# Al Faswlu t-Taasiu · الْفَصْلُ التَّاسِعُ

From [Qasida Al Burda · قصيدة البردة](https://qasaaid.zayfir.app/app/qasaaid/691c712ac9a45b73e98077a8) by [Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Sa'id al-Busiri](https://qasaaid.zayfir.app/app/authors/691c70fac9a45b73e980779f)

**1.** خَدَمْتُهُ بِمَدِيحٍ أَسْتَقِيلُ بِهِ / ذُنُوبَ عُمْرٍ مَضَى فِي الشِّعْرِ وَالخِدَمِ

_Khadamtuhu bi madīḥin astaqīlu bihi / Dhunūba ʿumrin maḍā fish shiʿri wal khidami_

By this eulogy I have served him, seeking absolution
For the sins of a life spent in poetry and patronage.

**2.** إِذْ قَلَّدَانِيَ مَا تُخْشَى عَوَاقِبُهُ / كَأَنَّنِي بِهِمَا هَدْىٌ مِنَ النَّعَمِ

_Idh qalladāniya mā tukhshā ʿawāqibuhu / Ka annanī bihimā hadyun minan naʿami_

For these two have yoked me, with consequences I fear;
as if I were, on their account, a ritual lamb for slaughter.

**3.** أَطَعْتُ غَيَّ الصِّبَا فِي الحَالَتَيْنِ وَمَا / حَصَلْتُ إِلاَّ عَلَى الآثَامِ وَالنَّدَمِ

_Aṭaʿtu ghayyaṣ ṣibā fīl ḥālatayni wa mā / Ḥaṣaltu illā ʿalal āthāmi wan nadami_

In both I obeyed the reckless folly of youth,
And gained nothing except sins and regrets.

**4.** فَيَا خَسَارَةَ نَفْسٍ فِي تِجَارَتِهَا / لَمْ تَشْتَرِ الدِّينَ بِالدُّنْيَا وَلَمْ تَسُمِ

_Fayā khasārata nafsin fī tijāratihā / Lam tashtarid dīna bid dunyā wal lam tasumi_

Alas, what abject loss for a soul in its transaction!
It did not buy the Next World at the price of this – or even try to!

**5.** وَمَنْ يَبِعْ آجِلاً مِنْهُ بِعَاجِلِهِ / يَبِنْ لَهُ الْغَبْنُ فِي بَيْعٍ وَفِي سَلَمِ

_Wa man yabiʿ ājilan minhu bi ʿājilihi / Yabin lahul ghabnu fī bayʿin wa fī salami_

Anyone who sells the Hereafter for the ephemeral
Will be cheated in their present and future transactions.

**6.** إِنْ آتِ ذَنْبًا فَمَا عَهْدِي بِمُنْتَقِضٍ / مَنَ النَّبِيِّ وَلاَ حَبْلِي بِمُنْصَرِمِ

_In āti dhanban famā ʿahdī bimuntaqiḍin / Minan nabiyyi wa lā ḥablī bimunṣarimi_

I have sinned, yet my pledge to the Prophet is unbroken;
Nor has the rope binding me to him been severed.

**7.** فَإِنَّ لِي ذِمَّةً مِنْهُ بِتَسْمِيَتيِ / مُحَمَّداً وَهْوَ أَوْفَى الخَلْقِ بِالذِّمَمِ

_Fa inna lī dhimmatan minhu bi tasmiyatī / Muḥammadan wa huwa awfāl khalqi bidh dhimami_

For I have a protective covenant with him owing to my name—
Muḥammad—and he is the most loyal of mankind to covenants.

**8.** إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ فِي مَعَادِي آخِذًا بِيَدِي / فَضْلاً وَإِلاَّ فَقُلْ يَا زَلَّةَ القَدَمِ

_In lam yakun fī maʿādī ākhidhan bi yadī / Faḍlan wa illā faqul yā zallatal qadami_

If, in the Hereafter, he does not take me by the hand
From pure grace, what a terrible slip of the foot!

**9.** حَاشَاهُ أَنْ يَحْرِمَ الرَّاجِي مَكَارِمَهُ / أَوْ يَرْجِعَ الجَارُ مِنْهُ غَيْرَ مُحْتَرَمِ

_Ḥāshāhu an yaḥrimar rājī makārimahu / Aw yarjiʿal jāru minhu ghayra muḥtarami_

Far be it for him to deprive one hopeful of his generous gifts,
Or for a neighbour to turn back without being honoured by him!

**10.** وَمُنْذُ أَلْزَمْتُ أَفْكَارِي مَدَائِحَهُ / وَجَدْتُهُ لِخَلاَصِي خَيْرَ مُلْتَزِمِ

_Wa mundhu alzamtu afkārī madāʾiḥahu / Wajadtuhu likhalāṣī khayra multazimi_

Ever since I have focused my thoughts on his praises,
I have found him the one most committed to my salvation.

**11.** وَلَنْ يَفُوتَ الغِنَى مِنْهُ يَدًا تَرِبَتْ / إِنَّ الحَيَا يُنْبِتَ الأَزْهَارَ فِي الأَكَمِ

_Wa lan yafūtal ghinā minhu yadan taribat / Innal ḥayā yunbitul azhāra fīl akami_

His wealth will not overlook a dusty, needy hand;
For showers cause flowers to bloom on hill-tops.

**12.** وَلَمْ أُرِدْ زَهْرَةَ الدُّنْيَا الَّتيِ اقْتَطَفَتْ / يَدَا زُهَيْرٍ بِمَا أَثْنَى عَلَى هَرِمِ

_Wa lam urid zahratad dunyal latiqtaṭafat / Yadā zuhayrin bimā athnā ʿalā harimi_

I sought not the flowers of this world
Which Zuhayr picked for his praise of Harim.

Source: https://qasaaid.zayfir.app/app/qasaaid/691c712ac9a45b73e98077a8/book/691c7161c9a45b73e98077db/chapter/691c7295c9a45b73e980780b