1. The books are scattered, and the armies advance,
And calamity arises between them, raging and storming.

2. God has entrusted the messengers with the kings,
So the thrones through them sway and tremble.

3. Are they hearts that melt in their throbbings,
Or are those wings that hover and flutter?

4. The messengers of the Prophet roam every land,
Hurling at them determined souls that hurl and pelt.

5. They carried the deaf hearts that He protects through them-
A religion for them, steadfast, and sound judgment.

6. It hurls boulders and iron with such force,
Marching on, splitting what it wills and crushing.

7. The arrogant tyrant fears its punishment,
And the haughty braggart dreads it.

8. Travel secretly under the protection of God- verily it is
For you a need without which you will lag behind.

9. Awaken Heraclius- his sleep has grown long,
And his blindness refuses to be lifted and dissipate.

10. Awaken him- God is not like his religion-
A singular religion with no partner known.

11. Heraclius presented to his people that indeed
A fair heart had inclined to Islam within him.

12. They were angry, and he said: "Calm yourselves; I have naught
But to discern, and who among us is immune?"

13. He sent the scripture, and he said: "I am a Muslim,
But they are my intractable people I fear."

14. And he chose from what he loves a gift
That he casts from his tricks to ingratiate.

15. The Prophet said: "A missive from a deceitful one
Feigning satisfaction, and a hypocrite pretending."

16. "A contemptible gift and contemptible is its speech-
Falsehood is of its names, and vanity."

17. "Woe to you, O Chosroes! What do you seek?
What do you think of one you request and implore?"

18. Tamima tore from the books of the Prophet
In them the springs of mercy, never waning,

19. And a treasure he who finds treasures all
Discovers in his hands when the receiver seizes them.

20. You asked Bahram for the head of Muhammad-
If he does not repent, you are indeed prodigal and wasteful!

21. You will see certainty by the hand of your son- so beware!
For you is an appointed time, soon to come.

22. The Prophet spoke true, and Chosroes tasted his death
From Sheroe- he had none to sympathize.

23. And Bahram saw guidance after misguidance,
So he walked the shining path, without deviating.

24. He abandoned desire, so he woke and became Muslim,
And called others with him-they did not lag behind.

25. The resolve of the people was not in vain-their God
United hearts upon guidance, so they reconciled.

26. And the Negus came the scripture, and he was not
Of those who bar from right and cast aside.

27. An honor presented itself to him, and might sustained him-
The pious one is the mightiest and most noble.

28. And the Muqawqis refused to abandon his religion-
The ignorant fears what the foolish libertine fears.

29. He sent gifts, avoiding with his benevolence
What the spiteful plotter avoids.

30. The wicked one hoarded his kingdom, and tomorrow he will see
Another's hand in his kingdom, freely disposing.

31. This the Prophet foretold, and thus did
The One who builds and topples thrones act.

32. And al-Mundhir took the straight path
Before the scripture, intuiting and inclining toward it.

33. He asked the Prophet, who said: "I will not
Act against the people when they stray and distort."

34. The command came to him to seize them thereby
And establish it with the truth, without deviating.

35. The Muslims have their affairs, and upon
He who strays, the fair tax that does not wrong.

36. And Jayfar, his ignorance and obstinacy prevailed,
So he refused `Amr and turned away disdainfully.

37. And he saw him spewing threats, so it deterred him,
And the morrow came, so he submitted without hesitation.

38. And his brother followed, led on-
Well-mannered, clement, and learned.

39. And her messenger came to Yamama with the scripture,
For so the ambitious tyrant raves.

40. The arrogance of her poet and the ignorance of her orator
And the deception of her chieftain, lethal and corrupting.

41. He sought the impossible from the Prophet, and he did not stop-
The ignorant always craves the impossible and is impassioned by it.

42. He raves with some of the matter, cutting it off for himself,
While the matter is not as the cutting sword splits.

43. And wretched al-Harith fell in his stupidity-
Addled, which infects minds, so they weaken.

44. He cast aside the scripture and said: "My kingdom is not for me
A match, so it is seized from my hand and snatched."

45. "Look to the bravery of the horses and soldiers-
They meet the enemy, attacking and charging."

46. "And remind your friend of the discourse- perhaps
The honorable shrink, and the aimed at flee."

47. Then he prepared and came to Caesar a visiting delegate
With a missive from him, persisting and prevailing,

48. Foolish, rage billowing within its lines,
And malice kindling in its letters.

49. He rode arrogance and said: "I hurl
An army at Yathrib- it is a mere flat plain."

50. He said: "Be deterred- you are not its match,
And refrain- you are the agitator frightening."

51. So he came to his senses, and he employed deception as habit,
Not ashamed of it, nor refined.

52. He sent greetings with Ibn Wahb and pretended
The claim of one who loosens the mask and covers.

53. He said: "Reserve me, O courageous one, for I have
A heart for the religion of guidance that longs."

54. "I am a follower of the way of Muhammad,
And to you comes compensation with benevolence."

55. The Prophet heard his discourse, so a veiled soul
And a concealed heart were revealed.

56. "A kingdom perishes, and a possessor is hoped
For a time that comes, and a promise that is not broken."

57. The wanton refuses guidance, elevating his status,
So when he falls, you find him full of regrets.

58. For truth there is a minaret and a caller making heard
In all things among creation, shouting.

59. The kings were amazed at the two unyielding ones-
Determined minds that swayed from the thrones and turned away.

60. The reverent, they are the kings, even if they shunned
The ease of life and its luxuries, so they lived modestly.

61. They applied themselves to the verses of the Book, so they succeeded,
While the ignorant busied themselves with sins.