عيدٌ بِأَحناءِ الصُدورِ يُقامُ

عيدٌ بِأَحناءِ الصُدورِ يُقامُ

مِن وَحيِهِ الأَشعارُ وَالإِلهامُ

مِن وَحيِهِ الأَشعارُ وَالإِلهامُ

An Eid rises in the innermost folds of hearts,

A festival is held in the recesses of our breasts;

and from its inspiration spring poetry and inspiration.

from its prompting spring poems and inspiration.

حُلُمٌ لَقَد لابَت عَلَيهِ نُفوسُنا

حُلُمٌ لَقَد لابَت عَلَيهِ نُفوسُنا

أَجمِلْ بِأَن تَتَحَقَّقَ الأَحلامُ

أَجمِلْ بِأَن تَتَحَقَّقَ الأَحلامُ

A dream our souls have long yearned for—

A dream for which our souls have thirsted;

how beautiful that dreams should come true!

how lovely for dreams to come true!

جَمعَ الشَتيتَ فَكُلُّ قُطرٍ دُرَّةٌ

جَمعَ الشَتيتَ فَكُلُّ قُطرٍ دُرَّةٌ

في تاجِهِ وَالوِحدَةُ النَظّامُ

في تاجِهِ وَالوِحدَةُ النَظّامُ

The scattered parts are gathered: every land a pearl

It gathered the scattered, so every land is a pearl

in its crown, with unity as the string.

in its crown, and unity strings them together.

فَإِذا تَشَكّى النَيلُ مِن آلامِهِ

فَإِذا تَشَكّى النَيلُ مِن آلامِهِ

شَقَّت مَرائِرَ دِجلَةَ الآلامُ

شَقَّت مَرائِرَ دِجلَةَ الآلامُ

Whenever the Nile complains of its pains,

So when the Nile complains of its pains,

those pains rend the Tigris to its very heart;

those pains rend the Tigris's innards.

وَإِذا تَنادى المَغرِبُ الأَقصى لَدى

وَإِذا تَنادى المَغرِبُ الأَقصى لَدى

جُلّى اِستَجابَت لِلنِّداءِ الشامُ

جُلّى اِستَجابَت لِلنِّداءِ الشامُ

and whenever the Far Maghreb calls out amid

And when the Far Maghreb calls out in the face of

a grave calamity, Syria answers the call.

a grave calamity, al-Sham answers the call.

ذَهَبَت خُرافاتُ الجُدودِ فَكُلُّها

ذَهَبَت خُرافاتُ الجُدودِ فَكُلُّها

وَطَنٌ لَنا لَو صَحَّت الأَفهام

وَطَنٌ لَنا لَو صَحَّت الأَفهام

The forefathers’ myths are gone: every land

The myths of the forefathers have vanished; all these lands are

is a homeland for us, if only minds understood aright.

a homeland for us, if understanding were sound.

حَفيَ اللِسانُ وَجَفَّتِ الأَقلامُ

حَفيَ اللِسانُ وَجَفَّتِ الأَقلامُ

وَالحالُ حالٌ وَالكَلامُ كَلامُ

وَالحالُ حالٌ وَالكَلامُ كَلامُ

The tongue has worn raw, and the pens have dried,

The tongue has worn out, and the pens have run dry;

yet things remain as they were, and talk is merely talk.

yet things remain unchanged, and words remain words.

مَرَّت بِنا الأَيّامُ لَم نَسلُكُ بِها

مَرَّت بِنا الأَيّامُ لَم نَسلُكُ بِها

جُدَدَ الصَوابِ وَمَرَّتِ الأَعوامُ

جُدَدَ الصَوابِ وَمَرَّتِ الأَعوامُ

The days passed us by, yet through them we did not tread

Days passed us by, and in them we did not take

the broad paths of right; and the years passed.

the paths of what is right; the years passed too.

وَالزَورَقُ التَوهانُ سارَ مُحَيَّرا

وَالزَورَقُ التَوهانُ سارَ مُحَيَّرا

فَوقَ الخِضَمِّ دَليلَهُ الأُوهامُ

فَوقَ الخِضَمِّ دَليلَهُ الأُوهامُ

The barque of bewilderment sailed, itself bewildered,

And the wandering boat sailed bewildered

over the deep, with delusions for its guide.

upon the vast sea, with delusions for its guide.

وَتَخاصُمُ القَوادِ بَينَ مُشَرِّقٍ

وَتَخاصُمُ القَوادِ بَينَ مُشَرِّقٍ

وَمُغَرِّبٍ وَتَقَطَّعَت أَرحامُ

وَمُغَرِّبٍ وَتَقَطَّعَت أَرحامُ

The leaders quarreled between East

And the leaders quarrelled, some heading east

and West, and the bonds of kinship were severed.

and others west, and ties of kinship were severed.

فَإِذا المَنابِرُ صاخِباتٌ حَفَّلٌ

فَإِذا المَنابِرُ صاخِباتٌ حَفَّلٌ

يُرغى بِها التَهويشُ وَالإيهامُ

يُرغى بِها التَهويشُ وَالإيهامُ

Then suddenly the pulpits, clamorous and thronged,

Then behold, the pulpits are clamorous and thronged,

rang with the roar of bluster and deception.

where agitation and deception froth.

وَإِذا الضَلالُ لَهُ هُناكَ سُرادِقُ

وَإِذا الضَلالُ لَهُ هُناكَ سُرادِقُ

مَضروبَةٌ عُبِدَت بِها الأَصنامُ

مَضروبَةٌ عُبِدَت بِها الأَصنامُ

Error had a pavilion there,

And behold, misguidance has its pavilions there,

pitched where idols were worshiped.

pitched, within which idols were worshipped.

وَالحُرُّ وَاِبنُ الحَرِّ لَيسَ مَطِيَّةً

وَالحُرُّ وَاِبنُ الحَرِّ لَيسَ مَطِيَّةً

يُمطى وَيَكبَحُ أَصغَريهِ لِجامُ

يُمطى وَيَكبَحُ أَصغَريهِ لِجامُ

A free man, freeborn, is no mount

And a free man, the son of a free man, is no mount

to be ridden, his heart and tongue checked by a bridle.

to be ridden, his heart and tongue restrained by a bridle.

فَيَقولُ حَقّاً لَيسَ يَخشو لَومَةً

فَيَقولُ حَقّاً لَيسَ يَخشو لَومَةً

وَالحَقُّ أَروَعُ ما حَوى الإِسلامُ

وَالحَقُّ أَروَعُ ما حَوى الإِسلامُ

He speaks the truth, fearing no reproach;

So he speaks truth, fearing no reproach;

truth is the most splendid thing Islam holds.

and truth is the most sublime thing Islam embraces.

مَرَّت بِنا الأَيّامُ بَينَ تَعَلَّلٍ

مَرَّت بِنا الأَيّامُ بَينَ تَعَلَّلٍ

بِغَدٍ فَضاعَت بِالرُوءى الأَحلامُ

بِغَدٍ فَضاعَت بِالرُوءى الأَحلامُ

The days passed us amid excuses

Days passed us by as we consoled ourselves

of “tomorrow,” and Arabism’s dreams were lost.

with tomorrow; dreams were lost amid visions.

ظَلنا نَقولُ غَداً غَداً هَل حُقِّقَت

ظَلنا نَقولُ غَداً غَداً هَل حُقِّقَت

لِلائِبينَ عَلى غَدِ أَحلامُ

لِلائِبينَ عَلى غَدِ أَحلامُ

We kept saying, “Tomorrow, tomorrow”—has tomorrow fulfilled

We kept saying, 'Tomorrow, tomorrow!' Have they come true—

the dreams that refugees pinned upon it?

the dreams of those thirsting for tomorrow?

ظِلنا نَقولُ غَداً يَفيقُ ضَميرُ مَن

ظِلنا نَقولُ غَداً يَفيقُ ضَميرُ مَن

فَقَدَ الضَميرَ وَيَعدُلَ الظُلاّمُ

فَقَدَ الضَميرَ وَيَعدُلَ الظُلاّمُ

We kept saying, “Tomorrow the conscience will awaken

We kept saying, 'Tomorrow conscience will awaken in those

of one who lost all conscience, and oppressors will act justly.”

who have lost it, and tyrants will act justly.'

ظَلنا نَقولُ حَبائِبٌ ضَرَباتُهُم

ظَلنا نَقولُ حَبائِبٌ ضَرَباتُهُم

مَقبولَةٌ ما إِن لَها إيلامُ

مَقبولَةٌ ما إِن لَها إيلامُ

We kept saying, “They are beloved; their blows

We kept saying, 'They are dear friends; their blows

are welcome—there is no pain in them.”

are acceptable, with no pain in them.'

ظَلنا نُغَرَّرُ بِالوُعدودِ وَيَنطَلي

ظَلنا نُغَرَّرُ بِالوُعدودِ وَيَنطَلي

كَذِبٌ وَيَفعَلُ فِعلهُ الأَيهامُ

كَذِبٌ وَيَفعَلُ فِعلهُ الأَيهامُ

We kept deluding ourselves with promises; lies passed muster,

We kept being duped by promises, and taken in

and illusion worked its effect.

by lies, while deception did its work.

خَرَجوا لَنا بِالسُحبِ مِن أَقسامِنا

خَرَجوا لَنا بِالسُحبِ مِن أَقسامِنا

يا وَيلَنا إِنَّ الهَوى أَقسامُ

يا وَيلَنا إِنَّ الهَوى أَقسامُ

They were drawn for us by lot from among our factions—

They came forth to us with clouds from our divisions;

woe to us when passion itself is factional!

woe to us! Desire is divided.

بَلفورُ ما بِلفورُ ماذا وَعُدُهُ

بَلفورُ ما بِلفورُ ماذا وَعُدُهُ

لَو لَم يَكُن أَفعالنا الإِبرامُ

لَو لَم يَكُن أَفعالنا الإِبرامُ

Balfour—what is Balfour, and what would his promise have been

Balfour—what would Balfour be, what would his promise be,

had our own deeds not ratified it?

if our deeds had not been its ratification?

إِنّا بِأَيدينا جَرَحنا قَلبَنا

إِنّا بِأَيدينا جَرَحنا قَلبَنا

وَبِنا إِلَينا جاءَت الآلامُ

وَبِنا إِلَينا جاءَت الآلامُ

With our own hands we wounded our own heart,

Indeed, with our own hands we wounded our heart;

and through ourselves these pains came upon us.

and through us, pains came to us.

فينا عَنِ الحُبِّ المُجَمَّعِ جَفوَة

فينا عَنِ الحُبِّ المُجَمَّعِ جَفوَة

وَلَنا بِصَحراءِ الخِصامِ هُيامُ

وَلَنا بِصَحراءِ الخِصامِ هُيامُ

Among us is estrangement from the love that should unite us,

Within us is estrangement from the love that unites,

and through the desert of discord we wander, passion-mad.

and we are enamored of the desert of strife.

وَالخَطبُ فَرَّقَنا قَبائِلَ جَمَّةً

وَالخَطبُ فَرَّقَنا قَبائِلَ جَمَّةً

وَالخَطبُ عِندَ عُداتِنا لَمّامُ

وَالخَطبُ عِندَ عُداتِنا لَمّامُ

Calamity split us into countless tribes,

And calamity divided us into many tribes,

while among our enemies calamity is slight.

yet among our enemies, calamity unites.

يا قادَةً إِلّا الَّذينَ أَجِلُّهُم

يا قادَةً إِلّا الَّذينَ أَجِلُّهُم

عَمّا يُذَمُّ وَقَد عَداهُم ذامُ

عَمّا يُذَمُّ وَقَد عَداهُم ذامُ

O leaders—save those whom I hold above

O leaders—except those I hold above

all that merits blame, whom every censurer has passed by—

all that merits blame, whom the censurer has passed by—

نَحنُ الضَحايا لا نُريدُ مَثوبَةً

نَحنُ الضَحايا لا نُريدُ مَثوبَةً

وَأَقَلَّها التَعريفُ وَالإِعلامُ

وَأَقَلَّها التَعريفُ وَالإِعلامُ

we are the victims; we seek no reward,

we are the victims; we desire no reward,

the least of which would be recognition and public acknowledgment.

the least of which is acknowledgment and publicity.

أَوَ لَيسَ مِن دَورٍ لَنا نُلهى بِهِ

أَوَ لَيسَ مِن دَورٍ لَنا نُلهى بِهِ

إِلّا وَداعٌ حافِلٌ وَسَلامُ

إِلّا وَداعٌ حافِلٌ وَسَلامُ

Have we no role to play

Is there no role for us to be distracted by

but a lavish farewell and a salute?

except a grand farewell and a greeting?

قَل لا وَأَتَّبِعها الفِعالَ وَلا تَخَف

قَل لا وَأَتَّبِعها الفِعالَ وَلا تَخَف

وَاِنظُر هُنالِكَ كَيفَ تُحنى الهامُ

وَاِنظُر هُنالِكَ كَيفَ تُحنى الهامُ

Say “No,” and follow it with deeds; do not fear.

Say 'No,' follow it with deeds, and do not fear;

Look there at how the heads are bowed.

and look there at how heads are bowed.

إِصهَر بِنارِكَ غُلَّ عُنقِكَ يَنصَهِر

إِصهَر بِنارِكَ غُلَّ عُنقِكَ يَنصَهِر

فَعَلى الجَماجِمِ تُركَزُ الأَعلامُ

فَعَلى الجَماجِمِ تُركَزُ الأَعلامُ

Melt with your fire the fetter around your neck, and it will melt;

Melt the shackle on your neck with your fire—it will melt;

for banners are planted upon skulls.

for upon skulls are banners planted.

وَأَقِم عَلى الأَشلاءِ صَرحَكَ إِنَّما

وَأَقِم عَلى الأَشلاءِ صَرحَكَ إِنَّما

مِن فَوقِهِ تُبنى العُلا وَتُقامُ

مِن فَوقِهِ تُبنى العُلا وَتُقامُ

Raise your edifice upon the fallen bodies; only

And raise your edifice upon torn limbs, for only

upon them are the heights of glory built and raised.

above it is greatness built and established.

وَاِغصب حُقوقَكَ قَطُّ لا تستَجدِها

وَاِغصب حُقوقَكَ قَطُّ لا تستَجدِها

إِنَّ الأَلى سَلَبوا الحُقوقَ لِئامُ

إِنَّ الأَلى سَلَبوا الحُقوقَ لِئامُ

Seize your rights by force—never beg for them;

And seize your rights by force; never beg for them.

those who stole those rights are base.

Indeed, those who stole the rights are vile.

هذي طَريقُكَ لِلحَياةِ فَلا تَحِد

هذي طَريقُكَ لِلحَياةِ فَلا تَحِد

قَد سارَها مِن قَبلِكَ القَسّامُ

قَد سارَها مِن قَبلِكَ القَسّامُ

This is your road to life, so do not stray;

This is your path to life, so do not stray;

al-Qassam traveled it before you.

al-Qassam has already walked it before you.