أمّاas for الشّبابُyouth فقدso indeed مضتhave passed أيّامُهُits days
أمّا الشّبابُ فقد مضت أيّامُهُ
وَاِستُلّand was wrenched away منfrom كفّيmy hand الغداةَthis morning زِمامُهُits rein
وَاِستُلّ من كفّي الغداةَ زِمامُهُ
As for youth, its days have passed,
Youth's days have passed, their reins slipped from my hands at morn,
and this morning its rein was wrenched from my hand.
Their joys are changed, their abodes ruined and forlorn.
وتنكّرتْand grew unfamiliar أيّامُهُits days وتَغيّرتْand changed
وتنكّرتْ أيّامُهُ وتَغيّرتْ
جاراتُهits neighboring women وتقوّضتْand collapsed آطامُهُits strongholds
جاراتُه وتقوّضتْ آطامُهُ
Its days have grown unfamiliar, and changed are
He who has lived through youth's prime knows it fades away,
its neighboring women; its strongholds have collapsed.
And grey hairs come, when man turns night in day.
ولقدand indeed درىknew منwhoever فيin الشبابِyouth حياتهُhis life
ولقد درى من في الشبابِ حياتهُ
أنّthat المشيبَgray hair إذاwhen علاهcovers him حِمامُهُhis death
أنّ المشيبَ إذا علاه حِمامُهُ
Indeed, he whose life is in youth knows
The loved ones left confess love's long lament;
that gray hair, once it covers him, is his death.
The home is sad and sighs when they are sent.
عوجاturn aside, you two نحيّيlet us greet الرَّبعَthe campsite يدللناguides us الهوىlove
عوجا نحيّي الرَّبعَ يدللنا الهوى
فلربّماfor perhaps نفعbenefited المحبَّthe lover سَلامُهُhis greeting
فلربّما نفع المحبَّ سَلامُهُ
Turn aside, you two; let us greet the campsite—love will guide us.
Tell them from me, to cure their hearts of pain,
For a lover's greeting may sometimes do him good.
Absence is not the end, they'll meet again.
واِستعبراand weep, you two عنّيon my behalf بهat it إنْif خاننيbetrayed me
واِستعبرا عنّي به إنْ خانني
جَفنيmy eyelid فلمso not يمطرْrains عليهupon it غمامُهُits cloud
جَفني فلم يمطرْ عليه غمامُهُ
And shed tears there for me, you two, if it betrays me—
Desert and garden mourn for them no more
my eyelid—and its cloud does not rain upon the place.
Since life maintains the loss it did deplore.
فمنfor among الجفونeyelids جوامِدٌdry ones وذوارفٌand tear-shedding ones
فمن الجفون جوامِدٌ وذوارفٌ
ومنand among السّحابclouds رُكامُهُits piled masses وجَهامُهُand its rainless clouds
ومن السّحاب رُكامُهُ وجَهامُهُ
For some eyelids are dry, and others shed tears,
Morn's clouds spread out a prayer-mat on the hills,
and among clouds are piled masses and rainless ones.
Evening draws friendly veils across the rills,
دِمَنٌruined campsites رضعتُI suckled بهنّat them أخلافَudders of الصِّباyouth
دِمَنٌ رضعتُ بهنّ أخلافَ الصِّبا
لوif only لمnot يكنthere were بعدafter الرَّضاعِsuckling فطامُهُits weaning
لو لم يكن بعد الرَّضاعِ فطامُهُ
Ruins where I suckled at the udders of youth—
Morning and eve, the birds and waters call
if only no weaning had followed that suckling!
These travellers to rest or help them on their way.
ولقدand indeed مررتُI passed علىby العقيقal-Aqiq فشفّنيand it wore me down
ولقد مررتُ على العقيق فشفّني
أنْthat لمnot تغنّsing علىupon الغصونthe boughs حَمامُهُits doves
أنْ لم تغنّ على الغصون حَمامُهُ
Indeed, I passed by al-Aqiq, and it wore me down with grief
And winnowing wind and cloud spread wide
that its doves did not sing upon the boughs.
The story of their mansions, far and wide.
وكأنّهand as though it were دَنِفٌa sick man تجلّدmustered fortitude مؤنساًcomforting
وكأنّه دَنِفٌ تجلّد مؤنساً
عُوّادَهhis sickbed visitors حتّىuntil اِستَبانbecame plain سَقامُهُhis illness
عُوّادَه حتّى اِستَبان سَقامُهُ
It was like a sick man mustering fortitude to comfort
The dove mourns her companion every night
his visitors, until his illness became plain,
With tears, lamenting loss of love and light.
منfrom بعدafter ماthe time when فارقتُهI left it فكأنّهso as though it were
من بعد ما فارقتُه فكأنّه
نشوانُa drunkard تمسحbrush تربهits dust آكامُهُits hillocks
نشوانُ تمسح تربه آكامُهُ
after I had left it; and it seemed like
The grove is gay no more, its songs are o'er,
a drunkard, its hillocks brushing its dust.
The loss of youth and strength grieves manor, moor.
مَرِحٌjoyous يهزّshakes قناتَهits spear لاnot يأتليslackens
مَرِحٌ يهزّ قناتَه لا يأتلي
أَشَرُexuberance of الصِّباyouth وغرامُهُand its passion وعُرامُهُand its wildness
أَشَرُ الصِّبا وغرامُهُ وعُرامُهُ
Joyous, it shakes its spear; there is no slackening in
The fields so fair, the hunting grounds so wide
youth's exuberance, its passion, and its wildness.
Are joyless now, with loss as in death's tide.
تندىare dewy علىdespite حرّthe heat of الهجيرmidday ظِلالُهُits shadows
تندى على حرّ الهجير ظِلالُهُ
وَيضيءand shines فيat وقتthe time of العشيّevening ظَلامُهُits darkness
وَيضيء في وقت العشيّ ظَلامُهُ
Its shadows are dewy despite the heat of midday,
On the dear village site their homes are bare,
and its darkness shines at evening.
Scarce can he trace foundations in dark air.
وكأنّماand as though أطيارُهits birds ومياهُهُand its waters
وكأنّما أطيارُه ومياهُهُ
للنّازليهfor those lodging in it قِيانُهits singing girls ومُدامُهُand its wine
للنّازليه قِيانُه ومُدامُهُ
As though its birds and its waters
The high-bosomed maidens go unveiled for shame
were its singing girls and wine for those lodging there.
While modesty and manners are no longer named.
وكأنّand as though آرامَthe gazelles among النّساءِwomen بأرضهupon its land
وكأنّ آرامَ النّساءِ بأرضه
للقانِصِيfor the hunters of طَرْدِthe quarry of الهوىlove آرامُهُits gazelles
للقانِصِي طَرْدِ الهوى آرامُهُ
As though the gazelles among the women upon its land
How noble seemed the feelings he professed!
were its gazelles for hunters of love's quarry.
How deep his sorrow late for all distressed!
وكأنّماand as though بردthe mantle of الصّباyouth حَوْذانُهits buttercups
وكأنّما برد الصّبا حَوْذانُه
وكأنّماand as though ورقthe foliage of الشّبابyouth بَشامُهُits balsam trees
وكأنّما ورق الشّباب بَشامُهُ
As though its buttercups were youth's mantle,
How paled his cheek, his tears ran down like rain,
and its balsam trees were youth's foliage.
For heavy was the load of other's pain!
وَعَضيهةٍand many a slander جاءتكcame to you منfrom عَبِقٍone tainted بهاwith it
وَعَضيهةٍ جاءتك من عَبِقٍ بها
أزرىdisparaged عليكyou فلمso not يجُزهwent beyond him كلامُهُhis words
أزرى عليك فلم يجُزه كلامُهُ
And many a slander came to you from one tainted by it:
Yet knew I that such pangs were fancy's ills,
he disparaged you, but his words went no farther than himself.
Trial alone reveals the constant will.
ورماكand assailed you مجترئاًdaring عليكagainst you وإنّماand only
ورماك مجترئاً عليك وإنّما
وافاكreached you منfrom قعرthe bottom of الطَّوِىّthe lined well سِلامُهُhis stones
وافاك من قعر الطَّوِىّ سِلامُهُ
He dared to assail you, yet all that
With fear of God he lived so righteous life,
reached you were his stones from the well's depths.
Renouncing sin, unknown were passions' strife.
وكأنّماand as though تَسْفِيscatter الرّياحُthe winds بعالِجٍat ʿAlij
وكأنّما تَسْفِي الرّياحُ بعالِجٍ
ماwhat قالhe said أوor ماwhat سطّرتْinscribed أقلامُهُhis pens
ما قال أو ما سطّرتْ أقلامُهُ
As though the winds at ʿAlij scattered
Patient he bore the toilsome sense-denied fast
what he said, or what his pens inscribed.
Till stars of night were sunk in dawn at last.
وكأنّand as though زُوراًa lie لفّقتْpatched together ألفاظُهُhis phrases
وكأنّ زُوراً لفّقتْ ألفاظُهُ
سِلْكٌa thread وَهىweakened فَاِنحلّso came undone عنهfrom it نظامُهُits string of beads
سِلْكٌ وَهى فَاِنحلّ عنه نظامُهُ
As though a lie his phrases patched together
Constant he stood, his guardian and his guide,
were a frayed thread, its string of beads coming loose.
Faithful in loss, undaunteddid he bide.
وَإِذاand if الفتىthe young man قعدتْheld back بهhim أخوالُهُhis maternal uncles
وَإِذا الفتى قعدتْ به أخوالُهُ
فيin المجدِglory لَمnot تَنهضraise up بهhim أعمامُهُhis paternal uncles
في المجدِ لَم تَنهض به أعمامُهُ
If a young man is held back by his maternal uncles,
A second always to the Prophet's side,
his paternal uncles cannot raise him in glory.
That Pillar of the Place, to all true Muslims wide.
وإذاand if خصالُtraits of السّوءِevil باعَدْنestranged اِمرءاًa man
وإذا خصالُ السّوءِ باعَدْن اِمرءاً
عنfrom قومهhis people لمnot تُدنِهِbring him near أرحامُهُhis kinship ties
عن قومه لم تُدنِهِ أرحامُهُ
And if evil traits estrange a man
Blest was that gardener in his arduous toils
from his people, his kinship ties cannot bring him near.
Blest was his coming to the barren soils.
وَلكَمْand how many رمانيassailed me قبلbefore رَمْيكِyour assault حاسدٌan envier
وَلكَمْ رماني قبل رَمْيكِ حاسدٌ
طاشتْmissed ولمand did not تخدشscratch سواهanyone but him سهامُهُhis arrows
طاشتْ ولم تخدش سواه سهامُهُ
How many an envier assailed me before your assault,
Like dawning day he lit earth with his beams
whose arrows missed and scratched none but himself.
And truth shone out to end all doubt's extremes.
ألقىflung كلاماًwords لمnot يَضِرْنيharmed me وَاِنثَنىand turned away
ألقى كلاماً لم يَضِرْني وَاِنثَنى
وندوبهُand his scars فيin جلدهhis skin وكِلامُهُand his wounds
وندوبهُ في جلده وكِلامُهُ
He flung out words that did not harm me, then turned away,
He bore the prophet to the bed to rest
with his scars and wounds upon his own skin.
When foes attacked whom faith had not impressed.
هَيهاتَfar be it أَنthat أُلفىI be found رَسيلَthe matched opponent of مُسافِهٍa vulgar quarreller
هَيهاتَ أَن أُلفى رَسيلَ مُسافِهٍ
ينجوescapes بهthrough him يومthe day of السّبابِverbal abuse لِطامُهُhis slapping
ينجو به يوم السّبابِ لِطامُهُ
Far be it that I be found a vulgar quarreller's sparring partner,
In every strait his constancy was known
whose blows escape reprisal on the day of insults.
Hope's rock, companion when left alone.
أوor أنthat أُرىI be seen فيin معركٍa battlefield وسلاحُهُand his weapon
أو أن أُرى في معركٍ وسلاحُهُ
بدلَinstead of السّيوفswords قِذافُهُhis slander وعِذامُهُand his abuse
بدلَ السّيوف قِذافُهُ وعِذامُهُ
Or be seen upon a battlefield where his weapon,
Thanks be to Allah for his mighty aid.
instead of swords, is his slander and abuse.
The valiant youth undid dull sloth's charade.
ومنand among البلاءafflictions عداوةٌenmity منfrom خاملٍan obscure man
ومن البلاء عداوةٌ من خاملٍ
لاno خلفهbehind him لعُلىًof greatness ولاnor قُدَّامُهُahead of him
لا خلفه لعُلىً ولا قُدَّامُهُ
Among afflictions is the enmity of an obscure man,
The noble landmarks stand by him renewed
with no greatness behind him or ahead of him.
While idols fell and all their power is subdued.
كَثُرتْmultiplied مَساويهhis faults فصارَso became كَمدحهlike praising him
كَثُرتْ مَساويه فصارَ كَمدحه
بينamong الخلائقpeople عيبُهُfaulting him أوْor ذامُهُblaming him
بين الخلائق عيبُهُ أوْ ذامُهُ
His faults grew so many that it became like praising him
He comes like rising sun too bright for those
to reproach or blame him before all people.
Who still in deepest dark feel dawn their foes.
والخُرْقُand folly كلُّall of الخُرقfolly منon the part of متفاوتinconsistent الthe
والخُرْقُ كلُّ الخُرق من متفاوت ال
أفعالِdeeds يتلوfollows نقضَهhis unravelling إبرامُهُhis binding
أفعالِ يتلو نقضَه إبرامُهُ
And utter folly is found in one whose
He stands when champions dread the fight,
deeds conflict: his binding follows his unravelling.
Renown and permanence are his by right.
جَدِبِbarren الجَنابin domain فجارُهُso his neighbor فيin أزْمةٍhardship
جَدِبِ الجَناب فجارُهُ في أزْمةٍ
والضّيفُand the guest موكولٌleft responsible إليهto him طعامُهُhis food
والضّيفُ موكولٌ إليه طعامُهُ
Barren in his domain, his neighbor lives in hardship,
Fear shrinks from the keen flame his valour lights,
and his guest is left to supply his own food.
But motherland and brethren he unites.
وإذاand if علقتَyou cling بحبلهto his rope مستعصماًseeking protection
وإذا علقتَ بحبله مستعصماً
فكفقعِthen like a truffle قَرْقَرَةٍan open plain يكونis ذِمامُهُhis protective pledge
فكفقعِ قَرْقَرَةٍ يكون ذِمامُهُ
If you cling to his rope, seeking protection,
Wealth he esteems the means to noblest aims
his protective pledge is like a truffle on an open plain.
And poverty lights up his glorious claims.
وإذاand if عهودُpledges of القومِthe people كنّare كنبعهمْlike their nabʿ wood
وإذا عهودُ القومِ كنّ كنبعهمْ
فالعهدthen the pledge منهfrom him يَراعُهُhis reed وثُمامُهُand his thumam grass
فالعهد منه يَراعُهُ وثُمامُهُ
When people's pledges are like their sturdy nabʿ wood,
His hospitality all classes won, his trenchant wisdom solution brings,
his pledge is mere reed and thumam grass.
Perplexities dissolve when he explains their cause.
وَأَناand I الّذيthe one who أَعييتُwore out قبلكbefore you مَنone whose رَسَتْstood firm
وَأَنا الّذي أَعييتُ قبلك مَن رَسَتْ
أَطوادُهhis mountains واِستشرفتْand towered أعلامُهُhis peaks
أَطوادُه واِستشرفتْ أعلامُهُ
I am he who, before you, wore out one whose
He whom the scales of justice irk awry,
mountains stood firm and whose peaks towered high.
Whom tyrants threaten and oppressors try
وتتبّعand pursued المعروفَgood deeds حتّىuntil طُنِّبتْwere staked
وتتبّع المعروفَ حتّى طُنِّبتْ
جوداًin generosity علىalong سَنَنِthe course of الطّريقِthe road خِيامُهُhis tents
جوداً على سَنَنِ الطّريقِ خِيامُهُ
He pursued good deeds until his tents were staked,
Is overwhelmed at his clear light, made whole
in generosity, along the course of the road.
As morning brilliance penetrates night's soul.
وتناذرتْand warned one another of أعداؤهhis enemies سطواتِهِhis assaults
وتناذرتْ أعداؤه سطواتِهِ
كاللّيثlike the lion يُرهبfrightens نائباًone approaching إرزامُهُits rumbling roar
كاللّيث يُرهب نائباً إرزامُهُ
His enemies warned one another of his assaults,
In piety sincere his path is plain,
like a lion whose rumbling roar frightens anyone approaching.
Poor-due and prayers punctual, no act in vain.
وترىand you see إذاwhen قابلتهyou meet him فيin وجههِhis face
وترى إذا قابلته في وجههِ
كالبدرlike the full moon أشرقshone حينwhen تمّreached completion تمامُهُits fullness
كالبدر أشرق حين تمّ تمامُهُ
And when you meet him, you see his face
In God's service each deed his goal designed,
like the full moon shining at its fullest.
In mankind's progress all his effort joined.
حتّىuntil تذلّلwas subdued بعدafter لأْيٍhardship صعبُهُhis unruliness
حتّى تذلّل بعد لأْيٍ صعبُهُ
وَاِنقادَand yielded مَنبوذاًcast إليَّto me خِطامُهُhis halter
وَاِنقادَ مَنبوذاً إليَّ خِطامُهُ
Until, after hardship, his unruliness was subdued,
No blame can touch his rede integrity,
and his halter, cast to me, yielded to my command.
No enemy assault his purity.
يُهدىis presented إليّto me علىduring المغيبabsence ثناؤُهُhis praise
يُهدى إليّ على المغيب ثناؤُهُ
وإذاand when حضرتُI attend أظَلَّنِيshaded me إكرامُهُhis honoring of me
وإذا حضرتُ أظَلَّنِي إكرامُهُ
His praise is presented to me in my absence,
Prone to deny, to curse and to distrust,
and when I attend, his honoring of me casts its shade.
He meets such hate with mercy's deed august.
فمضىso he went away سليماًunharmed منfrom أداةthe weapon of قوارصيmy barbs
فمضى سليماً من أداة قوارصي
وَاِستامand sought to buy ذمّيmy censure بعدهafter him مستامُهُits bidder
وَاِستام ذمّي بعده مستامُهُ
So he went his way unharmed by the weapon of my barbs,
No multitude can match his high emprise,
and after him came another bidder for my censure.
Or poisoned archer pierce his motives wise.
والآنand now يوقظنيrouses me لنحتِto hew صَفاتِهِhis rock
والآن يوقظني لنحتِ صَفاتِهِ
مَنone whose طالgrew long عنaway from أخذclaiming الحقوقrights نيامُهُhis slumber
مَن طال عن أخذ الحقوق نيامُهُ
Now he rouses me to hew his rock—
False is the judgment of the jealous mind,
one whose slumber has long kept him from claiming his rights.
The slander fades before his truth refined.
وَيَسومنيand demands of me ماwhat لمnot أزلْI cease عنout of عزّةٍdignity
وَيَسومني ما لم أزلْ عن عزّةٍ
ونزاهةٍand integrity آباهI refuse it حينwhen أُسامُهُit is demanded of me
ونزاهةٍ آباه حين أُسامُهُ
He demands of me what I have always, out of dignity
How can I hope, by further praise, to pay
and integrity, refused whenever it was demanded of me.
All gratitude this greatness could convey!
ويلُسُّنِيand licks me ولئنْand though حَلَوْتُI taste sweet فإّننيfor I
ويلُسُّنِي ولئنْ حَلَوْتُ فإّنني
مَقِرٌbitter aloe وفيand in حنكِthe palate of العدوّthe enemy سِمامُهُits poison
مَقِرٌ وفي حنكِ العدوّ سِمامُهُ
He licks at me; and though I may taste sweet, I am
So many gifts divine, from God's grace sprung,
bitter aloe, its poison on the enemy's palate.
Though floods of words, still fall unsung.
فلبئسماso wretched is what منّتْهpromised him منِّيfrom me خالياًalone
فلبئسما منّتْه منِّي خالياً
خطراتُهhis passing fancies أوor سوّلتْmade seem alluring أحلامُهُhis dreams
خطراتُه أو سوّلتْ أحلامُهُ
Wretched is what he was promised of me in solitude
by his passing fancies, or what his dreams suggested.
أمّاas for الطّريفُthe newly acquired منof الفخارglory فعندناit is with us
أمّا الطّريفُ من الفخار فعندنا
ولناand ours منof المجدgreatness التّليدancestral سنامُهُits summit
ولنا من المجد التّليد سنامُهُ
As for newly acquired glory, it is ours,
and ours is the summit of ancestral greatness.
ولناand ours منof البيتthe House المحرّمSacred كلّماwhenever
ولنا من البيت المحرّم كلّما
طافتْcircled بهaround it فيin موسمa season أقدامُهُits pilgrims' feet
طافتْ به في موسم أقدامُهُ
And ours is a share in the Sacred House, whenever
its pilgrims' feet circle it in the season.
ولناand ours الحَطِيمُal-Hatim وزَمْزَمٌand Zamzam وتراثناand our inheritance
ولنا الحَطِيمُ وزَمْزَمٌ وتراثنا
نِعْمَexcellent is التّراثُthe inheritance عنfrom الخليلthe Friend مَقامُهُhis Station
نِعْمَ التّراثُ عن الخليل مَقامُهُ
Ours are al-Hatim and Zamzam; our inheritance—
a noble inheritance from the Friend—is his Station.
ولناand ours المشاعرthe sacred sites والمواقفُand the standing places والّذيand that which
ولنا المشاعر والمواقفُ والّذي
تهديare offered إليهto it منfrom مِنىًMina أنعامُهُits sacrificial livestock
تهدي إليه من مِنىً أنعامُهُ
Ours are the sacred sites, the standing places, and that
to which its sacrificial beasts are offered from Mina.
وبجَدّناand through our grandfather وبصنْوِهand through his brother دُحِيَتْwere swept away عنfrom الthe
وبجَدّنا وبصنْوِه دُحِيَتْ عن ال
بيتHouse الحرامِSacred وزُعزعتْand were shaken down أصنامُهُits idols
بيت الحرامِ وزُعزعتْ أصنامُهُ
Through our grandfather and his brother, they were swept from the
Sacred House—its idols were shaken down.
وهماand the two of them عليناupon us أطلعاmade rise شمسthe sun of الهدىguidance
وهما علينا أطلعا شمس الهدى
حتّىuntil اِستَنارَbecame clear حلالُهُits lawful things وحرامُهُand its forbidden things
حتّى اِستَنارَ حلالُهُ وحرامُهُ
The two made the sun of guidance rise upon us,
until its lawful and forbidden things became clear.
وَأَبىand my forefather الّذيwhose تَبدوappear علىin رغمspite of العِداthe foes
وَأَبى الّذي تَبدو على رغم العِدا
غُرّاًwhite-browed محجَّلةًwhite-ankled لناfor us أيّامُهُhis days
غُرّاً محجَّلةً لنا أيّامُهُ
And my forefather, whose days appear despite the foes,
bright-browed and white-ankled for us,
كالبدرlike the full moon يكسوclothes اللّيلَthe night أثوابgarments of الضّحىmorning light
كالبدر يكسو اللّيلَ أثواب الضّحى
والفجرُand the dawn شُبّwas kindled علىagainst الظلامdarkness ضِرامُهُits blaze
والفجرُ شُبّ على الظلام ضِرامُهُ
is like the full moon clothing night in robes of morning,
and dawn, its blaze kindled against the darkness.
وَهوand he الّذيwho لاnot يقتضيentails فيin موقفٍan encounter
وَهو الّذي لا يقتضي في موقفٍ
إِقدامُهُhis advance نُكْصٌretreat بهwith him أقدامُهُhis feet
إِقدامُهُ نُكْصٌ به أقدامُهُ
He is the one whose advance in any encounter
never entails his feet drawing back with him.
حتّىuntil كأنّas though حياتَهhis life هيit حتفُهhis death
حتّى كأنّ حياتَه هي حتفُه
ووراءَهand his rear ممّاamong what يخافhe fears أمامُهُhis front
ووراءَه ممّا يخاف أمامُهُ
So that his life seems to be his very death,
and, in what he fears, his rear is his front.
ووقىand protected الرّسولthe Messenger علىon الفراشthe bed بنفسهwith his own life
ووقى الرّسول على الفراش بنفسه
لمّاwhen أرادَintended حِمامَهhis death أقوامُهُhis people
لمّا أرادَ حِمامَه أقوامُهُ
He shielded the Messenger on the bed with his own life,
when his people intended his death.
ثانِيهِhis second فيin كلّall الأمورaffairs وحصنُهand his fortress
ثانِيهِ في كلّ الأمور وحصنُه
فيin النّائباتِcalamities وركنُهand his pillar ودِعامُهُand his support
في النّائباتِ وركنُه ودِعامُهُ
His second in every affair, and his fortress
in calamities, his pillar and his support.
للَّهto God دَرُّthe excellence of بلائهhis valor ودفاعِهand his defense
للَّه دَرُّ بلائه ودفاعِه
واليومُand the battle-day يغشيshrouds الدّارعينthe armored men قَتامُهُits dust
واليومُ يغشي الدّارعين قَتامُهُ
God bless his valor and his defense,
while the battle-day's dust shrouds the armored men.
وكأنّماand as though أُجمُthe thickets of العواليlofty spears غِيلُهُhis forest
وكأنّما أُجمُ العوالي غِيلُهُ
وكأنّماand as though هوhe بينهاamid them ضِرغامُهُits lion
وكأنّما هو بينها ضِرغامُهُ
As though the thickets of lofty spears were his forest,
and he were its lion amid them.
وترىand you see الصّريعَthe fallen man دماؤهhis blood أكفانُهhis shrouds
وترى الصّريعَ دماؤه أكفانُه
وحَنوطُهand his burial perfume أحجارُهhis stones ورَغامُهُand his dust
وحَنوطُه أحجارُه ورَغامُهُ
You see the fallen man, his blood his shrouds,
and his stones and dust his burial perfumes.
والموْتand death منfrom ماءthe water of التّرائبthe breastbones وِرْدُهits draught
والموْت من ماء التّرائب وِرْدُه
ومنand from النّفوسِsouls مَرادُهits roaming ground ومَسامُهُand its pasture
ومن النّفوسِ مَرادُه ومَسامُهُ
Death's draught comes from the water of the breastbones,
and souls are its roaming grounds and pasture.
طلبواthey sought مداهhis reach ففاتهمْbut he outstripped them سبقاًin racing إلىto
طلبوا مداه ففاتهمْ سبقاً إلى
أمَدٍa goal يشقّis difficult علىfor الرّجالِmen مَرامُهُits attainment
أمَدٍ يشقّ على الرّجالِ مَرامُهُ
They sought his reach, but he outstripped them, racing to
a goal whose attainment is hard for men.
فمتىso whenever أجالواthey cast للفخارِfor glory قِداحَهمْtheir lot-arrows
فمتى أجالوا للفخارِ قِداحَهمْ
فالفائزاتُthen the winning ones قداحُهُhis lot-arrows وسهامُهُand his arrows
فالفائزاتُ قداحُهُ وسهامُهُ
Whenever they cast their lot-arrows for glory,
the winning ones are his lots and his arrows.
وَإِذاand when الأمورmatters تَشابَهتbecame confounded واِستَبهمتْand became obscure
وَإِذا الأمور تَشابَهت واِستَبهمتْ
فَجِلاؤهاthen their clarification وشفاؤهاand their cure أحكامُهُhis judgments
فَجِلاؤها وشفاؤها أحكامُهُ
When matters become tangled and obscure,
his judgments bring their clarity and cure.
وَتَرىand you see النديَّthe assembly إِذاwhen اِحتَبىhe sits with knees clasped لقضيّةٍfor a case
وَتَرى النديَّ إِذا اِحتَبى لقضيّةٍ
عوجاًbent إليهاtoward it مُصْغِياتٍlistening attentively هامُهُits heads
عوجاً إليها مُصْغِياتٍ هامُهُ
You see the assembly, when he sits with knees clasped to judge a case,
its heads bent toward it, listening attentively.
يُفْضِيreaches إلىto لُبّthe mind of البليدthe dullard بيانُهُhis eloquence
يُفْضِي إلى لُبّ البليد بيانُهُ
فيعِيso he understands ويُنشئُand brings forth فهمَهhis understanding إِفهامُهُhis explanation
فيعِي ويُنشئُ فهمَه إِفهامُهُ
His eloquence reaches the dullard's mind,
so he grasps it; his explanation gives rise to his understanding,
بغريبِwith rare لفظٍwording لمnot تُدِرْهُhave circulated it أَلْسُنٌtongues
بغريبِ لفظٍ لم تُدِرْهُ أَلْسُنٌ
وَلِطيفِand subtle معنىًmeaning لمnot يُفضّhas been broken ختامُهُits seal
وَلِطيفِ معنىً لم يُفضّ ختامُهُ
with rare wording that tongues have never circulated,
and subtle meaning whose seal has never been broken.
وَإِذاand if اِلتفتّyou turn إلىto التُّقىpiety صادقْتَهyou befriend him
وَإِذا اِلتفتّ إلى التُّقى صادقْتَه
منof كلِّevery بِرٍّgoodness وافراًabundant أقسامُهُhis shares
من كلِّ بِرٍّ وافراً أقسامُهُ
And if you turn toward piety, you befriend him,
his shares of every goodness abundant.
فاللّيلُso the night فيهin it قيامُهhis standing in prayer متهجّداًkeeping prayer vigil
فاللّيلُ فيه قيامُه متهجّداً
يتلوhe recites الكتابَthe Book وفيand in النّهارِdaytime صيامُهُhis fasting
يتلو الكتابَ وفي النّهارِ صيامُهُ
At night he stands in prayer, keeping vigil,
reciting the Book; by day he fasts.
يطوِيhe goes hungry الثلاثَthe three nights تعفُّفاًin self-restraint وتكرُّماًand generosity
يطوِي الثلاثَ تعفُّفاً وتكرُّماً
حتّىuntil يُصادفَcomes upon زادَهhis provisions معتامُهُone craving them
حتّى يُصادفَ زادَه معتامُهُ
He passes three nights hungry, in restraint and generosity,
until one craving his provisions comes upon them.
وتراهand you see him عُريانَbare اللّسانِof tongue منof الخَناobscenity
وتراه عُريانَ اللّسانِ من الخَنا
لاnot يهتديfinds a way للأمرto a matter فيهin him ملامُهُblame of him
لا يهتدي للأمر فيه ملامُهُ
You see his tongue bare of obscenity;
blame finds nothing in him to fasten upon.
وعلىand toward الّذيthat which يُرضيpleases الإلهَGod هجومُهhis rushing
وعلى الّذي يُرضي الإلهَ هجومُه
وَعلىand regarding الّذيthat which لاnot يَرتَضيHe approves إحجامُهُhis holding back
وَعلى الّذي لا يَرتَضي إحجامُهُ
He rushes toward what pleases God,
and draws back from what He does not approve.
فمضىso he passed away بريئاًblameless لمnot تَشِنْهُmarred him ذنوبُهhis sins
فمضى بريئاً لم تَشِنْهُ ذنوبُه
يوماًon any day ولاnor ظفِرتْgained hold بهof him آثامُهُhis transgressions
يوماً ولا ظفِرتْ به آثامُهُ
So he passed away blameless; no sins marred him
on any day, nor did transgressions lay hold of him.
ومفاخرٍand glories ماas many as شئتَyou wish إنif عدّدتَهاyou count them
ومفاخرٍ ما شئتَ إن عدّدتَها
فالسّيلُso the flood أطبقengulfed لاnot يعدّcan be counted زهامُهُits surging mass
فالسّيلُ أطبق لا يعدّ زهامُهُ
And glories—as many as you wish, if you count them:
a flood engulfs all; its surging mass cannot be numbered.
تعلوtower علىabove مَنwhoever رامsought يوماًever نيْلَهاattaining them
تعلو على مَن رام يوماً نيْلَها
منof يَذْبُلٍYadhbul هَضَبَاتُهُits plateaus وإكامُهُand its hills
من يَذْبُلٍ هَضَبَاتُهُ وإكامُهُ
Above whoever ever sought to reach them tower
Yadhbul's plateaus and hills.
Partial English translation: 82 of 144 Arabic lines translated.