لَمْNotيُبْقِهَاdid it leaveأَمَدٌan eraتَقَادَمَwhose timeعَهْدُهُgrew old
An era whose time grew old did not leave it...
فَالدَّمْعُso the tearsيَنْطِقُspeakوَالرُّسُومُand the tracesبَوَاقِيremain
So the tears speak and the traces remain.
لَهْفِيAlasعَلَىforزَمَنٍa timeمَضَتْpassedأَيَّامُهُits days
Alas for a time whose days have passed,
وَالْعَيْشُand lifeغَضٌّfreshمُورِقُleafyالْأَوْرَاقِin leaves
While life was fresh and leafy in its leaves.
أَيَّامُنَاOur daysمَاwere notكَانَتْexceptإِلَّاbutخْلْسَةًa snatch
Our days were nothing but a passing snatch,
كَسَفَeclipsedالْهِلَالُthe new moonعَرَاهُafflicted itوَجْهُthe faceمِحَاقِof waning
The new moon eclipsed, afflicted by the face of waning.
أَوْOrنَظْرَةًa glanceمِنْfromخَائِفٍone fearingلَمْdid notيُنْجِهِsave him
Or a glance from one fearing whom neither
خَوْفُfearالْحِذَارِof cautionوَشِدَّةُnor intensityالْإِشْفَاقِof dread saved
Fear of caution nor intensity of dread could save.
وَكَذَاكَAnd likewiseأَيَّامُdaysالسُّرُورِof joyقَصِيرَةٌare short
And likewise the days of joy are short,
لَكِنَّbutأَيَّامَdaysالْبَلَاءِof hardshipبَوَاقِيremain
But the days of hardship remain.
كَيْفَHowاللِّقَاءُthe meetingوَقَدْwhileتَطَاوَحَتِwere flung farالنَّوَىthe separations
How can we meet while separations have flung us far,
شَتَّانَHow differentبَيْنَbetweenمَشَائِمَSham (Levant) regionsوَعِرَاقِand Iraq
How vast is the difference between the Levant and Iraq!
يَاOلَيْتَwould thatشِعْرِيI knewكَيْفَhowعَهْدُis the stateأَحِبَّتِيof my beloved ones
O would that I knew how my beloved ones are,
لَمَّاwhenأَظَلَّهُمْovershadowed themوَشِيكُimminentفِرَاقِيmy parting
When the imminence of my parting overshadowed them.
ظَنِّيMy thoughtبِهِمْof themحَسَنٌis goodوَكَيْفَand howبِأَوْبَةٍabout a return
My thought of them is good, but how about a return
تَرْوِيthat quenchesغَلِيلَthe burning thirstمُتَيَّمٍof a captivatedمُشْتَاقِand longing lover
That quenches the burning thirst of a captivated, longing lover?
وَمِنْهَاAnd from itنَجْدِيَّاتٌpoems of Najd:
And from it, Najd-related verses:
أَلَاAhهَلْdoأَرَىI seeحُوراًfair maidensتَبَرَقَعْنَveiling themselvesبِالْحِمَىat Al-Hima
Ah, shall I see fair maidens veiling themselves at Al-Hima,
وَهَلْand shallأَجْتَنِيI gatherبِالْعَيْنِwith my eyesمِنْfromخَدِّهِمْtheir cheeksوَرْداًroses
And shall I gather with my eyes roses from their cheeks?
لَعَلِّيPerhaps Iأَرَىwill seeنَجْداًNajdوَمَنْand whoeverحَلَّdweltبِالْحِمَىat Al-Hima
Perhaps I will see Najd and whoever dwelt at Al-Hima,
فَأَحْسَبَso I imagineمِنْfromنَجْدٍNajdعَلَىuponكَبِدِيmy liverبَرْداًa coolness
So I imagine a coolness upon my liver from Najd.
خَلِيلَيَّO my two friendsقَدْtrulyدَاوَيْتُI treatedعَقْلًاa mindسَلَبْتُهُI deprived it
O my two friends, truly I treated a mind I deprived
بِشَحْطِby the distance ofالنَّوَىseparationوَالْبُعْدِand being farمِنْfromقُرْبِهِمْtheir closenessعَمْداًintentionally
By the distance of separation and being far from their closeness intentionally.
فَلَمْSo I have notأَرَseenبَعْدَafterالدَّارِthe homeيَشْفِيcureمِنَfromالْجَوَىheartburn
So I have not seen distant homes cure heartburn,
وَلَاnorالْقُرْبَclosenessأَيْضاًalsoمِنْfromدِيَارِهِمْtheir abodesأَجْدَىmore useful
Nor is closeness to their abodes any more useful either.
بَلَىIndeedإِنَّverilyفِيinالنَّأْيِestrangementالتَّقَطُّعُis severanceوَالْأَسَىand grief
Indeed, in estrangement is severance and grief,
وَحُبُّand loveسُلَيْمَىfor Sulaymaالْقَلْبَthe heartمِنْamongبَيْنِهِمْthemأَوْدَىdestroyed
And love for Sulayma destroyed the heart among them.
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
نَسِيمُThe breezeالْخُزَامَىof lavenderوَالرِّيَاحُand the windsالَّتِيthatجَرَتْblew
The breeze of lavender and the winds that blew
بِلَيْلٍat nightعَلَىoverنَجْدٍNajdتُذَكِّرُنِيremind meنَجْداًof Najd
At night over Najd remind me of Najd.
أَتَانِيCame to meنَسِيمُthe breezeالسِّدْرِof sidrطِيباًsweetlyمِنَfromالْحِمَىAl-Hima
The sweet breeze of sidr came to me from Al-Hima,
فَذَكَّرَنِيSo it reminded meنَجْداًof Najdوَقَطَّعَنِيand tore me apartوَجْداًwith passion
So it reminded me of Najd and tore me apart with passion.
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
أَلَاAhلَيْتَwould thatشِعْرِيI knewهَلْshallأَبِيتَنَّI spend the nightلَيْلَةًfor a night
Ah, would that I knew, shall I spend a night
بِصَحْرَاءَin a desertمِنْofنَجْرَانَNajranذَاتِpossessingثَرًىmoist soilمَنْدِيdamp
In a desert of Najran with damp, moist soil?
وَهَلْAnd shallأُرِدَنَّI visitالدَّهْرَeverحِصْنَthe fortressمُجَاشِعٍof Mujashi'
And shall I ever visit the fortress of Mujashi',
وَقَدْwhileضَرَبَتْهُhas struck itنَفْحَةٌa puffمِنْofصَبَاthe eastern windنَجْدٍof Najd
While a puff of the eastern wind of Najd has struck it?
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another:
And for another:
أَقُولُI sayلِصَاحِبِيto my companionوَالْعِيسُwhile the camelsتَخْدِيtrot fast
I say to my companion while the camels trot fast
بِنَاwith usبَيْنَbetweenالْمُنِيفَةِAl-Munifaوَالضَّمَارِand Al-Damar
With us between Al-Munifa and Al-Damar:
تَمَتَّعْEnjoyمِنْsmellingشَمِيمِthe fragranceعَرَارِof ararنَجْدٍof Najd
Enjoy smelling the fragrance of Najd's arar plant,
فَمَاfor there is noبَعْدَafterالْعَشِيَّةِthis eveningمِنْofعَرَارِarar
For after this evening there is no more arar.
أَلَاAhيَاOحَبَّذَاhow blessed areنَفَحَاتُthe breezesنَجْدٍof Najd
Ah, how blessed are the breezes of Najd
وَرِيَّاAnd the fragranceرَوْضِهِof its gardensغِبَّafterالْقِطَارِrains
And the fragrance of its gardens after the rains!
شُهُورٌMonthsيَنْقَضِينَpassوَمَاand weشَعَرْنَاdid not notice
Months pass and we did not notice
بِأَنْصَافٍtheir halvesلَهُنَّof themوَلَاnorسِرَارِtheir ends
Their halves nor their ends.
وَأَمَّاAnd as forلَيْلُهُنَّtheir nightsفَخَيْرُthey are the bestلَيْلٍnights
And as for their nights, they are the best of nights,
وَأَنْضَرُand the most vibrantمَاwhatيَكُونُisمِنَofالنَّهَارِday
And more vibrant than what the day can be.
قَالَHe said:وَقَالَAnd Al-FathالْفَتْحُibnبْنُKhaqanخَاقَانَsaid
He said: And Al-Fath ibn Khaqan said:
وَرَدَCameعَلَيَّto meأَعْرَابِيٌّa Bedouinمِنَfromالْبَادِيَةِthe desertنَجْدِيٌّNajdiفَصِيحٌeloquent
An eloquent Najdi Bedouin came to me from the desert,
فَبَاتَand he spentلَيْلَةًa nightعِنْدِيwith meعَلَىonسَطْحٍa roofمُشْرِفٍoverlookingعَلَىaبُسْتَانٍorchard
And he spent a night with me on a roof overlooking an orchard,
فَسَمِعَso he heardفِيهِin itصَوْتَthe soundالدَّوَالِيبِof waterwheelsفَقَالَand said
So he heard the sound of waterwheels in it and said:
مَاWhatأَشْبَهَdoes this resembleهَذَاthisإِلَّاexceptبَحَنِينِthe moaningالْإِبِلِof camels
What does this resemble except the moaning of camels?
وَأَنْشَدَنِيAnd he recited to me:
And he recited to me:
بَكَرَتْThey set out earlyتَحُنُّmoaningوَمَاwhile notبِهَاwith themوَجْدِيmy passion
They set out early moaning, while they do not have my passion,
وَأَحُنُّwhile I moanمِنْout ofشَوْقٍlongingإِلَىforنَجْدِNajd
While I moan out of longing for Najd.
فَدُمُوعُهَاSo their tearsتُحْيَاreviveالرِّيَاضُthe gardensبِهَاthereby
So their tears revive the gardens thereby,
وَدُمُوعُand the tearsعَيْنِيof my eyeأَحْرَقَتْhave burnedخَدِّيmy cheek
While the tears of my eye have burned my cheek.
[مَحَاسِنُThe meritsالدُّعَاءِof prayingلِلْمُسَافِرِ]for the traveler
[The Merits of Praying for the Traveler]
بِأَيْمَنِWith the most fortunateطَالِعٍomenوَأَسَرِّand happiestطَائِرٍbird
With the most fortunate omen and happiest bird (omen),
لَاmay notكَبَاstumbleبِكَwith youمَرْكَبٌa mount
May no mount stumble with you,
وَلَاnorأَشَّتْscatterبِكَyouمَذْهَبٌa path
Nor any path scatter you,
وَلَاnorتَعَذَّرَbecome difficultعَلَيْكَfor youمَطْلَبٌa quest
Nor any quest become difficult for you.
سَهَّلَMay Allah easeاللَّهُGodلَكَfor youالسَّيْرَthe journey
May God ease the journey for you,
وَيَسَّرَand make easyلَكَfor youالْقَصْدَthe destination
And make your destination easy,
وَطَوَىand foldالْبُعْدَthe distanceبِمَسَرَّةِwith the joyالظَّفَرِof victory
And fold the distance with the joy of victory
وَكَرَامَةِand the honorالْمُدَّخَرِof what is stored
And the honor of what is stored,
بِأَيْمَنِwith the most fortunateطَائِرٍbirdوَأَسْعَدِand happiestجَدٍّluck
With the most fortunate bird and happiest luck,
عَلَىuponالطَّائِرِthe blessedالْمَيْمُونِbirdوَالْكَوْكَبِand the auspiciousالسَّعْدِstar
Upon the blessed bird and the auspicious star.
وَفِيAnd inرِسَالَةٍa letterلِلْبُحْتُرِيِّby Al-Buhturi:
And in a letter by Al-Buhturi:
إِلَىToحَيْثُwhereتَتَقَاصَرُfall shortأَيْدِيthe handsالْحَوَادِثِof accidentsعَنْكَfrom you
To where the hands of accidents fall short of you,
وَتَتَقَاعَسُand recoilنَوَائِبُthe vicissitudesالْأَيَّامِof daysدُونَكَbefore you
And the vicissitudes of days recoil before you.
فَصْلٌSection:وَخُصِصْتَAnd may you be distinguished withبِسُهُولَةِthe easeالْمَطْلَبِof quest
Section: May you be distinguished with the ease of quest
وَنَجَاحِand the successالْمُنْقَلَبِof return
And the success of return.
كَانَMayاللَّهُGodلَكَbe for youفِيinسَفَرِكَyour travelخَفِيراًa protector
May God be a protector for you in your travel
وَفِيand inحَضَرِكَyour presenceظَهِيراًa helper
And a helper in your presence.
آخَرُAnother:بِسَعْيٍWith an endeavorنَجِيحٍsuccessful
Another: With a successful endeavor,
وَأَوْبٍand a returnسَرِيعٍswiftوَسَرِيحٍand easy
And a swift and easy return.
آخَرُAnother:قَصَّرَMay God shortenاللَّهُGodمَحَلَّهُhis journey
Another: May God shorten his journey,
وَهَدَىguideرَحْلَهُhis mount
Guide his mount,
وَسَرَّand gladdenبِأَوْبَتِهِby his returnأَهْلَهُhis family
And gladden his family by his return,
وَلَاand may heزَالَcontinueآمِناًsafeمُقِيماًresidentوَظَاعِناًand traveling
And may he continue safe, whether resident or traveling.
آخَرُAnother:بِأَسْعَدِwith happiestجَدٍّluck
Another: With happiest luck,
وَأَنْجَحِmost successfulمَطْلَبٍquest
Most successful quest,
وَأَسَرِّhappiestمُنْقَلَبٍreturn
Happiest return,
وَأَكْرَمِnoblestبَدْأَةٍbeginning
Noblest beginning,
وَأَحْمَدِand most praisedعَاقِبَةٍending
And most praised ending.
فَصْلٌSection:فَاشْخَصْso set outمَصْحُوباًaccompaniedبِالسَّلَامَةِby safetyوَالْكَلَاءَةِand protection
Section: So set out accompanied by safety and protection,
آئِباًreturningبِالنَّجْحِwith successوَالْغِبْطَةِand joy
Returning with success and joy,
مَحُوطاًsurroundedفِيمَاin whatتُطَالِعُهُyou encounterبِالْعِنَايَةِwith careوَالشَّفَقَةِand affection
Surrounded in what you encounter with care and affection,
فِيinوَدَائِعِthe depositsاللَّهِof God
In the deposits of God
وَضَمَانِهِand His guaranteeوَكَنَفِهِand His shelterوَجِوَارِهِand His neighborhood
And His guarantee, His shelter, and His neighborhood,
وَسِتْرِهِHis veilوَأَمَانِهِand His securityوَحِفْظِهِHis preservationوَذِمَارِهِand His protection
His veil, His security, His preservation, and His protection.
وَقَالَAnd saidرَجُلٌa manلِلنَّبِيِّto the Prophetصَلَّىpeaceاللَّهُbe upon himعَلَيْهِandوَسَلَّمَblessings
And a man said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:
إِنِّيIأُرِيدُwantسَفَراًa journey
"I want to travel."
فَقَالَSo he said:فِيInحِفْظِthe preservationاللَّهِof Godوَكَنَفِهِand His shelter
So he said: "In the preservation of God and His shelter,
زَوَّدَكَMay God provide youاللَّهُwithالتَّقْوَىpietyوَوَجَّهَكَand direct youإِلَىtoالْخَيْرِgoodnessحَيْثُwhereverكُنْتَyou are.
May God provide you with piety and direct you to goodness wherever you are."
كَتَبَWroteأَبُوAbuالْعَيْنَاءِAl-Aina'i:
Abu Al-Aina'i wrote:
اسْتَخْلَفَMay God make you a successorاللَّهُinفِيكَyourselfوَاسْتَخْلَفَهُand make Him a successorمِنْكَfrom you.
"May God make you a successor in yourself, and make Him a successor from you."
لِابْنِTo IbnأَبِيAbiالسَّرْحِAl-Sarh:
To Ibn Abi Al-Sarh:
فِيInكَنَفِthe shelterاللَّهِof Godوَفِيand inسِتْرِهِHis veil
In the shelter of God and in His veil,
مَنْIs oneلَيْسَwhose heartيَخْلُوis neverالْقَلْبُemptyمِنْofذِكْرِهِHis remembrance.
Is one whose heart is never empty of His remembrance.
وَأَنْشَدَAnd recitedالْآخَرُthe other:
And the other recited:
فَارْحَلْSo departأَبَاO AbuبِشْرٍBashrبِأَيْمَنِwith the most fortunateطَائِرٍbird
So depart, O Abu Bashr, with the most fortunate bird,
وَعَلَىand uponالسَّعَادَةِhappinessوَالسَّلَامَةِand safetyفَانْزِلْalight.
And alight upon happiness and safety.
[مَسَاوِئُThe evilsالدُّعَاءِof prayingلِلْمُسَافِرِ]for the traveler
[The Evils of Praying for the Traveler]
بِالْبَارِحِWith the ominousالْأَشْأَمِleft-to-right passing birdوَالسَّانِحِand the ominousالْأَعْضَبِone-horned gazelleوَالصَّرَدِand the ill-omenedالْأَنْكَدِshrike
With the ominous passing bird, the ominous gazelle, and the ill-omened shrike
لِلسَّفَرِfor the journeyالْأَبْعَدِfurthest away
For the furthest journey.
لَاMayاسْتَمَرَّتْnot continueمَطِيَّتُهُhis mountوَاسْتَتَبَّتْand not succeedأُمْنِيَّتُهُhis wish
May his mount not continue, nor his wish succeed,
وَلَاnorتَرَاخَتْbe delayedمِيَّتُهُhis deathبِنَحْسٍwith continuousمُسْتَمَرٍّbad luckوَعَيْشٍand a bitterمُرٍّlife
Nor his death be delayed, with continuous bad luck and a bitter life.
لَاNoقِرَىhospitalityإِنْifاسْتَضَافَhe seeks hospitality
No hospitality if he seeks it,
وَلَاand noأَمْنَsafetyإِنْifخَافَhe fears.
And no safety if he fears.