لَمْnot تُطِيقِيyou could bear بَعْدَafter الأَلِيفِthe beloved companion الْبَقَاءَliving on
لَمْ تُطِيقِي بَعْدَ الأَلِيفِ الْبَقَاءَ
وَكَرِهْتِand you hated الْحَيَاةَlife أَمْسَتْit became شَقَاءَmisery
وَكَرِهْتِ الْحَيَاةَ أَمْسَتْ شَقَاءَ
You could not bear to live on after your beloved companion,
You could not bear to remain, after becoming accustomed,
And you hated life, which had become misery.
And you hated life, it became misery,
فَوَهَىso weakened قَلْبُكِyour heart الْكَسِيرُbroken الْمُعَنَّىtormented
فَوَهَى قَلْبُكِ الْكَسِيرُ الْمُعَنَّى
وَتَعَجَّلتِand you hastened لِلرَّحِيلِto depart الْقَضَاءَfate
وَتَعَجَّلتِ لِلرَّحِيلِ الْقَضَاءَ
So your broken, tormented heart grew weak,
So your aching, troubled heart grew weak,
And you hastened fate, that you might depart.
And you hastened to meet your fate.
مَاwhat الَّذِيwhich يَفْعَلُdoes الدَّوَاءُmedicine إِذَاif لَمْnot
مَا الَّذِي يَفْعَلُ الدَّوَاءُ إِذَا لَمْ
يَبْقَremains فيin الْجِسْمِthe body مَاanything that يُعِينُaids الدَّوَاءِthe medicine
يَبْقَ في الْجِسْمِ مَا يُعِينُ الدَّوَاءِ
What can medicine do if nothing
What can medicine do, if there remains
remains in the body to aid the medicine?
In the body nothing to aid the medicine?
خِيلَit seemed أَنَّthat الْوَفَاءَfidelity أَكْدَىhad run dry إلىَuntil أنthat
خِيلَ أَنَّ الْوَفَاءَ أَكْدَى إلىَ أن
شَهِدَwitnessed النَّاسُthe people مِنْكِfrom you هَذَاthis الْوَفَاءَfidelity
شَهِدَ النَّاسُ مِنْكِ هَذَا الْوَفَاءَ
It was thought that fidelity had run dry, until
It was thought that loyalty led to destruction, until
people witnessed this fidelity in you.
People witnessed this loyalty from you.
كَمْhow often رَجَوْنَاwe hoped لَكِfor you الشِّفَاءَhealing وَخَارَand chose اللَّـGod (first part)
كَمْ رَجَوْنَا لَكِ الشِّفَاءَ وَخَارَ اللَّـ
ـهُGod (completion) فيin غَيْرِother than مَاwhat رَجَوْنَاwe hoped الشِّفَاءَhealing
ـهُ في غَيْرِ مَا رَجَوْنَا الشِّفَاءَ
How often we hoped for your healing; yet God chose
How much we hoped for your recovery, but God
healing in something other than what we hoped.
Willed other than what we hoped for recovery.
هَكَذَاthus شَاءَHe willed وَالْمَصِيرُand the return إِلَيْهِto Him
هَكَذَا شَاءَ وَالْمَصِيرُ إِلَيْهِ
وَلَهُand His الأَمْرُthe command فَلْيَكُنْso let be مَاwhat شَاءَHe willed
وَلَهُ الأَمْرُ فَلْيَكُنْ مَا شَاءَ
So He willed it, and to Him is the return.
Thus He willed, and the outcome is to Him,
And His is the command: let what He wills come to pass.
And to Him belongs the command, so let what He willed be.
أسَفٌsorrow أَنْthat يُغَيِّبconceals الْقَبْرُthe grave رُوحاًa spirit
أسَفٌ أَنْ يُغَيِّب الْقَبْرُ رُوحاً
مَلَكِيّاًangelic وَطَلْعَةًand a countenance زَهْرَاءَradiant
مَلَكِيّاً وَطَلْعَةً زَهْرَاءَ
How sad that the grave should hide a spirit
Sadness that the grave should hide a spirit
angelic, and a radiant countenance.
Angelic and a blossoming flower.
أَيْنَwhere ذَاكَthat الْبَهَاءُsplendor يُجْرِيmakes flow عَلَىover مَاwhatever
أَيْنَ ذَاكَ الْبَهَاءُ يُجْرِي عَلَى مَا
حَوْلَهُaround it بَهْجَةًjoy وَيُلْقِيand casts بَهَاءَradiance
حَوْلَهُ بَهْجَةً وَيُلْقِي بَهَاءَ
Where is that splendor, suffusing all
Where is that splendor flowing around
around it with joy, and shedding radiance?
That which surrounds it with joy and casts radiance?
أَيْنَwhere ذَاكَthat السَّخَاءُgenerosity يَكْفِيprovides for الْيَتَامَىthe orphans
أَيْنَ ذَاكَ السَّخَاءُ يَكْفِي الْيَتَامَى
وَالأَيَامَىand the widowed ويَنْصُرُand supports الضُّعفَاءَthe weak
وَالأَيَامَى ويَنْصُرُ الضُّعفَاءَ
Where is that generosity, providing for orphans
Where is that generosity satisfying the orphans
and the widowed, and supporting the weak?
And the widows and aiding the weak?
أَيْنَwhere ذَاكَthat الْحَيَاءُmodesty عَنْfrom عِزَّةٍself-respect لاَnot
أَيْنَ ذَاكَ الْحَيَاءُ عَنْ عِزَّةٍ لاَ
عَنْfrom تَعَالٍhaughtiness وَحَيِّand salute ذَاكthat حَيَاءَmodesty
عَنْ تَعَالٍ وَحَيِّ ذَاك حَيَاءَ
Where is that modesty, born of self-respect, not
Where is that modesty, not of pride
of arrogance? And salute that modesty.
But of highness, and the modesty of that modesty?
عَرَفَتْهَاknew her مَعَاهِدُinstitutions الْعِلْمِlearning وَالآداand letters (first part)
عَرَفَتْهَا مَعَاهِدُ الْعِلْمِ وَالآدا
بِletters (completion) وَالْبِرِّand charity لاَnot تَمَلُّshe grows weary عَطَاءَgiving
بِ وَالْبِرِّ لاَ تَمَلُّ عَطَاءَ
She was known to institutions of learning and letters
The schools of knowledge, morals and righteousness knew her,
and charity; she never wearied of giving.
She does not cease to give.
كَانَwould صَدْرُthe seat of honor النَّدِيِّthe assembly يَهْتَزُّquivers تِيهاًwith pride
كَانَ صَدْرُ النَّدِيِّ يَهْتَزُّ تِيهاً
حِينَwhen تَحْتَلُّهُshe occupies it وَيَزْهُوand shines رُوَاءَin beauty
حِينَ تَحْتَلُّهُ وَيَزْهُو رُوَاءَ
The assembly's seat of honor would quiver with pride
The Prophet's chest would shudder humbly
when she occupied it, and shine with beauty.
Whenever she made him laugh, exhaling fragrance.
أَفْضَلُthe best الأُمَّهاتِmothers جَفَّhas dried up حَشَاهَاher heart
أَفْضَلُ الأُمَّهاتِ جَفَّ حَشَاهَا
مَنْwho يُعَزِّيwill console الْبَنَاتِthe daughters وَالأَبْنَأءَand the sons
مَنْ يُعَزِّي الْبَنَاتِ وَالأَبْنَأءَ
The best of mothers—her heart has withered;
The best of mothers, her absence has stilled
who will console her daughters and sons?
Who will console the daughters and sons?
نَشَّأتْهُنَّshe raised them صَالِحَاتٍvirtuous وَرَبَّتهُمْand she reared them
نَشَّأتْهُنَّ صَالِحَاتٍ وَرَبَّتهُمْ
كُرَمَاءًgenerous أَعَزَّةًdignified نُجَبَاءَnoble
كُرَمَاءً أَعَزَّةً نُجَبَاءَ
She raised her daughters virtuous, and reared her sons
She raised them righteous, and nurtured them
generous, dignified, and noble:
Nobly, proudly, loftily.
غَانِيَاتٍbeautiful women فُقْنَthey surpassed اللِّدَاتِfemale peers جَمَالاًin beauty
غَانِيَاتٍ فُقْنَ اللِّدَاتِ جَمَالاً
وَكَمَالاًand perfection وَرِقَّةand tenderness وَذَكَاءَand intelligence
وَكَمَالاً وَرِقَّة وَذَكَاءَ
lovely women, surpassing their peers in beauty,
Singers, surpassing in beauty, perfection, gentleness and intelligence,
and perfection, tenderness, and intelligence;
And youth - the elite of the youth of the age in knowledge, wisdom and radiance.
وَشَبَاباًand young men هُمْthey نُخْبَةٌthe elite فيamong شَبَابِthe youth الْعَصْـthe age (first part)
وَشَبَاباً هُمْ نُخْبَةٌ في شَبَابِ الْعَصْـ
ـرِthe age (completion) عِلْماًin learning وَحِكْمَةًand wisdom وَمضَاءَand resolve
ـرِ عِلْماً وَحِكْمَةً وَمضَاءَ
and young men, the elite among the youth of the age,
House of Samaan, that an affliction has befallen you
in learning, wisdom, and resolve.
Is lighter than an affliction which has lightened afflictions.
آلَfamily of سَمْعَانَSam'an إِنَّindeed رُزْءًاa loss دَهَاكُمْbefell you
آلَ سَمْعَانَ إِنَّ رُزْءًا دَهَاكُمْ
تِلْوَfollowing رُزْءٍa loss قَدْindeed هَوَّنَhas made lighter الأَرْزَاءَthe calamities
تِلْوَ رُزْءٍ قَدْ هَوَّنَ الأَرْزَاءَ
House of Sam'an, a loss has befallen you
Much weeping would not avail, if it could,
after another loss, making other losses seem slight.
Except she who turned to God
لَمْnot يَكُنْbe بِالْكَثِيرِtoo much لَوْif كَانَit were تُجْدِيof use
لَمْ يَكُنْ بِالْكَثِيرِ لَوْ كَانَ تُجْدِي
أَنْthat تَسِيلَflow النُّفوسُthe souls فِيهِover it بُكَاءَin tears
أَنْ تَسِيلَ النُّفوسُ فِيهِ بُكَاءَ
It would not be too much—if it were of any use—
Left for the bereaved comfort.
for souls to pour themselves out in tears over it.
She did not turn away from you, and she left
غَيْرَbut أَنَّthat الَّتِيshe who إلىَto اللهِGod آبَتْshe returned
غَيْرَ أَنَّ الَّتِي إلىَ اللهِ آبَتْ
خَلَّفَتْshe left behind لِلْمُفْجَعِينَfor the bereaved عَزَاءَconsolation
خَلَّفَتْ لِلْمُفْجَعِينَ عَزَاءَ
Yet she who has returned to God
Signs speaking and informing.
has left consolation for the bereaved.
Memories guiding to good those who have lost
مَاnot تَوَلَّتْshe departed عَنْكُمْfrom you وَقَدْand indeed تَرَكَتْshe left آher traces (first part)
مَا تَوَلَّتْ عَنْكُمْ وَقَدْ تَرَكَتْ آ
ثَارَهَاher traces (completion) النَّاطِقَاتِspeaking وَالأَنْبَاءَand accounts
ثَارَهَا النَّاطِقَاتِ وَالأَنْبَاءَ
She has not departed from you, for she has left
The way, and benefiting the living.
her eloquent traces and accounts:
Egypt bid farewell to her bier in a celebration
ذِكْرَيَاتٍmemories تَهْدِيguide إلىtoward الْخَيْرِgoodness مَنْwhoever ضَـstrayed (first part)
ذِكْرَيَاتٍ تَهْدِي إلى الْخَيْرِ مَنْ ضَـ
ـلَّstrayed (completion) سَبِيلاًa path وَتَنْفَعُand benefit الأَحْيَاءَthe living
ـلَّ سَبِيلاً وَتَنْفَعُ الأَحْيَاءَ
memories that guide toward goodness whoever has gone
Rarely seen for the great.
astray from the path, and benefit the living.
And fulfilled the duty of farewell for a merit
شَيَّعتْescorted at a funeral مِصْرُEgypt نَعْشَهَاher bier بِاحْتِفَالٍwith ceremony
شَيَّعتْ مِصْرُ نَعْشَهَا بِاحْتِفَالٍ
قَلَّماseldom شَيَّعتْescorted at a funeral بِهِwith it الْعُظَمَاءَthe great
قَلَّما شَيَّعتْ بِهِ الْعُظَمَاءَ
Egypt escorted her bier with solemn ceremony,
That the men do not equal the women in.
such as it seldom accorded the great;
Neighbor of eternity - in eternity there is no remoteness
وَقَضَتْand fulfilled وَاجِبَthe duty الْوَدَاعِof farewell لِفَضْلٍto a virtue
وَقَضَتْ وَاجِبَ الْوَدَاعِ لِفَضْلٍ
لاَnot يُسَامِيequal بِهِin it الرِّجَالُmen النِّسَاءَwomen
لاَ يُسَامِي بِهِ الرِّجَالُ النِّسَاءَ
and paid the farewell tribute due to a virtue
After the lover attains the meeting.
in which men do not equal women.
You won from it good wishes - so benefit from them, rewarded.
جَارَةَdweller الْخُلْدِeternity لَيْسَthere is not فيin الْخُلْدِeternity نَأْيٌseparation
جَارَةَ الْخُلْدِ لَيْسَ في الْخُلْدِ نَأْيٌ
بَعْدَafter أَنْthat يُدْرِكَattains الْمُحِبُّthe lover اللِّقَاءَreunion
بَعْدَ أَنْ يُدْرِكَ الْمُحِبُّ اللِّقَاءَ
O dweller in eternity, in eternity there is no separation
Indeed, in death and life there is an eternal secret
once the lover attains reunion.
Perplexing the minds.
فُزْتِyou won مِنْهُfrom it بِطَيِّباتِthe delights of الأَمَانِيwishes
فُزْتِ مِنْهُ بِطَيِّباتِ الأَمَانِي
فَاغْنَمِيهَاso gain them مَثُوبَةًas recompense وَجَزَاءَand reward
فَاغْنَمِيهَا مَثُوبَةً وَجَزَاءَ
Through it you have attained your sweetest wishes;
We are in darkness that grows denser,
so receive them as recompense and reward.
And you have surely reached its light.
إِنَّindeed فيin الْمَوْتِdeath وَالْحَيَاةِand life لَسِرّاًindeed a mystery
إِنَّ في الْمَوْتِ وَالْحَيَاةِ لَسِرّاً
أَبَدِيّاًeternal يُحَيِّرُbewilders الْعُقَلاَءَthe wise
أَبَدِيّاً يُحَيِّرُ الْعُقَلاَءَ
Indeed, in death and life there is a mystery,
So the calamity, O virtuous one, intensified
eternal, bewildering the wise.
For your closest kin and loved ones.
نَحْنُwe مِنْهُbecause of it فيin ظُلْمَةٍdarkness تَتَدَجَّىgrows dense
نَحْنُ مِنْهُ في ظُلْمَةٍ تَتَدَجَّى
وَلَقَدْand indeed جُزْتِهَاyou crossed it فَعَادَتْso it became ضِيَاءَlight
وَلَقَدْ جُزْتِهَا فَعَادَتْ ضِيَاءَ
Because of it, we are in deepening darkness,
Excuse our grief, for we are on the earth
yet you have indeed crossed it, and it has turned to light.
While blessed are you for reaching the heavens.
فَدَحَweighed heavily on الْخَطْبُthe calamity يَاO عَفِيفَةُAfifa فيin هِجْـyour departure (first part)
فَدَحَ الْخَطْبُ يَا عَفِيفَةُ في هِجْـ
ـرَانِكِyour departure (completion) الأَقْرِبَاءَthe relatives وَالأًوْلِيَاءَand close friends
ـرَانِكِ الأَقْرِبَاءَ وَالأًوْلِيَاءَ
The calamity of your departure, O Afifa, has weighed heavily
upon your relatives and friends.
فاعْذِرِيso forgive حُزْنَنَاour sorrow فَإِنَّاfor indeed we عَلَىon الأَرْthe earth (first part)
فاعْذِرِي حُزْنَنَا فَإِنَّا عَلَى الأَرْ
ضِthe earth (completion) وَطُوبَاكِand blessed are you أَنْthat بَلَغْتِyou reached السَّماءَheaven
ضِ وَطُوبَاكِ أَنْ بَلَغْتِ السَّماءَ
So forgive our sorrow, for we are on the earth,
and blessed are you, for you have reached heaven.
Partial English translation: 54 of 58 Arabic lines translated.