعَانِي صًرُوفاً جَمَّةً وَتُقَاوِمُ
How often you took your stand in her defense,
Enduring countless vicissitudes and resisting!
وَكَمْand how many an هِجْرَةٍexile قَدْindeed ذُقْتَyou tasted أَلْوَانَthe varieties ضَيْمِهَاof its oppression
وَكَمْ هِجْرَةٍ قَدْ ذُقْتَ أَلْوَانَ ضَيْمِهَا
وَأَسْوَغُand more palatable مِنْهَاthan it أَنْthat تُحَزَّbe slit الغَلاصِمُthroats
وَأَسْوَغُ مِنْهَا أَنْ تُحَزَّ الغَلاصِمُ
How many exiles whose varied oppressions you tasted,
When the slitting of throats would have been more palatable.
كَفَىsuffices شَرَفاًfor honor ذِكْرُmention القَنَاةِof the canal وَمِرَّةand fortitude
كَفَى شَرَفاً ذِكْرُ القَنَاةِ وَمِرَّة
بَدَتْappeared مِنْكَfrom you حِينَwhen البَغْيُtyranny لِلْعُودِof the wood عَاجِمُa tester
بَدَتْ مِنْكَ حِينَ البَغْيُ لِلْعُودِ عَاجِمُ
Enough for honor is mention of the canal, and the fortitude
You showed when tyranny put the wood to the test.
فَكَانَتْso there were ضُرُوبٌkinds مِنْof عَذَابٍtorment بَلَوْتَهَاyou experienced them
فَكَانَتْ ضُرُوبٌ مِنْ عَذَابٍ بَلَوْتَهَا
ضَمِيرُكَyour conscience رَاضِيَهَاcontent with them وَمَنْand whoever شَاءَwished نَاقِمُresentful
ضَمِيرُكَ رَاضِيَهَا وَمَنْ شَاءَ نَاقِمُ
There were kinds of torment you experienced,
Your conscience approving them, whoever might resent them.
جَرُؤتَyou dared فَنَاجَزْتَand confronted القَضَاءَfate مُنَاضِلاًfighting
جَرُؤتَ فَنَاجَزْتَ القَضَاءَ مُنَاضِلاً
عَنِin defense of الْحَقِّthe truth لَمْdid not تَأْخُذْكَseize you فِيهِin its cause اللَّوائِمُreproaches
عَنِ الْحَقِّ لَمْ تَأْخُذْكَ فِيهِ اللَّوائِمُ
You dared to confront fate, fighting
For truth, undeterred in its cause by reproaches,
قِيَاماًfulfilling بِفَرْضٍa duty لِلدِّيَارِto the homeland مُقَدَّسٍsacred
قِيَاماً بِفَرْضٍ لِلدِّيَارِ مُقَدَّسٍ
وَهَلْand is مَنْone who يُؤَدِّيfulfills ذَلِكَthat الفَرْضَduty نَادِمُregretful
وَهَلْ مَنْ يُؤَدِّي ذَلِكَ الفَرْضَ نَادِمُ
Fulfilling a sacred duty to the homeland;
Does anyone who fulfills that duty regret it?
تُخَاصِمُyou contend فِيfor اسْتِنْفَاذِrecovering in full إِرْثٍan inheritance مُضَيَّعٍsquandered
تُخَاصِمُ فِي اسْتِنْفَاذِ إِرْثٍ مُضَيَّعٍ
لِقَوْمٍfor a people غَفَوْاthey slept heedlessly عَنْهُconcerning it وَمَنْand who ذَاis it تُخَاصِمُyou contend with
لِقَوْمٍ غَفَوْا عَنْهُ وَمَنْ ذَا تُخَاصِمُ
You contend to recover a squandered inheritance
For a people asleep to it—and whom do you confront?
فَيَشْكُرُso thanks مَظْلُومٌan oppressed man كَفَاحَكَyour struggle دُونَهُin his defense
فَيَشْكُرُ مَظْلُومٌ كَفَاحَكَ دُونَهُ
بِمَاwith what بِكَis in you مِنْof حَوْلٍstrength وَيَشْكُوهُand complains of it ظَالِمُan oppressor
بِمَا بِكَ مِنْ حَوْلٍ وَيَشْكُوهُ ظَالِمُ
The oppressed man thanks you for fighting in his defense
With all your strength, while the oppressor complains of it.
وَللهِand to God belong آيَاتُwonders الشَّجَاعَةِof courage وَالفِدَىand self-sacrifice
وَللهِ آيَاتُ الشَّجَاعَةِ وَالفِدَى
إذَاwhen أُوتِيَتْare granted وَحْيَinspiration العُقُولِof minds الضَّياغِمُlions
إذَا أُوتِيَتْ وَحْيَ العُقُولِ الضَّياغِمُ
And to God belong the wonders of courage and sacrifice,
When lions are granted the inspiration of reason!
لِيَوْمِكَfor your day ذِكْرَىa remembrance مَاhowever much تَقَادَمَgrows distant عَهْدُهَاits time
لِيَوْمِكَ ذِكْرَى مَا تَقَادَمَ عَهْدُهَا
يَزِيدُincreases شَجَاهَاits sorrow عَهْدُهَاits time المُتَقَادِمُever-receding
يَزِيدُ شَجَاهَا عَهْدُهَا المُتَقَادِمُ
Your day has a memory: however far its time recedes,
Its growing distance only deepens its sorrow.
بَنُوsons الأُسْرَةِof the family الأَنْجَابِthe noble-born يُزجُونَbear along ضَحْوَةًat midmorning
بَنُو الأُسْرَةِ الأَنْجَابِ يُزجُونَ ضَحْوَةً
سَريرَthe bier أَبِيهِمْof their father وَالدُّمُوعُwhile tears سَوَاجِمُare streaming
سَريرَ أَبِيهِمْ وَالدُّمُوعُ سَوَاجِمُ
The family's noble sons bore forth at midmorning
Their father's bier, while tears streamed down.
وَلَوْand had لَمْnot يُرَواthey been seen مُسْتَأْثِرينَkeeping exclusively بِحَمْلِهِits bearing
وَلَوْ لَمْ يُرَوا مُسْتَأْثِرينَ بِحَمْلِهِ
لَخَفَّwould have hurried إِلَيْهِto it المَوْكِبُthe procession المُتَزَاحِمُthronging
لَخَفَّ إِلَيْهِ المَوْكِبُ المُتَزَاحِمُ
Had they not been seen reserving its bearing to themselves,
The thronging procession would have rushed to it.
وَمَاand as دَامَlong as أَهْلُthe people البَيْتِof the house يَرْعَىcare for شَبَابُهُمْtheir young
وَمَا دَامَ أَهْلُ البَيْتِ يَرْعَى شَبَابُهُمْ
شُيُوخَهُمُtheir elders فَالعِزُّthen honor فِيin البَيْتِthe house دَائِمُendures
شُيُوخَهُمُ فَالعِزُّ فِي البَيْتِ دَائِمُ
As long as the household's young care for
Their elders, honor endures in the house.
أَقَلُّوكَthey bore you مَوْفُورَundiminished in الجَلالِmajesty مُبَجَّلاًrevered
أَقَلُّوكَ مَوْفُورَ الجَلالِ مُبَجَّلاً
وَكُلُّand every شَهِيدٍwitness وَاجِبُpounding القَلْبِthe heart وَاجِمُmute with grief
وَكُلُّ شَهِيدٍ وَاجِبُ القَلْبِ وَاجِمُ
They bore you, your majesty undiminished, revered,
While every witness, heart pounding, stood mute with grief.
إِذَwhen جَاوَزُواthey passed beyond مِصْراًCairo وَand مِصْرٌCairo أَسِيفَةٌgrieving
إِذَ جَاوَزُوا مِصْراً وَ مِصْرٌ أَسِيفَةٌ
تُقَامُare held بِهَاin it حُزْناًin sorrow عَلَيْكَfor you المَآتِمُmourning assemblies
تُقَامُ بِهَا حُزْناً عَلَيْكَ المَآتِمُ
When they passed beyond Cairo, while Cairo grieved,
Mourning assemblies were held there in sorrow for you.
غَشُواthey entered بِكَwith you فِيin بُرْدِينَBurdin دَاراًa house تَنَكَّرَتْgrown strange
غَشُوا بِكَ فِي بُرْدِينَ دَاراً تَنَكَّرَتْ
فَعَامِرُهَاfor its inhabitant بِالأَمْسِyesterday كَالرَّسْمِlike a trace طَاسِمُeffaced
فَعَامِرُهَا بِالأَمْسِ كَالرَّسْمِ طَاسِمُ
They brought you to a house in Burdin, grown strange;
For its dweller of yesterday had vanished like an effaced trace.
يَجُوبُونَthey traverse بِالنَّعْشِwith the bier المَعَالِمَthe landmarks أَصْبَحَتْhave dawned
يَجُوبُونَ بِالنَّعْشِ المَعَالِمَ أَصْبَحَتْ
عَلَىin غَيْرِother than مَاwhat أَمْسَتْwere at dusk عَلَيْهِupon it المَعَالِمُthe landmarks
عَلَى غَيْرِ مَا أَمْسَتْ عَلَيْهِ المَعَالِمُ
They bear the bier through landmarks that morning finds
Changed from what those landmarks were at dusk.
تَنُوحُlament قَمَارِيُّturtledoves الجِنَانِof the gardens حِيَالَهَاbefore it
تَنُوحُ قَمَارِيُّ الجِنَانِ حِيَالَهَا
وَقَبْلاًand formerly تَغَنَّتْsang فِيin ذَرَاهَاits heights الحَمَائِمُthe doves
وَقَبْلاً تَغَنَّتْ فِي ذَرَاهَا الحَمَائِمُ
The gardens' turtledoves lament before it,
And formerly the doves sang in its heights,
إِذِwhen الرَّوْضُthe garden فِيهَاin it بِالنَّدَىwith dew مُتَهَلِّلٌbeaming
إِذِ الرَّوْضُ فِيهَا بِالنَّدَى مُتَهَلِّلٌ
وَإِذَand when وَجْهُهَاits face طَلْقٌradiant مِنَfrom الأُنْسِcompanionship باسِمُsmiling
وَإِذَ وَجْهُهَا طَلْقٌ مِنَ الأُنْسِ باسِمُ
When its garden beamed with dew,
And its face was bright, smiling with welcome,
وَإِذْand when يَفِدُarrive الضَّيفَانُthe guests مِنْfrom كُلِّevery جَانِبٍside
وَإِذْ يَفِدُ الضَّيفَانُ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ
إِلَيْهَاto it يُلاقِيmeets بَارِحَthe departing one الرَّكْبِof the company قَادِمُa newcomer
إِلَيْهَا يُلاقِي بَارِحَ الرَّكْبِ قَادِمُ
And guests arrived from every side
To it, each newcomer meeting one of the departing band.
لَعَمْرِيby my life لَنْnever أَنْسَىshall I forget شخُوصاًa journey شخَصْتُهُI made
لَعَمْرِي لَنْ أَنْسَى شخُوصاً شخَصْتُهُ
إِلَيْهَاto it وَرَبُّwhile the master الدَّارِof the house جَذْلانُjoyful سَالِمُwell
إِلَيْهَا وَرَبُّ الدَّارِ جَذْلانُ سَالِمُ
By my life, I shall never forget a journey I made
To it, while the master of the house was joyful and well.
بَكَرنَاwe set out early مَسِيراًon a journey وَالغَزَالَةُwhile the sun تَزْدَهِيshone proudly
بَكَرنَا مَسِيراً وَالغَزَالَةُ تَزْدَهِي
وَلِلْغَيْمِand for the clouds نَقَّاشٌan engraver بَدِيعٌwondrous وَرَاسِمُand a painter
وَلِلْغَيْمِ نَقَّاشٌ بَدِيعٌ وَرَاسِمُ
We set out early, while the sun shone proudly,
And the clouds had a wondrous engraver and painter.
تَئِنgroan سَوَاقٍwaterwheels بُحَّgrew hoarse بِالشَّجْوِwith sorrow صَوْتُهَاtheir voice
تَئِن سَوَاقٍ بُحَّ بِالشَّجْوِ صَوْتُهَا
وَيثمَلُand grows drunk سِرْبٌa flock حَوْلَهَاaround them مُتَنَادِمُdrinking together
وَيثمَلُ سِرْبٌ حَوْلَهَا مُتَنَادِمُ
Waterwheels groaned, their voices hoarse with sorrow,
And a flock around them grew drunk in shared revelry.
وَفِيand in الرَّوْضِthe garden آيَاتٌwonders وللنيلَand the Nile has رَوْعَةٌsplendor
وَفِي الرَّوْضِ آيَاتٌ وللنيلَ رَوْعَةٌ
وَوَجْهُand the face الضُّحَىof midmorning يَفُتَرُّbreaks into a smile وَالطِّيبُwhile fragrance فَاغِمُis pervasive
وَوَجْهُ الضُّحَى يَفُتَرُّ وَالطِّيبُ فَاغِمُ
In the garden were wonders, and the Nile had its splendor,
And morning's face smiled, while fragrance filled the air.
تَجُوزُyou cross الحُقُولَthe fields الخُضْرَgreen أَبْهَجُmost delightful مَاwhat بِهَاin them
تَجُوزُ الحُقُولَ الخُضْرَ أَبْهَجُ مَا بِهَا
نُجُومٌstars مِنَof القُطْنِcotton الجَنِيِّripe نَوَاجِمُemerging
نُجُومٌ مِنَ القُطْنِ الجَنِيِّ نَوَاجِمُ
You cross the green fields; their most joyous sight
Is stars of ripe cotton rising into view.
وَأَبَدَعُand most beautiful مَاwhat فِيهَاin them النَّخِيلُthe palms مُقَلَّداًadorned
وَأَبَدَعُ مَا فِيهَا النَّخِيلُ مُقَلَّداً
قَلائِدَnecklaces يَاقُوتٍof ruby لَهَاfor them الحُسْنُbeauty نَاظِمُthe stringer
قَلائِدَ يَاقُوتٍ لَهَا الحُسْنُ نَاظِمُ
And loveliest there are the palms, adorned
With ruby necklaces that beauty strings for them.
نُيَمِّمُwe make for إِسْمَاعِيلَIsmail خَيْرَthe best مُيَثَّمٍone sought (uncertain reading)
نُيَمِّمُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ خَيْرَ مُيَثَّمٍ
بِصَرْحٍin a mansion بَنَاهُbuilt it مُنْجِبُوهُhis forebears القَمَاقِمُthe mighty
بِصَرْحٍ بَنَاهُ مُنْجِبُوهُ القَمَاقِمُ
We make for Ismail, the finest man to seek,
In a mansion built by his mighty forebears,
وَفِيand amid أُسْرَةٍa family مِنْof مَاجِدِينَhonorable men أَعِزَّةٍmighty
وَفِي أُسْرَةٍ مِنْ مَاجِدِينَ أَعِزَّةٍ
هُمُthey النُّبَلاءُthe noble النَّابِهُونَthe distinguished الْخَضَارِمُthe magnanimous
هُمُ النُّبَلاءُ النَّابِهُونَ الْخَضَارِمُ
Amid a family of honored, mighty men,
Noble, distinguished, and great-hearted.
فَشَتَّانَso vast the difference مَا(emphatic) بَيْنَbetween الَّذِيwhat كَانَwas وَالَّذِيand what
فَشَتَّانَ مَا بَيْنَ الَّذِي كَانَ وَالَّذِي
دَهَانَاstruck us بِهِwith it الْيَوْمَtoday الزَّمَانُtime المُرَاغِمُhostile
دَهَانَا بِهِ الْيَوْمَ الزَّمَانُ المُرَاغِمُ
How far apart are what once was and what
Hostile time has struck us with today!
دَهَىstruck فِيin عَظِيمٍa great man يَبْدَأُbegins الذِّكْرُthe mention بِاسْمِهِwith his name
دَهَى فِي عَظِيمٍ يَبْدَأُ الذِّكْرُ بِاسْمِهِ
إِذَwhen عُدَّare counted فيin مصرEgypt الرِّجَالُthe men الأَعَاظمُthe greatest
إِذَ عُدَّ في مصر الرِّجَالُ الأَعَاظمُ
It struck at a great man whose name is mentioned first
When Egypt's greatest men are numbered.
كَريَمٌgenerous كَمَاas تَهْوَىdesires الْكَرَامَةُnobility مُسرِفٌlavish
كَريَمٌ كَمَا تَهْوَى الْكَرَامَةُ مُسرِفٌ
وَشَهْمٌand gallant كَمَاas تَرْضَىapproves الشَّهَامَةُgallantry حَازِمُresolute
وَشَهْمٌ كَمَا تَرْضَى الشَّهَامَةُ حَازِمُ
Generous, lavish as nobility desires,
And gallant, resolute as gallantry approves.
وَفِيٌّfaithful إِذَاwhen مَا(emphatic) انْهَارَcollapses وُدُّthe affection مُمَاذِقٍof a dissembler
وَفِيٌّ إِذَا مَا انْهَارَ وُدُّ مُمَاذِقٍ
فَمَاfor not اِلَّذِيhe who يَبْنِيbuilds مِنَof الْوُدِّaffection هَادِمُa destroyer
فَمَا اِلَّذِي يَبْنِي مِنَ الْوُدِّ هَادِمُ
Faithful when a dissembler's affection collapses,
For the builder of affection is no destroyer.
فِدَاهُmay they ransom him أُنَاسٌpeople بِالمَزَاعِمِwith boasts أَوْرَقُواput forth leaves
فِدَاهُ أُنَاسٌ بِالمَزَاعِمِ أَوْرَقُوا
فَلَمْbut not يَكُنْwas المَحْصُولَthe harvest إِلاَّexcept المَزَاعِمُboasts
فَلَمْ يَكُنْ المَحْصُولَ إِلاَّ المَزَاعِمُ
May those who leafed out in boasts be his ransom,
Whose harvest was nothing but boasts.
رَقِيقُdelicate in حَدِيثٍspeech كَالمُدَامِlike wine يُدِيرُهُhe passes it around
رَقِيقُ حَدِيثٍ كَالمُدَامِ يُدِيرُهُ
فَيَشْجَىso is moved بِهِby it فَدْمٌa dullard وَيَطْرَبُand is enraptured عَالِمُa scholar
فَيَشْجَى بِهِ فَدْمٌ وَيَطْرَبُ عَالِمُ
His speech is delicate; he passes it around like wine,
The dullard moved by it, the scholar enraptured.
يَوَدwishes الَّذِيthe one who أَلْقَىlent إِلَيْهِto him بِسَمْعِهِhis hearing
يَوَد الَّذِي أَلْقَى إِلَيْهِ بِسَمْعِهِ
لَوِif only الكَوْنُthe universe نَادٍa gathering hall وَالشهُودُand the audience الْعَوَالِمُthe worlds
لَوِ الكَوْنُ نَادٍ وَالشهُودُ الْعَوَالِمُ
Whoever lends him an ear wishes
The universe were a hall, and all worlds the audience.
خَطِيبٌan orator حَلاَbecame sweet أَسْلُوبُهُhis style وَتَنَوَّعَتْand varied
خَطِيبٌ حَلاَ أَسْلُوبُهُ وَتَنَوَّعَتْ
فُكَاهَاتُهُhis pleasantries لُطْفاًgracefully لِمَاfor what هُوَhe رَائِمُseeks
فُكَاهَاتُهُ لُطْفاً لِمَا هُوَ رَائِمُ
An orator whose style is sweet, with varied
Pleasantries, delicately shaped toward his aim.
يَفِيضُhe pours forth بِسَهْلِin simple اللَّفْظِwords إِلاَّexcept إذاwhen دَعَاcalls
يَفِيضُ بِسَهْلِ اللَّفْظِ إِلاَّ إذا دَعَا
إِلَىfor الجَزْلِweighty speech قَلبٌa heart أَغْضَبَتْهُangered it المَظَالمُinjustices
إِلَى الجَزْلِ قَلبٌ أَغْضَبَتْهُ المَظَالمُ
He pours forth plain speech, except when called
To weighty words by a heart enraged by wrongs.
وَقَدْand indeed عَرَفَتْhas known مِنْهُin him الصَّحَافَةُthe press كَاتِباًa writer
وَقَدْ عَرَفَتْ مِنْهُ الصَّحَافَةُ كَاتِباً
بَلِيغاًeloquent يُحِقُّupholding truth وَالبُطْلُwhile falsehood رَاغِمُis humbled
بَلِيغاً يُحِقُّ وَالبُطْلُ رَاغِمُ
And the press has known in him a writer,
Eloquent, upholding truth while falsehood is humbled.
بِمِرْقَمِهِthrough his pen فَاضَoverflowed الْبَيَانُeloquence مَآثِراًwith memorable deeds
بِمِرْقَمِهِ فَاضَ الْبَيَانُ مَآثِراً
وَمِنْand from قَبْلِهِbefore him غَاضَتْran dry بِهِنَّover them المَرَاقِمُthe pens
وَمِنْ قَبْلِهِ غَاضَتْ بِهِنَّ المَرَاقِمُ
Through his pen, eloquence overflowed with memorable deeds,
Whereas before him, pens had run dry over them.
فَإِمَّاso if ever تُثِرْrouses مِنْهُin him الْحَفِيظَةُindignation ثَائِراًa rebel
فَإِمَّا تُثِرْ مِنْهُ الْحَفِيظَةُ ثَائِراً
فَفِيthen in مَجِّهِhis spitting مَاwhat لاnot تَمُجُّspew الأَرَاقِمُspeckled vipers
فَفِي مَجِّهِ مَا لا تَمُجُّ الأَرَاقِمُ
If indignation ever rouses a rebel in him,
He spews what speckled vipers cannot spew.
لَهُhe has فِيin تَصَارِيفِthe shifts السِّيَاسَةِof politics قُدْرةٌpower
لَهُ فِي تَصَارِيفِ السِّيَاسَةِ قُدْرةٌ
تَرُدُّturns back عَلَىupon أَعْقَابِهِhis heels مَنْwhoever يُهَاجِمُattacks
تَرُدُّ عَلَى أَعْقَابِهِ مَنْ يُهَاجِمُ
He has a power in the shifting ways of politics
That sends any attacker back upon his heels.
أَفَانِينُهُhis arts فِيهَاin it أَفَانِينُthe arts لَيِّنٍof a gentle man
أَفَانِينُهُ فِيهَا أَفَانِينُ لَيِّنٍ
شَدِيدٍfirm يُرَادِيwho contends عَنْwith هُدىًdiscernment وَيُسَالِمُand makes peace
شَدِيدٍ يُرَادِي عَنْ هُدىً وَيُسَالِمُ
His arts in it are those of one both gentle
And firm, opposing with discernment and making peace.
صَفَاbecame clear ذِهْنُهُhis mind حَتَّىso that لَيُبْصِرُsurely sees فِكْرُهُhis thought
صَفَا ذِهْنُهُ حَتَّى لَيُبْصِرُ فِكْرُهُ
خِلالَthrough سُجُوفِthe curtains الرَّيْبِof doubt مَاwhat الْغَيْبُthe unseen كَاتِمُconceals
خِلالَ سُجُوفِ الرَّيْبِ مَا الْغَيْبُ كَاتِمُ
His mind was so clear that his thought could see
Through doubt's curtains what the unseen conceals,
بِعَيْنٍwith an eye كَعَيْنِlike the eye النَّجْمِof a star لَمْحاًin quickness وَيَقْظَةًand wakefulness
بِعَيْنٍ كَعَيْنِ النَّجْمِ لَمْحاً وَيَقْظَةً
لأَيْسَرِfor the least مَاthat which تَنْجَابُpart عَنْهُfrom it الغَمَائِمُthe clouds
لأَيْسَرِ مَا تَنْجَابُ عَنْهُ الغَمَائِمُ
With an eye like a star's, quick and watchful
For the least thing that parting clouds reveal.
إِذَاwhen أَعْضَلَbecame intractable الأمْرُthe matter الشَّدَيدُgrave بَدَاappeared لَهُto him
إِذَا أَعْضَلَ الأمْرُ الشَّدَيدُ بَدَا لَهُ
وَلَمْand did not يَجْهَدِcause strain الحَلthe solution السَّدِيدُsound المُلائِمُfitting
وَلَمْ يَجْهَدِ الحَل السَّدِيدُ المُلائِمُ
When a grave affair grew intractable, there appeared to him
Without strain, the sound and fitting solution.
يُحَكِّمُhe appoints as judge فِيهِin it رُشْدَهُhis sound judgment فَهْوَso he is غَانِمٌa winner
يُحَكِّمُ فِيهِ رُشْدَهُ فَهْوَ غَانِمٌ
وَمَنْand whoever لَمْdoes not يُحَكِّمْappoint as judge رُشْدَهُhis sound judgment فَهْوَthen he is غَارِمُa loser
وَمَنْ لَمْ يُحَكِّمْ رُشْدَهُ فَهْوَ غَارِمُ
He lets his sound judgment rule it, and so he gains;
Whoever will not let sound judgment rule is a loser.
فَقَدْfor perhaps تَخْطَأُerr الآرَاءُopinions وَالْقَلْبُwhile the heart حَاكِمٌis judge
فَقَدْ تَخْطَأُ الآرَاءُ وَالْقَلْبُ حَاكِمٌ
وَمَاand not تَخْطّأُerr الآرَاءُopinions وَالْعَقْلُwhile reason حَاكِمُis judge
وَمَا تَخْطّأُ الآرَاءُ وَالْعَقْلُ حَاكِمُ
Opinions may err when the heart is judge,
But opinions do not err when reason is judge.
وَكَائِنْand how often تَلَقَّىhe met صَدْمَةَthe blow الدَّهْرِof time صَابِراًpatiently
وَكَائِنْ تَلَقَّى صَدْمَةَ الدَّهْرِ صَابِراً
كَأَنَّas though نَظِيراًan equal لِلنَّظِيرِwith his equal يُصَادِمُclashes
كَأَنَّ نَظِيراً لِلنَّظِيرِ يُصَادِمُ
How often he met time's blow with patience,
As though an equal were clashing with his equal.
فَمَاso not زَالَceased حَتَّىuntil أَنْجَحَmade successful اللهُGod قَصْدَهُhis purpose
فَمَا زَالَ حَتَّى أَنْجَحَ اللهُ قَصْدَهُ
وَدُونَand short of الَّذِيwhat يَبْغِيhe seeks تُفْلare blunted اللَّهَاذِمُkeen blades
وَدُونَ الَّذِي يَبْغِي تُفْل اللَّهَاذِمُ
He never relented until God made his purpose succeed,
While keen blades were blunted short of the goal he sought.
بِقوَّةِwith strength نَفْسٍof soul يَكْفُلُassures النَّصْرَvictory غِبهَاits outcome
بِقوَّةِ نَفْسٍ يَكْفُلُ النَّصْرَ غِبهَا
وَهَلْand is there مَعَwith ضَعْفِweakness النَّفْسِof soul إِلاَّanything but الهَزَائِمُdefeats
وَهَلْ مَعَ ضَعْفِ النَّفْسِ إِلاَّ الهَزَائِمُ
Through strength of soul, whose outcome assures victory;
And what comes with weakness of soul but defeats?
عَزَاءَكُمَاcomfort to you both يَاO جَازِعَيْنِyou two grieving عَلَىfor أَبٍa father
عَزَاءَكُمَا يَا جَازِعَيْنِ عَلَى أَبٍ
تُخَلدُmake immortal ذِكَرَاهُhis memory الْعُلَىgreatness وَالمَكَارِمُand noble deeds
تُخَلدُ ذِكَرَاهُ الْعُلَى وَالمَكَارِمُ
Take comfort, you two grieving for a father
Whose memory greatness and noble deeds make immortal.
جِرَاحُكُمَاthe wounds of you both إِنْif لَمْnot يَكُنْis وَازعُthe restraint الْحِجَىof reason
جِرَاحُكُمَا إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ وَازعُ الْحِجَى
لَهَاfor them آسِياًa healer لَمْnot تَشْفِheal مِنْهَاfrom them المَرَاهِمُointments
لَهَا آسِياً لَمْ تَشْفِ مِنْهَا المَرَاهِمُ
Your wounds—if the restraint of reason does not become
Their healer, no ointments will cure them.
وَحَسْبُكُمَاand enough for you both أَنَّthat البِلادَthe country بِأَسْرِهَاin its entirety
وَحَسْبُكُمَا أَنَّ البِلادَ بِأَسْرِهَا
تُشَارِكُshares فِيin بَلْوَاكُمَاthe affliction of you both وَتُسَاهِمُand bears a part
تُشَارِكُ فِي بَلْوَاكُمَا وَتُسَاهِمُ
Let it suffice you both that the whole country
Shares in your affliction and bears its part,
وَأَنَّand that شُعُوبَthe peoples الشَّرْقِof the East تَبْكِيweep for دِعَامَةًa pillar
وَأَنَّ شُعُوبَ الشَّرْقِ تَبْكِي دِعَامَةً
تَدَاعَتْhas collapsed وَلَيْسَتْand are not بِالكَثِيرِmany الدَّعَائِمُthe pillars
تَدَاعَتْ وَلَيْسَتْ بِالكَثِيرِ الدَّعَائِمُ
And that the peoples of the East weep for a pillar
That has fallen—and pillars are not many.
أَلاbehold إِنَّindeed هَذَاthis الشَّرْقَEast وَاليَوْمَand today بَعْثُهits resurrection
أَلا إِنَّ هَذَا الشَّرْقَ وَاليَوْمَ بَعْثُه
ليُبْكِيهِsurely makes it weep أَلاَّthat not يَيْقَظَawaken اليَوْمَtoday نَائِمُa sleeper
ليُبْكِيهِ أَلاَّ يَيْقَظَ اليَوْمَ نَائِمُ
Behold this East, whose resurrection is today:
It must weep that a sleeper will not wake today.
سَقَتْmay water رَمْسَهُhis grave بَيْنَbetween الضُّلُوعِthe ribs مَدَامِعٌtears
سَقَتْ رَمْسَهُ بَيْنَ الضُّلُوعِ مَدَامِعٌ
وَلاand may not أَظْمَأَتْهُleave him thirsty فِيin ثَرَاهُhis dust المَرَاحِمُmercies
وَلا أَظْمَأَتْهُ فِي ثَرَاهُ المَرَاحِمُ
May tears water his grave within our ribs,
And may mercies never leave him thirsty in his dust.