نَأْسَىwe grieve إِذَاwhen وَدَّعَتْنَاbids us farewell الشَّمْسُthe sun فِيat الطَّفَلِtwilight
نَأْسَى إِذَا وَدَّعَتْنَا الشَّمْسُ فِي الطَّفَلِ
فَكَيْفَthen how مَنْone whom لاَnot نُلاَقِيهِwe meet him إِلىuntil الأَزَلِeternity
فَكَيْفَ مَنْ لاَ نُلاَقِيهِ إِلى الأَزَلِ
We grieve when the sun bids us farewell at dusk;
We grieve when the sun bids us farewell at dusk,
then how much more for one we shall not meet for all eternity?
So what of one we'll never meet till eternity?
تَطْوِيtraverse بِنَاwith us الْعَيْشَlife أَفْرَاسٌsteeds بِلاَwithout حَكَمٍan arbiter
تَطْوِي بِنَا الْعَيْشَ أَفْرَاسٌ بِلاَ حَكَمٍ
وَلاَand not نُخَيَّرُwe are given a choice فِيin الأَوقَاتِthe times وَالنَّقَلِand transitions
وَلاَ نُخَيَّرُ فِي الأَوقَاتِ وَالنَّقَلِ
Steeds carry us swiftly through life without an arbiter,
With unchecked steeds life hastens us along,
nor are we given a choice of times or transitions.
Nor may we choose times or places at our will.
أَلأَمرُthe decree لِلهِbelongs to God فِيin الدُّنْيَاthe world وَغَايَتِهَاand its end
أَلأَمرُ لِلهِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَغَايَتِهَا
أَكُنْتَwhether you were مُمْتَثِلاًobedient أَمْor غَيْرَnot مُمتَثِلِobedient
أَكُنْتَ مُمْتَثِلاً أَمْ غَيْرَ مُمتَثِلِ
The decree belongs to God, in this world and at its end,
Is not God's will in this world and its end
whether you have been obedient or not.
Whether you have obeyed or disobeyed that will?
عَلامَwhy يَأْسُكَyour despair وَالأيَّامُand the days دَائِلَةٌchanging in fortune
عَلامَ يَأْسُكَ وَالأيَّامُ دَائِلَةٌ
أَخَالِدٌimmortal? أَنْتَyou أَمْor بَاقٍremaining إِلَىuntil أَجَلِan appointed end
أَخَالِدٌ أَنْتَ أَمْ بَاقٍ إِلَى أَجَلِ
Why do you despair, when the days bring changing fortunes?
Why despair when the days go on forever?
Are you immortal, or here until an appointed end?
Are you immortal or destined to an appointed time?
أَخٌa brother لَنَاof ours كَانَwas سَمْحَgenerous الْقَلْبِof heart وَافِيَهُfaithful in it
أَخٌ لَنَا كَانَ سَمْحَ الْقَلْبِ وَافِيَهُ
طَلْقَfluent اللِّسانِof tongue سَلِيلَdrawn free الْوُدِّin affection مِنْfrom عِلَلِflaws
طَلْقَ اللِّسانِ سَلِيلَ الْوُدِّ مِنْ عِلَلِ
A brother of ours, he was generous and true of heart,
A brother we had, kind of heart, eloquent,
fluent of tongue, his affection free of flaws.
Free from all fault, affectionate and gentle.
نُسَائِلُwe inquire اليَوْمَtoday عَنْهُabout him فِيin مَعَاهِدِهِhis familiar haunts
نُسَائِلُ اليَوْمَ عَنْهُ فِي مَعَاهِدِهِ
فَلاَbut not نُصَادِفُwe find إِلاَّexcept خَيْبَةَdisappointment الأَمَلِof hope
فَلاَ نُصَادِفُ إِلاَّ خَيْبَةَ الأَمَلِ
We ask about him today in his familiar haunts,
Today we ask of him in his haunts and get
but find nothing except disappointed hope.
Nothing but disappointment and hopes destroyed.
أَيْنَwhere الفُكَاهَةُthe wit فِيin فَنٍّart وَفِيand in أَدَبٍliterature
أَيْنَ الفُكَاهَةُ فِي فَنٍّ وَفِي أَدَبٍ
أَيْنَwhere الخُصُومَاتُthe polemics وَالتَّقْلِيبُand scrutiny فِيof الدُّوَلِstates
أَيْنَ الخُصُومَاتُ وَالتَّقْلِيبُ فِي الدُّوَلِ
Where is the wit in art and literature?
Where is the humor in composition and in literature?
Where are the polemics and the scrutiny of states?
Where are the disputes and changes in governments?
مَضَىhas passed away الأَدِيبُthe writer الصَّحَافِيُّthe journalist الَّذِيwho عَمَرَتْfilled
مَضَى الأَدِيبُ الصَّحَافِيُّ الَّذِي عَمَرَتْ
آثَارُهُhis works الشْرْقthe East بَيْنَbetween السَّهْلِthe plain وَالْجَبَلand the mountain
آثَارُهُ الشْرْق بَيْنَ السَّهْلِ وَالْجَبَل
Gone is the writer-journalist who filled
The writer, journalist, whose works made the East,
the East with his works, from plain to mountain.
From plain to mountain, flourish has departed.
عَفَتْhave faded خَلاَئِقُهُhis virtues الغَرَّاءُradiant وَانْطَفَأَتْand were extinguished
عَفَتْ خَلاَئِقُهُ الغَرَّاءُ وَانْطَفَأَتْ
بِهَاwith them مصَابِيحُlamps كَانَتْwere قُرَّةَthe delight المُقَلِof the eyes
بِهَا مصَابِيحُ كَانَتْ قُرَّةَ المُقَلِ
His radiant virtues have faded; quenched
His brilliant qualities are extinct and with them
with them are lamps that once delighted the eyes.
The lamps he lit, once solace to the distressed.
سرِيرَةٌan inner nature طَهُرَتْwas purified مِنْof كُلِّevery شَائِبَةٍblemish
سرِيرَةٌ طَهُرَتْ مِنْ كُلِّ شَائِبَةٍ
ونُزِّهَتْand was kept free عَنْfrom مُدَاجَاةٍdissimulation وَعَنْand from دَخَلِhidden deceit
ونُزِّهَتْ عَنْ مُدَاجَاةٍ وَعَنْ دَخَلِ
An inner nature purified of every blemish,
A secret heart, purged of all dross, remote
and kept free of dissimulation and deceit;
From hypocrisy and fraud and far from guile;
وهِمَّةٌand resolve فِيin مَضَاءٍvigor فِيin مُثَابَرَةٍperseverance
وهِمَّةٌ فِي مَضَاءٍ فِي مُثَابَرَةٍ
زَانَتْadorned عَلَىthroughout الدَّهرِtime جِيدَthe neck الْعصرof the age منْfrom عَطَلِbareness
زَانَتْ عَلَى الدَّهرِ جِيدَ الْعصر منْ عَطَلِ
and resolve, vigorous and persevering,
A will resolved on highest aims, persistent
that adorned the age's bare neck for all time.
In effort, shirking neither work nor weariness;
نَاهِيكَhe amply suffices you مِنْas a رجُلٍman فَرْدٍpeerless بِهِin him اجْتَمَعتْwere gathered
نَاهِيكَ مِنْ رجُلٍ فَرْدٍ بِهِ اجْتَمَعتْ
كُلُّall الصِّفَاتِthe qualities الَّتِيthat تُرْضِيكَplease you فِيin الرَّجُلa man
كُلُّ الصِّفَاتِ الَّتِي تُرْضِيكَ فِي الرَّجُل
What a peerless man, in whom were gathered
A peerless man endowed with qualities
all the qualities that please you in a man!
To satisfy you whatsoe'er you wished in man;
يَسْعَىhe strives فَيَدْأَبand so perseveres لاnot يَثْنِيturns aside عَزِيمَتَهُhis resolve
يَسْعَى فَيَدْأَب لا يَثْنِي عَزِيمَتَهُ
عَادًan assailant مِنof الْخَوْفِfear أَوor غَاشِan enveloping pall مِنَof المَلَلweariness
عَادً مِن الْخَوْفِ أَو غَاشِ مِنَ المَلَل
He strives and perseveres; his resolve is not bent
He strove and labored, never bent his purpose
by an assault of fear or a shroud of weariness.
Thwarted by fear or turned by weariness;
مَاhow كَانَhe was أَلْيَنَهُhow gentle he was فِيin حلِّsolving مُعْضِلَةٍa difficult problem
مَا كَانَ أَلْيَنَهُ فِي حلِّ مُعْضِلَةٍ
وكَانَand he was أَصْلَبَهُhow steadfast he was فِيin الْحَادِثِthe event الجَلَلِgrave
وكَانَ أَصْلَبَهُ فِي الْحَادِثِ الجَلَلِ
How gentle he was in solving a difficult problem,
Gentlest solving the most stubborn problem,
and how steadfast in a grave calamity.
Firmest when faced with event most dire;
وَكَانَand he was أَبْرَعَهُhow skillful he was وَصْفاًin description وَأَمْلأَهُand how captivating he was
وَكَانَ أَبْرَعَهُ وَصْفاً وَأَمْلأَهُ
لِلْعَيْنِto the eye وَالسَّمْعِand the ear إِنْif يَكْتُبْhe writes وَإِنْand if يَقُلِhe speaks
لِلْعَيْنِ وَالسَّمْعِ إِنْ يَكْتُبْ وَإِنْ يَقُلِ
And how masterful in description, how captivating
Most eloquent describing, most prolific
to eye and ear, whether writing or speaking!
For eye and ear, writing and speaking;
كَانَّas though أَيَّامَهُhis days دِيباجَةٌa brocade نُسِجَتْwas woven
كَانَّ أَيَّامَهُ دِيباجَةٌ نُسِجَتْ
مِنَfrom المَفَاخِرِglorious deeds فِيin حَلٍّsojourn وَمُرْتَحَلِand travel
مِنَ المَفَاخِرِ فِي حَلٍّ وَمُرْتَحَلِ
His days were like a brocade woven
His days were woven of the finest deeds
from glorious deeds, in sojourn and in travel.
In settled life and wanderings to and fro;
قَدْindeed آلَhas passed سامٍSami إِلىinto النُّعمَىbliss وَأَحسبُهُand I imagine him
قَدْ آلَ سامٍ إِلى النُّعمَى وَأَحسبُهُ
يشْكُوhe complains of القَرارَrest بِلاَwithout كَدٍّtoil وَلاَand without شُغُلِwork
يشْكُو القَرارَ بِلاَ كَدٍّ وَلاَ شُغُلِ
Sami has passed into bliss, and I imagine him
Now safe in comfort's lap, methinks he suffers
complaining of rest without toil or work.
The grave's confinement, toilsome and obscure;
تَقَاصرَfell short العُمْرُthe lifespan عَنْof أَدْنَىthe least مَطَامِعِهِhis aspirations
تَقَاصرَ العُمْرُ عَنْ أَدْنَى مَطَامِعِهِ
فَيَاso O أَسًىgrief أَنَّthat ذَاكَthat العُمْرَlife لَمْdid not يَطُلِlast long
فَيَا أَسًى أَنَّ ذَاكَ العُمْرَ لَمْ يَطُلِ
His life fell short of his least aspirations;
Life was too short for least of his ambitions,
alas, that such a life did not last longer!
Alas, that life was not more prolonged!
لَئِنْif indeed بَكَتْwept لِنَوَاهُfor his departure مِصْرُEgypt مِنْfrom ثَكَلٍbereavement
لَئِنْ بَكَتْ لِنَوَاهُ مِصْرُ مِنْ ثَكَلٍ
مَاwhat حَالُthe condition لُبْنَانَof Lebanon بيْنَbetween اليُتْمِorphanhood وَالثَّكَلِand bereavement
مَا حَالُ لُبْنَانَ بيْنَ اليُتْمِ وَالثَّكَلِ
If Egypt wept in bereavement for his departure,
If Egypt mourns him with a weight of sorrow,
what of Lebanon, between orphanhood and bereavement?
How must Lebanon feel, orphaned and bereft!
تَبَدَّلَتْhave changed بِمَنَاحَاتٍinto lamentations بِلاَبِلُهُits nightingales
تَبَدَّلَتْ بِمَنَاحَاتٍ بِلاَبِلُهُ
مِنَfrom الأغَارِيدِsongs فِيin صَفْوٍserenity وَفِيand in جَذَلِjoy
مِنَ الأغَارِيدِ فِي صَفْوٍ وَفِي جَذَلِ
Its nightingales have turned to lamentations
Songs of joy are turned to shrill lament
instead of songs sung in serenity and joy,
On a youth of free opinion, safe from error,
عَلَىfor فَتًىa young man كَانَwas حُرَّfree الرَّأْيِin judgment يَعْصِمُهُhe guards it
عَلَى فَتًى كَانَ حُرَّ الرَّأْيِ يَعْصِمُهُ
مَاas far as اسْطَاعَhe could بَحْثاًthrough inquiry وَتَمْحِيصاًand scrutiny مِنْfrom الزَّلَلerror
مَا اسْطَاعَ بَحْثاً وَتَمْحِيصاً مِنْ الزَّلَل
for a young man of independent judgment, which he guarded
Who served the nations with complete devotion
from error by inquiry and scrutiny, as best he could.
In word and deed, as leaders serve and do.
وَقَامand he rose فِيin خِدْمَةِservice الأوْطَانِof homelands مُضْطَلِعاًundertaking
وَقَام فِي خِدْمَةِ الأوْطَانِ مُضْطَلِعاً
بِهَاwith it اضْطِلاَعَthe undertaking فُحُولِmasters القَوْلِof speech وَالعَمَلِand action
بِهَا اضْطِلاَعَ فُحُولِ القَوْلِ وَالعَمَلِ
And he rose to serve his homelands, shouldering
In his last nights he labored as he had
that charge as masters of word and deed do.
In early days, unsparing of his pains.
فِيin أُخْرَيَاتِthe last لَيالِيهِof his nights يَجِدُّhe works earnestly بِهَاin it
فِي أُخْرَيَاتِ لَيالِيهِ يَجِدُّ بِهَا
سَعْياًin striving كَمَاjust as جَدَّhe worked earnestly فِيin أَيَّامِهِhis days الأُوَلِearliest
سَعْياً كَمَا جَدَّ فِي أَيَّامِهِ الأُوَلِ
In his final nights he labored in that service,
O father of nobilities, he served them all,
striving as earnestly as in his earliest days.
Not favoring race or sect or family.
أَبَاO father of المُرُوءَاتِnoble deeds يُسْدِيَهَاhe bestows them وَلَيْسَand there is no بِهَاin them
أَبَا المُرُوءَاتِ يُسْدِيَهَا وَلَيْسَ بِهَا
يُرَىis seen التَّبايُنُdistinction فِيamong الأجْنَاسِraces وَالمِلَلِand creeds
يُرَى التَّبايُنُ فِي الأجْنَاسِ وَالمِلَلِ
O father of noble deeds, bestowing them with no
Such prayers as you ever Spread go with you now,
distinction between races and creeds.
Each severance knit, each tie more tightly bound.
تِلْكَthose الصَّلاَتُgifts الَّتِيwhich مَاnot زِلْتَyou ceased تَبْذُلُهَاyou bestow them
تِلْكَ الصَّلاَتُ الَّتِي مَا زِلْتَ تَبْذُلُهَا
لِكُلِّto every مُنْقَطِعٍunconnected person أَوْor كُلِّevery مُتَصِلِconnected person
لِكُلِّ مُنْقَطِعٍ أَوْ كُلِّ مُتَصِلِ
Those gifts you never ceased to bestow
Your benefits live in men's memories
on anyone without ties or anyone connected
And grow, example that you set for all.
دَيْنٌa debt ستَرْبُوwill grow عَلَىbeyond الذِّكْرَىremembrance فَوَائِدُهُits interest
دَيْنٌ ستَرْبُو عَلَى الذِّكْرَى فَوَائِدُهُ
بِمَاthrough what ضَرَبْتyou set بِهِwith it لِلنَّاسِfor people مِنْas مَثَلِan example
بِمَا ضَرَبْت بِهِ لِلنَّاسِ مِنْ مَثَلِ
are a debt whose interest will surpass remembrance,
Farewell, may God's peace go with you, translated
through the example you set for people.
In body only, you in spirit stay!
فَاذْهَبْso go عَلَيْكَupon you سَلاَمُpeace اللهِof God مُنْتَقِلاًdeparting
فَاذْهَبْ عَلَيْكَ سَلاَمُ اللهِ مُنْتَقِلاً
جِسْماًin body وَرَسْمُكَand your image حَيٌّliving غَيْرُnot مُنْتَقِلِdeparting
جِسْماً وَرَسْمُكَ حَيٌّ غَيْرُ مُنْتَقِلِ
So go, God's peace upon you, departing
I say, "Condolences to you!" yet they
in body, while your image lives on, never departing.
Are for companions mourning, and for me.
آلَO family of القُصَيْريِّal-Qusayri إِنْif قُلْتُI said الْعزَاءُconsolation لَكُمْfor you
آلَ القُصَيْريِّ إِنْ قُلْتُ الْعزَاءُ لَكُمْ
فَإِنَّهُthen it is لِلرِّفَاقِfor the companions الجَازِعِينgrief-stricken وَلِيand for me
فَإِنَّهُ لِلرِّفَاقِ الجَازِعِين وَلِي
O family of al-Qusayri, if I offer you consolation,
We wept for him while crowds in the sublime procession
it is also for the grieving companions and for me.
Bore him forth, tears of pity streaming down.
لَقَدْindeed بَكَيْنَاهُwe wept for him وَالْعَلْيَاءُand the heavens مُسْعِدَةٌjoining in mourning
لَقَدْ بَكَيْنَاهُ وَالْعَلْيَاءُ مُسْعِدَةٌ
مُشَيِّعِيهِthose escorting his funeral بِدَمْعِwith the tears العَارِضِof the cloud الهَطِلِrain-pouring
مُشَيِّعِيهِ بِدَمْعِ العَارِضِ الهَطِلِ
We have indeed wept for him, and the heavens joined
his mourners with the tears of a downpouring cloud.
Partial English translation: 56 of 58 Arabic lines translated.