Honor Your Parents Throughout Life
- As stated by Abu Al-Ala Al-Maari:
Life is fleeting, so honor your parents therein,
And your mother deserves your kindness and grace as a priority.
After all she’s endured—carrying and nursing you—
These two acts of virtue have resonated with every human being.
Beware of kings and serve them with obedience,
Because dominion over the land resembles the nurturing rain.
Even if they treat you unjustly, they have benefits that sustain you,
And how many have sheltered you with their knights or warriors?
Have the lords of Persia or Ghassan ever been free from injustice and tyranny?
Horses, when they are trained, perform splendidly; they are only restrained
By bits that hold them, and bridles that guide their reins.
Charity to the Blind by Offering Your Hand
- As mentioned by Abu Al-Ala Al-Maari:
Gift to the blind by taking his right hand,
To guide him, and offer your understanding to the mute.
And your singing of the lost lute is akin to a lament
That is upon you, what about a person wherever he goes?
And give your father half of your respect, both living and deceased,
And prefer him in generosity over your mother.
Lighten your burdens, for she has borne your weight,
And she nursed you through trials, enduring even more.
She threw you from hardship into delight,
And embraced and cherished you just like when one embraces or cherishes.
And I am called ‘the elder’ by Ahmad, and rarely
Have I acted in a manner that warrants criticism.
You may witness the affairs of people through the nights, even if they have pardoned
Time, for the earth consumes them when the moment comes.
They perish from fever, drowning, and warfare,
And from various fates that encounter them in their circumstances.
And it is easy for my soul, which I have sought to be sad,
In the night of Suhail, where travelers find shelter.
And I do not reside mournfully for the house that has been deserted;
Nor do I lament the loss of my steed when it is unhitched. If you wish, cast off to expansive plains;
And if you choose, traverse its peaks.
And Zaki fell with his turban claiming he was whole,
Like Dhamar, who fell with swords and claimed to be safe.
And this time is not sufficient to bear the weight
That the young man carries, until he finds himself laden with burdens.
If the intellect of the soul were complete within the body,
It would not conceal sadness regarding what befell it.
And I have a hope that has matured, and it remains with me,
It has been with me before I darkened, yet it remains.
When will a strange person give you counsel,
So do not deny him, and love your companion, even if reproached.
Do not be one who brings a servant closer only to mistreat him,
And forsake him once he matures in pride.
Indeed, the night is a fine cover when it conceals
Your longing, and far away from the dawn when it arises.
I have warned you of the arrows of harm dipped in betrayal,
And we sharpen our anger, whether faded or fierce.
So I sent it, revitalizing the water as it flows,
And when the sea ebbs, it draws from it.
It leaves behind thirst that isn’t quenched,
Even if fresh water ebbs within its depths.
The human resembles one who came to his realization,
Straying far, and his resemblance outpaces him.
I do not see in a birth the judgment of a tracker,
And how many a seed has borne fruit through its effort.
I cast my gaze downward on a few faults, sincerely,
And their masters returned my honesty with countless lies.
I guaranteed my heart to every community,
And I remained silent when they praised or criticized.
Shoulder Your Father’s Burdens for a Day
- According to Abu Al-Ala Al-Maari:
Bear a burden for your father for a day,
For the elder has grown feeble in his strength.
He brought you into a world you did not desire,
And preferred that you would thrive with whatever it contained.
Your friend in open matters is a hidden enemy,
So don’t grieve if misfortune befalls you.
You leaned on the poor without knowledge,
And how many falsehoods have been told by those who ask.
And there is no blessing in the spread of this creation,
Will time wait if it is covered?
Your brother’s offspring complains of prolonged thirst,
Echoing the troubles that your sibling’s offspring faced.
And how can one expect righteousness,
While constantly pursuing desire?
He assumes nobility and worth,
As though God has created none but him.
Do not turn your camels toward the pasture,
For this sand has not sprouted in your favor.
And I am not able to grasp a near matter,
If my Creator turns away from me.
A Tribute to Mothers
- As expressed by Ibrahim Al-Mundhir:
A man once enticed a foolish boy
With his riches to obtain his desires.
He said, “Bring me your mother’s heart, young man,
And I will grant you gold, jewels, and treasures.”
So he departed and plunged a dagger into her chest,
Extracting the heart and returning with haste.
Yet overwhelmed by shock, he stumbled
And the bloodied heart rolled away as he faltered.
His mother’s heart called out to him, bloodied,
“My beloved child, have you been harmed?”
And as this sound, despite its tenderness,
Was an echo of wrath from the heavens upon the son.
He yielded his dagger to pierce himself,
A wound that would forever serve as a lesson.
His mother’s heart cried, “Desist, do not harm,
Do not stab my heart twice in your rush.”
One of the most important duties is to honor my mother,
For she deserves my utmost respect.
She bore me when encumbered, and after my birth,
She nursed me until it was time to wean.
She cared for me through the darkness of night,
Giving up her sleep for my peaceful rest.
Indeed, my mother is the one who gave me life,
After my Lord, I became part of humankind.
For Love is a Beating Heart
- As recited by Abdul Rahman Al-Ashmawi:
What tale of love stirred the lips of poetry
And made the verses sing and dance?
It is the story of the great homeland, intertwined,
Under its shadow, where the oases and dunes embraced.
A nation bound together by faith,
In which its edifice of righteousness stands.
A homeland robed in dignity, its garment a shroud of honor,
Its armor is faith, and its legacy is valor.
A land whose stars exchange their light,
Radiance that shields against assault.
This homeland has divine reward through its creed,
And to those envious, it brings sorrow and loss.
A nation chosen by God to serve His house,
A privilege embraced by every era.
In the banner of oneness lies its grand truth,
Upon this foundation, the pillars stand strong.
A land that approaches you today, lifting its head,
Extending a hand of love, oh sovereign.
With your father—after God—its entity stands,
Yes, a noble builder, indeed a prestigious foundation.
Welcomed by the servant of its mosques, a warm greeting,
As friends and supporters thrived in number.
In honor of you, stands the man of milestones, Nayef,
With a motto of gratitude and appreciation.
May he cherish and remain loyal to you,
With generous offerings and great precision.
To God be the procession that guides you,
With brotherhood and loyalty from Salman.
You did not come merely, but you brought joy,
When you arrived, sorrows were left behind.
Receive warmly the “chairs” with titles
In every university, their prominence declared.
They safeguard knowledge, providing care,
With the evidence of your goodness all apparent.
And the “Arab Encyclopedia” beams with life,
In libraries, it finds its rightful place.
And the Arabic language still flourishes,
Among all tongues, with your efforts preserved.
Take this with you, along with heartfelt wishes,
For justice to settle the scales.