دَمُ العشّاقِ مَطْلُولُ

دَمُ العشّاقِ مَطْلُولُ

ودَيْنُ الصَّبِّ مَمْطولُ

ودَيْنُ الصَّبِّ مَمْطولُ

Lovers' blood is shed unavenged,

The blood of lovers is shed,

And the ardent lover's due is deferred;

And the debt of passion is unpaid,

وسَيفُ الَّلحظِ مَسْلولُ

وسَيفُ الَّلحظِ مَسْلولُ

ومُبْدي الحبِّ معذولُ

ومُبْدي الحبِّ معذولُ

The sword of the glance is drawn,

And the sword of glance is unsheathed,

And whoever reveals love is reproached,

And the love confessor is berated.

وإن لم يُصْغِ لِلاّئِمْ

وإن لم يُصْغِ لِلاّئِمْ

إذا لم يَظهَر الحُبُّ

إذا لم يَظهَر الحُبُّ

Even if he does not heed the reproacher.

If love is not apparent,

If love does not become apparent,

And passion does not erupt,

ولمْ يَنْهتك الصبُّ

ولمْ يَنْهتك الصبُّ

ويُفِش سِرَّه القلبُ

ويُفِش سِرَّه القلبُ

And the ardent lover is not laid bare,

And the heart its secret does not divulge,

Nor does the heart divulge his secret,

Then all his claims are but lies.

فَجُمْلَةُ ما ادَّعَى كِذْبُ

فَجُمْلَةُ ما ادَّعَى كِذْبُ

فَبحْ يأيّها الكاتِمْ

فَبحْ يأيّها الكاتِمْ

Then all he has claimed is a lie;

So speak out, you who are silent,

So speak out, O you who conceal.

Of the enchanting glance,

وأَحْوَرَ ساحرِ الطَّرف

وأَحْوَرَ ساحرِ الطَّرف

يفوق جَوامعَ الوَصْفِ

يفوق جَوامعَ الوَصْفِ

And a dark-eyed one with an enchanting gaze

That transcends all description,

Surpasses all that description can encompass,

Of smooth charm and flair,

مَليحُ الَّدلِّ والظَّرْفِ

مَليحُ الَّدلِّ والظَّرْفِ

جَنَتْ ألحاظُه حَتفي

جَنَتْ ألحاظُه حَتفي

Lovely in coquetry and elegance;

His glances have slain me,

His glances brought about my death:

So who dares assail the unjust?

فَمنْ يُعْدي على ظَالِمْ

فَمنْ يُعْدي على ظَالِمْ

أطاعَ جُفونَهُ السِّحْرُ

أطاعَ جُفونَهُ السِّحْرُ

Who will grant redress against a wrongdoer?

His lids obeyed his sorcery,

Magic obeyed his eyelids,

And the moon submitted to his face,

وذّلَّ لوجهِه البَدْرُ

وذّلَّ لوجهِه البَدْرُ

ومادَ بِردْفِه الخَصْرُ

ومادَ بِردْفِه الخَصْرُ

And the full moon humbled itself before his face;

And his slender waist responded,

His waist swayed beneath his hips,

His mouth resembled a pearl.

وأَشبَهَ ثَغْرَهُ الدُّرُّ

وأَشبَهَ ثَغْرَهُ الدُّرُّ

فقلبُ محِبِّه هائمْ

فقلبُ محِبِّه هائمْ

And pearls resembled his teeth;

So the heart of his lover wanders,

So his lover's heart is lost in longing.

He rebukes me for my love,

يُعَنِّفني على حُبّي

يُعَنِّفني على حُبّي

ويَهْجُرُني بِلا ذَنبِ

ويَهْجُرُني بِلا ذَنبِ

He rebukes me for my love,

And abandons me without fault,

And abandons me without fault,

As if I am not struck by passion,

كأنِّي لستُ بالصّبِّ

كأنِّي لستُ بالصّبِّ

لِقَهْوةِ ريقهِ العَذْبِ

لِقَهْوةِ ريقهِ العَذْبِ

As though I were not an ardent lover

For the nectar of his saliva.

Of the wine of his sweet saliva.

But is there any pity in love?

أما في الحبِّ مِن راحِمْ

أما في الحبِّ مِن راحِمْ

غزالٌ لحظُهُ شَرَكُهْ

غزالٌ لحظُهُ شَرَكُهْ

Is there no merciful one in love?

A gazelle is his glancing,

A gazelle whose glance is his snare,

And the full moon is his raiment,

وبدرٌ ثوبهُ فَلَكُهْ

وبدرٌ ثوبهُ فَلَكُهْ

لو أني كنت أَمْتلِكُهْ

لو أني كنت أَمْتلِكُهْ

And a full moon whose robe is his celestial sphere;

If I could possess him,

If only I could possess him,

I would ravage all his essence contained,

فأَنْهَبَ مَا حَوَتْ تِكَكُهْ

فأَنْهَبَ مَا حَوَتْ تِكَكُهْ

نِهابَ الظافر الغانِمْ

نِهابَ الظافر الغانِمْ

Then I would plunder what his drawstrings enclose,

The ravaging of the triumphant victor.

As a victor plunders his spoils.

Take my blood witness,

خُذوا بِدَمى قَنَا القدِّ

خُذوا بِدَمى قَنَا القدِّ

وحُسْنَ تورُّد الخَدّ

وحُسْنَ تورُّد الخَدّ

Avenge my blood upon the spears of his stature,

And the beauty of his blushing cheek,

And the beauty of his rosy cheek,

And the night of his curly hair,

وليلَ الشَّعَرِ الجّعْدِ

وليلَ الشَّعَرِ الجّعْدِ

وثِقْلَ الكَفَلِ النَّهْد

وثِقْلَ الكَفَلِ النَّهْد

And the night of his curly hair,

And heaviness of his languid eyelid,

And the heaviness of his full, rounded rump,

And the sickness of my ever weeping eyes.

وسُقْمَ الأَعْيُنِ الدائمْ

وسُقْمَ الأَعْيُنِ الدائمْ

متى يظفر بالوصلِ

متى يظفر بالوصلِ

And the unceasing languor of his eyes.

When will a lover attain union,

When will he attain union

And banish injustice with justice?

ويَنفي الجَوْرَ بالعَدْلِ

ويَنفي الجَوْرَ بالعَدْلِ

محبٌّ دائمُ الخَبلِ

محبٌّ دائمُ الخَبلِ

And banish injustice with justice—

A crazed lover, robbed of patience and sanity,

A lover forever deranged,

Gloomy, distraught, wandering.

سَليبُ الصَّبر والعقلِ

سَليبُ الصَّبر والعقلِ

كئِيبٌ مُدنَفٌ هائمْ

كئِيبٌ مُدنَفٌ هائمْ

Robbed of patience and reason,

With the beauty of the tender eyes,

Grief-stricken, wasted, and lovesick?

And the squeeze of pause and batted eyelashes,

بحُسْن الأعيُن النُّجْلِ

بحُسْن الأعيُن النُّجْلِ

وعَضِّ الْوَقْفِ والحِجْلِ

وعَضِّ الْوَقْفِ والحِجْلِ

By the beauty of those wide eyes,

With that sturdy, slender frame,

And the grip of bracelet and anklet

And saliva like bees' honey,

بذاكَ القَصَبِ الجَزْلِ

بذاكَ القَصَبِ الجَزْلِ

ورِيقٍ كَجَنَي النَّحْلِ

ورِيقٍ كَجَنَي النَّحْلِ

Upon those full-fleshed limbs,

And a mouth that tempts the critic.

And saliva like the harvest of bees,

Ask the sun that rose upon us,

وثَغْرٍ يُطمِعُ الشائم

وثَغْرٍ يُطمِعُ الشائم

سَلُوا الشمسَ الّتي طلعتْ

سَلُوا الشمسَ الّتي طلعتْ

And a mouth that entices the lightning-watcher,

Then did not set,

Ask the sun that rose

Perhaps she will mourn those she killed,

علينا ثم ما أَفلتْ

علينا ثم ما أَفلتْ

عسى ترثى لمن قَتَلَتْ

عسى ترثى لمن قَتَلَتْ

Upon us and then did not set;

With her eyes, unknowingly,

Perhaps she will pity the one she killed

For the unjust may be entreated.

بعيَنْيها وما عَلِمتْ

بعيَنْيها وما عَلِمتْ

فقد يُستعطَف الظالمْ

فقد يُستعطَف الظالمْ

With her two eyes, though she did not know.

By the yellow beads,

For a wrongdoer may be moved to mercy.

And the hues of red chrysolite,

أمَا والخُرَّدِ الصُّفْرِ

أمَا والخُرَّدِ الصُّفْرِ

شَبِيهاتِ سَنَا البَدْر

شَبِيهاتِ سَنَا البَدْر

Indeed, by the bashful, golden maidens,

And the fires they ignited within my chest,

Resembling the full moon's radiance

A passion not dormant.

وألوانِ صفَا الحْمرِ

وألوانِ صفَا الحْمرِ

لقد أَضْرَمْن في صَدري

لقد أَضْرَمْن في صَدري

And the hues of smooth red stones,

A saliva that stirs desire,

They have indeed kindled in my breast

Bringing gladness and grace,

غراماً ليس بالنائمْ

غراماً ليس بالنائمْ

وراجٍ تبعثُ الطَّرَبا

وراجٍ تبعثُ الطَّرَبا

A passion that does not sleep.

Its temperament excites loved ones,

And wine awakens delight,

It imagines itself the eyes of a bear

وتُحي الظَّرْف والأَدَبا

وتُحي الظَّرْف والأَدَبا

يُثير مِزاجُها حَبَبَا

يُثير مِزاجُها حَبَبَا

And revives elegance and refinement;

And a pearl the jeweller has strung.

Its mixing raises bubbles

By the great constellation,

تَخالُ بِه عيونَ دَبا

تَخالُ بِه عيونَ دَبا

ودُرّاً صَفَّهُ الناظمْ

ودُرّاً صَفَّهُ الناظمْ

In which you imagine young locusts' eyes,

And Zamzam, Safa and Mina,

And pearls strung by the necklace-maker.

And those who uttered its name in prayer,

أَما والجَمْرَة الكُبرْىَ

أَما والجَمْرَة الكُبرْىَ

وزمزَمَ والصَّفا ومِنى

وزمزَمَ والصَّفا ومِنى

Indeed, by the Great Jamra,

Circling the House then hastening,

And Zamzam, al-Safa, and Mina,

Clothed, humble, upright.

ومَنْ لَبَّى بها ودعَا

ومَنْ لَبَّى بها ودعَا

وطافَ البيتَ ثم سَعَى

وطافَ البيتَ ثم سَعَى

And whoever chanted the pilgrim's call there and prayed,

He has become for us a successor,

And circled the House, then performed the ritual walk,

Nizar, who built greatness,

خميصاً مُخْبِتا قائِمْ

خميصاً مُخْبِتا قائِمْ

لقد أضحَى لنا خَلفاً

لقد أضحَى لنا خَلفاً

Lean-bellied, humble, standing in prayer:

And became the fifth of successors,

Indeed, he has become a successor for us—

And revived their exemplary ways,

نِزارٌ وابتَنَى الشّرفَا

نِزارٌ وابتَنَى الشّرفَا

وأَصبحَ خامسَ الخُلَفا

وأَصبحَ خامسَ الخُلَفا

Nizar—and has built up honor;

Thus with guidance he rose.

And has become the fifth of the caliphs,

An imam whose glory is eternal,

وأحيَا سَعْيُه السَّلَفا

وأحيَا سَعْيُه السَّلَفا

فَأَضحَى بِالهُدى قائِمْ

فَأَضحَى بِالهُدى قائِمْ

And his striving has revived the forebears,

A beacon who summoned determination,

So he has become an upholder of guidance.

And attained glory and nobility,

إمامٌ جاوَدَ الدَّيمَا

إمامٌ جاوَدَ الدَّيمَا

نَدىً واستخدَمَ الهِمما

نَدىً واستخدَمَ الهِمما

An imam who rivaled the steady rains

And became in the world a banner,

In bounty, and made aspirations his servants;

A brilliant star in the horizon.

وحازَ المجدَ والكَرَما

وحازَ المجدَ والكَرَما

وأصبحَ في الورى عَلَما

وأصبحَ في الورى عَلَما

And won glory and generosity,

When he aids kings to ascend,

And became a beacon among mankind,

And pours out the dew of bounty,

نَجِيبٌ في العلا ناجِمْ

نَجِيبٌ في العلا ناجِمْ

إذا عالى الملوكَ عَلاَ

إذا عالى الملوكَ عَلاَ

A noble one rising to the heights.

And does not let the destitute suffer,

When he vies with kings, he rises above them,

And quenches the thirst of young and old,

وإن سِيلَ النّدَى بَذَلا

وإن سِيلَ النّدَى بَذَلا

ولَم يَلْق العُفاةَ بلا

ولَم يَلْق العُفاةَ بلا

And if asked for bounty, he bestows it;

And wards off enemies with vengeance.

He never meets petitioners with 'No',

He built his glory and honor,

وَروَّى البِيضَ والأَسَلا

وَروَّى البِيضَ والأَسَلا

وراحَ من العِدا ناقِمْ

وراحَ من العِدا ناقِمْ

And quenches bright swords and spears,

And attained gratitude and praise,

And goes forth taking vengeance on his enemies.

And became in the world peerless,

نما في المجدِ عُنْصُرهُ

نما في المجدِ عُنْصُرهُ

وطال النجم مَفخَرُهُ

وطال النجم مَفخَرُهُ

His lineage grew in glory,

And strengthened his rule so it spread,

His renown reached the stars,

And wove its collar a sculptor.

وفاقَ البدرَ مَنَظرُه

وفاقَ البدرَ مَنَظرُه

فَصرْفُ الدهر يَحْذَرُهُ

فَصرْفُ الدهر يَحْذَرُهُ

And his appearance surpassed the full moon;

As if his brow were the moon,

So the vicissitudes of time fear him:

And his resolute mind were fate,

أبِيٌّ لَينٌ صارِم

أبِيٌّ لَينٌ صارِم

وحيدٌ في فضائِلهِ

وحيدٌ في فضائِلهِ

Unbowed, gentle, decisive.

So neither good fortune evades him,

Peerless in his virtues,

Nor does misfortune take him unaware,

شريفٌ في أوائِلِهِ

شريفٌ في أوائِلِهِ

يجود ببَذْلِ نائِلهِ

يجود ببَذْلِ نائِلهِ

Noble in his ancestry,

While atop glory’s summit encamped.

He gives freely of his bounty,

Great in his humility,

ويعشَقُ لفظَ سائِلهِ

ويعشَقُ لفظَ سائِلهِ

جَوادٌ حازِمٌ عازِمْ

جَوادٌ حازِمٌ عازِمْ

And loves his petitioner's words:

Noble in his making,

Generous, prudent, resolute.

He gives generously to compliant ones,

بَنَى العَلْياءَ والمَجْدا

بَنَى العَلْياءَ والمَجْدا

وحاز الشكرَ والحَمْدا

وحاز الشكرَ والحَمْدا

He built eminence and glory,

And severs the rope of detractors,

And won gratitude and praise,

Hovering over his loftiness.

وأصبح في الورى فَرْداً

وأصبح في الورى فَرْداً

وشدَّ المُلْك فاشْتَدّا

وشدَّ المُلْك فاشْتَدّا

And became peerless among mankind;

The sword fears his supremacy,

He strengthened the realm, and it grew strong,

The spear dreads his thrust,

وراحَ لِعقْده ناظمْ

وراحَ لِعقْده ناظمْ

كأنّ جبِينَه القمرُ

كأنّ جبِينَه القمرُ

And became the stringer of its necklace.

Glory craves his pride,

It is as though his brow were the moon,

Bounty approves his nature,

وعَزْمةَ رأيِه القَدرُ

وعَزْمةَ رأيِه القَدرُ

فليس يَفُوتُه ظَفَرُ

فليس يَفُوتُه ظَفَرُ

And his decisive judgment were destiny;

For his clouds are overwhelming.

No victory escapes him,

When he is generous with his bounty,

ولا يغتالُه حَذَرُ

ولا يغتالُه حَذَرُ

على ثَبَجِ العُلا جاثمْ

على ثَبَجِ العُلا جاثمْ

Nor can fear ambush him,

And ambitious in his aspirations,

Perched upon the crest of eminence.

The stars walk at his feet,

عظيمٌ في تَواضُعِهِ

عظيمٌ في تَواضُعِهِ

جِليلٌ في صَنائِعهِ

جِليلٌ في صَنائِعهِ

Great in his humility,

And time serves him,

Illustrious in his benefactions,

And Hashim's sun has dawned.

يجودُ على مُطاوعِهِ

يجودُ على مُطاوعِهِ

ويقَطَعُ حَبْلَ قاطِعِه

ويقَطَعُ حَبْلَ قاطِعِه

He gives generously to whoever obeys him,

When his flood pours he does not stint,

And severs the bond of whoever cuts him off,

And gives before being asked,

على عَلْيائِه حائمْ

على عَلْيائِه حائمْ

يَخاف السيفُ سَطْوتَه

يَخاف السيفُ سَطْوتَه

Hovering above his eminence.

Generous, though he says little he acts,

The sword fears his might,

And resembles his sent grandfather,

ويخشَى الرُّمْحُ هَزَّتَهُ

ويخشَى الرُّمْحُ هَزَّتَهُ

ويَهْوَى المجدُ غُرّتَهُ

ويَهْوَى المجدُ غُرّتَهُ

And the spear dreads his brandishing;

With knowledge beyond the world’s scholar.

Glory loves his radiant brow,

Noble, his effort is appreciated,

ويَرْضَى الجودُ شِيمَتَهُ

ويَرْضَى الجودُ شِيمَتَهُ

لأنّ سَحابَه ساجِمْ

لأنّ سَحابَه ساجِمْ

And generosity approves his character,

Famed for his conduct,

For his cloud pours rain.

And by his nobility spoken of,

إذا ما اعتدَّ في كَرَمِهْ

إذا ما اعتدَّ في كَرَمِهْ

وراحَ على عُلا هِمَمِهْ

وراحَ على عُلا هِمَمِهْ

When he is reckoned by his generosity,

Victorious over enemies,

And advances upon his lofty ambitions,

With none to blemish his glory.

غدَا والنَّجْمُ في قَدَمِهْ

غدَا والنَّجْمُ في قَدَمِهْ

وراحَ الدهرُ من خَدَمِهْ

وراحَ الدهرُ من خَدَمِهْ

He rises with the stars beneath his foot,

For God has granted him,

And time becomes one of his servants,

The essence of all he wished,

وساد الشُّمَّ من هاشمْ

وساد الشُّمَّ من هاشمْ

إذا ما سِيلَ لَم يَبْخَلْ

إذا ما سِيلَ لَم يَبْخَلْ

And he leads the lofty men of Hashim.

And preferred and exalted him,

Whenever he is asked, he is not miserly,

And enabled him and pleased him,

ويُعطِي قبلَ أن يُسْأَلْ

ويُعطِي قبلَ أن يُسْأَلْ

جوادٌ إن يَقُلْ يَفعلْ

جوادٌ إن يَقُلْ يَفعلْ

And gives before he is asked;

With none to diminish his merit.

Generous: if he speaks, he acts,

God saw him virtuous,

ويُشْبِه جَدَّهُ المُرْسَلْ

ويُشْبِه جَدَّهُ المُرْسَلْ

بمَا جَهِلَ الوَرَى عالِم

بمَا جَهِلَ الوَرَى عالِم

And resembles his grandfather, the Messenger,

With no peer or equal,

Knowing what mankind does not know.

So he apportioned fair shares,

كريمُ السَّعي مشكورُ

كريمُ السَّعي مشكورُ

بَبدُل العُرْف مشهورُ

بَبدُل العُرْف مشهورُ

Noble in striving and praised,

And pleased bounty with recompense,

Renowned for dispensing kindness,

The dispenser of people’s provision.

وبالعَلْياء مَذكورُ

وبالعَلْياء مَذكورُ

على الأعداء منصورُ

على الأعداء منصورُ

And remembered for eminence,

When my poetry could not contain,

Victorious over enemies,

Your loftiness nor my mind,

وليس لمجدِه ثالِمْ

وليس لمجدِه ثالِمْ

لأنّ اللّه أعطاهُ

لأنّ اللّه أعطاهُ

With none to mar his glory.

I made praise like thankfulness,

For God has given him

For you are master of the age,

جَوامعَ ما تَمنّاهُ

جَوامعَ ما تَمنّاهُ

وفضَّله وأعْلاه

وفضَّله وأعْلاه

The entirety of what he wished for,

Of the Ghor, the Fatimid clan.

And favored him and exalted him,

How can gratitude attain,

ومكّنه وأَرضاهُ

ومكّنه وأَرضاهُ

وليس لفضلهِ جاذِمْ

وليس لفضلهِ جاذِمْ

And established him and pleased him;

Rewarding you and remembering you,

And none can sever his excellence.

When not even a drop can reach you,

بَراهُ الله للفَضْلِ

بَراهُ الله للفَضْلِ

بِلاَ نِدّ ولا مِثْلِ

بِلاَ نِدّ ولا مِثْلِ

God fashioned him for excellence,

Nor any sea resemble you,

Without rival or peer;

So generous you overwhelm the avaricious.

فَعدَّلَ قِسْمةَ العَدْلِ

فَعدَّلَ قِسْمةَ العَدْلِ

وأَرْضَى الجُودَ بالبَدْلِ

وأَرْضَى الجُودَ بالبَدْلِ

So he made the apportionment of justice equitable,

He is the moon that rose,

And satisfied generosity through giving,

He is the dawn that emerged,

لأرزاق الوَرَى قاسِمْ

لأرزاق الوَرَى قاسِمْ

ولمّا لَم يَسَعْ شِعْري

ولمّا لَم يَسَعْ شِعْري

A distributor of mankind's livelihoods.

He is the rain that gushed forth,

And when my poetry could not encompass

He is the sword that cutting swung,

مَعالِيكَ ولا فِكْري

مَعالِيكَ ولا فِكْري

جعلتُ المدحَ كالشكرِ

جعلتُ المدحَ كالشكرِ

Your lofty merits, nor could my thought,

With its two edges and sheath.

I made praise akin to gratitude,

You have remained righteous,

لأنّك مالِكُ العصْرِ

لأنّك مالِكُ العصْرِ

من الغُرِّ بني فاطِمْ

من الغُرِّ بني فاطِمْ

For you are the sovereign of the age,

And fortunate, ascendant,

Of the illustrious sons of Fatima.

Lofty, judicious, majestic,

وكيف يبلغ الشكُر

وكيف يبلغ الشكُر

مكافاتك والذِّكُر

مكافاتك والذِّكُر

And how can gratitude attain

Perfect, meritorious, splendid,

Recompense for you—or remembrance do so—

And most stubborn have your nostrils turned.

ولا يَبْلُغُك القَطْرُ

ولا يَبْلُغُك القَطْرُ

ولا يُشْبِهُك البَحْرُ

ولا يُشْبِهُك البَحْرُ

When not even rainfall can equal you,

Nor does the sea resemble you

سَماحاً يُغرِق الزّاحمْ

سَماحاً يُغرِق الزّاحمْ

هو البدر الّذي طَلَعا

هو البدر الّذي طَلَعا

In bounty that drowns those who press near?

He is the full moon that has risen;

هو الصبحُ الّذي سَطَعَا

هو الصبحُ الّذي سَطَعَا

هو الَغْيث الّذي اندفعا

هو الَغْيث الّذي اندفعا

He is the dawn that has shone;

He is the rain that has poured forth;

هو السيف الذي قَطَعا

هو السيف الذي قَطَعا

بحَدَّيْه وبالقائمْ

بحَدَّيْه وبالقائمْ

He is the sword that has cut

With both its edges and its hilt.

فلا زلتَ على الرُّشْدِ

فلا زلتَ على الرُّشْدِ

وفي الإقبال والسَّعْدِ

وفي الإقبال والسَّعْدِ

So may you never cease to follow right guidance,

Amid prosperity and good fortune,

رفيعَ القَدْرِ والجَدِّ

رفيعَ القَدْرِ والجَدِّ

سليمَ الفَضْلِ والمَجْدِ

سليمَ الفَضْلِ والمَجْدِ

Exalted in rank and dignity,

Unblemished in excellence and glory,

وأنفُ مَنْ أَبَى راغِمْ

وأنفُ مَنْ أَبَى راغِمْ

And the nose of whoever refuses be rubbed in dust.