أَيْنَwhere أَقْطَابُthe leading figures مِصْرَEgypt وَالأَعْلامُand the luminaries
أَيْنَ أَقْطَابُ مِصْرَ وَالأَعْلامُ
أَيْقَظُواthey awakened مِصْرَEgypt للحياةto life وَنَامُواand they slept
أَيْقَظُوا مِصْرَ للحياة وَنَامُوا
Where are Egypt's pillars and luminaries?
Where are the leaders of Egypt, the notables?
They awakened Egypt to life and slept.
They awakened Egypt to life, then slept.
عُوجِلُواthey were swiftly overtaken بِالحُتُوفِby deaths فِيهَاin her فَبَانُواso they departed
عُوجِلُوا بِالحُتُوفِ فِيهَا فَبَانُوا
لاحِقاًfollowing بِالهُمَامِin the noble hero's wake مِنْهُمْamong them هُمَامِa noble hero
لاحِقاً بِالهُمَامِ مِنْهُمْ هُمَامِ
Death struck them swiftly there, and they departed,
They were hasty in their shrouds therein, so they departed,
hero following hero among their ranks.
Seeking after the noble ones among them, the nobles.
لاnot تَكَادُalmost الأَعْلامُthe banners بَعْدَafter الخَطْthe calamity (start)
لا تَكَادُ الأَعْلامُ بَعْدَ الخَطْ
بِcalamity (end) حَتَّىbefore تُنَكَّسَare lowered الأَعْلامُthe banners
بِ حَتَّى تُنَكَّسَ الأَعْلامُ
Scarcely do the banners rise after a calamity
The notables had scarcely left
before the banners are lowered.
Before the notables were brought down.
طَعْنَةٌa stab إِثْرَafter طَعْنَةٍa stab فِيin حَشَاهَاher entrails
طَعْنَةٌ إِثْرَ طَعْنَةٍ فِي حَشَاهَا
آهِah مِمَّاat what جَنَىwrought عَلَيْهَاupon her الحِمَامُdeath
آهِ مِمَّا جَنَى عَلَيْهَا الحِمَامُ
A stab after a stab in her entrails!
Blow after blow into its bowels -
Ah, what death has wrought upon her!
Oh! What the doves have reaped therein.
أكْرَمَhonored اللهُGod مُصْطَفَاهُHis chosen one, Mustafa وَمَاand not الدنْthe world (start)
أكْرَمَ اللهُ مُصْطَفَاهُ وَمَا الدنْ
يَاworld (end) مُقَامٌan abode لَوْeven if طَابَwas pleasant فِيهاin it المُقَامُthe stay
يَا مُقَامٌ لَوْ طَابَ فِيها المُقَامُ
God honored His chosen one, Mustafa; this world
May Allah honor His Chosen One; and what is the world
is no abode, even if dwelling in it were sweet.
To one whose stay therein is wholesome?
فَازَhe attained فِيهَاin it بِمَاwith what تُرَجِّيهِhopes for it نَفْسٌa soul
فَازَ فِيهَا بِمَا تُرَجِّيهِ نَفْسٌ
مِنْof عُلُوٍّhigh rank فَلَمْso did not يَفْتْهُescape him سَنَامُa summit
مِنْ عُلُوٍّ فَلَمْ يَفْتْهُ سَنَامُ
He attained in it what a soul hopes for
He succeeded therein in what a soul desires
in lofty rank; no summit eluded him.
Of loftiness, so it did not escape him sleeplessness.
وَبَلاand experienced مِنْof ثِمَارِهَاits fruits كُلَّevery مُرٍّbitter thing
وَبَلا مِنْ ثِمَارِهَا كُلَّ مُرٍّ
ذَاقَهُtasted it قَبْلَهُbefore him الرِّجَالُthe men العِظَامُthe great
ذَاقَهُ قَبْلَهُ الرِّجَالُ العِظَامُ
And he tasted every bitter fruit it bore,
And he was afflicted with all bitterness
which great men had tasted before him.
That the great men tasted before him.
فَتَوَلَّىso he turned away عَنْهَاfrom it وَمَنْand whoever أَرْضَعَتْهُit suckled him
فَتَوَلَّى عَنْهَا وَمَنْ أَرْضَعَتْهُ
ذَلِكَthat الصَّابَbitter sap لَمْdid not يُضِرْهُharm him الفِطَامُweaning
ذَلِكَ الصَّابَ لَمْ يُضِرْهُ الفِطَامُ
So he turned away from it; and one whom it suckled
So he turned away from it and from the one it nurtured,
with that bitter sap is not harmed by weaning.
For that weaned one, weaning did no harm.
طفِئَwas extinguished الَيْومَtoday ذَلِكَthat الكَوْكَبُthe star الهَاguiding (start)
طفِئَ الَيْومَ ذَلِكَ الكَوْكَبُ الهَا
دِيguiding (end) فَهَلْso, has ...? دَالَprevailed وَاسْتَتَبَّand took firm hold الظَّلامُdarkness
دِي فَهَلْ دَالَ وَاسْتَتَبَّ الظَّلامُ
Today that guiding star has been extinguished;
That guiding star was extinguished today,
has darkness then prevailed and firmly taken hold?
So has it set, and the darkness intensified?
وَبِمَاذَاand with what كَانَتْwas she تُعَالِجُtreating أَسْقَاailments (start)
وَبِمَاذَا كَانَتْ تُعَالِجُ أَسْقَا
مٌailments (end) ثِقَالٌgrievous تَمُدُّهَاreinforce them أسْقَامُailments
مٌ ثِقَالٌ تَمُدُّهَا أسْقَامُ
And with what was she treating ailments
And with what were lofty goals treated
so grievous, fed by further ailments?
When burdens made them stooped and sick?
قَيَّضَprovided الحَظُّfortune مَاهِراًan expert لِلمُدَاوَاfor healing (start)
قَيَّضَ الحَظُّ مَاهِراً لِلمُدَاوَا
ةِhealing (end) فَخَفَّso lessened الأَذَىthe suffering وَكَفَّand ceased المَلامُreproach
ةِ فَخَفَّ الأَذَى وَكَفَّ المَلامُ
Fortune provided an expert for healing;
Fate appointed him as one to heal
so suffering eased, and reproach ceased.
So harm was lessened, and blame ceased.
وَتَوَلَّىand undertook الإِصْلاَحَreform مَاas far as اسْطَاعَhe could أَنْto يُبْـtwist (start)
وَتَوَلَّى الإِصْلاَحَ مَا اسْطَاعَ أَنْ يُبْـ
ـرِمَtwist (end) حَبْلَthe rope الرَّجَاءِof hope وَهْوَthough it was رِمَامُrotted remnants
ـرِمَ حَبْلَ الرَّجَاءِ وَهْوَ رِمَامُ
And he undertook reform, as best he could, to twist
He undertook reform to the extent he could
the rope of hope, though it lay in tatters.
Tie the rope of hope while it was fraying.
يَرْقُبُhe heeded اللهGod فِيregarding الضِّعَافِthe weak وَلاand not يَثْdeter (start)
يَرْقُبُ الله فِي الضِّعَافِ وَلا يَثْ
نِيهِdeter him (end) خَوْفٌfear وَلاand not يَعُوقُhinder صِدَامُconflict
نِيهِ خَوْفٌ وَلا يَعُوقُ صِدَامُ
He heeded God in dealing with the weak; neither
He regards God in the weak, and no fear deters him
fear deterred him nor conflict hindered him.
Nor obstacles impede him.
مُبصِراًdiscerning مَوْضِعَthe place الصَّوابِof rightness وَإِنْand even if عَشَّـveiled (start)
مُبصِراً مَوْضِعَ الصَّوابِ وَإِنْ عَشَّـ
ـىveiled (end) عَلَيْهِto him الغُمُوضُobscurity وَالإِبْهَامُand ambiguity
ـى عَلَيْهِ الغُمُوضُ وَالإِبْهَامُ
Discerning where right lay, even when it was veiled
Seeing clearly the place of right, though
from him by obscurity and ambiguity,
Obscurity and ambiguities beset it.
مُمْضِياًcarrying out مَاwhat مَضَىdecreed بِهِwith it الشَّرْعُsacred law والخَصْـand the adversary (start)
مُمْضِياً مَا مَضَى بِهِ الشَّرْعُ والخَصْـ
ـمُadversary (end) شِرَّةٌferocity وَفِيهِand in him عُرَامُviolence
ـمُ شِرَّةٌ وَفِيهِ عُرَامُ
carrying out what sacred law decreed, though the adversary
Advancing what the Sacred Law and ordinance mandated,
was fierce and full of violence.
Though a portion be suspect and herein defects.
فَأَصَابَso he received الجَزاءَthe reward عَزْلاًdismissal وَلَكِنْand yet
فَأَصَابَ الجَزاءَ عَزْلاً وَلَكِنْ
رَضِيَwas pleased اللهُGod عَنْهُwith him وَالإِسْلامُand Islam
رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ وَالإِسْلامُ
So he received dismissal as his reward; yet
So he attained dismissal as reward, but
God and Islam were pleased with him.
God was pleased with him, and Islam.
نَاظِرُthe overseer الوَقْفِthe endowment أَمْسِyesterday أَصْبَحَbecame فِيon تَاfollowing (start)
نَاظِرُ الوَقْفِ أَمْسِ أَصْبَحَ فِي تَا
لِيهِfollowing it (end) وَالحَرْثُand tillage شأْنُهُhis charge وَالسَّوَامُand grazing livestock
لِيهِ وَالحَرْثُ شأْنُهُ وَالسَّوَامُ
Yesterday's endowment overseer became, on the following
Yesterday overseer of endowments, today
day, responsible for tillage and grazing herds.
He awoke divested while tilling and plowing.
جَدَّhe labored فِيin المَوْقِفِthe post الجَدِيدِthe new فَلَمْso did not يَمْremain (start)
جَدَّ فِي المَوْقِفِ الجَدِيدِ فَلَمْ يَمْ
كُثْremain (end) عَلَىunder عَهْدِهِhis tenure الطِّرَازُthe pattern القُدَامُthe old
كُثْ عَلَى عَهْدِهِ الطِّرَازُ القُدَامُ
He labored in the new post, so there no longer lingered
He was diligent in the new position, no longer
under his tenure the old ways.
Did the fine qualities of old linger.
وَزَكَاand increased الرَّيْعُthe revenue مَاas much as زَكَاit increased وَأَتَتْand reached مَاwhat
وَزَكَا الرَّيْعُ مَا زَكَا وَأَتَتْ مَا
لَمْnot يَكُنْwas فِيin حِسَابِهَاtheir reckoning الأرْقَامُthe figures
لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي حِسَابِهَا الأرْقَامُ
Revenue grew and grew, and the figures reached what
And the harvest thrived as it thrived, and there came what
had never entered their reckoning.
Had not been accounted in its calculations.
رَجُلٌa man لَمْdid not يَهُمَّهُconcern him الزَّرْعُthe crops وَالضَّرْand the udder (start)
رَجُلٌ لَمْ يَهُمَّهُ الزَّرْعُ وَالضَّرْ
عُudder (end) وَلاnor البَيْعُsale فِيهِماin both of them وَالسُّوَامُand bargaining
عُ وَلا البَيْعُ فِيهِما وَالسُّوَامُ
A man whose concern was not crops and udders,
A man unconcerned with sowing, tilling,
nor their sale or bargaining over them.
Selling therein, and plowing.
هَمُّهُhis concern نِعْمَةٌwell-being يَعِيشُونَthey live فِيهَاin it
هَمُّهُ نِعْمَةٌ يَعِيشُونَ فِيهَا
بِصَفَاءٍin serenity وَيُؤْمَنُand is not feared الإجْرَامُcrime
بِصَفَاءٍ وَيُؤْمَنُ الإجْرَامُ
His concern was well-being in which they might live
His care that they live
in serenity, without fear of crime.
In probity, and safety from crime.
فَإِذَاthen when اسْتَمْتَعُواthey enjoyed بِهَاin it لَمْdid not يَخَلْهَاdeem it
فَإِذَا اسْتَمْتَعُوا بِهَا لَمْ يَخَلْهَا
كَمَلَتْwas complete أَوْuntil تُثَقَّفُare cultivated الأَفْهَامُminds
كَمَلَتْ أَوْ تُثَقَّفُ الأَفْهَامُ
And when they enjoyed it, he did not deem it
So if they enjoy it, it is not marred
complete until minds were cultivated.
Whether perfected or minds enlightened.
ضَحِكَlaughed النُّوْرُlight فِيin القُرَىthe villages وَتَغَنَّىand sang
ضَحِكَ النُّوْرُ فِي القُرَى وَتَغَنَّى
بَعْدَafter نَوْحٍlamentation عَلَىupon الغُصُونِthe branches الحَمَامُthe doves
بَعْدَ نَوْحٍ عَلَى الغُصُونِ الحَمَامُ
Light laughed in the villages, and there sang,
Laughter shone in the villages, and after
after lamentation, the doves upon the boughs.
Sorrow, the doves sang from the branches.
وَجَرَىand flowed المَاءُthe water رَائِقاًclear وَأُضِيئَتْand were kindled
وَجَرَى المَاءُ رَائِقاً وَأُضِيئَتْ
شُهُبٌmeteors لِلظَّلامِfor darkness مِنْهَاfrom them انْهِزَامُflight
شُهُبٌ لِلظَّلامِ مِنْهَا انْهِزَامُ
And the water flowed clear, and there were kindled
The water ran pure, and meteors
blazing stars that put darkness to flight.
Shone for the darkness, and it retreated.
وَإِلَىand at جَانِبِthe side of المَصَانِعِthe factories شِيدَتْwere built
وَإِلَى جَانِبِ المَصَانِعِ شِيدَتْ
لِلعُلُومِfor learning الصرُوحُthe lofty edifices وَالآطَامُand the fortified towers
لِلعُلُومِ الصرُوحُ وَالآطَامُ
And beside the factories were built
And alongside the factories were erected
for learning, lofty edifices and towers.
Edifices of learning, and high pillars.
ذَاكَthat عَهْدٌan age تَسَامَعَheard far and wide القُطْرُthe land فِيهِin it
ذَاكَ عَهْدٌ تَسَامَعَ القُطْرُ فِيهِ
قَوْلَthe words مَنْone who قَالَsaid هَكَذَاthus الحُكَّامُthe rulers
قَوْلَ مَنْ قَالَ هَكَذَا الحُكَّامُ
That was an age when the land heard, far and wide,
That was an age in which the nation heard
the words of one who said: 'Such are rulers!'
The word of one who said: Thus, the rulers!
وَعَلاand prevailed فِيهِin it رَأْيُthe judgment مَنْthe one whose رَأْيُهُhis judgment الأعْـhighest (start)
وَعَلا فِيهِ رَأْيُ مَنْ رَأْيُهُ الأعْـ
ـلَىhighest (end) وَإِلزَامُهُand his binding command هُوَit الإِلزَامُthe binding command
ـلَى وَإِلزَامُهُ هُوَ الإِلزَامُ
And there prevailed the judgment of him whose judgment was supreme,
And the view of one whose view was highest prevailed,
and whose command was the binding command.
And his decree was the decree enforced.
فَدَعَاهُso he called him لِلاضْطِلاعِto shoulder responsibility بِأَمْرٍfor a task
فَدَعَاهُ لِلاضْطِلاعِ بِأَمْرٍ
يَتَّقِيهِshuns it المُمَرَّسُthe seasoned المِقْدَامُthe intrepid
يَتَّقِيهِ المُمَرَّسُ المِقْدَامُ
So he called him to shoulder a task
So he called him to undertake a matter
that even the seasoned, intrepid man would shun.
That the seasoned, bold man fears.
كَانَwas أَمْرُthe state الأَوْقَافِof the endowments نُكْراًgrievous وَبِالأوْand in the endowments (start)
كَانَ أَمْرُ الأَوْقَافِ نُكْراً وَبِالأوْ
قَافِendowments (end) دَاءٌa disease مِنَof الجُمُودِstagnation عُقَامُincurable
قَافِ دَاءٌ مِنَ الجُمُودِ عُقَامُ
The state of the endowments was grievous; within the endowments
Administration of endowments was odious, and
lay an incurable disease of stagnation.
In endowments from stagnation the illness was severe.
لاnot تَرَىsees العَيْنُthe eye فِيin جوَانِبِهَاtheir sides إِلاَّexcept
لا تَرَى العَيْنُ فِي جوَانِبِهَا إِلاَّ
ثُقُوباًholes كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were كِلامُwounds
ثُقُوباً كَأَنَّهُنَّ كِلامُ
The eye sees along their sides nothing but
The eye saw in its aspects only
holes that look like wounds.
Holes, as though they were words.
إِنْif جَرَىarose ذِكْرُهَاmention of them غَلاَwent too far النَّاسُthe people فِيin الذَّمِّcondemnation
إِنْ جَرَى ذِكْرُهَا غَلاَ النَّاسُ فِي الذَّمِّ
وَمَاyet not كُلِّevery قَائِلٍspeaker ذَمَّامُa habitual faultfinder
وَمَا كُلِّ قَائِلٍ ذَمَّامُ
Whenever they were mentioned, people went too far in condemnation,
Whenever it was mentioned, people exceeded in blame,
yet not every speaker was a habitual faultfinder.
Though not every speaker was blamable.
كَيْفَhow لاnot تَكْثُرُmultiply المَثَالِبُthe failings وَالحَاand the situation (start)
كَيْفَ لا تَكْثُرُ المَثَالِبُ وَالحَا
لَةُsituation (end) فَوْضَىchaos وَلِلحُقُوقِand for rights اهْتِضَامُinfringement
لَةُ فَوْضَى وَلِلحُقُوقِ اهْتِضَامُ
How could failings not abound, when the situation
How could defects not be frequent
was chaos and rights were infringed?
While the state was chaos, and rights trampled?
نَصَرَaided العَامِلِينَthe workers فِيهَاin them فَتىًa young man دَلَّmarked out
نَصَرَ العَامِلِينَ فِيهَا فَتىً دَلَّ
عَلَيْهِto him النُّبُوغُgenius وَهْوَwhile he was غُلامُa boy
عَلَيْهِ النُّبُوغُ وَهْوَ غُلامُ
A young man aided those working there, one marked out
He championed the workers among them, a young man
by genius while he was still a boy.
Indicated by brilliance, while still a boy.
دَائِبٌunflagging فِيin ابْتِغَاءِpursuit مَاwhat يَبْتَغِيهِhe seeks it
دَائِبٌ فِي ابْتِغَاءِ مَا يَبْتَغِيهِ
سَاهِرُwakeful اللَّيْلِthe night وَالِّلذَاتُand pleasures نِيَامُasleep
سَاهِرُ اللَّيْلِ وَالِّلذَاتُ نِيَامُ
Unflagging in the pursuit of what he seeks,
Dedicated to pursuing what the wakeful
wakeful through the night while pleasures sleep.
Seeks by night, while pleasures slumber.
يُدْرِكُhe attains الشَّأْوَthe goal بَعْدَafter آخَرَanother يَتْلُوfollows
يُدْرِكُ الشَّأْوَ بَعْدَ آخَرَ يَتْلُو
هُit وَفِيand at أَوَّلِthe beginning المَجَالِthe course الزِّحَامُthe crowd
هُ وَفِي أَوَّلِ المَجَالِ الزِّحَامُ
He reaches goal after goal, one following
Grasping significance after the last, with
another, while the crowd is at the course's beginning.
Crowding ahead and jostling first.
كُلَّمَاwhenever شَطَّتِgrew distant المَنَاصِبُthe offices أَدْناhe brought near
كُلَّمَا شَطَّتِ المَنَاصِبُ أَدْنا
هَاthem وَقَدْand already رَاضَtamed صَعْبَهَاtheir difficulty الاِعْتِزَامُresolve
هَا وَقَدْ رَاضَ صَعْبَهَا الاِعْتِزَامُ
Whenever offices lay far away, he brought
Whenever positions were expanded
them near, resolve having tamed their difficulty.
He drew nearer, though assuming them was hard.
ذَلِكُمْthat man (to you all) مُصْطَفَىMustafa تَنَفَّلَwon extra rewards فِيهَاin them
ذَلِكُمْ مُصْطَفَى تَنَفَّلَ فِيهَا
وَلَهُand for him اليُمْنُgood fortune حَيْثُwherever حَلَّhe settled لِزَامُan inseparable companion
وَلَهُ اليُمْنُ حَيْثُ حَلَّ لِزَامُ
That is Mustafa, who won extra rewards in them;
That was Mustafa who excelled in them
and good fortune was his constant companion wherever he settled.
And good fortune was his wherever resolutions were binding.
أَوْطَأَتْهُthey made him tread عَلْيَاءهَاtheir summit فَعَنَتْso bowed بِالطَّوْwillingly (start)
أَوْطَأَتْهُ عَلْيَاءهَا فَعَنَتْ بِالطَّوْ
عِwillingly (end) لِلحَاكِمِbefore the ruler النَّزِيهِthe upright الهَامُthe heads
عِ لِلحَاكِمِ النَّزِيهِ الهَامُ
They set him upon their summit; and willingly
Its haughtiness brought him down, so it favored with obedience
heads bowed before the upright ruler.
The just, decisive ruler.
Claude 2 is inferred from the historical translator configuration. The original record does not identify its model.