أَلَمdid not...? تَربَعyou halt فَتُخبِرَكَso they may tell you الطُلولُthe ruins
أَلَم تَربَع فَتُخبِرَكَ الطُلولُ
بِبَينَةَat Baynah رَسمُهاits trace رَسمٌa trace مُحيلُyear-worn
بِبَينَةَ رَسمُها رَسمٌ مُحيلُ
Did you not halt, so the ruins might tell you,
Did the ruins not inform you, with their clearly drawn outline
at Baynah, its trace a year-worn remnant?
Endured by their people, though winds of summer and rains assailed them
تَحَمَّلَdeparted أَهلُهاits people وَجرىand swept عَلَيهاover it
تَحَمَّلَ أَهلُها وَجرى عَلَيها
رِياحُwinds الصَيفِof summer وَالسِربُand the rainwater الهَطولُpouring
رِياحُ الصَيفِ وَالسِربُ الهَطولُ
Its people departed, and over it swept
Old camels yearn for them when they stop, like a lovelorn young she-camel
the summer winds and the streaming rainwater.
A youth clung to love for Salma which settled in his heart and doesn't depart
تَحِنُّmoans بِهاthere الدَبورُthe west wind إِذاwhen أَرَبَّتit lingers
تَحِنُّ بِها الدَبورُ إِذا أَرَبَّت
كَماas حَنَّتmoaned مُوَلَّهَةٌa distraught mother عَجولُbereft of her young
كَما حَنَّت مُوَلَّهَةٌ عَجولُ
The west wind moans there when it lingers,
She captivated me while still a lad not yet of age
as a distraught mother, bereft of her young, moans.
And when none can be killed in vengeance for her
تَعَلَّقَtook hold ناشِئاًin youth مِنfrom حُبِّlove of سَلمىSalma
تَعَلَّقَ ناشِئاً مِن حُبِّ سَلمى
هَوىًa passion سَكَنَsettled in الفُؤادَthe heart فَماand does not يَزولُpass away
هَوىً سَكَنَ الفُؤادَ فَما يَزولُ
In youth, from love of Salma there took hold
So his love for her didn't pall though a lad may forget and show fickleness
a passion that settled in the heart and never leaves.
Yet gray hairs overtook you loving her, and neither gray hair nor senility deterred you
سَبَتنيshe captivated me إِذwhen شَبابيmy youth لَمnot yet يُعَصَّبwas wrapped in gray
سَبَتني إِذ شَبابي لَم يُعَصَّب
وَإِذand when لاnot يَستَبِلُّrecovers لَهاby her قَتيلُa slain victim
وَإِذ لا يَستَبِلُّ لَها قَتيلُ
She took me captive before my youth was wrapped in gray,
She hunts but isn't hunted, and he who she strikes has no vengeance or defender
and when no victim slain by her recovered.
Dark-lipped, bright of cheek, melodious of voice, gentle and tranquil
فَلَمand did not يَملَلgrow weary مَوَدَّتَهاof loving her غُلاماًas a boy
فَلَم يَملَل مَوَدَّتَها غُلاماً
وَقَدthough sometimes يَنسىforgets وَيَطرِفُand seeks a new love المَلولُthe fickle one
وَقَد يَنسى وَيَطرِفُ المَلولُ
As a boy, he never tired of loving her,
Smiling with lips that reveal two rows of dripping pearls
though the fickle may forget and seek a new love.
As if the spittle of a passing beauty were used by an Arab maid for kohl
فَأَدرَكَكَthen overtook you المَشيبُgray age عَلىwhile in هَواهاlove with her
فَأَدرَكَكَ المَشيبُ عَلى هَواها
فَلاso neither شَيبٌgray hair نَهاكَrestrained you وَلاnor ذُهولُforgetfulness
فَلا شَيبٌ نَهاكَ وَلا ذُهولُ
Gray age overtook you still in love with her;
When the Pleiades rise she circles high above pursued by other stars
neither gray hair restrained you nor forgetfulness.
Leave Layla be, she was stingy and barred the way, and our people were split by dissent
تَصيدُshe hunts وَلاbut is not تُصادُhunted وَمَنand whoever أَصابَتshe strikes
تَصيدُ وَلا تُصادُ وَمَن أَصابَت
فَلاthen no قَوَداًblood-retribution وَلَيسَand there is not بِهِfor him حَميلُa guarantor
فَلا قَوَداً وَلَيسَ بِهِ حَميلُ
She hunts but is not hunted; whoever she strikes,
And craft each rhyme with rare subtlety and wisdom
there is no blood-retribution, nor any guarantor for him.
I present this ode to noble Majid though praise of him is little
هِجانُpure white اللَونِof complexion وَاضِحَةُbright المُحَيّاof face
هِجانُ اللَونِ وَاضِحَةُ المُحَيّا
قَطيعُsoft الصَوتِof voice آنِسَةٌcompanionable كَسولُlanguid
قَطيعُ الصَوتِ آنِسَةٌ كَسولُ
Pure white in complexion, bright of face,
None compares to my father Marwan, who can equal him?
soft of voice, companionable and languid.
A Batari, of pure lineage and of wide repute
وَتَبسِمُand she smiles عَنrevealing أَغَرَّa gleaming mouth لَهُit has غُروبٌpointed teeth
وَتَبسِمُ عَن أَغَرَّ لَهُ غُروبٌ
فُراتِsweet الرَيقِof saliva لَيسَthere are not بِهِin it فُلولُchips
فُراتِ الرَيقِ لَيسَ بِهِ فُلولُ
She smiles to reveal a gleaming mouth with pointed teeth,
He sought glory and attained it, bright as a polished sword
sweet of saliva, without a single chip.
He avoided all wickedness and fault, his praise is his friend
كَأَنَّas though صَبيبَrunoff غادِيَةٍa morning raincloud بِلَصبٍin a rocky cleft
كَأَنَّ صَبيبَ غادِيَةٍ بِلَصبٍ
تُشَجُّis mingled بِهِwith it شَآمِيَةٌSyrian شَمولُwine
تُشَجُّ بِهِ شَآمِيَةٌ شَمولُ
As though the runoff of a morning raincloud in a rocky cleft,
When seventy years didn't keep him from being passionate, the passionate were shamed
with which Syrian wine is mingled,
When the rain poured down in floods and an Arab maid gathered it in the dark of night
عَلىupon فيهاher mouth إِذاwhen الجَوزاءُal-Jawza كانَتwas
عَلى فيها إِذا الجَوزاءُ كانَت
مُحَلَّقَةًhigh overhead وَأَردَفَهاand followed it رَعيلُa troop
مُحَلَّقَةً وَأَردَفَها رَعيلُ
were on her lips when al-Jawza stood
For in his hands, as long as he lives, are valleys of generosity that flow
high overhead, with a troop following it.
My wife said, seeing me worried and sleepless, as if separation after long residence with us was near
فَدَعso leave لَيلىLayla فَقَدfor indeed بَخُلَتshe withheld herself وَصَدَّتand turned away
فَدَع لَيلى فَقَد بَخُلَت وَصَدَّت
وَصَدَّعَand sundered بَينَbetween شَعبَيناour two clans الفَلولُthe fractures
وَصَدَّعَ بَينَ شَعبَينا الفَلولُ
So leave Layla: she has withheld herself and turned away,
I said "yes, for the blame is mine, longtime estrangement does not suit me"
and fractures have sundered our two clans.
And Abiyad, in which wild cows slumber as if its whiteness were washed clothes
وَأَحكِمand perfect كُلَّevery قافِيَةٍrhyme جَديدٍfresh
وَأَحكِم كُلَّ قافِيَةٍ جَديدٍ
تُخَيّرُهاyou select it غَرائِبَrare gems ماof what تَقولُyou say
تُخَيّرُها غَرائِبَ ما تَقولُ
And perfect each fresh rhyme,
In it the mount of a filthy camel rubbed, bleating plaintively
choosing it from the rare gems of your speech,
A course when the desert paths disappear and the guide errs
لأَبيَضَfor a fair man ماجِدٍnoble تُهديyou offer ثَناهُhis praise
لأَبيَضَ ماجِدٍ تُهدي ثَناهُ
إِلَيهِto him وَالثَناءُand praise لَهُfor him قَليلُlittle
إِلَيهِ وَالثَناءُ لَهُ قَليلُ
for a fair, noble man, whose praise you offer
When the plaits of her saddlebags come undone and her braids wander unrestrained
to him—though praise for him is all too little:
She almost takes flight in her boundless desire and impatience when pulled back with ropes
أَبيAbu مَروانَMarwan لاdo not تَعدِلequate سِواهُother than him
أَبي مَروانَ لا تَعدِل سِواهُ
بِهِwith him أَحداًanyone وَأَينَand where بِهِfor him عَديلُan equal
بِهِ أَحداً وَأَينَ بِهِ عَديلُ
Abu Marwan; rank no other man
To the honorable man whose hands are too short to reach
as his equal—where is any peer to him?
When glory bought high is attained but doesn't weigh heavy or tire
بَطاحِيٌّof al-Bitah لَهُhe has نَسَبٌa lineage مُصَفّىpure
بَطاحِيٌّ لَهُ نَسَبٌ مُصَفّى
وَأَخلاقٌand virtues لَهاthey have عَرضٌbreadth وَطولُand length
وَأَخلاقٌ لَها عَرضٌ وَطولُ
A man of al-Bitah, with a pure lineage,
Trustworthy in heart, guarding what was entrusted like a noble wrapping his reputation
and a character with breadth and length.
Pure, stainless in clothes, righteous, striving to do good
فَقَدfor indeed طَلَبَhe sought المَكارِمَnoble qualities فَاِحتَواهاand embraced them
فَقَد طَلَبَ المَكارِمَ فَاِحتَواها
أَغَرُّradiant كَأَنَّهُas though he سَيفٌa sword صَقيلُpolished
أَغَرُّ كَأَنَّهُ سَيفٌ صَقيلُ
He sought noble qualities and gathered them all,
Father Marwan, you are the choice of Quraysh and their venerable elder
radiant, as though he were a polished sword.
The clan entrusts its affairs, neither close-fisted nor stingy
تَجَنَّبَhe shunned كُلَّevery فاحِشَةٍshameful deed وَعَيبٍand fault
تَجَنَّبَ كُلَّ فاحِشَةٍ وَعَيبٍ
وَصافيand befriended الحَمدَpraise فَهوَso it is لَهُto him خَليلُa close companion
وَصافي الحَمدَ فَهوَ لَهُ خَليلُ
He shunned every shameful deed and fault,
To you they gesture if pleased or bothered by a grave matter
and befriended praise, which is his close companion.
Openhanded each day, praiseworthy in every deed
إِذاwhen السَبعونَthe seventy she-camels لَمdid not تُسكِتquiet وَليداًa child
إِذا السَبعونَ لَم تُسكِت وَليداً
وَأَصبَحَand at dawn were فيin مَبارِكِهاtheir kneeling-grounds الفُحولُthe camel stallions
وَأَصبَحَ في مَبارِكِها الفُحولُ
When seventy she-camels cannot quiet a child,
Generous, exceeding in bounty, granting requests unstintingly
and dawn finds the stallions in their kneeling-grounds,
The land transforms at the growth he brings when he passes by
وَكانَand was القَطرُthe rain أَجلاباًthin clouds وَصِرّاًand bitter frost
وَكانَ القَطرُ أَجلاباً وَصِرّاً
تَحُثُّdrives بِهِit along شَآمِيَّةٌa northerly wind بليلُcold and damp
تَحُثُّ بِهِ شَآمِيَّةٌ بليلُ
and rain is thin cloud and bitter frost,
For the awe and esteem clear-faced, affable, radiate from him
driven by a cold, damp northerly wind,
To kinsmen and family his kind acts flow uninterrupted
فَإِنَّthen indeed بِكَفِّهِin his palm ماas long as دامَhe remains حَيّاًalive
فَإِنَّ بِكَفِّهِ ما دامَ حَيّاً
مِنَof المَعروفِbounty أَودِيَةًvalleys تَسيلُflow
مِنَ المَعروفِ أَودِيَةً تَسيلُ
then in his palm, as long as he lives,
Hands whose favors exceeded due bounds and their reach grew long
valleys of bounty flow.
He forgives those who wronged him when rancor closes minds
تَقولُsays حَليلَتيmy wife لَمّاwhen رَأَتنيshe saw me
تَقولُ حَليلَتي لَمّا رَأَتني
أَرِقتُI lay sleepless وَضافَنيand visited me هَمٌّa care دَخيلُintrusive
أَرِقتُ وَضافَني هَمٌّ دَخيلُ
My wife said, when she saw me
He wasn't reminded of propriety but his own mature judgment guided him
sleepless, visited by an intrusive care:
For the destitute he cares and shows mercy, no plea denied or unanswered
كَأَنَّit seems قَدalready بَداoccurred لَكَto you بَعدَafter مُكثٍlingering
كَأَنَّ قَد بَدا لَكَ بَعدَ مُكثٍ
وَطولِand long إِقامَةٍresidence فيناamong us رَحيلُdeparture
وَطولِ إِقامَةٍ فينا رَحيلُ
It seems there has occurred to you, after lingering
Of ample protection, his shade shelters and protects
and dwelling long among us, a thought of departure.
And how many deep in debt were relieved by you
فَقُلتُso I said أَجَلyes فَبَعضَso less of اللَومِthe reproach إِنّيindeed I
فَقُلتُ أَجَل فَبَعضَ اللَومِ إِنّي
قَديماًlong since لاnot يُلائِمُنيsuits me العَذولُthe faultfinder
قَديماً لا يُلائِمُني العَذولُ
I said, Yes; ease your reproach, for I
And those confused were guided until the way was clear
have long found the faultfinder uncongenial.
You clarified many a muddled affair with patience that is just and upright
وَأَبيَضُand a white wilderness يَنعَسُdozes السَرحانُthe wolf فيهِin it
وَأَبيَضُ يَنعَسُ السَرحانُ فيهِ
كَأَنَّas though بَياضَهُits whiteness رَيطٌlinen cloth غَسيلُwashed
كَأَنَّ بَياضَهُ رَيطٌ غَسيلُ
And a white wilderness, where the wolf dozes,
Through you the glorious edifice of honor and lasting glory grew in Zubayr's line
its whiteness like washed linen,
A firm pillar though the noblest branch may shake
خَدَتhurried فيهِthrough it بِرَحليwith my saddle ذاتُone possessing لَوثٍstrength
خَدَت فيهِ بِرَحلي ذاتُ لَوثٍ
مِنَof العيدِيِّthe 'Idi breed ناجِيَةٌswift ذَمولُbriskly trotting
مِنَ العيدِيِّ ناجِيَةٌ ذَمولُ
a sturdy she-camel hurried through it with my saddle,
of the 'Idi stock, swift and briskly trotting,
سَلوكٌfinding her way حينَwhen تَشتَبهُlook alike الفَيافيthe deserts
سَلوكٌ حينَ تَشتَبهُ الفَيافي
وَيُخطِئُand misses قَصدَthe course وِجهَتِهِof his destination الدَليلُthe guide
وَيُخطِئُ قَصدَ وِجهَتِهِ الدَليلُ
finding her way when the deserts look alike,
and the guide misses his proper course.
إِذاwhen فَضَلَتgrew slack مَعاقِدُthe knotted ends نِسعَتَيهاof her two girths
إِذا فَضَلَت مَعاقِدُ نِسعَتَيها
وَأَصبَحَand became ضَفرُهاher braided strap قَلِقاًloose يَجولُshifting about
وَأَصبَحَ ضَفرُها قَلِقاً يَجولُ
When the knotted ends of her two girths hang slack,
and her braided strap grows loose and shifts about,
عَلىupon قَرواءَa long-backed camel قَدalready ضَمرَتgrew lean فَفيهاso in her
عَلى قَرواءَ قَد ضَمرَت فَفيها
وَلَمthough not تَبلُغhas reached سَليقَتُهاher natural constitution ذَبولُwasting
وَلَم تَبلُغ سَليقَتُها ذَبولُ
on a long-backed camel grown lean; in her
is wasting, though it has not reached her natural constitution.
طَوَتshe folded up طَيَّlike folding الرِداءِa cloak الخَرقَthe wilderness حَتّىuntil
طَوَت طَيَّ الرِداءِ الخَرقَ حَتّى
تَقارَبَdrew near بُعدُهُits far distance سُرُحٌfree-striding نَصولُswift
تَقارَبَ بُعدُهُ سُرُحٌ نَصولُ
She folded up the wilderness as one folds a cloak, until
its far reaches drew near—a free-striding, swift mount,
مِنَamong الكُتمِthe silent camels الحَوافِظِthe enduring ones لاnot سَقوطٌa falterer
مِنَ الكُتمِ الحَوافِظِ لا سَقوطٌ
إِذاwhen سَقَطَcollapsed المَطِيُّthe riding camels وَلاnor سَؤولُa demanding one
إِذا سَقَطَ المَطِيُّ وَلا سَؤولُ
one of the silent, enduring ones, never faltering
when other mounts collapse, and never demanding.
تَكادُshe nearly تَطيرُflies إِفراطاًwith headlong speed وَسَغباًand hunger
تَكادُ تَطيرُ إِفراطاً وَسَغباً
إِذاwhen زُجِرَتshe is urged on وَمُدَّتand are stretched لَهاfor her الحَبولُthe reins
إِذا زُجِرَت وَمُدَّت لَها الحَبولُ
She nearly flies with headlong speed and hunger,
when urged on and the reins are drawn out for her,
إِلىtoward القَرمِthe chieftain الَّذيwhose فاتَتsurpassed يَداهُhis two hands
إِلى القَرمِ الَّذي فاتَت يَداهُ
بِفِعلِby doing الخَيرِgood بَسطَةَthe reach مَنof whoever يُنيلُgives
بِفِعلِ الخَيرِ بَسطَةَ مَن يُنيلُ
toward the chieftain whose hands have surpassed,
in doing good, the reach of every giver.
إِذاwhen ماever غالِيَcostly الحَمدِpraise اِشتراهُhe purchases it
إِذا ما غالِيَ الحَمدِ اِشتراهُ
فَماthen not إِنat all يَستَقِلُّdeems it little وَلاnor يُقيلُrescinds the bargain
فَما إِن يَستَقِلُّ وَلا يُقيلُ
Whenever he purchases costly praise,
he neither deems it little nor rescinds the bargain.
أَمينُtrustworthy الصَدرِat heart يَحفَظُhe safeguards ماwhat تَوَلّىhe undertakes
أَمينُ الصَدرِ يَحفَظُ ما تَوَلّى
كَماas يُلفىis found القَوِيُّthe strong man بِهِin it النَبيلُthe noble
كَما يُلفى القَوِيُّ بِهِ النَبيلُ
Trustworthy at heart, he safeguards what he undertakes,
as one finds him strong and noble in this.
نَقِيٌّunstained طاهِرُpure الأَثوابِof garments بَرٌّdutiful
نَقِيٌّ طاهِرُ الأَثوابِ بَرٌّ
لِكُلِّfor every الخَيرِgood مُصطَنِعٌa bestower مُحيلُresourceful
لِكُلِّ الخَيرِ مُصطَنِعٌ مُحيلُ
Unstained, pure of garments, dutiful,
a resourceful bestower of every good.
أَباO Abu مَروانَMarwan أَنتَyou فيتىnoble youth قُرَيشٍof Quraysh
أَبا مَروانَ أَنتَ فيتى قُرَيشٍ
وَكَهلُهُمُand their mature man إِذاwhen عُدَّare counted الكُهولُthe mature men
وَكَهلُهُمُ إِذا عُدَّ الكُهولُ
Abu Marwan, you are Quraysh's noble youth,
and their elder when the elders are counted.
تُوَلّيهِentrusts to him العَشيرَةُthe clan ماwhat عَناهاtroubles it
تُوَلّيهِ العَشيرَةُ ما عَناها
فَلاso neither ضَيقُcramped الذِراعِof arm وَلاnor بَخيلُmiserly
فَلا ضَيقُ الذِراعِ وَلا بَخيلُ
The clan entrusts to him whatever troubles it;
he is neither cramped of arm nor miserly.
إِلِيكَtoward you تُشيرُpoint أَيديهِمtheir hands إذاwhen ماever
إِلِيكَ تُشيرُ أَيديهِم إذا ما
رَضواthey are pleased أَوor غالَهُمassails them أَمرٌan affair جَليلُgrave
رَضوا أَو غالَهُم أَمرٌ جَليلُ
Toward you their hands point whenever
they are pleased or a grave affair assails them.
كِلاboth يَومَيهِhis days بِالمَعروفِwith kindness طَلقٌopen-handed
كِلا يَومَيهِ بِالمَعروفِ طَلقٌ
وَكُلُّand all فَعالِهِhis deeds حَسَنٌgood جَميلُbeautiful
وَكُلُّ فَعالِهِ حَسَنٌ جَميلُ
On both his days he is open-handed with kindness,
and every deed of his is good and beautiful.
جَوادٌgenerous سابِقٌforemost فيin اليُسرِprosperity بَحرٌan ocean
جَوادٌ سابِقٌ في اليُسرِ بَحرٌ
وَفيand amid العِلّاتِhardships وَهّابٌlavishly giving بَذولُunstinting
وَفي العِلّاتِ وَهّابٌ بَذولُ
Generous, foremost in prosperity, an ocean,
and amid hardships a lavish, unstinting giver.
تَأَنَّسُrejoices بِالنَباتِin vegetation إِذاwhen أَتاهاhe comes to it
تَأَنَّسُ بِالنَباتِ إِذا أَتاها
لِرُؤيَةِat seeing وَجهِهِhis face الأَرضُthe earth المَحولُbarren
لِرُؤيَةِ وَجهِهِ الأَرضُ المَحولُ
It rejoices in vegetation when he comes to it—
the barren earth, at the sight of his face—
لِبَهجَةِat the radiance of واضِحٍa bright man سَهلٍgracious عَلَيهِupon him
لِبَهجَةِ واضِحٍ سَهلٍ عَلَيهِ
إِذاwhen رُئِيَhe is seen المَهابةُmajesty والقَبولُand charm
إِذا رُئِيَ المَهابةُ والقَبولُ
at the radiance of a bright, gracious man, upon whom,
when seen, rest majesty and charm.
لِأَهلِfor people of الوُدِّaffection وَالقُربىand kinship عَلَيهِupon him
لِأَهلِ الوُدِّ وَالقُربى عَلَيهِ
صَنائِعُfavors بَثَّهاhe spread them بَرٌّdutiful وَصولُkeeping family ties
صَنائِعُ بَثَّها بَرٌّ وَصولُ
For friends and kinsfolk he undertakes
favors he spreads, dutiful and true to ties:
أَيادٍbenefactions قَدalready عُرِفنَwere known مُظاهَراتٍreinforcing one another
أَيادٍ قَد عُرِفنَ مُظاهَراتٍ
لَهُhis فيهاin them التَطاوُلُpreeminence وَالفُضولُand abundant merit
لَهُ فيها التَطاوُلُ وَالفُضولُ
benefactions well known, reinforcing one another,
in which his are preeminence and abundant merit.
وَعَفوٌand pardon عَنfor مُسيئِهِمُtheir wrongdoers وَصَفحٌand forgiveness
وَعَفوٌ عَن مُسيئِهِمُ وَصَفحٌ
يَعودُhe returns بِهِwith it إِذاwhen غَلِقَlock tight الحُجولُthe fetters
يَعودُ بِهِ إِذا غَلِقَ الحُجولُ
And pardon for their wrongdoers, and forgiveness,
which he grants anew when the fetters lock,
إِذاeven if هُوَhe لَمhas not تُذَكِّرهُreminded him نُهاهُhis reason
إِذا هُوَ لَم تُذَكِّرهُ نُهاهُ
وَقارَthe dignity الدينِof faith وَالرَأيُand judgment الأَصيلُsound
وَقارَ الدينِ وَالرَأيُ الأَصيلُ
even if his reason has not reminded him
of faith's dignity—nor his sound judgment.
وَلِلفُقراءِand for the poor عائِدَةٌbounty وَرُحمٌand compassion
وَلِلفُقراءِ عائِدَةٌ وَرُحمٌ
وَلاand not يُقصىis turned away الفَقيرُthe poor man وَلاnor يَعيلُfalls into want
وَلا يُقصى الفَقيرُ وَلا يَعيلُ
And for the poor there is bounty and compassion;
the poor man is neither turned away nor left in want.
جَنابٌan abode واسِعُbroad الأَكنافِin its reaches سَهلٌaccessible
جَنابٌ واسِعُ الأَكنافِ سَهلٌ
وَظِلٌّand shade فيin مَنادِحِهِits spacious expanses ظَليلُsheltering
وَظِلٌّ في مَنادِحِهِ ظَليلُ
An abode broad in its reaches, easy of access,
and a sheltering shade in its spacious expanses.
وَكَمand how many مِنof غارِمٍa debtor فَرَّجتَyou relieved عَنهُfrom him
وَكَم مِن غارِمٍ فَرَّجتَ عَنهُ
مَغارِمَdebts كُلَّall مَحمَلِهاtheir burden ثَقيلُheavy
مَغارِمَ كُلَّ مَحمَلِها ثَقيلُ
How many a debtor have you relieved
of debts whose whole burden was heavy!
وَذيand one with لَدَدٍobstinacy أَرَيتَyou showed اللَدَّstubborn resistance حَتّىuntil
وَذي لَدَدٍ أَرَيتَ اللَدَّ حَتّى
تَبَيَّنَbecame clear وَاِستَبانَand became evident لَهُto him السَبيلُthe way
تَبَيَّنَ وَاِستَبانَ لَهُ السَبيلُ
And many a stubborn man you met with stubborn resolve, until
the way became clear and evident to him.
وَأَمرٍand a matter قَدalready فَرَقتَyou dispelled اللَبسَthe confusion مِنهُfrom it
وَأَمرٍ قَد فَرَقتَ اللَبسَ مِنهُ
بِحِلمٍwith patient judgment لاnot يَجورُwrongs وَلاnor يَميلُswerves
بِحِلمٍ لا يَجورُ وَلا يَميلُ
And many an affair you stripped of its confusion
with patient judgment that neither wrongs nor swerves.
نَمىgrew بِكَthrough you فيin الذَؤابَةِthe topmost crest مِنof قُرَيشٍQuraysh
نَمى بِكَ في الذَؤابَةِ مِن قُرَيشٍ
بِناءُthe edifice العِزِّof honor وَالمَجدُand glory الأَثيلُdeeply rooted
بِناءُ العِزِّ وَالمَجدُ الأَثيلُ
Through you, in Quraysh's topmost crest, has grown
the edifice of honor and deeply rooted glory:
أَرومٌa rootstock ثابِتٌsteadfast يَهتَزُّsways فيهِin it
أَرومٌ ثابِتٌ يَهتَزُّ فيهِ
بِأَكرَمِin the noblest مَنبِتٍgrowing-ground فَرعٌa branch أَصيلُof pure stock
بِأَكرَمِ مَنبِتٍ فَرعٌ أَصيلُ
a steadfast rootstock, in which sways,
in the noblest soil, a branch of pure stock.
Partial English translation: 52 of 110 Arabic lines translated.