إِلَيكَto you سَعيدَSa'id الخَيرِgoodness جابَتcrossed مَطِيَّتيmy riding-camel
إِلَيكَ سَعيدَ الخَيرِ جابَت مَطِيَّتي
فُروجَthe passages الفَيافيof the desert wastes وَهِيَand she is عَوجاءُcrooked-limbed عَيهَلُswift
فُروجَ الفَيافي وَهِيَ عَوجاءُ عَيهَلُ
To you, Sa'id al-Khayr, my riding-camel has crossed
My she-camel carried me to you, O good fortune,
The passes of the desert wastes, crooked-limbed and swift.
Through the dusty paths, though lame and weak.
بأَشعثَwith a disheveled man مِنfrom طُولِthe length السُرىof night travel عَسَفَتtraveled tracklessly بِهِwith him
بأَشعثَ مِن طُولِ السُرى عَسَفَت بِهِ
إِلَيكَto you عَلَنداةٌa sturdy she-camel مِنَof العَيسِthe pale camels عَيطَلُlong-necked
إِلَيكَ عَلَنداةٌ مِنَ العَيسِ عَيطَلُ
Bearing one disheveled by long night travel, she took him through trackless country,
Disheveled by the long journey, still she struggled on,
To you—a sturdy, long-necked camel of the pale herd.
Bearing me to you, though tired and worn.
تَرىshe sees أَنَّهُthat it is لاno قَصرَstopping short عَنكَof you وَماand not لَهاfor her
تَرى أَنَّهُ لا قَصرَ عَنكَ وَما لَها
سَواءَكَother than you مِنany قَصرٍdestination وَلاnor عَنكَfrom you مَعدِلُa turning aside
سَواءَكَ مِن قَصرٍ وَلا عَنكَ مَعدِلُ
She sees there is no stopping short of you; she has
You'll find her not lacking, though she's no palace,
No destination but you, nor any turning away from you.
For you she's equal, be you in hut or hall.
فَماfor no بَلَغَتhas reached كَفُّthe hand اِمرِئٍof a man مُتَناوِلٍreaching out
فَما بَلَغَت كَفُّ اِمرِئٍ مُتَناوِلٍ
مِنَof المَجدِglory إِلّاexcept حَيثُwhere ماwhat نِلتَyou attained أَطوَلُis loftier
مِنَ المَجدِ إِلّا حَيثُ ما نِلتَ أَطوَلُ
For no man's outstretched hand has attained
No mortal's reach has grasped the heights of glory,
Any glory without your own attainment reaching higher.
Save only where your hand has grasped their all.
وَلاnor بَلَغَhave attained المُهدونthose offering praise نَحوكَto you مِدحَةًa eulogy
وَلا بَلَغَ المُهدون نَحوكَ مِدحَةً
وَلَوand even if صَدَقواthey spoke truthfully إِلّاexcept that الَّذيthat which فيكَis in you أَفضَلُis better
وَلَو صَدَقوا إِلّا الَّذي فيكَ أَفضَلُ
Nor have those offering you praise delivered a eulogy,
Those who praise you, though sincere, can't match you;
Even if truthful, without your own merits surpassing it.
Only you yourself are best qualified.
وَكَمand how much مِنof ثَناءٍpraise صالِحٍworthy كُنتَyou were أَهلَهُworthy of it
وَكَم مِن ثَناءٍ صالِحٍ كُنتَ أَهلَهُ
مُدِحتَyou were praised بِهِwith it تُجزىyou are rewarded بِذاكَfor that وَتَقبلُand you accept
مُدِحتَ بِهِ تُجزى بِذاكَ وَتَقبلُ
And many a worthy praise you have deserved:
You, the chosen among Quraysh, are a pillar
You have been praised with it; you are rewarded for it and accept it.
For those who seek you - salvation, refuge, shield.
وَإِنَّand indeed المُصَفّىthe chosen one مِنof قُرَيشٍQuraysh دِعامَةٌa pillar
وَإِنَّ المُصَفّى مِن قُرَيشٍ دِعامَةٌ
لَمَنfor whoever نابَهُturns to him حِرزٌa refuge نَجاةٌdeliverance وَمَعقِلُand a stronghold
لَمَن نابَهُ حِرزٌ نَجاةٌ وَمَعقِلُ
And indeed, the chosen one of Quraysh is a pillar,
The sands of Mecca know that you alone
For whoever turns to him: a refuge, deliverance, and a stronghold.
Possess its glory, its ancient rights upheld.
وَقَدand indeed عَلِمَتhas known بَطحاءُthe pebbled valley مَكَّةَof Mecca أَنَّهُthat he
وَقَد عَلِمَت بَطحاءُ مَكَّةَ أَنَّهُ
لَهُhis is العِزُّglory مِنهاfrom it وَالقَديمُand ancient honor المُؤثَّلُfirmly rooted
لَهُ العِزُّ مِنها وَالقَديمُ المُؤثَّلُ
And Mecca's pebbled valley has known that
When Quraysh's clans all spread their lofty branches,
His is its glory and its firmly rooted ancient honor.
Yours is the highest, your glory is extolled.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَسامَتvie in height مِنof قُرَيشٍQuraysh فُروعُهاits branches
إِذا ما تَسامَت مِن قُرَيشٍ فُروعُها
فَبَيتُكَthen your house أَعلاهاthe highest of them وَعِزُّكَand your glory أَطوَلُis loftier
فَبَيتُكَ أَعلاها وَعِزُّكَ أَطوَلُ
When the branches of Quraysh vie in height,
Brother of generosity - your cauldrons
Your house is highest among them, and your glory loftier.
Are ever brimming and shared with young and old.
أَخوa companion of شَتَواتٍwinters لاnot تَزالُcease قُدورُهُhis cauldrons
أَخو شَتَواتٍ لا تَزالُ قُدورُهُ
يُحَلُّpeople encamp عَلىat أَرجائِهاtheir edges ثُمَّthen يُرحَلُpeople depart
يُحَلُّ عَلى أَرجائِها ثُمَّ يُرحَلُ
A friend through winters: his cauldrons always
When the destitute come to warm themselves around,
Have people camp about their edges, then depart.
You see the fires lit, the meaty stewpot rolled.
إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle اِنتَحاهاseek them out المُرمِلونَthose out of provisions رَأَيتَهاyou see them
إِذا ما اِنتَحاها المُرمِلونَ رَأَيتَها
لَوَشكِto hasten قِراهاtheir hospitality وَهِيَwhile they are بِالجَزلِwith thick firewood تُشعَلُare kindled
لَوَشكِ قِراها وَهِيَ بِالجَزلِ تُشعَلُ
When those without provisions seek them out, you see them
You hear the loud babble as the crowd gathers,
Kindled with stout logs to hasten their guests' meal.
Like camels' grunting when their milk is pulled.
سَمِعتَyou hear لَهاfrom them لَغطاًa clamor إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle تَغَطمَطَتthey gurgle
سَمِعتَ لَها لَغطاً إِذا ما تَغَطمَطَت
كَهَدرِlike the roaring الجِمالِof camels رُزَّماًkneeling wearily حينَwhen تُجفَلُthey are startled
كَهَدرِ الجِمالِ رُزَّماً حينَ تُجفَلُ
You hear their clamor whenever they gurgle,
You see the noble she-camels vying in splendor,
Like the roaring of kneeling camels when startled.
Young, robust, their saddle-cloths still unsmeared.
تَرىyou see كُلَّevery دَهماءِblack السَراةِthe back نَبيلَةٍmassive
تَرى كُلَّ دَهماءِ السَراةِ نَبيلَةٍ
شُماخِيَّةٍtowering فيon يافِعٍa height لاnot تُزَمَّلُis wrapped up
شُماخِيَّةٍ في يافِعٍ لا تُزَمَّلُ
You see each massive, black-backed cauldron,
Plump waterskins, fully distended bellies
Towering on high ground, never covered.
Pressed down in their middles, still unpierced.
تَرىyou see البازِلَthe mature she-camel الكَوماءَhigh-humped فيهاinside them بِأَسرِهاin her entirety
تَرى البازِلَ الكَوماءَ فيها بِأَسرِها
مُقَبَّضَةًdrawn together فيat قَعرِهاtheir bottom ماnot تَحَلحَلshifts
مُقَبَّضَةً في قَعرِها ما تَحَلحَل
You see a mature, high-humped she-camel whole inside,
Like the elderly camels, snorting in their stalls
Drawn together at the bottom, unable to shift.
When they sneeze in the cold and their noses drip.
كَأَنَّas though الكُهولَmiddle-aged men الشُمطَgray-haired فيalong حَجَراتِهاtheir sides
كَأَنَّ الكُهولَ الشُمطَ في حَجَراتِها
تَعاطَسُsneeze together فيin تَيّارِهاtheir surging current حينَwhen تَحفِلُthey brim
تَعاطَسُ في تَيّارِها حينَ تَحفِلُ
As though gray-haired, middle-aged men along their sides
When the waves surge, they're like frightened camels
Were sneezing in their surging broth as they brim.
Huddling for shelter from the night's harsh chill.
إِذاwhen التَطَمَتclash أَمواجُهاtheir waves فَكأَنَّهاthen they seem like
إِذا التَطَمَت أَمواجُها فَكأَنَّها
عَوائِذُnewly calved she-camels دُهمٌblack فيin المَحَلَّةِthe encampment قُيَّلُresting at noon
عَوائِذُ دُهمٌ في المَحَلَّةِ قُيَّلُ
When their waves clash, they seem like
When the cooking pots boil, it's as if they'd spill
Black, newly calved she-camels resting at noon in camp.
With the fierce rocks and bubbles fit to burst.
إِذاwhen اِحتَفَلَتfill to the brim أَوشازُهاtheir raised sides فَكَأَنَّماthen it is as though
إِذا اِحتَفَلَت أَوشازُها فَكَأَنَّما
يُزَعزِعُهاshakes them مِنfrom شِدَّةِthe intensity الغَليِof boiling أَفكَلُa shivering fit
يُزَعزِعُها مِن شِدَّةِ الغَليِ أَفكَلُ
When their upper sides brim, it is as though
Such are cauldrons that will always remain
A shivering fit shakes them with the force of boiling.
To sustain those who seek them - their food, their thirst.
فَتِلكَso those قُدورٌare cauldrons لاnot تَزالُcease مُقيمَةًremaining in place
فَتِلكَ قُدورٌ لا تَزالُ مُقيمَةً
لِمَنfor whoever نابَهاseeks them فيهاin them مَعاشٌsustenance وَمَأكَلُand food
لِمَن نابَها فيها مَعاشٌ وَمَأكَلُ
These are cauldrons that remain forever in place;
Your neighbor is guarded, secure from all harm,
For whoever seeks them, they hold sustenance and food.
Safe from injustice, with dignity preserved.
وَجارُكَand your neighbor مُحفوظٌprotected مَنيعٌunassailable بِنَجوَةٍat a safe remove
وَجارُكَ مُحفوظٌ مَنيعٌ بِنَجوَةٍ
عَنfrom الضَيمِoppression لاnot يُقصىis driven away وَلاand not يَتَذَلَّلُabases himself
عَن الضَيمِ لا يُقصى وَلا يَتَذَلَّلُ
And your neighbor is protected, inviolable, safely removed
You refuse to give in to anger's whim,
From oppression; he is neither cast out nor abases himself.
But gently calm it, with friendship well served.
وَتَأبىand you refuse فَلاso not تُعطيyou give عَلىunder الخَسفِcoercion دِرَّةًa flow of milk
وَتَأبى فَلا تُعطي عَلى الخَسفِ دِرَّةً
مُبِسّاًto a coaxing milker وَلَكِنand yet بِالتَوَدُدِthrough affection تُخبِلُyou lend livestock
مُبِسّاً وَلَكِن بِالتَوَدُدِ تُخبِلُ
And you refuse to yield any milk under coercion
Of the people, one who suffers oppression
To a coaxing milker; yet through affection you lend freely.
Is like a snake whose hole is laid bare - beware!
مِنَamong القَومِthe people مَغشِيُّthronged الرَواقِthe pavilion كَأَنَّهُas though he
مِنَ القَومِ مَغشِيُّ الرَواقِ كَأَنَّهُ
إِذاwhen سيمَhe is subjected to ضَيماًinjustice خادِرٌa lion in its lair يَتَبَسَّلُgrows fierce
إِذا سيمَ ضَيماً خادِرٌ يَتَبَسَّلُ
Among the people, his pavilion is thronged; he is like
A fierce lion who attacks the protected,
A lion in its lair, growing fierce when subjected to injustice.
With his den in the woods and his cubs in his care.
ضُبارِمَةٌmassive and powerful لَيثٌa lion مُدِلٌself-assured مُؤارِبٌcunning
ضُبارِمَةٌ لَيثٌ مُدِلٌ مُؤارِبٌ
لَهُhe has فيin عَرينِthe lair الغابِof the thickets عِرسٌa mate وَأَشبُلُand cubs
لَهُ في عَرينِ الغابِ عِرسٌ وَأَشبُلُ
A mighty lion, self-assured and cunning,
Brother to honor, you honor faith and bounty,
With a mate and cubs in his lair amid the thickets.
Bonded while fragrance lingers and roses bloom.
أَخوa man of العُرفِkindness مَعروفٌrenowned لَهُto him الدينُfaith وَالنَدىand generosity
أَخو العُرفِ مَعروفٌ لَهُ الدينُ وَالنَدى
حَليفانِtwo sworn allies ماas long as دامَتendure تِعارٌTi'ar وَيَذبُلُand Yadhbul
حَليفانِ ما دامَت تِعارٌ وَيَذبُلُ
A man of kindness, renowned: faith and generosity are his
You've reveled joyfully in glory's abundance,
Two sworn allies, as long as Ti'ar and Yadhbul endure.
Exalted, towering over valley and dune.
تَبَحبَحتَyou dwell at ease فيin بَحبُوحَةِthe spacious heart المَجدِof glory مِنهُمُamong them
تَبَحبَحتَ في بَحبُوحَةِ المَجدِ مِنهُمُ
بِرابِيَةٍon a height تَعلوrises above الرَوابِيَthe hills مِنfrom عَلُabove
بِرابِيَةٍ تَعلو الرَوابِيَ مِن عَلُ
You dwell at ease among them in the spacious heart of glory,
I saw a rift between us, and mended it
Upon a height that towers above the other hills.
Gently and tactfully, as a tear can be sewn.
رَأَيتُI saw اِنثِلاماًa breach بَينَناbetween us فَرَقَعتُهُso I mended it
رَأَيتُ اِنثِلاماً بَينَنا فَرَقَعتُهُ
بِرفِقيwith my gentleness وَإِحيائيand my modesty وَقَدand indeed يُرقَعُcan be mended الثلمُthe breach
بِرفِقي وَإِحيائي وَقَد يُرقَعُ الثلمُ
I saw a breach between us and mended it
With my gentleness and modesty; a breach can indeed be mended.
Partial English translation: 48 of 50 Arabic lines translated.