مُنَعَّمَةٌSoftلَوْifيُدْرَجُwere to slipالذَّرُّthe tiny antبَيْنَهَاbetween it
Soft, if the tiny ant were to slip between it and the edges of its cloak, it would almost wound.
وَبَيْنَand betweenحَوَاشِيedgesبَرْدِهَاof its garmentكَادَit almostيَجْرَحُwound
and between the edges of its garment it almost wounded
وَمَاAnd notنَظَرَتْlookedعَيْنِيmy eyeإِلَىatذِيsomeone ofبَشَاشَةٍcheerful countenance
My eye has never looked at a cheerful person among people except that you are sweeter to the eye.
مِنَofالنَّاسِthe peopleإِلاَّexceptأَنْتَyouفِيinالْعَيْنِthe eyeأَمْلَحُsweeter
except that you are sweeter in the eye
ثُمَّThenبَكَىhe weptحَتَّىuntilغُشِيَhe faintedعَلَيْهِupon him
Then he wept until he fainted, and he woke up saying:
فَأَفَاقَso he wokeوَهُوَwhile heيَقُولُwas saying
so he woke up saying:
مَاHowأَعْيَفَbadly omenedالنَّهْدِيَّis the Nahdiلَاmayدَرَّyield milkرَدَُّهُhis udders
How ominous is the Nahdi, may his udders yield no milk, and how ill-omened his bird-omens when no bird flew!
وَأَزْجُرَهُand how bad his omenلِلطَّيْرِfor birdsلَاnotطَارَflewطَائِرُهُhis bird
and how ill-omened his bird-omens when no bird flew!
رَأَيْتُI sawغُرَاباًa ravenسَاقِطاًfallingفَوْقَuponبَانَةٍa ban tree
I saw a raven falling upon a ban tree, plucking its upper feathers and scattering them.
يَنْتُفُpluckingأَعْلَىupperرِيشِهِits feathersوَيُطَايِرُهُand scattering them
plucking its upper feathers and scattering them
فَقَالَSo saidغُرَابٌa ravenاغْتِرَابٌestrangementمِنَfromالنَّوَىdistant separation
A raven said: "Estrangement from distant separation, and a ban tree is separation from a beloved you associate with."
وَبَانَةُand a ban treeبَيْنٌis separationمِنْfromحَبِيبٍa belovedتُعَاشِرُهُyou associate with
and a ban tree is separation from a beloved you associate with
ثُمَّThenلَمْdid notيَزَلْceaseبَاكِياًweepingحَتَّىuntilأَدْرَكَهُovertook himالْمَوْتُdeath
Then he kept weeping until death overtook him and he was not seen laughing afterwards, and poetry was recited about him:
وَلَمْand was notيَرَseenضَاحِكاًlaughingبَعْدَهَاafterwardsوَقِيلَand it was saidفِيهِabout himمِنَofالشِّعْرِpoetry
and was not seen laughing afterwards, and poetry was recited about him:
تَنَادَىCalled outالطَّائِرَانِthe two birdsبِبَيْنِwith the separation ofسَلْمَىSalma
The two birds called out with the separation of Salma upon two branches of a gharb tree and a ban tree.
عَلَىuponغُصْنَيْنِtwo branchesمِنْofغَرْبٍgharibوَبَانِand ban
upon two branches of a gharb tree and a ban tree
فَكَانَSo wasالْبَانُthe ban treeأَنْthatبَانَتْdepartedسُلَيْمَىSulayma
So the ban tree meant that Sulayma departed, and in the gharb tree was a far-off estrangement.
وَفِيand inالْغَرْبِthe gharb treeاغْتِرَابٌestrangementغَيْرُother thanدَانِيnear
and in the gharb tree was a far-off estrangement
أَخَذَهُTook itأَبُوAbuالشِّيصِAl-Shisفَقَالَand said
Abu al-Shis took it and said:
أَشَاقَكَDid yearn youوَاللَّيْلُwhile the nightمُلْقِيcastingالْجِرَانِits chest
Did yearning afflict you while the night casts its chest—a raven wailing on a branch of a ban tree,
غُرَابٌa ravenيَنُوحُwailingعَلَىuponغُصْنِbranch ofبَانِban
a raven wailing on a branch of a ban tree
أَحَصُّsparse-featheredالْجَنَاحِin wingشَدِيدُsevere inالصِّيَاحِcrying
sparse-feathered in wing, severe in crying, weeping with two eyes that shed no tears?
يَبْكِيweepingبِعَيْنَيْنِwith two eyesمَاthatتَدْمَعَانِtear
weeping with two eyes that shed no tears
وَفِيAnd inنَعَبَاتِcroakings ofالْغُرَابِthe ravenاغْتِرَابٌis estrangement
In the croakings of the raven is estrangement, and in the ban tree is separation distant in approach.
وَفِيand inالْبَانِthe ban treeبَيْنٌis separationبَعِيدُdistantالتَّدَانِيin approaching
and in the ban tree is separation distant in approach
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another
And by another:
أَقُولُI sayيَوْمَthe dayتَلَاقَيْنَاwe metوَقَدْwhileسَجَعَتْcooed
I say on the day we met, while two doves cooed on two branches of a ban tree:
حَمَامَتَانِtwo dovesعَلَىuponغُصْنَيْنِtwo branchesمِنْofبَانِban
two doves on two branches of a ban tree
الْآنَNowأَعْلَمُI knowأَنَّthatالْغُصْنَthe branchلِيfor meغُصَصٌchokings
Now I know that the branch brings me chokings, and the ban tree is a separation near, prompt, and close.
وَالْبَانَand the ban treeبَيْنٌis separationقَرِيبٌnearعَاجِلٌpromptدَانِيclose
and the ban tree is a separation near, prompt, and close
فَقُمْتُSo I stoodتَخْفِضُنِيlowering meأَرْضٌearthوَتَرْفَعُنِيand raising me
So I stood while earth lowered me and raised me, until I leaped, and this journey exhausted me.
حَتَّىuntilوَثَبْتُI leapedوَهَذَاand thisالسَّيْرُjourneyإِزْكَانِيexhausted me
until I leaped, and this journey exhausted me
وَلِآخَرَAnd for another
And by another:
أَقُولُI sayوَقَدْwhileصَاحَcried outابْنُson ofدَايَةَdaya (raven)غُدْوَةًmorning
I say while the son of Daya cried out in the morning with the speed of separation: May the entanglements not miss you!
بِوَشْكِwith speed ofالنَّوَىseparationلَاmay notأَخْطَأَْتُكَmiss youالشَّوَابِكُthe entanglements
with the speed of separation: May the entanglements not miss you!
أَفِيIs inكُلِّeveryيَوْمٍdayرَائِعِيterrifying meمِنْكَfrom youرَوْعَةٌa terror
Is there every day a terror terrifying me from you through the separation of loved ones? Your wedding guest is one who spurns.
بِبَيْنُونَةِby separation ofالْأَحْبَابِthe loved onesعُرْسُكَyour weddingفَارِكُspurning
through the separation of loved ones? Your wedding guest is one who spurns.
فَلَاSo may notبَضَّتْyieldفِيinخَضْرَاءَgreen landمَاas long asعِشْتَyou liveبَيْضَةًan egg
May you never yield an egg in a green land as long as you live, and may the paths narrow upon you in their spaciousness.
وَضَاقَتْand may narrowبِرَحْبَيْهَاin their spaciousnessعَلَيْكَupon youالْمَسَالِكُthe paths
and may the paths narrow upon you in their spaciousness
مَحَاسِنُThe beauties ofالشِّعْرِpoetryفِيinهَذَاthisالْفَنِّart
[The beauties of poetry in this art]
لِبَعْضِهِمْBy some of them
By some of them:
وَقَالُواAnd they saidعُقَابٌan eagleقُلْتُI saidعُقْبَىoutcomeلَهُمْfor themمِنَfromالنَّوَىseparation
And they said: An eagle! I said: An outcome for them from separation drew near after being distant and far.
دَنَتْdrew nearبَعْدَafterشَحْطٍremotenessمِنْهُمْfrom themوَنُزُوحِand distance
drew near after being distant and far
وَقَالُواAnd they saidحَمَامٌa doveقُلْتُI saidحُمَّwas decreedلِقَاؤُهَاits meeting
And they said: A dove! I said: Its meeting was decreed, and the breeze of reunion returned to us blowing.
وَعَادَتْand returnedلَنَاto usرِيحُbreeze ofالْوِصَالِunionتَفُوحُblowing
and the breeze of reunion returned to us blowing
وَقَالُواAnd they saidدَمٌblood (or dam tree)دَامَتْlastedمَوَدَّةٌaffectionبَيْنَنَاbetween us
And they said: Dam (blood)! Affection lasted between us. And they said: Talh tree! So it was attained, and the riding beasts are exhausted.
وَطَلْحٌand talhفَنِيلَتْso was attainedوَالْمَطِيُّand riding beastsطَلُوحُexhausted
And they said: Talh tree! So it was attained, and the riding beasts are exhausted.
وَقَالُواAnd they saidتَغَنَّىsangهُدْهُدٌa hoopoeفَوْقَuponأَيْكَةٍa thicket
And they said: A hoopoe sang upon a thicket! So I said: Guidance! You set out and return by us.
فَقُلْتُSo I saidهُدًىguidanceتَغْدُوyou set outبَنَاby usوَتَرُوحُand return
So I said: Guidance! You set out and return by us.
وَحُكِيَAnd it was narratedعَنِfromالنُّعْمَانِAl-Nu'manبْنِson ofالْمُنْذِرِAl-Mundhir
It was narrated that Al-Nu'man ibn Al-Mundhir went out hunting with Adi ibn Zaid accompanying him, and he passed by Aram, which are graves, and Adi said:
أَنَّهُthat heخَرَجَwent outيَتَصَيَّدُhuntingوَمَعَهُand with himعَدِيُّAdiبْنُson ofزَيْدٍZaid
that he went out hunting with Adi ibn Zaid accompanying him
فَمَرَّand he passedبِآرَامٍby Aramوَهِيَand they areالْقُبُورُthe graves
and he passed by Aram, which are graves
فَقَالَSo saidعَدِيٌّAdiأَبَيْتَMay you refuseاللَّعْنَcursing (a greeting)
and Adi said: May you refuse the curse, do you know what these graves are saying?
أَتَدْرِيDo you knowمَاwhatتَقُولُsayهَذِهِtheseالْآرَامُgraves
do you know what these graves are saying?
قَالَHe saidلَاNo
He said: No.
قَالَHe saidإِنَّهَاIndeed theyتَقُولُsay
He said: Indeed they are saying:
أَيُّهَاOرَّكْبُridersالْمَخْبُونُexhausted
O exhausted riders, passing over the earth:
عَلَىuponالْأَرْضِthe earthتَمُرُّونَyou pass
passing over the earth
فَكَمَاso just asكُنْتُمْyou wereفَكُنَّاso were we
just as you were, so were we, and just as we are, you will be.
وَكَمَاand just asنَحْنُweتَكُونُونَyou will be
and just as we are, you will be
قَالَHe saidأَعِدْRepeat
He said: Repeat. So he repeated it, and he returned sorrowful and abandoned his hunt.
فَأَعَادَso he repeatedفَرَجَعَand he returnedكَئِيباًsorrowfulوَتَرَكَand abandonedصَيْدَهُhis hunt
so he repeated it, and he returned sorrowful and abandoned his hunt.
قَالَHe saidثُمَّThenخَرَجَhe went outمَعَهُwith himخَرْجَةًtripأُخْرَىanother
He said: Then he went out with him on another trip and stopped by graves at the back of Kufa, and said:
فَوَقَفَand he stoppedعَلَىatآرَامٍgravesبِظَهْرِat the back ofالْكُوفَةِKufa
and stopped by graves at the back of Kufa
فَقَالَand saidأَبَيْتَMay you refuseاللَّعْنَcursing
and said: May you refuse the curse, do you know what these graves are saying?
أَتَدْرِيDo you knowمَاwhatتَقُولُsayهَذِهِtheseالْآرَامُgraves
do you know what these graves are saying?
قَالَHe saidلَاNo
He said: No.
قَالَHe saidفَإِنَّهَاThen indeed theyتَقُولُsay
He said: Then indeed they are saying:
رُبَّMany aرَكْبٍcompany of ridersقَدْhaveأَنَاخُواhaltedعِنْدَنَاwith us
Many a company of riders have halted with us, drinking wine with pure water,
يَشْرَبُونَdrinkingالْخَمْرَwineبِالْمَاءِwith waterالزُّلَالِpure
drinking wine with pure water
ثُمَّThenأَضْحَوْاthey becameعَصْفَchaff ofدَهْرٍtimeبِهِمْby them
Then they became the chaff of time tossed by it, and thus is time, state after state.
وَكَذَاكَand thusالدَّهْرُtimeحَالاًstateبَعْدَafterحَالٍstate
and thus is time, state after state.
فَانْصَرَفَSo he turned awayوَتَرَكَand abandonedصَيْدَهُhis hunt
So he turned away and abandoned his hunt.
عَبْدُAbdullahاللَّهِbinبْنُMuslimمُسْلِمٍsaidقَالَhe said
Abdullah bin Muslim said: I was told about Muawiyah that he asked Ubaid bin Shariyah Al-Jurhumi about the most wondrous thing he saw, and he said:
حُدِّثْتُI was toldعَنْaboutمُعَاوِيَةَMuawiyahأَنَّهُthat heسَأَلَaskedعُبَيْدَUbaidبْنَbinشُرْيَةَShariyahالْجُرْهُمِيَّAl-Jurhumiعَنْaboutأَعْجَبِmost wondrousشَيْءٍthingرَآهُhe saw
that he asked Ubaid bin Shariyah Al-Jurhumi about the most wondrous thing he saw
فَقَالَand he saidنَزَلْتُI alightedبِحَيٍّat a tribeمِنْofقُضَاعَةَQuda'ahفِيinالْجَاهِلِيَّةِthe Jahiliyyah
I alighted at a tribe of Quda'ah in the Jahiliyyah, and they brought out a funeral for a man from Banu Udhrah.
فَأَخْرَجُواso they brought outجِنَازَةًa funeralلِرَجُلٍfor a manمِنْfromبَنِيBanuعُذْرَةَUdhrah
so they brought out a funeral for a man from Banu Udhrah
فَخَرَجْتُso I went outمَعَهُمْwith themحَتَّىuntilإِذَاwhenوَارَوْهُthey buried him
So I went out with them until when they buried him, I moved aside to a side and my eyes were shedding tears.
تَنَحَّيْتُI moved asideجَانِباًto a sideوَعَيْنَايَand my two eyesتَذْرِفَانِshedding tears
I moved aside to a side and my eyes were shedding tears
ثُمَّThenتَمَثَّلْتُI recitedبِأَبْيَاتٍversesمِنْofشِعْرٍpoetryكُنْتُI hadرُوِّيْتُهَاbeen taught itقَبْلَbeforeذَلِكَthatالزَّمَانِtime
Then I recited verses of poetry I had been taught before that time:
اسْتَقْدِرِAsk decree fromاللَّهَAllahخَيْراًfor goodوَارْضَيَنَّand be contentبِهِwith it
Ask Allah for good and be content with it, for while hardship is present, ease turns around.
فَبَيْنَمَاfor whileالْعُسْرُhardshipإِذْwhenدَارَتْturned aroundمَيَاسِيرُease
for while hardship is present, ease turns around.
وَبَيْنَمَاAnd whileالْمَرْءُa manفِيinالْأَحْيَاءِthe livingمُغْتَبِطٌrejoicing
And while a man among the living is rejoicing, he becomes in the grave where tempests sweep over him.
إِذْwhenصَارَhe becameفِيinالرَّمْسِthe graveتَعْفُوهُsweeping over himالْأَعَاصِيرُtempests
he becomes in the grave where tempests sweep over him.
يَبْكِيWeepingالْغَرِيبُthe strangerعَلَيْهِover himلَيْسَnotيَعْرِفُهُknowing him
A stranger weeps over him who knows him not, while his kinsman among the tribe is joyful.
وَذُوwhile possessor ofقَرَابَتِهِhis kinshipفِيinالْحَيِّthe tribeمَسْرُورُjoyful
while his kinsman among the tribe is joyful.
حَتَّىUntilكَأَنْas ifلَمْnotيَكُنْhe wasإِلَّاexceptتَذَكُّرُهُhis remembrance
Until it is as if he never was except as a memory, and time in every state brings momentous changes.
وَالدَّهْرُand timeأَيَّمَاin whateverحَالٍstateدَهَارِيرُmomentous changes
and time in every state brings momentous changes.
قَالَHe saidوَإِلَىAnd toجَانِبِيmy sideرَجُلٌa manيَسْمَعُlistening toمَاwhatأَقُولُI say
He said: Next to me was a man listening to what I say, and he said: Do you know who the utterer of these verses is?
فَقَالَso he saidأَتَدْرِيDo you knowمَنْwhoقَائِلُutterer ofهَذِهِtheseالْأَبْيَاتِverses
so he said: Do you know who the utterer of these verses is?
قُلْتُI saidلَاNoوَاللَّهِby Allah
I said: No, by Allah.
قَالَHe saidوَالَّذِيAnd by the Oneيُحْلَفُwho is swornبِهِby Him
He said: By the One by whom oaths are sworn, he is indeed the owner of this grave!
أَنَّهُthat heلَصَاحِبُis indeed owner ofهَذَاthisالْقَبْرِgrave
he is indeed the owner of this grave!
وَهَذَاand thisذُوpossessor ofقَرَابَتِهِhis kinshipأَسَرُّhappiestالنَّاسِof peopleبِمَوْتِهِat his death
And this is his kinsman, the happiest of people at his death, while you are the stranger weeping over him.
وَأَنْتَwhile youالْغَرِيبُthe strangerتَبْكِيweepingعَلَيْهِover him
while you are the stranger weeping over him.
فَعَجِبْتُSo I wonderedمِمَّاat whatذَكَرَهُhe mentionedفِيinشِعْرِهِhis poetry
So I wondered at what he mentioned in his poetry and what he came to—as if he foresaw himself after his death.
وَالَّذِيand whatصَارَhe cameإِلَيْهِtoمِنْofقَوْلِهِhis saying
and what he came to—as if he foresaw himself after his death.
كَأَنَّهُas if heنَظَرَlookedإِلَىatنَفْسِهِhimselfبَعْدَafterمَوْتِهِhis death
as if he foresaw himself after his death.
قَالَHe saidوَلَمَّاAnd whenبَعَثَsentأَبُوAbuبَكْرٍBakrالصِّدِّيقُAl-Siddiq
He said: When Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to the people of apostasy,
رَضِيَmay be pleasedاللَّهُAllahعَنْهُwith himخَالِدَKhalidبْنَbinالْوَلِيدِAl-Walid
may Allah be pleased with him, sent Khalid bin Al-Walid to the people of apostasy
إِلَىtoأَهْلِpeople ofالرِّدَّةِapostasyانْتَهَىhe reachedإِلَىatحَيٍّa tribeمِنْofتَغْلِبَTaghlib
he reached a tribe of Taghlib and raided them and killed them. And a man of them was sitting over his drink, singing these verses:
فَأَغَارَand he raidedعَلَيْهِمْupon themوَقَتَلَهُمْand killed them
and raided them and killed them
وَكَانَAnd wasرَجُلٌa manمِنْهُمْof themجَالِساًsittingعَلَىoverشَرَابٍa drinkلَهُof his
And a man of them was sitting over his drink, singing these verses:
وَهُوَwhile heيُغَنِّيwas singingبِهِذِهِwith theseالْأَبْيَاتِverses
singing these verses:
أَلَاAhعَلِّلَانِيdistract me bothقَبْلَbeforeجَيْشِarmy ofأَبِيAbuبَكْرٍBakr
Ah, distract me both before the army of Abu Bakr—perhaps our deaths are near and we know not!
لَعَلَّPerhapsمَنَايَانَاour deathsقَرِيبٌnearوَمَاand notنَدْرِيwe know
perhaps our deaths are near and we know not!