قِفواstop تَعَجَبواmarvel مِنat سوءِwretchedness حاليmy condition وَمِنand at ضُرّيmy suffering
قِفوا تَعَجَبوا مِن سوءِ حالي وَمِن ضُرّي
فَمِنfor from زَفرَةٍa sigh تَرقىrises وَمِنand from دَمعَةٍa tear تَجريflows
فَمِن زَفرَةٍ تَرقى وَمِن دَمعَةٍ تَجري
Stop and marvel at my wretched state and my suffering:
A sigh rises, and a tear flows.
وَقَدand indeed كُنتُI was قَبلَbefore اليَومِtoday جَلداًsteadfast وَإِنَّماand only
وَقَد كُنتُ قَبلَ اليَومِ جَلداً وَإِنَّما
أَحالَchanged الهَوىlove ماwhat كُنتَyou used to تَعهَدُknow مِنof صَبريmy patience
أَحالَ الهَوى ما كُنتَ تَعهَدُ مِن صَبري
Before today I was steadfast; it was only
Love that changed the patience you once knew in me.
رَمَتنيstruck me يَدُthe hand الأَيّامِof the days فيمَنthrough one whom أُحِبُّهُI love
رَمَتني يَدُ الأَيّامِ فيمَن أُحِبُّهُ
بِسَهمِwith an arrow فِراقٍof separation جاءَcame مِنfrom حَيثُwhere لاnot أَدريI know
بِسَهمِ فِراقٍ جاءَ مِن حَيثُ لا أَدري
The hand of time struck me through the one I love
With an arrow of separation, coming from where I knew not.
لَقَدindeed مَلَكَتنيmastered me فيكُمُconcerning you اليَومَtoday حَيرَةٌbewilderment
لَقَد مَلَكَتني فيكُمُ اليَومَ حَيرَةٌ
وَمازلِتُand I had always remained مِنfrom قَبلِbefore النَوىseparation مالِكاًmaster of أَمريmy affairs
وَمازلِتُ مِن قَبلِ النَوى مالِكاً أَمري
Today bewilderment over you has mastered me,
Though before separation I always governed my own affairs.
سَأَبكيI shall weep مَدىthroughout عُمريmy life أَسىًin sorrow وَصَبابَةًand longing
سَأَبكي مَدى عُمري أَسىً وَصَبابَةً
بِكُمfor you وَقَليلٌand little إِنif بَكَيتُI wept لَكُمfor you عُمريmy lifetime
بِكُم وَقَليلٌ إِن بَكَيتُ لَكُم عُمري
All my life I shall weep in sorrow and longing
For you; even a lifetime of weeping for you is little.
وَأَذريand I shed دِماءًblood وَحشَةًin loneliness لِفِراقِكُمat your departure
وَأَذري دِماءً وَحشَةً لِفِراقِكُم
وَإِنand if أَناI لَمdid not أَبكِweep الدِماءَblood فَماthen what عُذريis my excuse
وَإِن أَنا لَم أَبكِ الدِماءَ فَما عُذري
And I shall shed blood in the loneliness of parting from you;
If I do not weep blood, what excuse have I?
شَكَوتُI lamented هَواكُمmy love for you أَنthat رَآنِيَsaw me كاشِحٌa foe
شَكَوتُ هَواكُم أَن رَآنِيَ كاشِحٌ
لَكُمof yours أَوor عَذولٌa reproacher بَعدَكُمafter your departure باسِمَsmiling الثَغرِat the lips
لَكُم أَو عَذولٌ بَعدَكُم باسِمَ الثَغرِ
I lamented my love for you, that a foe should see me—
A foe of yours, or a reproacher—smiling after your departure.
وَكَيفَand how أُداويcan I heal القَلبَthe heart عَنكُمof you بِسَلوَةٍthrough forgetfulness
وَكَيفَ أُداوي القَلبَ عَنكُم بِسَلوَةٍ
وَفيand in مَذهَبيmy creed أَنَّthat السُلُوَّforgetfulness أَخوis the brother الغَدرِof treachery
وَفي مَذهَبي أَنَّ السُلُوَّ أَخو الغَدرِ
How can I heal my heart of you through forgetfulness,
When in my creed forgetting is treachery's brother?
جَعَلتُكُمُI made you ذُخريmy reserve لِأَيّامِfor the days شِدَّتيof my hardship
جَعَلتُكُمُ ذُخري لِأَيّامِ شِدَّتي
وَلَمand did not أَدرِI know أَنَّthat الدَهرَtime يَسلُبُنيrobs me of ذُخريmy reserve
وَلَم أَدرِ أَنَّ الدَهرَ يَسلُبُني ذُخري
I made you my reserve for days of hardship,
Not knowing that time would rob me of my reserve.
وَقالواand they said اِنقَضاءُthe passing الدَهرِof time لِلحُزنِfor grief غايَةٌis an end
وَقالوا اِنقَضاءُ الدَهرِ لِلحُزنِ غايَةٌ
وَحُزنِيَand my grief مُمتَدٌّextends لَدَيكُمfor you مَعَwith الدَهرِtime
وَحُزنِيَ مُمتَدٌّ لَدَيكُم مَعَ الدَهرِ
They said that the passing of time brings grief to an end,
But my grief for you stretches on with time.
لَقَدindeed غادَرَleft الغادونَthose departing بَينَbetween جَوانِحيmy ribs
لَقَد غادَرَ الغادونَ بَينَ جَوانِحي
لَواعِجَburning pangs أَشجانٍof sorrows تَرَدَّدُreverberate فيin صَدريmy breast
لَواعِجَ أَشجانٍ تَرَدَّدُ في صَدري
Those who departed have left within my ribs
Burning sorrows that echo in my breast.
هُمُthey أَسلَمواsurrendered القَلبَthe heart الخَؤونَthe faithless إِلىto الأَسىsorrow
هُمُ أَسلَموا القَلبَ الخَؤونَ إِلى الأَسى
وَهُمand they وَكَلواentrusted عَينيmy eye بِأَدمُعِهاto its tears الغُزرِthe abundant
وَهُم وَكَلوا عَيني بِأَدمُعِها الغُزرِ
They surrendered the faithless heart to sorrow,
And left my eye in the charge of its abundant tears.
تَرىI wonder تَسمَحُwill grant الأَيّامُthe days مِنهُمfrom them بِعَودَةٍa return
تَرى تَسمَحُ الأَيّامُ مِنهُم بِعَودَةٍ
فَأُدرِكَso I may attain أَوطاريmy desires وَأوفيand fulfill بِكُمconcerning you نُذريmy vows
فَأُدرِكَ أَوطاري وَأوفي بِكُم نُذري
Will the days, I wonder, grant their return,
So I may attain my desires and fulfill my vows concerning you?
وَإِنّيand I indeed لَراضٍam truly content أَنthat تَدُلّواyou guide عَلىtoward الكَرىsleep
وَإِنّي لَراضٍ أَن تَدُلّوا عَلى الكَرى
جُفونيmy eyelids عَسىperhaps أَنَّthat الخَيالَthe imagined presence بِهاthrough them يُسريtravels by night
جُفوني عَسى أَنَّ الخَيالَ بِها يُسري
I would indeed be content if you guided toward sleep
My eyelids, hoping your image might visit them by night.
بِنَفسيwith my life غَريبُone estranged from الأَهلِfamily وَالدارِand home لاnot يَرىhe sees
بِنَفسي غَريبُ الأَهلِ وَالدارِ لا يَرى
لَهُfor him فادِياًa ransomer يَفديهِwho ransoms him مِنfrom رائِعِthe terror الأَمرِof the ordeal
لَهُ فادِياً يَفديهِ مِن رائِعِ الأَمرِ
My life would ransom one estranged from family and home, who sees
No one to ransom him from a terrifying ordeal.
إِذاwhen ذَكَرَhe remembers الأَوطانَthe homelands فاضَتoverflow دُموعُهُhis tears
إِذا ذَكَرَ الأَوطانَ فاضَت دُموعُهُ
فَأَرسَلَهاso he releases them فَوقَover التَرائِبِthe upper breast وَالنَحرِand throat
فَأَرسَلَها فَوقَ التَرائِبِ وَالنَحرِ
When he remembers his homelands, his tears overflow,
And he lets them fall over his breast and throat.
أَتَتهاcame to her المَناياdeath's visitations وَهيَwhile she فيin ثَوبِa robe غِبطَةٍof happiness
أَتَتها المَنايا وَهيَ في ثَوبِ غِبطَةٍ
فَتَبّاًso ruin لِمَسرورٍupon one delighted بِدُنياهُwith his world مُغتَرِّand deceived
فَتَبّاً لِمَسرورٍ بِدُنياهُ مُغتَرِّ
Death came to her while she wore a robe of happiness;
So ruin upon one delighted with his world and deceived by it!
فَلَمso did not يُغنِهاsave her ماwhat طافَcircled حَولَaround خِبائِهاher pavilion
فَلَم يُغنِها ما طافَ حَولَ خِبائِها
مِنَof السَمهَرِيِّthe spears اللَدنِthe supple وَالجَحفَلِand the army المَجرِthe vast
مِنَ السَمهَرِيِّ اللَدنِ وَالجَحفَلِ المَجرِ
What surrounded her pavilion could not save her:
The supple spears and the vast army.
وَلَوand if قورِعَتwere fought off حُمرُthe red ones المَناياof death's visitations وَسودُهاand their black ones
وَلَو قورِعَت حُمرُ المَنايا وَسودُها
بِمُرهَفَةٍwith sharpened blades بيضٍwhite وَخَطِّيَةٍand Khatti spears سُمرِbrown
بِمُرهَفَةٍ بيضٍ وَخَطِّيَةٍ سُمرِ
If death's red and black assaults could be repelled
With keen white blades and brown Khatti spears,
لَقارَعَhe would have fought عَنهاin her defense بِالصَوارِمِwith cutting swords وَالقَناand lances
لَقارَعَ عَنها بِالصَوارِمِ وَالقَنا
أَبٌa father نافِذُeffective in السُلطانِauthority مُمتَثَلُobeyed in الأَمرِcommand
أَبٌ نافِذُ السُلطانِ مُمتَثَلُ الأَمرِ
A father would have fought them off for her with swords and lances,
A father whose authority prevails and whose command is obeyed.
لَئِنeven if غادَرَتshe left قَصرَthe palace الخِلافَةِof the caliphate موحِشاًdesolate
لَئِن غادَرَت قَصرَ الخِلافَةِ موحِشاً
فَكائِنthen how many لَهاfor her فيin جَنَّةِthe Garden الخُلدِof Eternity مِنof قَصرِa palace
فَكائِن لَها في جَنَّةِ الخُلدِ مِن قَصرِ
Though she has left the caliphate's palace desolate,
How many a palace is hers in the Garden of Eternity!
فَياso O قَبرُgrave ماwhat lies بَينَbetween الصَراةِal-Sarat وَدَجلَةٍand the Tigris
فَيا قَبرُ ما بَينَ الصَراةِ وَدَجلَةٍ
إِلىtoward نَهرِthe River عيسىIsa جادَكَmay it water you الغَيثُthe rain مِنwhat a قَبرِgrave
إِلى نَهرِ عيسى جادَكَ الغَيثُ مِن قَبرِ
O grave between al-Sarat and the Tigris,
Toward the River Isa—may rain bless you, wondrous grave!
وَصابَتand may water ثَراكَyour earth غُدوَةًin the morning وَعَشِيَّةًand evening
وَصابَت ثَراكَ غُدوَةً وَعَشِيَّةً
غَوادٍmorning rainclouds مِنَof الرِضوانِdivine favor هامِيَةُpouring القَطرِrain
غَوادٍ مِنَ الرِضوانِ هامِيَةُ القَطرِ
And may your earth be watered morning and evening
By clouds of divine favor pouring down their rain.
فَلِلَّهِhow wondrous before God ماwhat اِستودِعتَyou were entrusted with ياO قَبرُgrave مِنof تُقىًpiety
فَلِلَّهِ ما اِستودِعتَ يا قَبرُ مِن تُقىً
وَمِنand of كَرَمٍgenerosity عِدٍّunfailing وَمِنand of نائِلٍgiving غَمرِabundant
وَمِن كَرَمٍ عِدٍّ وَمِن نائِلٍ غَمرِ
How wondrous, before God, the piety entrusted to you, O grave,
And the unfailing generosity and abundant giving!
ثَوىrests بِكَwithin you مِنone who لَوif جاوَزَsurpassed النَجمَthe stars قَدرُهُhis worth
ثَوى بِكَ مِن لَو جاوَزَ النَجمَ قَدرُهُ
لَزادَتwould have increased بِهِthrough him الأَفلاكُthe heavens فَخراًin pride إِلىupon فَخرِpride
لَزادَت بِهِ الأَفلاكُ فَخراً إِلى فَخرِ
Within you rests one whose worth, had it surpassed the stars,
Would have added pride upon pride to the heavens.
وَلوand if عَلِمَتknew حَصباءُthe pebbles أَرضِكَof your earth مَنwho ثَوىrested
وَلو عَلِمَت حَصباءُ أَرضِكَ مَن ثَوى
ضَجيعاًas a bedfellow لَهاbeside them باهَتthey would boast عَلىover الأَنجُمِthe stars الزُهرِthe bright
ضَجيعاً لَها باهَت عَلى الأَنجُمِ الزُهرِ
Had the pebbles of your earth known who lay
Beside them, they would have boasted over the bright stars.
فَياso O لَكَwhat a مِنof قَبرٍgrave بَرُدتَyou are cool مَضاجِعاًin resting places
فَيا لَكَ مِن قَبرٍ بَرُدتَ مَضاجِعاً
وَقَلَّبتَand you turned أَبناءَthe children القُلوبِof hearts عَلىupon الجَمرِembers
وَقَلَّبتَ أَبناءَ القُلوبِ عَلى الجَمرِ
What a grave you are, cool in your resting places,
Yet turning the hearts' beloved children upon embers!
نَمُرُّwe pass عَليهِby it خاشِعينَhumbly كَأَنَّناas though we
نَمُرُّ عَليهِ خاشِعينَ كَأَنَّنا
مَرَرناpassed عَلىby الرُكنِthe Corner المُقَبَّلِthe kissed وَالحِجرِand the Hijr
مَرَرنا عَلى الرُكنِ المُقَبَّلِ وَالحِجرِ
We pass it humbly, as though
We passed the kissed Corner and the Hijr.
لَناfor us دَعوَةٌa prayer مِنfrom حَولِهِaround it مُستَجابَةٌanswered
لَنا دَعوَةٌ مِن حَولِهِ مُستَجابَةٌ
فَكُلُّso every اللَياليnight عِندَهُbeside it لَيلَةُis the Night القَدرِof Decree
فَكُلُّ اللَيالي عِندَهُ لَيلَةُ القَدرِ
Our prayer offered around it is answered;
Every night beside it is the Night of Decree.
عَلَيكَupon you سَلامُthe peace اللَهِof God كُلَّevery عَشِيَّةٍevening
عَلَيكَ سَلامُ اللَهِ كُلَّ عَشِيَّةٍ
يَكُرُّreturns عَلىon أَعقابِهاits heels مَطلَعُthe rising الفَجرِof dawn
يَكُرُّ عَلى أَعقابِها مَطلَعُ الفَجرِ
God's peace be upon you every evening,
With dawn's rising returning on its heels.
وَعاداكَand may revisit you جودٌabundant rain مُكفَهِرٌّdark and lowering سَحابُهُits clouds
وَعاداكَ جودٌ مُكفَهِرٌّ سَحابُهُ
وَإِنeven though كُنتَyou are مَلآناfull مِنَof الجودِgenerosity وَالبِشرِand cheer
وَإِن كُنتَ مَلآنا مِنَ الجودِ وَالبِشرِ
May abundant rain revisit you from dark, lowering clouds,
Though you are already full of generosity and cheer.
رَثَيناكِwe elegized you ياO خَيرَbest of النِساءِwomen تَعَبُّداًin devotion
رَثَيناكِ يا خَيرَ النِساءِ تَعَبُّداً
وَمِثلُكِand one like you لاnot يُرثىis elegized بِنَظمٍin verse وَلاnor نَثرِprose
وَمِثلُكِ لا يُرثى بِنَظمٍ وَلا نَثرِ
We elegized you, O best of women, as an act of devotion;
One like you cannot be adequately mourned in verse or prose.
وَمَنand one whose كانَتِwas الشِعرىSirius العَبورُthe Crossing Star مَحَلَّهُhis abode
وَمَن كانَتِ الشِعرى العَبورُ مَحَلَّهُ
تَعَظَّمَwas exalted قَدراًin rank أَنto يُؤَمَّنَbe safeguarded بِالشِعرِby verse
تَعَظَّمَ قَدراً أَن يُؤَمَّنَ بِالشِعرِ
One whose abode is Sirius, the Crossing Star,
Is too exalted in rank to be safeguarded by verse.
تَحَجَّبتِyou veiled yourself عَنfrom مَرأىthe sight العُيونِof eyes جَلالَةًin majesty
تَحَجَّبتِ عَن مَرأى العُيونِ جَلالَةً
وَعِزّاًand honor فَمِنso from خِدرٍa secluded chamber نُقِلتِyou were carried إِلىto خِدرِa secluded chamber
وَعِزّاً فَمِن خِدرٍ نُقِلتِ إِلى خِدرِ
You veiled yourself from the sight of eyes in majesty
And honor; from one secluded chamber you were carried to another.
حَلَلتِyou settled بِمَأنوسٍin a welcoming place مِنَof الأَرضِthe earth آهِلٍinhabited
حَلَلتِ بِمَأنوسٍ مِنَ الأَرضِ آهِلٍ
إِذاwhen حَلَّتِlie الأَجداثُthe graves فيin موحِشٍa desolate place قَفرِbarren
إِذا حَلَّتِ الأَجداثُ في موحِشٍ قَفرِ
You settled in a welcoming, inhabited place upon the earth,
While other graves lie in a desolate wilderness.
أَنيسُكَyour companion فيهِthere عِزَّةٌhonor وَشَهادَةٌand martyrdom
أَنيسُكَ فيهِ عِزَّةٌ وَشَهادَةٌ
فَنورٌso light عَلىupon نورٍlight وَأَجرٌand reward عَلىupon أَجرِreward
فَنورٌ عَلى نورٍ وَأَجرٌ عَلى أَجرِ
Your companions there are honor and martyrdom:
Light upon light, and reward upon reward.
فَلاso never زِلتِmay you cease to be فيin مُقَبَّلِa kissed مَوضِعٍplace
فَلا زِلتِ في مُقَبَّلِ مَوضِعٍ
عَلَيكِin your honor بِماfor what قَدَّمتِyou sent ahead فيهِthere مِنof البِرِّgoodness
عَلَيكِ بِما قَدَّمتِ فيهِ مِن البِرِّ
So may you ever remain in a place kissed
In your honor, for the good deeds you sent ahead there.
وَصَبراًand patience أَميرَCommander المُؤمِنينَof the Faithful لِرُزئِهاfor the loss of her
وَصَبراً أَميرَ المُؤمِنينَ لِرُزئِها
وَإِنeven though جَلَّsurpasses ذاthis الرُزءُbereavement العَظيمُthe immense عَنِbeyond الصَبرِpatience
وَإِن جَلَّ ذا الرُزءُ العَظيمُ عَنِ الصَبرِ
And patience, Commander of the Faithful, for the loss of her,
Though this immense bereavement surpasses what patience can bear.
فَكَمfor how many لِمُلوكِfor the kings الأَرضِof earth لاnever زِلتَmay you cease to be وارِثاًan inheritor
فَكَم لِمُلوكِ الأَرضِ لا زِلتَ وارِثاً
لِأَعمارِهِمof their lifespans عِندَat النَوائِبِcalamities مِنof وِترِa grievous loss
لِأَعمارِهِم عِندَ النَوائِبِ مِن وِترِ
How many a king on earth—may you ever inherit
Their years—has suffered a loss when calamities strike!
وَأَنتَand you مِنَare among القَومِthe people الَّذينَwho عَليهِمِconcerning them
وَأَنتَ مِنَ القَومِ الَّذينَ عَليهِمِ
تَنَزَّلَتِdescended الآياتُthe verses فيin مُحكَمِthe definitive text الذُكرِof the Scripture
تَنَزَّلَتِ الآياتُ في مُحكَمِ الذُكرِ
You belong to the people concerning whom
The verses descended in the definitive Scripture.
هُمُthey أُمَناءُare the trustees اللَهِof God فيناamong us أَئِمَّهُthe imams الof the
هُمُ أُمَناءُ اللَهِ فينا أَئِمَّهُ ال
هُدىguidance وَهُمُand they أَهلُare those entitled to الشَفاعَةِintercession فيat الحَشرِthe Gathering
هُدى وَهُمُ أَهلُ الشَفاعَةِ في الحَشرِ
They are God's trustees among us, the imams of
Guidance, and those entitled to intercede at the Gathering.
إِذاwhen وَرِثواthey inherit فيin غَيرِother than دينٍfaith تَعَرَّضواthey seek
إِذا وَرِثوا في غَيرِ دينٍ تَعَرَّضوا
عَنِin return for الذاهِبِwhat is gone الماضيand past بِمُستَقبِلِthrough future الأَجرِreward
عَنِ الذاهِبِ الماضي بِمُستَقبِلِ الأَجرِ
When they inherit in matters other than faith, they seek
Future reward in return for what has gone and passed.
فَياso O مَلِكَking الأَملاكِof kings شَرقاًin the east وَمَغرِباًand west
فَيا مَلِكَ الأَملاكِ شَرقاً وَمَغرِباً
وَسَهلاًand across plain إِلىto حَزَنٍrugged ground وَبَرّاًand across land إِلىto بَحرِsea
وَسَهلاً إِلى حَزَنٍ وَبَرّاً إِلى بَحرِ
O king of kings, in east and west,
Across plain and rugged ground, across land and sea,
أُعيذُكَI seek protection for you مِنfrom هَمٍّa care تَبيتُyou spend the night لِأَجلِهِbecause of it
أُعيذُكَ مِن هَمٍّ تَبيتُ لِأَجلِهِ
عَلىdespite سِعَةِthe breadth السُلطانِof authority مُقتَسَمَdivided in الفِكرِthought
عَلى سِعَةِ السُلطانِ مُقتَسَمَ الفِكرِ
I seek protection for you from a care that makes you spend the night,
Despite your vast authority, with your thoughts divided.
فَجَرِّدso bring forth لِأَهلِagainst the people البَغيِof rebellion عَزماًa resolve مُؤَيَّداًdivinely supported
فَجَرِّد لِأَهلِ البَغيِ عَزماً مُؤَيَّداً
وَسَلِّطand unleash عَلىupon أَرضِthe land العَدُوِّof the enemy يَدَthe hand القَهرِof subjugation
وَسَلِّط عَلى أَرضِ العَدُوِّ يَدَ القَهرِ
Bring forth a divinely supported resolve against the rebellious,
And unleash the hand of subjugation upon the enemy's land.
فَإِنَّكَfor you مَوعودٌare promised مِنَby اللَهِGod أَنthat تُرىshall be seen
فَإِنَّكَ مَوعودٌ مِنَ اللَهِ أَن تُرى
عَلىat بابِكَyour gate الأَعداءُthe enemies فيin حَلَقِthe rings الأَمرِof command
عَلى بابِكَ الأَعداءُ في حَلَقِ الأَمرِ
For you have God's promise that there shall be seen
Your enemies at your gate, bound by your command.
وَلاand never زِلتَmay you cease to be مَنشورَunfurled in اللِواءِbanner مُظَفَّرَvictorious in الthe
وَلا زِلتَ مَنشورَ اللِواءِ مُظَفَّرَ ال
كَتائِبِbattalions مَحفوفَsurrounded in المَواكِبِprocessions بِالنَصرِby triumph
كَتائِبِ مَحفوفَ المَواكِبِ بِالنَصرِ
May you ever have your banner unfurled, with victorious
Battalions and processions encompassed by triumph.