1. When the ancient East boasts of a master
Whose mention fills its gatherings with joy,

2. And the scales of glory are set right, as he comes
To defeat all rivals and contend with them,

3. Who but Saladin are heads bowed to recall?
Who can equal him?

4. His loyalty dwells deep in hearts
And his qualities enact all-encompassing deeds.

5. I swear if his name were called out today
In the abode of empire, not a blossom in its gardens would stay green.

6. He has agents of both war and peace, each
Able to humiliate the enemy and fight him.

7. His glory humbles the neck of every foe
And his favor graces the neck of every rival appeasing him.

8. The noble free man who purified
His nature never killed like the pardoning that included even him.

9. Not every day does his anger flare over an outrage,
Nor does he ever tire of clemency, even if his agent did.

10. His swords drip blood for ages
As do their two edges, shedders of blood.

11. So many a hostile foe has rushed into war
Only to die, leaving widows to live on his fame.

12. In war, he once surpassed his aims
And always, his seeker attains his goal.

13. For the misery of enemies, his tears pour down
Never has the tearful one lacked a tearful companion.

14. It is as though all people together
Were his family, so whoever suffers, he aids.

15. Whoever understands man among men understands him,
For he sees all people as his dependents.

16. Thus is he whose habit is civilization,
Of sheer honesty, nothing makes him swerve.

17. Not like one who falsely claims civilization,
Whose words his actions have proven false.

18. He learned from the West an aim whose cutting sharpness
Wounds, and whose rider and footman have come to fight us,

19. Hundreds of thousands, and the Frenchman alone,
Would tomorrow be a nation on earth if his seeker gained success.

20. And Richard, the lionheart, in every stance,
Backs him, equaling his height.

21. And from the German nation, a horde
Led from the furthest end of earth by its ruler.

22. It is the great land, and there is no Caesar
Except it, and never did its armies crawl towards us,

23. Until one youth of the Ayyubid line faced them alone,
A man whose inclinations are swaying.

24. Ally of unwavering loyalty, he gives shelter to the guest
But now he finds his own dwellings threatened.

25. He trusts in God, none other,
And whoever entrusts other than God, He will forsake him.

26. He said, though their crowds made the mountains weary,
"My God shall do today what He will do!"

27. The two groups clash around whenever
The fires of a war are kindled by those who lit its flames.

28. He scattered the Syrian army, smell their troops!
They returned like gusts scattered by the east wind.

29. He subjected all those citadels
Though they are nothing but verses of the Book.

30. Some asked about him at Hittin, chains jangling,
The morning after the banner of truth was raised by its bearer,

31. And about the King of the Franks as his captive,
As Lanat wept for him, her ornaments jingling.

32. Who had raided it and whose ropes had grown long.
Was there ever a fortress for a nation like Syria,

33. Towards which the West crawled, its cauldrons boiling?
Whoever aims for noble Syria

34. Must know its coast before penetrating deep.
My homeland! We must not neglect prudence for a moment

35. In an age whose rivers are choked with crowds.
Be vigilant, do not slumber at any trickery

36. Or words that resemble truth but are false.
A deceit against the Turks, it is said, is aimed,

37. But its ropes are to trap both our nations.
Remember the old times, and you will know the new:

38. For each latter stage grew out of its first steps.
If your brother has wronged you, surely

39. It is the matter causing it that misled him.
There is no way but unity for one who dreads

40. His home being shrouded by what crowds it.
We have no refuge but the crescent

41. Where glory is obtained by one who hopes in it.
Even if the fate of others does not caution us

42. We have one we can ask, so we are not devoid.
My people will know I do not cheat them,

43. And however long the night drags on, dawn will join it.