مُفارَقَةٌ وَاللَهُ عَزَّ نَظيرُها

مُفارَقَةٌ وَاللَهُ عَزَّ نَظيرُها

أَسيرُ غَداً عَنها وَقَلبي أَسيرُها

أَسيرُ غَداً عَنها وَقَلبي أَسيرُها

A parting—by God—whose like is rare.

A paradox indeed, by Allah unmatched

Tomorrow I leave her, while my heart remains her captive.

I leave tomorrow though my heart remains ensnared

تَخَلَّيتُ عَن قَلبي لَها غَيرَ مُكرَهٍ

تَخَلَّيتُ عَن قَلبي لَها غَيرَ مُكرَهٍ

وَلَكِنَّ نَفسَ الحُرِّ تَغلو مُهورُها

وَلَكِنَّ نَفسَ الحُرِّ تَغلو مُهورُها

I yielded my heart to her without compulsion,

Willingly I gave my heart without compulsion

but the dowries of a free man's soul are costly.

But the spirit of the free spreads its wings far and wide

رَهَنَت فُؤادي في هَواها لِمُدَّةٍ

رَهَنَت فُؤادي في هَواها لِمُدَّةٍ

فَلَم يُغنِ عَنهُ عِندَ نَفسي مُرورُها

فَلَم يُغنِ عَنهُ عِندَ نَفسي مُرورُها

She pledged my heart to her love for a term,

My heart was held captive by its passion for some time

yet its passing availed it nothing in my eyes.

Yet my soul gained nothing when time passed it by

فَلَيسَت تَرى لِلعَلَقِ عِندي عَلاقَةً

فَلَيسَت تَرى لِلعَلَقِ عِندي عَلاقَةً

وَعِندي يَدٌ لَم توفِ عَنّي نُذورُها

وَعِندي يَدٌ لَم توفِ عَنّي نُذورُها

So she sees in me no attachment to precious things,

So do not think that to passion I'm inclined

and I owe a kindness whose pledges remain undischarged.

Or that my hand's not kept its promises and vows

وَإِن كانَ نَفلاً ما سَمَحَت فَإِنَّها

وَإِن كانَ نَفلاً ما سَمَحَت فَإِنَّها

صَنائِعٌ في رَأيي تَزادُ أُجورُها

صَنائِعٌ في رَأيي تَزادُ أُجورُها

Though what she bestowed was freely given, these are

And if it grants freely then surely its gifts

benefactions whose rewards, in my view, should be increased.

Are in my view merits that increase its reward

فَأَنّي رَأَيتُ الفَضلَ فَضلَ زِيادَةٍ

فَأَنّي رَأَيتُ الفَضلَ فَضلَ زِيادَةٍ

عَلى حَقِّهِ يُمسي خَطيراً نَزيرُها

عَلى حَقِّهِ يُمسي خَطيراً نَزيرُها

For I have found generosity to be a surplus gift

For excess virtue, I've found, becomes nearly a vice

beyond its due, even a little of which becomes precious.

When beyond rightful due its zeal is inspired

وَأَنَّ المَزايا مِن قَليلٍ وَرُبَّما

وَأَنَّ المَزايا مِن قَليلٍ وَرُبَّما

لَعَمري قَليلُ المَكرُماتِ كَثيرُها

لَعَمري قَليلُ المَكرُماتِ كَثيرُها

And distinctions arise from little; sometimes,

Favors oft slight, though great when tallied in full

by my life, a little in noble deeds counts as much.

By my life, little kindness is much when required

فَإِن كُنتُ لَم أوثِر عَلى النَفسِ مَجدَها

فَإِن كُنتُ لَم أوثِر عَلى النَفسِ مَجدَها

فَلا أَحمَدَ الآثارَ عَنّي أَثيرُها

فَلا أَحمَدَ الآثارَ عَنّي أَثيرُها

If I have not preferred my soul's glory to the soul itself,

If I did not for glory's sake favor myself

then may I not praise the deeds I bring forth from myself.

No remarkable feats from me will transpire

وَما الفَرقُ ما بَينَ الكَريمِ وَضِدُّهُ

وَما الفَرقُ ما بَينَ الكَريمِ وَضِدُّهُ

إِذا لَم يُحَمِّل نَفسَهُ ما يُضيرُها

إِذا لَم يُحَمِّل نَفسَهُ ما يُضيرُها

What difference is there between the noble man and his opposite,

What differs a noble man from his counterpart?

if he does not burden his soul with what harms it?

If he bears no burden that brings him to harm

وَما الحُرُّ مَن يَلوى لِضُرٍّ يَمَسُّهُ

وَما الحُرُّ مَن يَلوى لِضُرٍّ يَمَسُّهُ

إِذا لَفَحَتهُ في اللَيالي حُرورُها

إِذا لَفَحَتهُ في اللَيالي حُرورُها

A free man is not one who bends to harm that touches him

No man is free who recoils from hurt come his way

when the nights scorch him with their burning heat,

When anguish by night kindles flames in his soul

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَقوى وَلِلرَوعِ نَصلَةٌ

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَقوى وَلِلرَوعِ نَصلَةٌ

يُطيرُ فُؤادَ الفَحلِ إِذا يَستَطيرُها

يُطيرُ فُؤادَ الفَحلِ إِذا يَستَطيرُها

but one who stands strong, though terror has a blade

But he who stands fast though dread hacks at his bones

that sends the stallion's heart flying whenever it is brandished.

His spirit, when stirred, is too proud for its bridle

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَطوي عَلى المُرِّ مُرَّةً

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَطوي عَلى المُرِّ مُرَّةً

تَظَلُّ عَلَيهِ مُستَمِرّاً مَريرُها

تَظَلُّ عَلَيهِ مُستَمِرّاً مَريرُها

But one who folds firm resolve around bitterness,

He who stoically suffers each bitter sting

whose taut cord remains steadfast against it.

Will have sorrow inflict constant grim lashes

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَغدو وَتَغدو عَزيمَةً

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَغدو وَتَغدو عَزيمَةً

لَهُ مِثلَ حَدِّ السَيفِ وَهوَ شَهيرُها

لَهُ مِثلَ حَدِّ السَيفِ وَهوَ شَهيرُها

But one who goes forth, and with him goes a resolve

While he who sets out as resolve guides each dawn

like a sword's edge, and he is famed for it.

Owns a will keen as polished and bared scimitar

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَفري السُتورَ إِذا عُدَّت

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَفري السُتورَ إِذا عُدَّت

عَلَيهِ خُطوبٌ لا تُزاحُ سُتورُها

عَلَيهِ خُطوبٌ لا تُزاحُ سُتورُها

But one who rends the veils when there are reckoned

He who tears aside veils when disasters descend

against him calamities whose veils cannot be lifted.

With no veil strong enough to ward off their fury

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَغشى صُدورَ مَجالِسٍ

وَلَكِنَّ مَن يَغشى صُدورَ مَجالِسٍ

وَتَغشاهُ مَن جَرَّدَ المَذاكي صُدورُها

وَتَغشاهُ مَن جَرَّدَ المَذاكي صُدورُها

But one who takes the foremost seats in assemblies,

He who attends gatherings with breasts all exposed

while the chests of steeds someone has readied assail him.

While breasts all around tightly shroud what's inside

وَلَكِن فَتىً عِندَ الرَزايا صَبورُها

وَلَكِن فَتىً عِندَ الرَزايا صَبورُها

وَفي وَسَطِ أَجوالِ المَنايا ضُبورُها

وَفي وَسَطِ أَجوالِ المَنايا ضُبورُها

But a young man patient under calamities,

A man, long enduring amid calamities,

who bounds through the midst of death's arenas.

Right in the midst of death's crushing onslaughts

أَلا في سَبيلِ المَجدِ أَن شَكيمَةٌ

أَلا في سَبيلِ المَجدِ أَن شَكيمَةٌ

أُجيشَ بِها لَم يَخَب يَوماً سَعيرُها

أُجيشَ بِها لَم يَخَب يَوماً سَعيرُها

Behold, for glory's sake there is a fierce resolve

Indeed, on the path to glory, stoicism

with which I surge, its blaze never once extinguished.

Once stirred, knows no defeat in its ferocious campaign

وَأَنّي حَلَبتُ الدَهرَ أَشطُرُهُ وَقَد

وَأَنّي حَلَبتُ الدَهرَ أَشطُرُهُ وَقَد

مَضَت لي كَأَعوامِ الرِجالِ شُهورُها

مَضَت لي كَأَعوامِ الرِجالِ شُهورُها

And I have milked Time's teats, and indeed

Half of time have I milked, as men do in their years

its months have passed for me like other men's years.

Were it not for my wellspring of valor's draught

إِذا لَم يَكُن ماءَ الشَهامَةِ مَنهَلي

إِذا لَم يَكُن ماءَ الشَهامَةِ مَنهَلي

وَلَم يَهدِني نَحوَ الحَفيظَةِ نورُها

وَلَم يَهدِني نَحوَ الحَفيظَةِ نورُها

If the water of gallantry is not my drinking place,

If the water of glory was not my oasis

and its light does not guide me toward defending honor,

Or its light lead me to noble horizons

فَلا وافَقَت لِلمَكرُماتِ عَقيلَةُ

فَلا وافَقَت لِلمَكرُماتِ عَقيلَةُ

أَخاها وَلا صاغَ القَوافي أَميرَها

أَخاها وَلا صاغَ القَوافي أَميرَها

then may a noble sister never match in noble deeds

Then no congenial company would inspire a brother

her brother, nor the prince of rhymes compose them.

Or prince fit to compose verses' empire

يُفَجِّرُ فيها لِلقَريحَةِ أَنهُراً

يُفَجِّرُ فيها لِلقَريحَةِ أَنهُراً

غِزاراً فَلا تَخشى المَغاضِ بُحورُها

غِزاراً فَلا تَخشى المَغاضِ بُحورُها

He opens in them rivers of poetic inspiration,

Unleashing within it rivers of creativity

abundant, so their seas need never fear drying up.

With no fear provisions will leave its streams dry

وَما ذاكَ إِلّا أَنَّهُ مُتَخَرِّجٌ

وَما ذاكَ إِلّا أَنَّهُ مُتَخَرِّجٌ

عَلى ذاتِ فَضلٍ لا يَخيبُ سَميرُها

عَلى ذاتِ فَضلٍ لا يَخيبُ سَميرُها

And that is only because he has been schooled

This because it is born of exceeding merit

under one endowed with grace, whose night companion is never disappointed.

Whose lofty wisdom no shameful act could inspire

مُمَنَّعَةٌ أَركانَها فَوقَ حِكمَةٍ

مُمَنَّعَةٌ أَركانَها فَوقَ حِكمَةٍ

مُرَفَّعَةٍ تَعلو السِماكَ قُصورُها

مُرَفَّعَةٍ تَعلو السِماكَ قُصورُها

Her foundations are fortified upon a wisdom

Its edifice is protected by wisdom sublime

exalted, her palaces rising above al-Simak.

With towers that the highest heavens admire

تَميلُ بِأَعطافِ النَجاحِ خُصورُها

تَميلُ بِأَعطافِ النَجاحِ خُصورُها

وَتَضحَكُ عَن مِثلِ الأَقاحِ ثُغورُها

وَتَضحَكُ عَن مِثلِ الأَقاحِ ثُغورُها

Her waists sway in success's graceful folds,

Its breasts incline with good fortune's gestures

and her mouths smile, showing daisy-like teeth.

While wretchedness cannot touch its rooms

وَتَزهو وَلا زَهوَ الكَواكِبِ في الدُجى

وَتَزهو وَلا زَهوَ الكَواكِبِ في الدُجى

إِذا في لَيالي الجَهلِ تَمَّ سُفورُها

إِذا في لَيالي الجَهلِ تَمَّ سُفورُها

And she shines—no stars in darkness shine as she does—

It glows, outshining celestial bodies in darkness

when she fully unveils herself in ignorance's nights.

When nights of ignorance reach their uttermost

يُقِرُّ لَها مِن كُلِّ بَدرٍ تَمامُهُ

يُقِرُّ لَها مِن كُلِّ بَدرٍ تَمامُهُ

وَيَحسُدُها مِن كُلِّ شَمسٍ ذُرورُها

وَيَحسُدُها مِن كُلِّ شَمسٍ ذُرورُها

The fullness of every full moon yields to her,

The full moon concedes its totality to it

and the rising of every sun envies her.

While each sun envies its illuminating fire

فَقَد خَوَّلَتني نِعمَةٌ فَوقَ نِعمَةٍ

فَقَد خَوَّلَتني نِعمَةٌ فَوقَ نِعمَةٍ

وَكُلٌّ إِذا عُدَّت فَإِنّي شُكورُها

وَكُلٌّ إِذا عُدَّت فَإِنّي شُكورُها

For she has bestowed on me blessing upon blessing,

For excellence granted me favor on favor

and for each, when counted, I am grateful.

Each counted, for it I give thanks and admire

فَأَلبَسَني نَسجَ الحُبورِ حَبيرُها

فَأَلبَسَني نَسجَ الحُبورِ حَبيرُها

وَأَوطَأَني مَهدَ السُرورِ سَريرُها

وَأَوطَأَني مَهدَ السُرورِ سَريرُها

Her brocade clothed me in joy's woven fabric,

It clothed me in bliss' robe and settled me

and her couch settled me into delight's cradle.

On joy's cushions as honored desired

لَقَد رَشَّحَت حِلمي فَجاءَت خَلائِقي

لَقَد رَشَّحَت حِلمي فَجاءَت خَلائِقي

مِنَ الطَبعِ أَولاها وَلا أَستَعيرُها

مِنَ الطَبعِ أَولاها وَلا أَستَعيرُها

She fostered my forbearance, and so my traits emerged,

It adorned my forbearance, untainted by nature

their finest from nature; I do not borrow them.

Acquired virtues - none borrowed, none hired

لَيالي هاتيكَ المَهارِقَ حَولَنا

لَيالي هاتيكَ المَهارِقَ حَولَنا

يَدورُ بِنا دَورَ الأَساوِرِ دورُها

يَدورُ بِنا دَورَ الأَساوِرِ دورُها

Nights with those parchments all around us,

Those nights of vigil spun round us

their rounds circling us like bracelets.

Like bracelets, without cease, in their gyre

لِذاكَ غَدَت تَحكي بَياضَ طُروسِها

لِذاكَ غَدَت تَحكي بَياضَ طُروسِها

وَإِن أَشبَهَتها بِالظَلامِ سُطورُها

وَإِن أَشبَهَتها بِالظَلامِ سُطورُها

Thus the nights resembled the whiteness of those pages,

Thus they tell, despite darkness, their dawns' motifs

though the pages' lines resembled them in darkness:

Though shadows obscure their lines, these memoirs

مَجَرَّ وَمَجرى سُمرِ أَقلامِنا الَّتي

مَجَرَّ وَمَجرى سُمرِ أَقلامِنا الَّتي

يَهينُ صَليلُ المَشرِفي صَريرُها

يَهينُ صَليلُ المَشرِفي صَريرُها

the trail and course of our brown pens, whose

Time flowed, and our pens flowed in its dimness

scratching humbles the clang of the Mashrafi sword.

Whose drips humble clangs from refined sabers

أَلا حَبَّذا تِلكَ اللَيالي فَإِنَّها

أَلا حَبَّذا تِلكَ اللَيالي فَإِنَّها

هِيَ الغُرُّ لَكِن لَيسَ يَدري غُرورُها

هِيَ الغُرُّ لَكِن لَيسَ يَدري غُرورُها

Ah, how lovely those nights! For they

Oh, to have those nights back, deceitful as they were

are the radiant ones, though their deception goes unperceived.

Unbeknownst to all the deception their guise bore

قَضَيتُ بِها أُنساً كَأَن لَم أَفُز بِهِ

قَضَيتُ بِها أُنساً كَأَن لَم أَفُز بِهِ

وَرَشفُ كُؤوسٍ لَم تَحرِم خُمورُها

وَرَشفُ كُؤوسٍ لَم تَحرِم خُمورُها

I spent them in companionship I seem never to have won,

I found in them joy as though I'd never attained

and sipping cups whose wines were never forbidden.

And drank from cups whose wine was not barred

فَما أَنسَ لا أَنسَ الرِياضَ الَّتي جَرى

فَما أَنسَ لا أَنسَ الرِياضَ الَّتي جَرى

وَأَورَدَني ماءَ النَعيمِ غَديرُها

وَأَورَدَني ماءَ النَعيمِ غَديرُها

Whatever I forget, I will not forget the gardens where flowed

No joy like the gardens where streams wandered about

their pool, bringing me to the water of bliss.

And gave me to drink from bliss' rivers procured

وَلا أَنسَ أَوقاتاً قَضَيتُ بِرَبعِها

وَلا أَنسَ أَوقاتاً قَضَيتُ بِرَبعِها

وَلا صُحبَةً مِنّي كَريمٌ عَشيرُها

وَلا صُحبَةً مِنّي كَريمٌ عَشيرُها

Nor will I forget the times I spent in her dwelling,

No joy like moments with a kindred soul shared

nor companionship whose intimate was dear to me.

Or company whose nobility was assured

فَإِن يَقضِ بِالبُعدِ القَضاءُ فَإِنَّهُ

فَإِن يَقضِ بِالبُعدِ القَضاءُ فَإِنَّهُ

عَذيري مِنها وَهوَ مِنّي عَذيرُها

عَذيري مِنها وَهوَ مِنّي عَذيرُها

If fate decrees separation, then it

If decreed we must part, that's excuse for us both

is my excuse to her, and her excuse to me.

And for me, from it, no rancor endured

مَضَت فَأَمَضَّت مُهجَتي وَكَأَنَّها

مَضَت فَأَمَضَّت مُهجَتي وَكَأَنَّها

نَضيرُ كَرى عَينَيَّ كانَ كُرورُها

نَضيرُ كَرى عَينَيَّ كانَ كُرورُها

They passed and seared my heart, as though

It left, and left my love smoldering, as though

their return had been fresh slumber in my eyes.

It were the beloved whose loss I bemoaned

فَلا تُنكِرَن مِنّي الَّذي قَد شَهِدتُهُ

فَلا تُنكِرَن مِنّي الَّذي قَد شَهِدتُهُ

وُجوماً بِنَفسٍ قَد تَسامى زَفيرُها

وُجوماً بِنَفسٍ قَد تَسامى زَفيرُها

So do not disapprove of what I have experienced in myself:

So do not deny what I have witnessed

a brooding silence in a soul whose sighing has risen high.

As one whose spirit has climbed to heights still not breathed

فَبي مِن جَوى الأَحشاءِ ما لَو جَعَلتُهُ

فَبي مِن جَوى الأَحشاءِ ما لَو جَعَلتُهُ

عَلى قَنَنِ الأَجبالِ دَكَّت صُخورُها

عَلى قَنَنِ الأَجبالِ دَكَّت صُخورُها

For within me is a burning of the entrails that, were I to place it

For my heart bore a longing - had I heaved it atop mountains

upon the mountain peaks, would shatter their rocks.

It would have shaken their rocks right down to the core

تَصَعَّدَ مِنّي زَفرَةً فَتُثيرُني

تَصَعَّدَ مِنّي زَفرَةً فَتُثيرُني

وَأَجهَدَ في أَرجاعِها فَأَثيرُها

وَأَجهَدَ في أَرجاعِها فَأَثيرُها

It rises from me as a sigh and stirs me,

It wrenched from me a sigh that unsettled me

and I strain amid its echoes, stirring it anew.

As I struggled desperately to hold it in

فَإِن كُنتَ أَظهَرتَ الفُتورَ بِلَوعَتي

فَإِن كُنتَ أَظهَرتَ الفُتورَ بِلَوعَتي

فَرُبَّ عُيونٍ شَبَّ ناراً فُتورُها

فَرُبَّ عُيونٍ شَبَّ ناراً فُتورُها

If you have shown indifference to my anguish,

If indifference you detected, know that many eyes

many an eye's languor has kindled a fire.

Conceal fires their composure obscures

أَودَعَ مَغنى قَد قَضَيتُ بِهِ الصَبا

أَودَعَ مَغنى قَد قَضَيتُ بِهِ الصَبا

وَأَرضَيتُ نَفساً كَالنَهارِ ضَميرُها

وَأَرضَيتُ نَفساً كَالنَهارِ ضَميرُها

I bid farewell to a dwelling where I spent my youth

I stored away a yearning whose stretch filled my prime

and satisfied a soul whose conscience was like daylight.

And contented a soul like the sun in its sphere

وَمارَستُ أَعلاماً وَدارَستُ عِليَةً

وَمارَستُ أَعلاماً وَدارَستُ عِليَةً

وَآنَستُ أَنواراً تَماماً بِدورِها

وَآنَستُ أَنواراً تَماماً بِدورِها

I dealt with eminent men and studied with the elite,

I undertook milestones and studied the eminent

and enjoyed the company of lights whose moons were full.

And conversed with beacons complete in their orbits

عَلَيَّ لَهُم فَضلٌ بِجيدي دَرُّهُ

عَلَيَّ لَهُم فَضلٌ بِجيدي دَرُّهُ

وَكَم فِتيَةٌ مِنهُم تَحَلَّت نُحورُها

وَكَم فِتيَةٌ مِنهُم تَحَلَّت نُحورُها

I owe them a favor whose pearls lie upon my neck,

To them I owe so much - when counted, each parcel

and how many young men among them have had their throats adorned!

And what splendid youth spent in their shadow

تَحاشَيتُ نَفسي مِن سُلوِ عُهودِهِم

تَحاشَيتُ نَفسي مِن سُلوِ عُهودِهِم

فَإِنَّ نَجارى المُنذِرِيَّ نَذيرُها

فَإِنَّ نَجارى المُنذِرِيَّ نَذيرُها

I guarded my soul from forgetting their pledges,

I've distanced myself from violating their bond

for my Mundhiri lineage is its warning voice.

For the Nizaris' carpenter could only warn me

فَما قَصُرَت إِلّا وَقامَت مَآثِرُ

فَما قَصُرَت إِلّا وَقامَت مَآثِرُ

مِنَ الأَصلِ لا يُدري لَعَمري قُصورُها

مِنَ الأَصلِ لا يُدري لَعَمري قُصورُها

No sooner does it falter than glorious deeds arise

Never did they fall short; only achievements arose

from its stock; by my life, no shortcoming in them is known.

Whose excellence, by my life, failures do not mar

فَذِكرُها عَهدُ الخَوَرنَقِ شَأنُها

فَذِكرُها عَهدُ الخَوَرنَقِ شَأنُها

وَإِن سَدَرَت ما غابَ عَنها سَديرُها

وَإِن سَدَرَت ما غابَ عَنها سَديرُها

Remembering the age of al-Khawarnaq is its concern,

To recall them is to recall Kharanah's realm

and even if it strays, its Sadir is never absent from it.

Even if the centuries have obscured its sphere

مَآثَرَ أَجدادٍ جَديدِ فِخارِها

مَآثَرَ أَجدادٍ جَديدِ فِخارِها

يُذَرّى وَإِن طالَت خُلُوّاً عُصورُها

يُذَرّى وَإِن طالَت خُلُوّاً عُصورُها

Forefathers' glorious deeds, whose fresh pride

The great deeds of ancestors - enduring their pride

is raised aloft, though their ages have long lain empty.

Though ages have passed since their time drew near

عَلى أَنَّهُ ما تَمَّ فَضلٌ لِأَوَّلِ

عَلى أَنَّهُ ما تَمَّ فَضلٌ لِأَوَّلِ

بِعُصبَتِهِم حَتّى أَجادَ أَخيرُها

بِعُصبَتِهِم حَتّى أَجادَ أَخيرُها

Yet the merit of the first was never complete

Still, no feat was complete until the first of them

within their clan until the last excelled.

United their people, down to the last pioneer