أَرواحٌan evening departure أَمor بُكرَةٌmorning فَاِغتِداءُthen an early start
أَرواحٌ أَم بُكرَةٌ فَاِغتِداءُ
بِدِيونٍwith debts لَمnot تَقضِهِنَّshe has repaid them الشِفاءُal-Shifa
بِدِيونٍ لَم تَقضِهِنَّ الشِفاءُ
An evening departure, or morning and an early start,
Spirits or a morning of restitution
with debts that al-Shifa has not repaid?
With debts not discharged by recovery
لَوif ثَوىhe stayed لاnot يَريمُهاhe leaves her أَلفُa thousand حَولٍyears
لَو ثَوى لا يَريمُها أَلفُ حَولٍ
لَمnot يَطُلwould seem long عِندَهاbeside her عَلَيهِfor him الثَواءُthe stay
لَم يَطُل عِندَها عَلَيهِ الثَواءُ
Were he to stay a thousand years, never leaving her,
Had it stayed unvisited for a thousand years
his stay beside her would not seem long.
Its long isolation would not have wearied it
أَهَواهاis love for her يَشُفُّهُwastes him away أَمor أُعيرَتshe was granted
أَهَواها يَشُفُّهُ أَم أُعيرَت
مَنظَراًan appearance فَوقَbeyond ماwhat أُعيرَwas granted النِساءُwomen
مَنظَراً فَوقَ ما أُعيرَ النِساءُ
Is love for her wasting him, or has she been granted
Does the passion subside or is the gaze lent
a beauty beyond what other women were given?
Above what has been lent to women
واضِحٌradiant وَجهَهاher face هَضيمٌslender حَشاهاher waist
واضِحٌ وَجهَها هَضيمٌ حَشاها
تَنكَأُwounds anew القَلبَthe heart حُرَّةٌnoble and freeborn حَوراءُstrikingly dark-eyed
تَنكَأُ القَلبَ حُرَّةٌ حَوراءُ
Her face is radiant, her waist slender;
Her face is bright, her figure delicate
noble and dark-eyed, she wounds the heart anew.
A free woman who rends hearts
وَإِذاand when ماan emphatic particle تَبَسَّمَتshe smiled لاحَgleamed مِنهاfrom her
وَإِذا ما تَبَسَّمَت لاحَ مِنها
بَرَدٌhailstones شافَهُbordered it لِثاثٌgums ظِماءُthirsty
بَرَدٌ شافَهُ لِثاثٌ ظِماءُ
And whenever she smiles, there gleam from her
When she smiles a coolness appears
hailstones bordered by thirsty gums.
Quenching thirst like water for the thirsty
طَعمُهُits taste طَعمُthe taste of ماءِwater أَبطَحَa pebbly streambed جَونٍdark
طَعمُهُ طَعمُ ماءِ أَبطَحَ جَونٍ
جَعَفَتهُscoured it سَحابَةٌa raincloud غَرّاءُradiant
جَعَفَتهُ سَحابَةٌ غَرّاءُ
Their taste is that of water from a dark, pebbly streambed,
Its taste is the taste of water from a raincloud
scoured by a radiant raincloud,
Sweetened by a passing sprinkle
فيin حُبّيa banked raincloud تَجريflow سَواريهِits night showers بَرحاًfiercely
في حُبّي تَجري سَواريهِ بَرحاً
مُستَكِفٍّspreading all around يَعومُfloats فيهِwithin it العَماءُcloud-mist
مُستَكِفٍّ يَعومُ فيهِ العَماءُ
within a banked cloud whose night showers pour fiercely,
In my love, her bracelets run too loose
spreading all around, with cloud-mist floating within it.
An ungrateful swimmer afloat in blindness
بَزَّهاwrested from her الأَمرَcommand أَيِّدٌa mighty one نَعِرُrestive النِيْan unclear word fragment
بَزَّها الأَمرَ أَيِّدٌ نَعِرُ النِيْ
ليةcontinuation of the unclear word لاnot يطبيهِlures him إِلّاexcept الخَلاءُthe empty wilderness
لية لا يطبيهِ إِلّا الخَلاءُ
A mighty, restive one wrested command from her—
Luck pushed her away, the scream of ostriches
[word fragment unclear]—lured only by the open waste.
Nothing cures her but solitude
يَخلِفُstays behind الناسَthe people فيin الفَلاةِthe wilderness إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle
يَخلِفُ الناسَ في الفَلاةِ إِذا ما
حانَarrives مِنهُمfor them صَيرورَةًreturning وَاِنثِناءُand turning back
حانَ مِنهُم صَيرورَةً وَاِنثِناءُ
He stays behind the people in the wilderness when
It leaves people behind in the wilderness when
their time for returning and turning homeward comes.
Their pace slackens and they falter
آبِلٌcontent to graze without drinking لاnot يُزايِلُforsakes الجزؤُherbage sufficient without drinking حَتّىuntil
آبِلٌ لا يُزايِلُ الجزؤُ حَتّى
تَرِدَcome to water الصهبُtawny wild asses قَبلَهُbefore him وَالظِباءُand gazelles
تَرِدَ الصهبُ قَبلَهُ وَالظِباءُ
Content to graze without drinking, he never forsakes the herbage until
A camel who never leaves the herd until
the tawny wild asses and gazelles reach water before him.
The herd and the ostrich come first
كُلَّevery وَسمِيَّةٍautumn-watered tract تَحَيَّرَpooled فيهاwithin it
كُلَّ وَسمِيَّةٍ تَحَيَّرَ فيها
مِنfrom سُيولِtorrents of الرَبيعِspring وَالصَيفِand summer ماءُwater
مِن سُيولِ الرَبيعِ وَالصَيفِ ماءُ
Every autumn-watered tract has pooled within it
Every landmark in which the springs
water from the torrents of spring and summer.
And summers of torrents flowed
فَكَساهاso it clothed it مُنَوَّراًflowering vegetation رَشَحَتهُnourished it
فَكَساها مُنَوَّراً رَشَحَتهُ
فَتَراتُmild spells of الشِتاءِwinter وَالأَنواءُand seasonal rains
فَتَراتُ الشِتاءِ وَالأَنواءُ
It clothed the tract in flowering growth, nourished by
He covered it, glistening, which the winters
winter's mild spells and seasonal rains.
And gales had stripped bare
رَهِلٌsoft and lush زَمَخرٌdense and tall إِذاwhen الشَمسُthe sun ذَرَتrose
رَهِلٌ زَمَخرٌ إِذا الشَمسُ ذَرَت
خَضِلَتremained moist فيin ظِلالِهِits shadows الأَنداءُdewdrops
خَضِلَت في ظِلالِهِ الأَنداءُ
Soft and luxuriant, tall and dense: when the sun rises,
Aged, rugged, when the sun rose
dewdrops remain moist within its shade.
Meadows nestled in its shade
يَتَغَنّىsings بِهاin it عَلىto نَغِمٍa melody بالٍold
يَتَغَنّى بِها عَلى نَغِمٍ بالٍ
فيin ضَواحيopen stretches of رِياضِهاits meadows المَكّاءُthe whistling lark
في ضَواحي رِياضِها المَكّاءُ
There, to an age-old melody, sings
Sing of it to a faded melody where
the whistling lark amid the open stretches of its meadows,
The warblers of its gardens trill
كَتَغَنيlike the singing of اللَذيذِthe reveler أَصبَحَbecame نَشوانَdrunk
كَتَغَني اللَذيذِ أَصبَحَ نَشوانَ
تُرنيهsets him singing نَشوَةٌan intoxication عَشواءُstaggering
تُرنيه نَشوَةٌ عَشواءُ
like the singing of a reveler newly drunk,
As the sweet singer became happy
set singing by a staggering intoxication.
Made joyful by intoxicating joy
أَفلاwill you not تُسعِدُrelieve الهُمومَcares بِعَنسٍwith a sturdy she-camel
أَفلا تُسعِدُ الهُمومَ بِعَنسٍ
رَسلَةٍsmooth-paced حينَwhen تَعرُضُopens before you البَيداءُthe desert
رَسلَةٍ حينَ تَعرُضُ البَيداءُ
Will you not ease your cares with a sturdy she-camel,
Will you not cheer the sorrows with a tame, docile
smooth-paced, when the desert opens before you?
Gazelle when the white desert appears
كَالصَهابِيَةِlike the tawny wild she-ass النَحوصِbarren تَلاهاfollowed her
كَالصَهابِيَةِ النَحوصِ تَلاها
واضِحُpale الكاذِنينَthe two flanks فيهِin him اِنتِحاءُardor
واضِحُ الكاذِنينَ فيهِ اِنتِحاءُ
Like a tawny, barren wild she-ass, followed by
Like a diving ostrich, with ears
a pale-flanked male full of ardor.
Clearly visible in its zeal
صاكَclung بِالصُلبِto the spine وَالقَوائِمِand the legs مِنهُof him
صاكَ بِالصُلبِ وَالقَوائِمِ مِنهُ
مِثلَlike ماthe way صاكَclung بِالقِداحِto arrow shafts الغَرّاءُglue
مِثلَ ما صاكَ بِالقِداحِ الغَرّاءُ
To his spine and legs there clung,
Molded of firmness and legs like
as glue clings to arrow shafts,
What the nimble flasks molded
ضَمِنٌa stain; reading uncertain آلَderived مَنfrom عُصارَةِjuice of بُهمىbrome grass
ضَمِنٌ آلَ مَن عُصارَةِ بُهمى
سَمَقَتgrew tall فَهيَand it is رَخصَةٌtender صَمعاءُfine-tipped
سَمَقَت فَهيَ رَخصَةٌ صَمعاءُ
a stain [reading uncertain] derived from the juice of brome grass,
Guaranteed is the essence of worries
grown tall, tender, and fine-tipped.
That seeped through, a cheap hiding place
فَهوَso he is مُستَدمِجٌcompactly built أُمِرَّfirmly formed عَلىin الضُمْleanness; word fragment
فَهوَ مُستَدمِجٌ أُمِرَّ عَلى الضُمْ
رcompletes 'leanness' خَميصٌlean-bellied قَدalready لاحَهُwore him thin التَعداءُrunning
ر خَميصٌ قَد لاحَهُ التَعداءُ
He is compactly built, firmly formed in leanness,
So he is smeared with bitterness, a shirt
lean-bellied, worn thin by running.
Worn thin by aggression
طارَflew عَنهُfrom him نَسيلُshed hair of عامٍa year كَماjust as
طارَ عَنهُ نَسيلُ عامٍ كَما
طارَflew عَنِfrom العلجِthe burly foreigner ذيwearing القَميصِthe shirt القباءُthe outer coat
طارَ عَنِ العلجِ ذي القَميصِ القباءُ
A year's shed hair flew from him, as
A year's torrents have flown off him
an outer coat flies from a shirt-clad foreigner.
As they flowed off the shabby cloak
وَنَقىand drove away القُرَّحَfull-grown males الصَلادِمَhardy and massive حَتّىuntil
وَنَقى القُرَّحَ الصَلادِمَ حَتّى
تَرَكَتleft جُوَّةًa clear space لَهُfor him المُعَيراءُthe little wild asses
تَرَكَت جُوَّةً لَهُ المُعَيراءُ
He drove away the hardy, full-grown males until
And cleaned out rot until it left
the little wild asses left him a clear space.
Spaces that betrayal had emptied
مُستَطارٌskittish لَهُhe has نَحائِصُlean she-asses صُلبٌhardy
مُستَطارٌ لَهُ نَحائِصُ صُلبٌ
ذُبَّلٌwithered عِندَهُنَّwith them مِنهُfrom him بَلاءُhardship
ذُبَّلٌ عِندَهُنَّ مِنهُ بَلاءُ
Skittish, he has lean, hardy she-asses,
Withers exposed to him, hardened
withered, who endure hard trials from him.
Withered by the affliction he brings
يِتَعاقَبنَهُthey take turns upon him بِضَربِwith blows وَلاءٍin succession
يِتَعاقَبنَهُ بِضَربِ وَلاءٍ
لاnot يَقيprotects حاجِبَيهِhis two brows مِنهfrom it وَقاءُa shield
لا يَقي حاجِبَيهِ مِنه وَقاءُ
They take turns striking him, blow after blow;
Taking turns striking him loyally
nothing shields his brows from it.
No protection shields his eyebrows
فَبِضاحيso on the exposed surface of لُبانِهِhis chest وَذِراعَيهِand his forelegs
فَبِضاحي لُبانِهِ وَذِراعَيهِ
أَخاديدُfurrows ماno بِهِنَّin them غَباءُhiddenness
أَخاديدُ ما بِهِنَّ غَباءُ
Thus on his exposed chest and forelegs
With the plains of his cheeks and arms
are furrows none can fail to see.
Are clefts untouched by folly
أَرِنٌfrisky ماnot يَزالُceases يَلقُطُsnatching زُرّاًa bite
أَرِنٌ ما يَزالُ يَلقُطُ زُرّاً
مَعَهُwith it مِنfrom جُلودِهِنَّtheir hides سَحاءُtorn strips
مَعَهُ مِن جُلودِهِنَّ سَحاءُ
Frisky, he keeps snatching bites,
Quick to gather shreds that keep falling
taking strips of their hides with each.
Off their hides in strips
قاتَلَfought الأَرضَthe earth بِالسَنابِكِwith hooves حَتّىuntil
قاتَلَ الأَرضَ بِالسَنابِكِ حَتّى
أَخَذَتwore away مِنfrom نُسورِهِhis hoof-frogs المَعزاءُthe stony ground
أَخَذَت مِن نُسورِهِ المَعزاءُ
He fought the earth with his hooves until
He fought the ground with his hooves until
the stony ground wore away his hoof-frogs.
The brought down prey captured him
يَتَشَكّىcomplains of الوَجاsore feet وِمِنهُand from him إِذاwhen جَدَّexerted himself
يَتَشَكّى الوَجا وِمِنهُ إِذا جَدَّ
عَلىat طَلعِهِhis full pace لَهُنَّfor them غَناءُuseful service
عَلى طَلعِهِ لَهُنَّ غَناءُ
He complains of sore feet; yet from him, when he strains
Complaining of exhaustion when he put forth effort
at full speed, they still gain useful service.
Their singing was torture to him
ذادَهاdrove her back وَهيَwhile she تَشتَهيlonged for الوَردَdrinking at water حَتّىuntil
ذادَها وَهيَ تَشتَهي الوَردَ حَتّى
غَلَبَتovercame أَنthat تَقَرَّهاhold her still الأَكلاءُthe pastures
غَلَبَت أَن تَقَرَّها الأَكلاءُ
He kept them back, though they longed to drink, until
He warded her off when she craved roses until
the pastures could no longer hold them,
She overcame her desire, for the eaters
بِغُرابٍat Ghurab إِلىtoward أُلاهَةَUlaha حَتّىuntil
بِغُرابٍ إِلى أُلاهَةَ حَتّى
أَصبَحَتbecame أُمَّهاتِهاtheir mothers الأَطلاءُthe foals
أَصبَحَت أُمَّهاتِها الأَطلاءُ
at Ghurab, toward Ulaha, until
With a crow, to a distracted state until
the foals had grown to match their mothers.
Her mothers became barren
وَدَناand drew near النَجمُthe star يَستَقيلُtending to set وَحارَتand returned
وَدَنا النَجمُ يَستَقيلُ وَحارَت
كُلَّevery يَومٍday ظَهيرَةٌnoonday شَهباءُpale-white
كُلَّ يَومٍ ظَهيرَةٌ شَهباءُ
The star drew near its setting, and there returned
The stars came close to setting and each
each day a pale, blazing noon.
Day at noon was marked by falling stars
كُلَّماwhenever رَدَّناdrove us back شَطاًfar away عَنfrom هَواهاher desire
كُلَّما رَدَّنا شَطاً عَن هَواها
شَطَنَتstrayed far ذاتُpossessed of ميعَةٍvigor حَقباءُwhite-flanked
شَطَنَت ذاتُ ميعَةٍ حَقباءُ
Whenever he drove us far from what she desired,
Whenever we left the shore of her passion
a lively, white-flanked she-ass strayed far away.
A persistent one with strong ropes pulled us back
فَتَرَدَّدنَso they wandered back and forth بِالسَماوَةِin al-Samawa حَتّىuntil
فَتَرَدَّدنَ بِالسَماوَةِ حَتّى
كَذَّبَتهُنَّfailed them غُدرُهاits rain-pools وَالنَهاءُand ponds
كَذَّبَتهُنَّ غُدرُها وَالنَهاءُ
They roamed back and forth in al-Samawa until
They were tossed by indifference until
its rain-pools and ponds failed them.
Betrayal itself denied them
فَأَلَمَّتthen she reached بِذيat Dhu المُوَيقِعِal-Muwayqiʿ لَمّاwhen
فَأَلَمَّت بِذي المُوَيقِعِ لَمّا
جَفَّdried up عَنهاfor her مُصَدَّعٌMusaddaʿ فَالنَضاءُthen al-Nada'
جَفَّ عَنها مُصَدَّعٌ فَالنَضاءُ
Then they reached Dhu al-Muwayqiʿ, when
It squeezed the one with deadly claws when
Musaddaʿ and then al-Nada' had dried up on them.
The split one turned away
ثُمَّتَthen اِستَوسَقَتgathered together لَهُaround him وَرَمَتهُand pelted him
ثُمَّتَ اِستَوسَقَت لَهُ وَرَمَتهُ
بِغُبارٍwith dust عَلَيهِupon him مِنهُof it رِداءُa cloak
بِغُبارٍ عَلَيهِ مِنهُ رِداءُ
Then they gathered around him and pelted him
It then begged water for him and pelted him
with dust that lay upon him like a cloak,
With dust, making it his shroud
مُستَطيرٍbillowing كَأَنَّهُas though it were سابِرِيٌّfine Sabiri cloth
مُستَطيرٍ كَأَنَّهُ سابِرِيٌّ
أَوor سَبيبٌfine fabric مُسَبَّرٌstriped وَمَلاءُand wraps
أَو سَبيبٌ مُسَبَّرٌ وَمَلاءُ
billowing, as though it were fine Sabiri cloth,
Soaring aloft like a swift ostrich
or fine striped fabric and broad wraps.
Or a flown arrow and supplies
دانِياتٌdrawing near لِلجِدِّto a reliable watering-place حَتّىuntil نَهاهاstopped them
دانِياتٌ لِلجِدِّ حَتّى نَهاها
مِنfrom جَنوبِsouth of البَضيعِal-Badiʿ ماءٌwater رواءُplentiful
مِن جَنوبِ البَضيعِ ماءٌ رواءُ
Nearing a reliable watering-place, until they were halted
Drawn to earnestness until the springs
by plentiful water south of al-Badiʿ.
And healers arrived
فَتَعَرَّضنَso they stood crosswise ماnot يَرِدنَthey enter to drink كَماas
فَتَعَرَّضنَ ما يَرِدنَ كَما
تَعرِضُstands crosswise عِندَat اِطِّلاعِهاits rising الجَوزاءُOrion
تَعرِضُ عِندَ اِطِّلاعِها الجَوزاءُ
They stood crosswise, not yet entering to drink, as
They quenched their thirst then turned away
Orion stands crosswise at its rising,
Sated as the night came
ساعَةًfor a while ثُمَّthen اِستَغَثنَّsought relief بِعَذبٍin sweet water
ساعَةً ثُمَّ اِستَغَثنَّ بِعَذبٍ
جُلِحَتwas cleared عَنfrom فَراضِهِits watering approaches القَصباءُthe reeds
جُلِحَت عَن فَراضِهِ القَصباءُ
for a while; then they sought relief in sweet water,
Al-Walid gifted me on a founding day
whose watering approaches had been cleared of reeds.
With a tithe in which are riches and beauty
فَتَعَوَّthen waded; verb fragment مِن'they'; likely verb-ending fragment فيهِinto it حَتّىuntil إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle
فَتَعَوَّ مِن فيهِ حَتّى إِذا ما
وَرَدَتهُentered it الفُصوصُhoof-joints وَالأَطِبّاءُand teats
وَرَدَتهُ الفُصوصُ وَالأَطِبّاءُ
Then they waded into it until, when
Onlookers reckon them to be a company
their hoof-joints and teats had entered it,
While they are leaders
فَقَضَينَso they quenched الغَليلَthirst ثُمَّthen تَوَلَّينَturned away
فَقَضَينَ الغَليلَ ثُمَّ تَوَلَّينَ
بِلَيلٍat night وَهُنَّwhile they مِنهُfrom it رَواءُfully watered
بِلَيلٍ وَهُنَّ مِنهُ رَواءُ
they quenched their thirst, then turned away
Growth filled their breasts, lambs and calves
at night, fully satisfied with its water.
Matured, as the noble ones calmed
قَدindeed حَبانيbestowed on me الوَليدُal-Walid يَومَon the day of أُسَيسٍUsays
قَد حَباني الوَليدُ يَومَ أُسَيسٍ
بِعِشارٍwith ten-month-pregnant she-camels فيهاin them غِنىًwealth وَبَهاءُand splendor
بِعِشارٍ فيها غِنىً وَبَهاءُ
Al-Walid bestowed upon me, on the day at Usays,
We begot ewes that grazed the Huwah
ten-month-pregnant she-camels, a source of wealth and splendor.
Or yielded milk, they are fat sheep
يَحسِبُthink الناظِرونَthe onlookers ماas long as لَمnot يَفِرّواexamine their teeth
يَحسِبُ الناظِرونَ ما لَم يَفِرّوا
أَنَّهاthat they are جِلَّةٌold camels وَهُنَّwhereas they فِتاءُyoung
أَنَّها جِلَّةٌ وَهُنَّ فِتاءُ
Onlookers, unless they examine their teeth,
When the winnower touches them they shed
think them old, though they are young.
Milk from breasts like the Dalia
قَدindeed نَماgrew فيin ضُروعِهاtheir udders النَيُّfat وَالحَملُand pregnancy
قَد نَما في ضُروعِها النَيُّ وَالحَملُ
تِماماًfully وَاِستَرخَتِand loosened الأَصلاءُthe rump joints
تِماماً وَاِستَرخَتِ الأَصلاءُ
Fat and pregnancy had developed in their udders
They presented themselves when mature
to fullness, and their rump joints had loosened.
As the Gemini rise
فَنَتّجناso we assisted the calving of قَناعِساًmassive she-camels رَعَتِgrazed الحَوَّةَal-Hawwa
فَنَتّجنا قَناعِساً رَعَتِ الحَوَّةَ
أَوor جَوشَJawsh فَهيَso they are قُعسٌbackward-arched-necked نِواءُfat
أَو جَوشَ فَهيَ قُعسٌ نِواءُ
So we brought great she-camels to calving; they grazed al-Hawwa
For a moment, then cried for fresh sweet water
or Jawsh, and were arched-necked and fat.
Free of thorns and canes
وَإِذاand when حازَهاgathered them المُرَوَّحُthe evening herdsman حاكَتswayed
وَإِذا حازَها المُرَوَّحُ حاكَت
عَنaway from ضُروعٍudders كَأَنَّهُنَّas though they were الدِلاءُbuckets
عَن ضُروعٍ كَأَنَّهُنَّ الدِلاءُ
When the evening herdsman gathers them, they sway
So mouths in them swelled until when
clear of udders that are like buckets.
The sprouts and healers came
وَيَكُرُّand returns repeatedly العَبدانthe two servants بِالمُحلَبِwith the milking bowl الأَحcurved; word fragment
وَيَكُرُّ العَبدان بِالمُحلَبِ الأَح
نَفِcompletes 'curved' فيهاamong them حَتّىuntil يَمُجَّoverflows السَقاءُthe skin-bag
نَفِ فيها حَتّى يَمُجَّ السَقاءُ
And the two servants keep returning with the curved milking bowl
They healed their thirst, then turned away
among them, until the milk-skin overflows.
Quenched as the night came
يَترُكُleaves الحَيُّthe tribe بِالعَشِيُّin the evening رَغاهاtheir milk's froth
يَترُكُ الحَيُّ بِالعَشِيُّ رَغاها
وَهُمُand they عَنwithout need of رَغيفِهِمtheir loaf أُغنِياءُself-sufficient
وَهُمُ عَن رَغيفِهِم أُغنِياءُ
By evening the tribe leaves their milk's froth untouched,
Al-Walid did not choose it, but God
having no need of their loaves of bread.
Made him a shepherd for the Muslims
أَمطَرنَنيshowered me بِهاwith them يَمينُthe right hand of فَتىًa young man
أَمطَرنَني بِها يَمينُ فَتىً
أَروَعَsplendid لاnot كَزَّةٌclenched and stingy وَلاnor شَهجاءُcoarse and oversized
أَروَعَ لا كَزَّةٌ وَلا شَهجاءُ
A young man's right hand showered them upon me,
No commander deserves it, but for the Viceroy
a splendid man: that hand neither stingy nor coarse.
Are all people's sacrifice
نافِعٌuseful نَفعُهُhis benefit إِذاwhen نيلَwas obtained مِنهُfrom him
نافِعٌ نَفعُهُ إِذا نيلَ مِنهُ
نائِلٌa gift فَهوَthen it is رِفعَةٌelevation وَعلاءُand honor
نائِلٌ فَهوَ رِفعَةٌ وَعلاءُ
His bounty is truly useful: when one obtains from him
I do not see a troubled soul approach you
a gift, it brings elevation and honor.
Without calumny and enemies dispersing
لاno بَنىًbuilt; reading uncertain غَيرُهُanyone other than him فَمَدَّthen may it be prolonged لَهُfor him العُمرُlife
لا بَنىً غَيرُهُ فَمَدَّ لَهُ العُمرُ
بِمُلكٍin kingship وَتَمَّتِand be completed النَعماءُblessings
بِمُلكٍ وَتَمَّتِ النَعماءُ
No other has built [wording uncertain]; may his life be prolonged
If one of them strays from you
in kingship, and may blessings be complete.
He drops and the corners take him
سَيِّدٌa lord إِلَيهِto him المُغيثُthe rescuer إِذاwhen ماan emphatic particle
سَيِّدٌ إِلَيهِ المُغيثُ إِذا ما
قيلَit was said يَومَon the day of الفِخارِboasting أَينَwhere الغِناءُeffective aid
قيلَ يَومَ الفِخارِ أَينَ الغِناءُ
A lord to whom the rescuer turns whenever
You are above what I say, but for you
it is asked, on the day of boasting, 'Where is effective aid?'
Is my advice and praise
سُؤدَدٌnobility غَيرَnot فاحِشٍexcessive لاnot تُدانِيapproaches; object continues
سُؤدَدٌ غَيرَ فاحِشٍ لا تُدانِي
هِit; attached object pronoun تَجِبّارَةٌtyranny وَلاnor كِبرِياءُpride
هِ تَجِبّارَةٌ وَلا كِبرِياءُ
His nobility is not excessive; it is approached by neither
And for the people of his house from Quraysh
tyranny nor pride.
Their number and honor is vast
غَيرَexcept أَنَّthat الوَليدَal-Walid ماthe one whom اِختارِهُchose him اللَهُGod
غَيرَ أَنَّ الوَليدَ ما اِختارِهُ اللَهُ
وَلِلمُسلِمينَand for the Muslims فيهِin him رِعاءُguardianship
وَلِلمُسلِمينَ فيهِ رِعاءُ
Yet al-Walid is the one God chose,
God be pleased with them and chose them
and in him the Muslims have guardianship.
Among His servants they are the purest
لَيسَnot يَجزيsuffices in recompense بِهِfor him أَميرٌa prince وَلَكِنbut
لَيسَ يَجزي بِهِ أَميرٌ وَلَكِن
سائِرُall الناسِthe people لِلوَليِfor the sovereign الفِداءُransom
سائِرُ الناسِ لِلوَليِ الفِداءُ
No prince can suffice in his stead; rather,
I see them as worthy for that and they are best
all the people are a ransom for their sovereign.
Whoever the sky shades
لاnot أَرىI see مُرهَقاًa hard-pressed man يَجيئَكَcomes to you إِلّاexcept
لا أَرى مُرهَقاً يَجيئَكَ إِلّا
خامَshrank back عَنهُfrom him الوُشاةُthe slanderers وَالأَعداءُand enemies
خامَ عَنهُ الوُشاةُ وَالأَعداءُ
I see no hard-pressed man come to you without
They kept what God entrusted them with
the slanderers and enemies shrinking from him.
Every nation has its custodians
وَإِذاand if زاغَstrayed عَنكَfrom you مِنهُمamong them طَريدٌa fugitive
وَإِذا زاغَ عَنكَ مِنهُم طَريدٌ
طاحَfell ثُمَّthen اِرتَمَتflung about بِهِhim الأَرجاءُthe far regions
طاحَ ثُمَّ اِرتَمَت بِهِ الأَرجاءُ
And if some fugitive among them turns away from you,
If He wills mercy for a people
he falls, then the far reaches fling him about.
Their Lord does what He wills
أَنتَyou فَوقَabove الَّذيwhat أَقولُI say وَلَكِنbut
أَنتَ فَوقَ الَّذي أَقولُ وَلَكِن
لَكَfor you عِنديwith me نَصيحَةٌsincere devotion وَثَناءُand praise
لَكَ عِندي نَصيحَةٌ وَثَناءُ
You are above what I say, yet
He places authority with the wise ones among them
you have my sincere devotion and praise.
Surely the pious are the best of creation
وَإِلىand to أَهلِthe people of بَيتِهِhis house مِنof قُرَيشٍQuraysh
وَإِلى أَهلِ بَيتِهِ مِن قُرَيشٍ
يَتَناهىreaches its utmost عَديدُهاits numbers وَالرِباءُand eminence
يَتَناهى عَديدُها وَالرِباءُ
And to his household among Quraysh
Oppression despairs of being in a land
its numbers and distinction reach their utmost.
Where they are or coming from where they came
رَضِيَwas pleased اللَهُGod عَنهُمwith them وَاِصطَفاهُمand chose them
رَضِيَ اللَهُ عَنهُم وَاِصطَفاهُم
وَلَهُand He has مِنamong عَبادِهِHis servants أَصفياءُchosen ones
وَلَهُ مِن عَبادِهِ أَصفياءُ
God was pleased with them and chose them,
The way of God and the Messenger, so there is no
and among His servants He has chosen ones.
Doubt or censure in their command
فَأَرىso I see أَنَّهُمthat they لِذَلِكَfor that أَهلٌworthy
فَأَرى أَنَّهُم لِذَلِكَ أَهلٌ
فَهُمfor they are خَيرٌthe best of مَنthose whom تُظَلُّshades السَماءُthe sky
فَهُم خَيرٌ مَن تُظَلُّ السَماءُ
So I see that they are worthy of that,
They set the Muslims straight until the way
for they are the best whom the sky shades.
Of truth and loyalty became established among them
حَفَظواthey guarded ماوَلاهُمُwhat He entrusted to them اللَهُGod مِنهُمfrom among them
حَفَظوا ماوَلاهُمُ اللَهُ مِنهُم
كُلَّevery قَومٍpeople بِأَمرِهِمby their command أَولِياءُguardians
كُلَّ قَومٍ بِأَمرِهِم أَولِياءُ
They safeguarded what God entrusted to them among those people;
And the scales, after cheating, so people's
every people has guardians under their command.
Merchandise passed justly between them
وَإِذاand when ماan emphatic particle أَرادَdesired رَحمَةَmercy for قَومٍa people
وَإِذا ما أَرادَ رَحمَةَ قَومٍ
رَبُّهُمtheir Lord فَهوَthen He is فاعِلٌdoing ماwhat يَشاءُHe wills
رَبُّهُم فَهوَ فاعِلٌ ما يَشاءُ
And when mercy for a people is intended
Thus the servant in shabby clothes is given
by their Lord—who does whatever He wills—
His due, as is the foolish slave girl
جَعَلَplaced الأَمرَauthority فيamong ذَويpossessors of الرَأيِsound judgment مِنهُمamong them
جَعَلَ الأَمرَ في ذَوي الرَأيِ مِنهُم
إنَّindeed خَيرَthe best of البَرِيَّةِcreation الأَتقِياءُthe God-fearing
إنَّ خَيرَ البَرِيَّةِ الأَتقِياءُ
He places authority among their men of judgment.
Surely the best of creation are the God-fearing.
يَيأَسُdespairs الظُلمُoppression أَنof يَكونَexisting بِأَرضٍin a land
يَيأَسُ الظُلمُ أَن يَكونَ بِأَرضٍ
هُمُthey بِهاin it أَوor يَجيءُcoming مِنfrom حَيثُwhere جاءواthey came
هُمُ بِها أَو يَجيءُ مِن حَيثُ جاءوا
Oppression despairs of existing in a land
where they are, or of coming from where they came.
سُنَّةُthe way of اللَهِGod وَالرَسولِand the Messenger فَماso no فيin
سُنَّةُ اللَهِ وَالرَسولِ فَما في
أَمرِهِمtheir rule ريبَةٌdoubt وَلاnor لَحجاءُobstinate contention
أَمرِهِم ريبَةٌ وَلا لَحجاءُ
The way of God and the Messenger: there is in
their rule neither doubt nor obstinate contention.
قَوَّمُset straight المُسلِمينَthe Muslims حَتّىuntil اِستَقامَتbecame firmly established
قَوَّمُ المُسلِمينَ حَتّى اِستَقامَت
سُنَّةُthe practice of الحَقِّtruth فيهِمُamong them وَالوَفاءُand good faith
سُنَّةُ الحَقِّ فيهِمُ وَالوَفاءُ
They set the Muslims straight, until
truth's practice and good faith stood firm among them,
وَالمُوازينَand the scales بِعدَafter بَخسٍshort-weighing فَجازَتso circulated
وَالمُوازينَ بِعدَ بَخسٍ فَجازَت
سِلَعُgoods of الناسِthe people بَينَهُمamong them وَالهِداءُand gifts
سِلَعُ الناسِ بَينَهُم وَالهِداءُ
and they righted the scales after short-weighing, so there circulated
the people's goods and gifts among them.
فَإِذاand then العَبدُthe slave ذوwearing العَبايَةِthe cloak يُعطىis given
فَإِذا العَبدُ ذو العَبايَةِ يُعطى
حَقَّهُhis due وَالوَليدَةُand the slave-girl البَلهاءُsimple-minded
حَقَّهُ وَالوَليدَةُ البَلهاءُ
And so the slave in his cloak is given
his due, and the simple-minded slave-girl hers.
Partial English translation: 126 of 138 Arabic lines translated.