What Relieves the Pain When There Is No Family or Homeland
- As expressed by Al-Mutanabbi:
What can soothe me when there’s neither family nor homeland,
No companion, no cup, and no place to dwell.
I wish for time to convey to me
What cannot be reached by time itself.
Do not face your fate with worry or care,
As long as your body accompanies your spirit.
For no joy endures that you take delight in,
And sorrow cannot bring back what has passed.
What has caused harm to the lovers is
They fell in love and knew not of the world nor did they understand.
Their eyes dissolve in tears, while their souls
Pursue every beauty, masking flaws behind charm.
Bear the weight that fate has placed upon you,
For every parting today feels like a burdensome trust.
Within your vessels, my heart is of no worth,
If I perish from longing, lacking a price to pay.
O you for whom I mourn from afar in your gathering—
Everyone is bound by what the mourners claim.
How often have I been slain, how often have I died before you,
Then risen again, as the grave and shroud faded away?
Indeed, those who bore witness to my burial before their passing,
Were gathered, and they died before those who buried them.
Not everything that a person wishes can be attained,
The winds do not sail in the direction of the ship’s desire.
I see that your neighbor does not protect his honor,
And does not shield your pasture from grazing harm.
The reward for every close one from you is weariness,
And the fate of every lover is betrayal.
And you grow outraged at he who receives your bounty,
Until he is punished by discord and disdain.
So the barrier of estrangement has emerged between us,
A wilderness where the eye and ear bear false witness.
After flourishing illustrations, the remnants are left uncertain,
And the earth asks about its laboring feet.
I embrace my dreams, yet they treat me with generosity,
I do not abide by dreams when they approach me cowardly.
I will not remain subject to wealth that belittles me,
Nor indulge in that which sullies my honor.
I spent sleepless nights yearning for you,
Then my bitterness continued, while passion lingered on.
Even if I am afflicted with a friendship akin to yours,
I would resist, for my separation is fitting.
My noble steed falters among others,
And excuses become trivialities surrounding the tent and tether.
With bravery like that of the father of musk, who drowned
In his generosity, the red Mudar and Yemen.
And if he delays some appointment with me,
Hopeful expectations still remain steadfast and unyielding.
He is the loyal one, but I recalled to him
A bond of friendship; he tests and measures it.
If This World Is Considered Precious
- As stated by Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him):
If this world is deemed valuable,
Then the reward from Allah is far greater and nobler.
And if provisions are merely a lot to be distributed,
Then the lack of desire in acquisition is preferable.
<pAnd if wealth is merely collected to be left behind,
Then why is the free man stingy when it is no longer his?
And if bodies are destined for death,
Then to die for Allah with a sword is nobler.
Ignore the Gossip and What They Say or Convey
- As voiced by Baha’ al-Din Zuhayr:
Ignore those who gossip and what they claim or report,
Between you and me lies an unbreakable bond.
There are secrets in my heart, concealed from you,
Neither letters nor messengers can convey them.
Even if the letters of longing were dispatched,
They could not traverse the pathways to reach you.
I spend my evenings and mornings, with desires tormenting me,
As if I’m intoxicated with yearning for you.
I savor a breeze from your surroundings,
As if its essence comes from kisses that your presence has left.
How I carry my heart filled with love for you,
Something no other heart could bear and endure.
And how I strive to resist speaking of you,
But my love offers me no respite.
Oh, have mercy on the one who suffers, whose supporters are few,
In you, both plains and mountains close in around him.
My plight in love is indeed a dilemma,
What is the answer? What is the view? What is the plan?
My poetry finds elegance when I remember you,
For in beauty, poetry transforms into enchanting verse.
O the absent ones, whom I perceive in my heart;
Whenever they separate from my sight, they are drawn near.
The distance renews a closeness in my heart for them,
As if they have come even amidst the separation.
I am the loyal one to my beloved companions, even if they betray,
I remain steadfast in my oaths, although they may part.
I am the devoted one; betrayal is not a part of my character,
How could I change when my essence remains true?
So my messenger, to whom I cannot divulge,
In critical matters, the man is revealed.
Deliver my greetings and sincerely speak on my behalf,
And kiss the ground for me upon your arrival.
By Allah, inform him of my condition, if you find time,
And do not delay, for my beloved may grow weary of visits.
This is my utmost request of you; if fulfilled,
You shall not be disappointed in your aim or hope.
And I shall continue managing my affairs, whenever they arise,
Under your care, after Allah, I will place my trust.
In all the matters that you may undertake,
Thanks be to Allah, I know no weakness nor lethargy.
People depend on each other, and the world is reciprocal;
Goodness is remembered, and news is exchanged.
A person finds a way when his desires are scarce,
And sometimes schemes may serve the schemer well.
O you, to whom I address my words, if you hear them,
You shall find my words encapsulate what you seek.
In romantic expression, my tenderness captivates the heart,
Its essence embodies wisdom, shining brightly or similar.
Indeed, beauty enriches with its allure,
Especially adorned with jewels and fine attire.
Do not hesitate in matters that concern you,
For the passing nights accelerate their matters.
You have squandered your life; grieve if you come to know this,
For a lifetime has no substitute nor replacement.
Take decisive action to avoid the uncertainties ahead,
How many times have days and kingdoms changed?
Make your resolutions, whenever you wish, as all moments are alike;
Neither slow nor quick will alter destiny’s course.
Do not set your hopes on the stars in your endeavors,
For it is Allah who acts, neither ant nor ram.
With happiness, the stars hold no impact,
So do not let Mars or Saturn deceive you.
The circumstances are greater, and thoughts remain bewildered,
As truth prevails and a man complies.
O Brother, When You Argue with Yourself, Gather Strength
- As articulated by Al-Buhturi:
O brother, when you argue with yourself, gather your strength,
For whatever you narrate to yourself, speak the truth.
I see the reasons for things vary greatly, but I see
That unity serves only as a cause for division.
I perceive life as a shade, soon to shift under the sun,
So strive wisely in seeking a livelihood.
I view time as a monster to souls, yet
Allah remains as a shelter, shielding some in certain places.
Do not follow the past with regret about what has passed,
Turn instead to what remains and ask why it remains.
I have not seen anything quite like this world, the beloved of the enamored,
Devoted to those who play a part in their eyes.
For I observe it firsthand; it is the work of one creator,
Thus you assume it a masterful craft, yet flawed.
I recalled Abu ‘Isa, and I tried to restrain my tears,
Flowing like rivers whenever sobs arise.
A youth whose passion sways with either height or despair,
When he enters, he finds a favor in perspective and sincerity.
Yet I am not one to attain complete happiness,
By a merchant who neither holds steadfast nor leads clearly.
Oh, curses on the fate of those afflicted by calamity,
People like Banu Makhlid in the shadowy gatherings.
Your affections are desired, even if your love is,
Harming me through the whims of adversaries.
No one has loved their beloved as passionately,
For the numerous tidings of your virtues and qualities.
Whoever adopts treachery within their ranks thereby realizes,
We are their adjusters amid yesterdays of stormy weather.