فَوَاللَّهِBy Allahمَاhe does notدْرِيknowكَرِيمٌKarimمَطَلْتَهُyou procrastinated with him
By Allah, Karim whose payment you delayed does not know...
أَيَشْتَدُّwill he rageإِنْifقَاضَاكَhe takes you to courtأَمْorيَتَضَرَّعُdoes he implore
whether he will rage if he takes you to court or implore.
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
قَالَتْShe saidأَعْطَاكَmay He grant youاللَّهُAllahمُنَاكَyour desire
She said: May Allah grant you your desire!
وَأَنْتَAnd youالْقَائِلُare the one who said
And you are the one who said:
هَنِيئاًPleasantlyمَرِيئاًwholesomelyغَيْرَfree fromدَاءٍdiseaseمُخَامِرٍlingering
Pleasantly and wholesomely, free from any lingering disease,
لِعَزَّةَforAzzaمِنْofأَعْرَاضِنَاour honorمَاwhatاسْتَحَلَّتْshe made lawful
what Azza made lawful of our honor.
فَمَاSo I am notأَنَاIبِالدَّاعِيthe one prayingلِعَزَّةَfor Azzaفِيinالْوَرَىcreation
So I am not one to pray against Azza among creation,
وَلَاnorشَامِتٍrejoicingإِنْifنَعْلُsandalعَزَّةَAzza'sزَلَّتْslipped
nor rejoicing if Azza's sandal slipped.
وَكُنْتُAnd I wasكَذِيlike one havingرِجْلَيْنِtwo legsرِجْلٍone legصَحِيحَةٍhealthy
And I was like one with two legs, one healthy leg
وَرِجْلٍand a legرَمَىstruckفِيهَاin itالزَّمَانُtimeفَشُلَّتْand it became paralyzed
and a leg which time struck and paralyzed.
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
قَالَتْShe saidأَحْسَنَmay He be goodاللَّهُAllahإِلَيْكَto you
She said: May Allah be good to you!
ثُمَّThenدَخَلَتْshe enteredوَخَرَجَتْand went outوَقَالَتْand said
Then she entered and came out and said:
أَيُّكُمْWhich of youنُصَيْبٌis Nusayb?
Which of you is Nusayb?
فَقَالَHe saidهَاHereأَنَاIذَاam
He said: Here I am.
قَالَتْShe saidأَنْتَYouالْقَائِلُare the one who said
She said: You are the one who said:
وَلَوْلَاAnd had it not beenأَنْthatيُقَالَit is saidصَبَاfell in loveنُصَيْبٌNusayb
And had it not been for people saying Nusayb has fallen in love,
لَقُلْتُI would have saidبِنَفْسِيconcerning myselfالنَّشْأَthe young girlsالصِّغَارُlittle ones
I would have said about myself, the little young girls.
أَلَاAhيَاOلَيْتَنِيwould that Iقَامَرْتُgambledعَنْهَاfor her sake
Ah, would that I had gambled for her sake
وَكَانَand it wasيَحِلُّlawfulلِلنَّاسِfor peopleالْقِمَارُgambling
and gambling was lawful for people.
فَصَارَتْSo she becameفِيinيَدِيmy handوَقَمَرْتُand I wonمَالِيmy wealth
So she became in my hand and I won back my wealth,
وَذَاكَand thatالرِّبْحُprofitلَوْifعَلِمَknewالتِّجَّارُthe merchants
and that is the profit if the merchants only knew.
عَلَىUponالْإِعْرَاضِturning awayمِنْهَاfrom herوَالتَّوَانِيand laxity
Upon turning away from her and laxity,
فَإِنْfor ifوَعَدَتْshe promisedفَمَوْعِدُهَاher promiseضَمَارُis lost/uncertain
for if she promised, her promise is uncertain.
بِنَفْسِيBy my soulكُلُّeveryمَهْضُومٍslender-waistedحَشَاهَاwhose flank
By my soul, every slender-waisted woman whose flank
إِذَاifقُهِرَتْshe is oppressedفَلَيْسَthen there is notلَهَاfor herانْتِصَارُvindication
if she is oppressed, has no vindication.
إِذَاWhenمَاeverالزُّلُّthe cushionsضَاعَفْنَdoubledالْحَشَايَاthe padding
Whenever the cushions double the padding,
كَفَاهَاit suffices herأَنْthatيُلَاثَbe wrappedبِهَاaround herإِزَارُa wrapper
it suffices her that a wrapper be wrapped around her.
وَلَوْAnd ifرَأَتِshe sawالْفَرَاشَةَthe butterflyطَارَwould flyمِنْهَاfrom her
And if she saw a butterfly, there would fly from her
مَعَwithالْأَرْوَاحِthe windsرُوحٌa soulمُسْتَطَارُterrified
along with the winds a terrified soul.
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
قَالَتْShe saidوَاللَّهِBy Allahإِنَّindeedإِحْدَاهُنَّone of themلَتَقُومُrises
She said: By Allah, indeed one of them gets up
مِنْfromنَوْمَتِهَاher sleepفَمَاand she does notتُحْسِنُknow howأَنْtoتَتَوَضَّأَperform wudu
from her sleep and does not know how to perform wudu!
لَاNoحَاجَةَneedلَنَاfor usفِيinشِعْرِكَyour poetry
We have no need for your poetry.
ثُمَّThenدَخَلَتْshe enteredوَخَرَجَتْand went outوَقَالَتْand said
Then she entered and came out and said:
أَيُّكُمْWhich of youجَمِيلٌis Jamil?
Which of you is Jamil?
قُلْتُI saidأَنَاI am
I said: I am.
قَالَتْShe saidأَنْتَYouالْقَائِلُare the one who said
She said: You are the one who said:
لَقَدْIndeedذَرَفَتْshed tearsعَيْنِيmy eyeوَطَالَand prolongedسُفُوحُهَاits flow
Indeed my eye shed tears and its flow prolonged,
وَأَصْبَحَand becameمِنْofنَفْسِيmy soulسَقِيماًsickصَحِيحُهَاits healthy part
and the healthy part of my soul became sick.
أَلَاAhلَيْتَنَاwould that weكُنَّاwereجَمِيعاًtogetherوَإِنْeven ifنَمْتُI died
Ah, would that we were together, and even if I died,
يُجَاوِرُadjacentفِيinالْمَوْتَىthe deadضَرِيحِيmy graveضَرِيحَهَاher grave
my grave would be adjacent in the graveyard to her grave.
أَظَلُّI remainنَهَارِيall dayمُسْتَهَاماًlove-crazedوَيَلْتَقِيand meets
I remain love-crazed all day, and meeting
مَعَwithاللَّيْلِthe nightرُوحِيmy soulفِيinالْمَنَامِsleepوَرُوحُهَاand her soul
with the night, in sleep, are my soul and her soul.
فَهَلْSo isلِيfor meفِيinكِتْمَانِconcealingحُبِّيmy loveرَاحَةٌrest
So is there for me in concealing my love any rest,
وَهَلْand doesتَنْفَعَنِّيbenefit meبَوْحَةٌconfessionلَوْifأَبُوحُهَاI confess it
and would a confession benefit me if I were to confess it?
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
قَالَتْShe saidبَارَكَmay blessاللَّهُAllahفِيكَyou
She said: May Allah bless you!
وَأَنْتَAnd youالْقَائِلُare the one who said
And you are the one who said:
خَلِيلَيَّO my two companionsفِيمَاin whatعِشْتُمَاyou have livedهَلْhaveرَأَيْتُمَاyou seen
O my two companions in your lives, have you seen
قَتِيلاًa slain personبَكَىwho weptمِنْfromحُبِّlove ofقَاتِلِهِhis killerقَبْلِيbefore me?
a slain person who wept from love for his killer before me?
أَبِيتُI spend the nightمَعَwithالْهَلَاكِdestructionضَيْفاًas a guestلِأَهْلِهَاto her people
I spend the night with destruction as a guest to her people,
وَأَهْلِيwhile my familyقَرِيبٌis nearمُوسِعُونَwell-to-doذَوُوpossessors ofفَضْلٍgrace
while my family is near, well-to-do, and possessors of grace.
فَيَاOرَبِّmy LordإِنْifتَهْلِكْperishesبُثَيْنَةُButhaynahلَاmay I notأَعِشْlive
O my Lord, if Buthaynah perishes, may I not live
فِوَاقاًeven for a momentوَلَاnorأَفْرَحْrejoiceبِمَالِيin my wealthوَلَاnorأَهْلِيmy family
even for a moment, nor rejoice in my wealth or my family.
وَيَاAnd OرَبِّLordإِنْifوَقَيْتَYou protectedشَيْئاًsomethingفَقِهَاthen protect her
And O Lord, if You protected anything, then protect her
حُتُوفَfrom the deaths ofالْمَنَايَاdestiniesرَبِّO Lordوَاجْمَعْand uniteبِهَاthrough herشَمْلِيmy scattering
from fatal destinies. O Lord, and unite my scattering through her.
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
قَالَتْShe saidأَحْسَنْتَYou have done wellأَحْسَنَmay He do wellاللَّهُAllahإِلَيْكَto you
She said: You have done well, may Allah do well to you!
وَأَنْتَAnd youالْقَائِلُare the one who said
And you are the one who said:
أَلَاAhلَيْتَwould thatشِعْرِيI knewهَلْshallأَبِيتَنَّI spend the nightلَيْلَةًa night
Ah, would that I knew whether I shall spend a night
بِوَادِيin the valley ofالْقُرَىAl-Quraإِنِّيindeed Iإِذاًthenلَسَعِيدُwould be happy
in Wadi Al-Qura, for then indeed I would be happy.
لِكُلِّFor everyحَدِيثٍspeechعِنْدَهُنَّwith themبَشَاشَةٌis cheerfulness
For every speech with them is cheerfulness,
وَكُلُّand everyقَتِيلٍslain personبَيْنَهُنَّamong themشَهِيدُis a martyr
and every slain person among them is a martyr.
وَيَاAnd Oلَيْتَwould thatأَيَّامَthe days ofالصِّبَاyouthكُنَّwereرُجَّعاًreturned
And would that the days of youth were returned,
وَدَهْراًand a timeتَوَلَّىthat passedيَاOبُثَيْنَButhaynيَعُودُreturns
and a time that has passed, O Buthayn, returns.
إِذَاWhenقُلْتُI saidمَاwhatبِيis with meيَاOبُثَيْنَةُButhaynahقَاتِلِيmy killer
When I said: What is wrong with me, O Buthaynah, is my killer,
مِنَfromالْحُبِّloveقَالَتْshe saidثَابِتٌit is fixedوَيَزِيدُand increasing
from love, she said: It is fixed and increasing.
وَإِنْAnd ifقُلْتُI saidرُدِّيreturnبَعْضَsomeعَقْلِيof my reasonأَعِشْthat I may liveبِهِthereby
And if I said: Return some of my reason that I may live thereby,
تَنَاءَتْshe drew awayوَقَالَتْand saidذَاكَthat isمِنْكَfrom youبَعِيدُfar
she drew away and said: That is far from you.
فَمَاSo notذِكْرُis the mention ofالْخَلَّانِfriendsإِلَّاexceptذَكَرْتُهَاI remembered her
So friends are never mentioned except that I remembered her,
وَلَاnorالْبُخْلُstinginessإِلَّاexceptقُلْتُI saidسَوْفَwill soonتَجُودُshe be generous
nor stinginess except that I said: She will soon be generous.
فَلَاSo neither am IأَنَاIمَرْدُودٌturned awayبِمَاwith whatجِئْتُI cameطَالِباًseeking
So I am neither turned away with what I came seeking,
وَلَاnorحُبُّهَاher loveفِيمَاin whatيَبِيدُperishesيَبِيدُperishes
nor does her love perish in what perishes.
يَمُوتُDiesالْهَوَىpassionمِنِّيwithin meإِذَاwhenمَاeverلَقِيتُهَاI meet her
Passion dies within me whenever I meet her,
وَيَحْيَاand it livesإِذَاwhenفَارَقْتُهَاI leave herوَيَزِيدُand increases
and it lives when I leave her, and increases.
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
قَالَتْShe saidلِلَّهِTo Allahأَنْتَbelong you
She said: Marvelous are you!
جَعَلْتَYou madeلِحَدِيثِهَاfor her speechمَلَاحَةًcharmوَبَشَاشَةًand cheerfulnessوَقَتِيلَهَاand her slain personشَهِيداًa martyr
You made her speech charming and cheerful, and her slain person a martyr.
وَأَنْتَAnd youالْقَائِلُare the one who said
And you are the one who said:
أَلَاAhلَيْتَنِيwould that Iأَعْمَىblindأَصَمُّdeafتَقُودُنِيleading me
Ah, would that I were blind and deaf, leading me
بُثَيْنَةُButhaynahلَاdoes notيَخْفَىremain hiddenعَلَيَّfrom meمَكَانُهَاher place
is Buthaynah, and her place is not hidden from me.
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
قَالَتْShe saidقَدْhaveرَضِيتَyou acceptedمِنَfromالدُّنْيَاthe world
She said: Have you accepted from the world
أَنْthatتَقُودَكَleads youبُثَيْنَةُButhaynahوَأَنْتَwhile youأَعْمَىare blindأَصَمُّand deaf?
that Buthaynah leads you while you are blind and deaf?
قَالَHe saidنَعَمْYes
He said: Yes.
ثُمَّThenدَخَلَتْshe enteredوَخَرَجَتْand went outوَمَعَهَاand with herمُدْهُنٌwas a container of ointment
Then she entered and came out with a container of ointment
فِيهِin itغَالِيَةٌghaliyah perfumeوَمِنْدِيلٌand a handkerchiefفِيهِin itكُسْوَةٌclothing
containing ghaliyah perfume, a handkerchief containing clothing,
وَصُرَّةٌand a purseفِيهَاin itخَمْسُfiveمِائَةِhundredدِينَارٍdinars
and a purse containing five hundred dinars.
فَصَبَّتِSo she pouredالْغَالِيَةَthe ghaliyah perfumeعَلَىuponرَأْسِthe head ofجَمِيلٍJamil
She poured the ghaliyah perfume upon Jamil's head
حَتَّىuntilسَالَتْit flowedعَلَىdownلِحْيَتِهِhis beard
until it flowed down his beard.
وَدَفَعَتْAnd she handedإِلَيْهِto himالصُّرَّةَthe purseوَالْكُسْوَةَand the clothing
And she handed him the purse and the clothing,
وَأَمَرَتْand she orderedلِأَصْحَابِهِfor his companionsبِمِائَةٍa hundredمِائَةًeach
and she ordered a hundred [dinars] for each of his companions.