أهلاًwelcome بدارٍto an abode سباكcaptivated you أغْيدُهاits graceful dweller
أهلاً بدارٍ سباك أغْيدُها
أبعدafter? ماthat بانdeparted عنكfrom you خُرَّدُهاits bashful maidens
أبعد ما بان عنك خُرَّدُها
Welcome to an abode whose graceful dweller captivated you!
Welcome to a house whose inhabitants I lament,
Welcome to the abode whose slender beauty captivated you, long after its maidens have departed.
After its bashful maidens have departed from you?
The further you are from it, the more tattered it becomes.
You lingered there, bent over a liver burning with grief, your hand pressed tight against its aching sheath.
ظِلْتَyou remained بِهَاin it تَنْطَوِيyou fold inward عَلىaround كَبِدٍa liver
ظِلْتَ بِهَا تَنْطَوِي عَلى كَبِدٍ
نَضِيجَةٍcooked through فَوْقَabove خِلْبِهَاits enclosing membrane يَدُهَاits hand
نَضِيجَةٍ فَوْقَ خِلْبِهَا يَدُهَا
You stayed there, curled around a liver
You remained in it, writhing with anguish,
O drivers of her white camels, I fear that I shall be found dead before I lose sight of her.
seared through, its hand above its enclosing membrane.
Her hands boiling above its ashes.
Halt them briefly for my sake, for the least I can take as provision is a single glance.
يَاO حَادِيَيْtwo camel-drivers عيسِهَاher pale camels وَأحْسَبُنيand I think myself
يَا حَادِيَيْ عيسِهَا وَأحْسَبُني
أُوجَدُI am found مَيْتاًdead قُبَيْلَjust before أفْقِدُهَاI lose her
أُوجَدُ مَيْتاً قُبَيْلَ أفْقِدُهَا
O two drivers of her pale camels—and I think I
O you who rouse her passion, I reckon
Within the lover's heart burns a fire of passion; the hottest flames of Hell are but its coolest embers.
shall be found dead just before I lose her.
I will be found dead before I lose her.
From abandonment, the parting of his hair turned grey, while its blackness became as dark as silk.
قِفَاyou two, stop قَليلاًbriefly بهاwith her عَليّfor my sake فَلاso no
قِفَا قَليلاً بها عَليّ فَلا
أقَلّless مِنْthan نَظْرَةٍa glance أُزَوَّدُهَاI am provided with it
أقَلّ مِنْ نَظْرَةٍ أُزَوَّدُهَا
You two, pause with her briefly for my sake; no
Stop for a while with her, spare me
O censurer of lovers, leave this company be; God has led them astray, so how can you guide them?
less than one glance should be my provision.
No less than a glance with which I am provided.
Blame weaves no effect upon souls whose closest intent is still far beyond your reach.
فَفيfor in فُؤادِthe heart of المُحِبّthe lover نَارُa fire of جَوًىlove’s anguish
فَفي فُؤادِ المُحِبّ نَارُ جَوًى
أحَرُّthe hottest نَارِfire of الجَحيمِHell أبْرَدُهَاits coolest
أحَرُّ نَارِ الجَحيمِ أبْرَدُهَا
For in the lover’s heart burns a fire of anguish;
For in the heart of a lover is the fire of passion―
Wretched are the nights I spent awake in yearning, longing for one who passes them in slumber.
the hottest fire of Hell is its coolest flame.
Hotter than the fires of Hell, her coolness.
I kept the night alive while tears came to my aid, as the darkness came to aid the night itself.
شَابَturned gray مِنَfrom الهَجْرِseparation فَرْقُthe parting of لِمّتِهِhis locks
شَابَ مِنَ الهَجْرِ فَرْقُ لِمّتِهِ
فَصَارَso became مِثْلَlike الدّمَقْسِwhite silk أسْوَدُهَاits black hair
فَصَارَ مِثْلَ الدّمَقْسِ أسْوَدُهَا
The parting in his locks has whitened from separation;
Separation has turned his once jet-black hair
My mount accepts no rider behind me, nor do I exhaust her with the whip on the day of the race.
their black hair has become like white silk.
To the white of an old goat from torment.
Her sandal-strap is her saddle, her thong her rein, and her laces serve as her halter.
يَاO عَاذِلَreprover of العَاشِقِينَlovers دَعْleave فِئَةًa group
يَا عَاذِلَ العَاشِقِينَ دَعْ فِئَةً
أضَلّهَاled them astray اللهGod كَيفَhow تُرْشِدُهَاyou guide them
أضَلّهَا الله كَيفَ تُرْشِدُهَا
O reprover of lovers, leave a people
O you who censure lovers, leave a group―
The fiercest gust of wind is outstripped by the swaying of her stride beneath my feet.
whom God has led astray—how can you guide them?
That God has led astray―how can you guide them?
Traversing ground smooth as a shield's back, joined to rough terrain like the shield's inner belly.
لَيْسَdoes not يُحِيكُtake effect المَلامُreproach فيon هِمَمٍresolves
لَيْسَ يُحِيكُ المَلامُ في هِمَمٍ
أقْرَبُهَاthe nearest of them مِنْكَto you عَنْكَfrom you أبْعَدُهَاthe farthest of them
أقْرَبُهَا مِنْكَ عَنْكَ أبْعَدُهَا
Reproach has no effect on resolves
Reproach does not suit proud souls,
Her lowlands and barren deserts cast us forward, aiming toward the son of Ubayd Allah.
whose nearest to you is farthest from you.
The nearest of them to you, the furthest from you.
To a youth who withdraws his spears only after their bearer has quenched their thirst within hearts.
بِئْسَwretched are اللّيَاليthe nights سَهِدْتُI stayed sleepless مِنْfrom طَرَبٍemotional unrest
بِئْسَ اللّيَالي سَهِدْتُ مِنْ طَرَبٍ
شَوْقاًin longing إلىfor مَنْone who يَبِيتُspends the night يَرْقُدُهَاsleeps through them
شَوْقاً إلى مَنْ يَبِيتُ يَرْقُدُهَا
Wretched the nights I stayed awake in unrest,
Miserable are the nights I stayed awake from rapture
He has bestowed prior favors upon me; I acknowledge them, yet cannot number them all.
longing for one who spends them asleep.
Yearning for she who spends the night asleep.
He gives without the murk of delay, nor does any reminder of the favor spoil the gift.
أحْيَيْتُهَاI kept them alive وَالدّمُوعُand the tears تُنْجِدُنيaid me
أحْيَيْتُهَا وَالدّمُوعُ تُنْجِدُني
شُؤونُهَاtheir tear-channels وَالظّلامُand darkness يُنْجِدُهَاaids them
شُؤونُهَا وَالظّلامُ يُنْجِدُهَا
I kept them alive; tears came to my aid
I brought them to life, and tears help me,
The best of Quraysh in lineage and glory, the most bountiful in giving and the most generous.
through their channels, while darkness aided them.
Her affairs and darkness help her.
The fiercest thruster with the spear, the swiftest striker with the sword, their chieftain and lord.
لاnot نَاقَتيmy she-camel تَقْبَلُaccepts الرّدِيفَa rear rider وَلاand not
لا نَاقَتي تَقْبَلُ الرّدِيفَ وَلا
بالسّوْطِwith the whip يَوْمَon the day of الرّهَانِracing أُجْهِدُهَاI strain her
بالسّوْطِ يَوْمَ الرّهَانِ أُجْهِدُهَا
My she-camel takes no rider behind me, nor
Neither can my she-camel endure a rider,
The finest horseman among them, of longest reach, their daring raider and their master.
do I strain her with the whip on race day.
Nor can I, on a race day, push her to exhaustion.
He is the crown of Lu'ayy bin Ghalib; through him, her branch and root have soared to the heights.
شِرَاكُهَاher sandal-strap كُورُهَاher camel-saddle وَمِشْفَرُهَاand her lip
شِرَاكُهَا كُورُهَا وَمِشْفَرُهَا
زِمَامُهَاher bridle وَالشُّسُوعُand the sandal-thongs مِقْوَدُهَاher leading-rein
زِمَامُهَا وَالشُّسُوعُ مِقْوَدُهَا
Her sandal-strap is her saddle, and her lip
Her saddle-strap, her knee-pads and her bridle
The sun of her morning, the crescent moon of her night, the pearl of her necklace, her emerald gem.
her bridle; the sandal-thongs are her reins.
Are her reins, and the Pleiades her guide.
Would that I bore a strike destined for me, as the name Muhammad was destined for him.
أشَدُّthe fiercest عَصْفِblast of الرّيَاحِthe winds يَسْبُقُهُoutstrips it
أشَدُّ عَصْفِ الرّيَاحِ يَسْبُقُهُ
تَحْتيَbeneath me مِنْfrom خَطْوِهَاher strides تَأوّدُهَاher flexing
تَحْتيَ مِنْ خَطْوِهَا تَأوّدُهَا
The fiercest blast of the winds is outstripped
The fiercest desert wind she outruns,
He left his mark upon the battle and the iron, yet the Indian blade left no mark of fear upon his face.
by her flexing beneath me with each stride.
Beneath me, made gentle by her pacing.
The scar rejoiced to see itself adorned by such a man, while other wounds looked on in envy.
فيin مِثْلِthe likeness of ظَهْرِthe back of المِجَنّthe shield مُتّصِلٍjoined
في مِثْلِ ظَهْرِ المِجَنّ مُتّصِلٍ
بمِثْلِto the likeness of بَطْنِthe belly of المِجَنّthe shield قَرْدَدُهَاits rugged heights
بمِثْلِ بَطْنِ المِجَنّ قَرْدَدُهَا
Through land like a shield’s back, where
Her back continuous with her belly
And people knew for certain that he who planted it by treachery would harvest the result in his own heart.
its rugged heights adjoin hollows like a shield’s belly.
Like a tanned waterskin joined to another.
His enviers are now in such a state that fear of him rattles their very souls up and down.
مُرْتَمِياتٌhurling themselves بِنَاwith us إلىtoward ابنِson of عُبَيْـʿUbay—
مُرْتَمِياتٌ بِنَا إلى ابنِ عُبَيْـ
ـدِ—d (completing ʿUbayd) اللهAllah غِيطَانُهَاits lowlands وَفَدْفَدُهَاand its bare upland
ـدِ الله غِيطَانُهَا وَفَدْفَدُهَا
Hurling us toward Ibn ʿUbay—
Hastening to Ibn Ubayd Allah are our high-bred mounts,
The scabbards weep over the blades when he gives warning that he intends to unsheathe them,
—d Allah are its lowlands and bare uplands.
Their neighing and trotting.
For they know they shall turn into liquid blood, and that he will sheath them within the necks of foes.
إلىtoward فَتًىa young man يُصْدِرُbrings back from watering الرّمَاحَthe spears وَقَدْand already
إلى فَتًى يُصْدِرُ الرّمَاحَ وَقَدْ
أنْهَلَهَاgave them drink فيin القُلُوبِthe hearts مُورِدُهَاtheir guide to water
أنْهَلَهَا في القُلُوبِ مُورِدُهَا
Toward a youth who brings the spears back, after
To a knight who lunges with the spears, and whose
He set them loose; now the enemy, in panic, reviles them, while the friend sings their praise.
their wielder has let them drink their fill within hearts.
Watering-places in hearts have quenched their thirst.
Fire sparks from their striking edges, extinguished only by the pouring water of severed necks.
لَهُhe has أيَادٍfavors إليّtoward me سَابِقَةٌprevious
لَهُ أيَادٍ إليّ سَابِقَةٌ
أعُدّI count myself مِنْهَاamong them وَلاand I do not أُعَدّدُهَاenumerate them
أعُدّ مِنْهَا وَلا أُعَدّدُهَا
He has bestowed favors on me before;
He has outstanding favors to me
If a hero loses his life-blood one day, it is the tips of these blades that have sought it out.
I count myself among them, yet do not enumerate them.
I cannot count, though I try to number them.
All creation has agreed, for my sake, that you, O son of the Prophet, are its unique one.
يُعْطيhe gives فَلاso no مَطْلَةٌdelay in giving يُكَدّرُهَاhe clouds them
يُعْطي فَلا مَطْلَةٌ يُكَدّرُهَا
بِهَاwith it وَلاand no مَنّةٌreminder of favors يُنَكّدُهَاhe embitters them
بِهَا وَلا مَنّةٌ يُنَكّدُهَا
He gives, with no delay to cloud his gifts,
He gives without delay to mar it,
And that yesterday, though barely of age and beardless, you were already the Elder of the Ma'add tribe.
nor any reminder of favors to embitter them.
Without reminders to embitter it.
How many a majestic favor have you nurtured, a grace that found its very birth in you.
خَيْرُthe best of قُرَيْشٍQuraysh أباًin paternal lineage وَأمْجَدُهَاand its most glorious
خَيْرُ قُرَيْشٍ أباً وَأمْجَدُهَا
أكثَرُهَاits most abundant نَائِلاًin gifts وَأجْوَدُهَاand its most generous
أكثَرُهَا نَائِلاً وَأجْوَدُهَا
Quraysh’s best in paternal lineage, its most glorious,
The best of Quraysh in lineage and most generous,
And how many a need have you granted, its fulfillment arriving closer to me than my own self.
its greatest giver, its most generous,
Fullest of bounty and most open-handed.
And noble deeds that walked upon the foot of righteousness to my home, repeating their visits.
أطْعَنُهَاits fiercest thruster بالقَنَاةِwith the lance أضْرَبُهَاits mightiest striker
أطْعَنُهَا بالقَنَاةِ أضْرَبُهَا
بالسّيْفِwith the sword جَحْجاحُهَاits mighty chief مُسَوَّدُهَاits acknowledged leader
بالسّيْفِ جَحْجاحُهَا مُسَوَّدُهَا
its fiercest with the lance, its mightiest striker
I thrust with the spear, I strike with the sword―
My very skin has acknowledged these gifts; I cannot deny them so long as I live.
with the sword, its mighty chief, its acknowledged leader;
Its brown flash blackened.
So grant them again—may I never lack them—for the best gifts of the generous are those that return.
أفْرَسُهَاits finest in horsemanship فَارِساًas a horseman وَأطْوَلُهَاand its longest
أفْرَسُهَا فَارِساً وَأطْوَلُهَا
بَاعاًin reach وَمِغْوَارُهَاand its bold raider وَسَيّدُهَاand its lord
بَاعاً وَمِغْوَارُهَا وَسَيّدُهَا
its finest horseman, its longest
Her horseman is the bravest horseman, her camel-driver
in reach, its bold raider and its lord.
The farthest-traveling, and her master and chief.
تَاجُcrown of لُؤيّLuʾayy بنِson of غَالِبٍGhalib وَبِهِand through him
تَاجُ لُؤيّ بنِ غَالِبٍ وَبِهِ
سَمَاrose high لَهَاfor it فَرْعُهَاits branch وَمَحْتِدُهَاand its ancestral stock
سَمَا لَهَا فَرْعُهَا وَمَحْتِدُهَا
The crown of Luʾayy ibn Ghalib; through him
The crown of Lu'ayy ibn Ghalib, it is he
its branch and ancestral stock rose high.
Who gave her branches height and sharpened her point.
شَمْسُsun of ضُحَاهَاits morning هِلالُcrescent of لَيلَتِهَاits night
شَمْسُ ضُحَاهَا هِلالُ لَيلَتِهَا
دُرُّpearls of تَقَاصِيرِهَاits short necklaces زَبَرْجَدُهَاits chrysolite
دُرُّ تَقَاصِيرِهَا زَبَرْجَدُهَا
The sun of its morning, the crescent of its night,
Sun of her daytime, crescent of her night,
the pearls of its short necklaces, its chrysolite.
Pearl of her anklets, chrysolite.
يَاO لَيْتَwould that بيupon me ضَرْبَةًa wound أُتيحَwas allotted لهَاto it
يَا لَيْتَ بي ضَرْبَةً أُتيحَ لهَا
كمَاjust as أُتِيحَتْit was allotted لَهُto him مُحَمّدُهَاits Muhammad
كمَا أُتِيحَتْ لَهُ مُحَمّدُهَا
Would that I bore a wound allotted
Would that I had been struck a blow made possible
its own Muhammad, as it was allotted to him.
As his Muhammad was made possible.
أثّرَleft a mark فِيهَاon it وَفيand on الحَدِيدِthe iron ومَاbut did not
أثّرَ فِيهَا وَفي الحَدِيدِ ومَا
أثّرَleave a mark فيon وَجْهِهِhis face مُهَنّدُهَاits Indian-forged sword
أثّرَ في وَجْهِهِ مُهَنّدُهَا
He left his mark on it and on the steel, yet
He left his mark on it and on iron although
its Indian-forged sword left no mark on his face.
His dashing one had left no blemish on his face.
فَاغْتَبَطَتْso it rejoiced إذْwhen رَأتْit saw تَزَيّنَهَاits adornment
فَاغْتَبَطَتْ إذْ رَأتْ تَزَيّنَهَا
بِمِثْلِهِby one like him وَالجِرَاحُand the wounds تَحْسُدُهَاenvy it
بِمِثْلِهِ وَالجِرَاحُ تَحْسُدُهَا
So it rejoiced when it saw itself adorned
It congratulated itself when it saw its adornment
by one like him, while other wounds envied it.
With the like of him, though wounds may envy it.
وَأيْقَنَand knew for certain النّاسُthe people أنّthat زَارِعَهَاits planter
وَأيْقَنَ النّاسُ أنّ زَارِعَهَا
بالمَكْرِthrough treachery فيin قَلْبِهِhis heart سَيَحْصِدُهَاwill reap it
بالمَكْرِ في قَلْبِهِ سَيَحْصِدُهَا
And people knew for certain that whoever planted it
People realized that he who planted it
through treachery would reap it in his own heart.
Through his scheming would one day reap it.
أصْبَحَbecame حُسّادُهُhis enviers وَأنْفُسُهُمْand their souls
أصْبَحَ حُسّادُهُ وَأنْفُسُهُمْ
يُحْدِرُهَاcasts them down خَوْفُهُfear of him وَيُصْعِدُهَاand raises them
يُحْدِرُهَا خَوْفُهُ وَيُصْعِدُهَا
His enviers now live with their souls
His enviers woke up with their souls
cast down and lifted up by fear of him.
Fearfully humbling him and exalting him.
تَبْكيweep علَىfor الأنْصُلِthe blades الغُمُودُthe scabbards إذَاwhen
تَبْكي علَى الأنْصُلِ الغُمُودُ إذَا
أنْذَرَهَاhe warns them أنّهُthat he يُجَرِّدُهَاunsheathes them
أنْذَرَهَا أنّهُ يُجَرِّدُهَا
The scabbards weep for the blades whenever
The sword weeps for the polished blade when
he warns them that he will draw them bare,
It warns it will strip it bare.
لِعِلْمِهَاbecause they know أنّهَاthat they تَصِيرُbecome دَماًblood
لِعِلْمِهَا أنّهَا تَصِيرُ دَماً
وَأنّهُand that he فيin الرّقَابِnecks يُغْمِدُهَاsheathes them
وَأنّهُ في الرّقَابِ يُغْمِدُهَا
knowing that the blades will become blood
Knowing it will become blood
and that he will sheathe them in necks.
And plunge it into the necks.
أطْلَقَهَاhe unleashed them فَالعَدُوّso the enemy مِنْfrom جَزَعٍterror
أطْلَقَهَا فَالعَدُوّ مِنْ جَزَعٍ
يَذُمّهَاreviles them وَالصّدِيقُand the friend يَحْمَدُهَاpraises them
يَذُمّهَا وَالصّدِيقُ يَحْمَدُهَا
He unleashed them; the enemy, in terror,
He unleashed it, so the enemy in panic
reviles them, while the friend praises them.
Curses it while the friend praises it.
تَنْقَدِحُsparks النّارُthe fire مِنْfrom مَضارِبِهَاtheir striking edges
تَنْقَدِحُ النّارُ مِنْ مَضارِبِهَا
وَصَبُّand pouring مَاءِthe water of الرّقابِnecks يُخْمِدُهَاquenches it
وَصَبُّ مَاءِ الرّقابِ يُخْمِدُهَا
Fire sparks from their striking edges,
Fire sparks from its striking,
and the pouring of water from necks quenches it.
And the pouring of the blood quenches it
إذَاif أضَلّmislays الهُمَامُthe valiant warrior مُهْجَتَهُhis heart’s blood
إذَا أضَلّ الهُمَامُ مُهْجَتَهُ
يَوْماًone day فَأطْرَافُهُنّthen their points تَنْشُدُهَاseek it
يَوْماً فَأطْرَافُهُنّ تَنْشُدُهَا
If a valiant warrior mislays his heart’s blood
When passions lose their way one day
one day, their points will seek it out.
Their tips seeking it out.
قَدْindeed أجْمَعَتْhas unanimously agreed هَذِهِthis الخَلِيقَةُcreation ليto me
قَدْ أجْمَعَتْ هَذِهِ الخَلِيقَةُ لي
أنّكَthat you ياO ابنَson of النّبيّthe Prophet أوْحَدُهَاits peerless one
أنّكَ يا ابنَ النّبيّ أوْحَدُهَا
All this creation has unanimously assured me
All creation has agreed for me
that you, O son of the Prophet, are its peerless one,
That you, O son of the Prophet, are its unique one,
وأنّكَand that you بالأمْسِyesterday كُنْتَyou were مُحْتَلِماًcome of age
وأنّكَ بالأمْسِ كُنْتَ مُحْتَلِماً
شَيْخَelder of مَعَدٍّMaʿadd وَأنْتَwhile you were أمْرَدُهَاits beardless youth
شَيْخَ مَعَدٍّ وَأنْتَ أمْرَدُهَا
and that yesterday, on coming of age, you were
And that yesterday you were a hot-blooded
the elder of Maʿadd, while still its beardless youth.
Elderly Mādī, while you are its most virile one,
وَكَمْand how many وَكَمْand how many نِعْمَةٍa blessing مُجَلِّلَةٍall-enfolding
وَكَمْ وَكَمْ نِعْمَةٍ مُجَلِّلَةٍ
رَبّيْتَهَاyou nurtured it كانَwas مِنْكَfrom you مَوْلِدُهَاits birth
رَبّيْتَهَا كانَ مِنْكَ مَوْلِدُهَا
And how many, how many an all-enfolding blessing
So many glorious blessings
have you nurtured, whose birth came from you!
You have cultivated, your birth was their origin,
وَكَمْand how many وَكَمْand how many حَاجَةٍa need سَمَحْتَyou were generous بهَاwith it
وَكَمْ وَكَمْ حَاجَةٍ سَمَحْتَ بهَا
أقْرَبُnearer منّيthan me إليّto me مَوْعِدُهَاits promised time
أقْرَبُ منّي إليّ مَوْعِدُهَا
And how many, how many a request you freely granted,
So many needs you have granted
its promised time nearer to me than my own self!
Closer to me than their appointed time,
وَمَكْرُمَاتٍand noble gifts مَشَتْwalked علَىon قَدَمِthe foot of الْـthe—
وَمَكْرُمَاتٍ مَشَتْ علَى قَدَمِ الْـ
ـبِرّ—benevolence إلىto مَنْزِليmy home تُرَدّدُهَاyou send them repeatedly
ـبِرّ إلى مَنْزِلي تُرَدّدُهَا
And noble gifts walked on the foot of
And gifts of kindness walking step after step
benevolence to my home—you send them again and again.
To my house, repeating them.
أقَرّacknowledged جِلْديmy skin بهَاconcerning them عَليّagainst me فَلاso not
أقَرّ جِلْدي بهَا عَليّ فَلا
أقْدِرُI can حَتّىuntil المَمَاتِdeath أجْحَدُهَاdeny them
أقْدِرُ حَتّى المَمَاتِ أجْحَدُهَا
My very skin testifies to them against me, so
They make my skin cling to my bones, so I cannot
I cannot deny them until death.
Till death, peel them away.
فَعُدْso return بهَاwith them لاmay not عَدِمْتُهَاI be deprived of them أبَداًever
فَعُدْ بهَا لا عَدِمْتُهَا أبَداً
خَيْرُthe best of صِلاتِgifts of الكَرِيمِthe generous man أعْوَدُهَاthe most renewed of them
خَيْرُ صِلاتِ الكَرِيمِ أعْوَدُهَا
So renew them—may I never be deprived of them!
Then return with them―I will never lack them―
The best of a generous man’s gifts are those most often renewed.
The best prayers of the generous one I shall repeat.
Partial English translation: 40 of 80 Arabic lines translated.