بَعضُsome الَّذيthat which نالَناbefell us ياO دَهرُTime يَكفِيناsuffices us
بَعضُ الَّذي نالَنا يا دَهرُ يَكفِينا
فَاِمنُنso grant a favor بِبُقياby sparing us وَأَودِعهاand leave it يَداًas a favor فِيناamong us
فَاِمنُن بِبُقيا وَأَودِعها يَداً فِينا
Some of what has befallen us, O Time, is enough for us.
Some of what fate granted us, oh Time, suffice us
So grant us mercy, and leave it as a favor among us.
So trust in the rest and entrust it to us
إِنif كانَis شَأنُكَyour business إِرضاءَpleasing العَدُوِّthe enemy بِناthrough us
إِن كانَ شَأنُكَ إِرضاءَ العَدُوِّ بِنا
فَدُونَthen less than هَذاthis بِهِwith it يَرضىis satisfied مُعاديناour enemy
فَدُونَ هَذا بِهِ يَرضى مُعادينا
If your business is to please the enemy through us,
If your way is to please the enemy through us
Then less than this would satisfy our foe.
Then, less than this pleases our adversaries
فَالحَمدُso praise لِلّهِto God حَمداًa praising لاno نفادَend لَهُto it
فَالحَمدُ لِلّهِ حَمداً لا نفادَ لَهُ
إِذsince لَمnot يَكُنwas ضَعفُناour weakness إِلّاexcept بِأَيدِيناthrough our hands
إِذ لَم يَكُن ضَعفُنا إِلّا بِأَيدِينا
Praise be to God, with praise that never ends,
So praise be to Allah- praise without end
Since our weakness came only through our own hands.
Since our weakness was only by our own hands
خافَتfeared بَنُوthe sons of عَمِّناour paternal uncle أَمراًsomething يُعاجِلُناswiftly overtakes us
خافَت بَنُو عَمِّنا أَمراً يُعاجِلُنا
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore إِلحاقِjoining تاليناour successors بِماضيناto our predecessors
مِن قَبلِ إِلحاقِ تالينا بِماضينا
Our cousins feared something would swiftly overtake us,
The sons of our uncle feared what would soon afflict us
Before our successors were joined to our predecessors.
Due to what followed joining what preceded us
وَاِستَيقَنَتand knew for certain أَنَّthat كُلَّall المُلكِkingship مُنتَزَعٌis wrested away
وَاِستَيقَنَت أَنَّ كُلَّ المُلكِ مُنتَزَعٌ
وَلَوeven if تَمَكَّثَit lingered فيwith أَربابِهِits lords حِيناa while
وَلَو تَمَكَّثَ في أَربابِهِ حِينا
And they knew for certain that all kingship is wrested away,
And they knew that all kingdoms are soon lost
Even if it lingers with its lords a while.
Though they last for a while with their people
وَحاذَرتand feared دَولَةًa dynasty فيin عَقبِthe wake of دَولَتِهاits dynasty
وَحاذَرت دَولَةً في عَقبِ دَولَتِها
تَأتيcomes سَريعاًswiftly فَتُلقِيthen casts سُمَّهاits poison فِيناinto us
تَأتي سَريعاً فَتُلقِي سُمَّها فِينا
They feared a dynasty following their dynasty,
And they worried about a state after its state
Coming swiftly to pour its poison into us.
That comes quickly and aims its arrows at us
فَلَمso did not تَدَعleave لِمُرجٍّfor one hoping سَلبَto strip away نِعمَتِهاits prosperity
فَلَم تَدَع لِمُرجٍّ سَلبَ نِعمَتِها
أَرضاًland قَراحاًbare بِأَيدِيناin our hands وَلاnor لِيناdate palms
أَرضاً قَراحاً بِأَيدِينا وَلا لِينا
So, for anyone hoping to strip them of their blessings, they left no
So they left no rest, plundering its blessings
Bare land in our hands, nor any date palms.
By our hands, no ease, no comfort for us
وَلَمand did not تَزَلcease هَذِهِthis فِيناtoward us عِنايَتُهاits care
وَلَم تَزَل هَذِهِ فِينا عِنايَتُها
حَتّىuntil تَساوىbecame equal اِبنُa child of سِتٍّsix وَاِبنُand a person of سِتِّيناsixty
حَتّى تَساوى اِبنُ سِتٍّ وَاِبنُ سِتِّينا
And this remained their care for us,
And this has been their care for us
Until a six-year-old and a sixty-year-old were equal.
Until the son of sixty equaled the son of six
هَذاthis هُوَis الحَزمُprudence وَالرَأيُand judgment السَديدُsound فَلاso let not
هَذا هُوَ الحَزمُ وَالرَأيُ السَديدُ فَلا
تَظُنّهُsuppose it القَومُthe people زَهداًindifference فيto مَغانيناour dwellings
تَظُنّهُ القَومُ زَهداً في مَغانينا
This is prudence and sound judgment; so let not
This is wisdom and upright opinion, so
The people mistake it for indifference to our dwellings.
Let not the people think it austerity for us
لِأَنَّbecause مَنthose who يَتَوَلّىtake charge of الأَمرَthe command بَعدَهُمُafter them
لِأَنَّ مَن يَتَوَلّى الأَمرَ بَعدَهُمُ
لَيسُواthey are not بِمَأمُونِtrusted against شَرٍّevil فيin نَواحيناour regions
لَيسُوا بِمَأمُونِ شَرٍّ في نَواحينا
For those who take power after them
For those who will rule after them
Cannot be trusted to do no harm in our region.
Cannot be trusted; evil surrounds us
وَالفَقرُand poverty فيin أَرضِناour land خَيرٌis better لِصاحِبِهِfor its sufferer
وَالفَقرُ في أَرضِنا خَيرٌ لِصاحِبِهِ
مِنَthan الغِنىwealth وَالقَليلُand the little النَزرُscant يُرضِيناsatisfies us
مِنَ الغِنى وَالقَليلُ النَزرُ يُرضِينا
Poverty in our land is better for its sufferer
Poverty in our land is better for its owner
Than wealth; a scant little satisfies us,
Than wealth, and little suffices us
لِماbecause of what يُعانيهِhe endures of it رَبُّthe owner of المالِwealth مِنof تَعَسٍmisery
لِما يُعانيهِ رَبُّ المالِ مِن تَعَسٍ
فيin أَرضِناour land لاnot لِأَنَّbecause المالَwealth يُطغِيناmakes us transgress
في أَرضِنا لا لِأَنَّ المالَ يُطغِينا
Because of the misery the owner of wealth endures
Due to what the wealthy lord suffers
In our land, not because wealth makes us transgress.
In our land, not that money corrupts us
وَكَمand how often غِنىًwealth عِندَناamong us قَدindeed جَرَّbrought داهِيَةًa calamity
وَكَم غِنىً عِندَنا قَد جَرَّ داهِيَةً
دَهياءَdire تَترُكُleaves فَحلَthe virile champion of القَومِthe tribe عِنِّيناimpotent
دَهياءَ تَترُكُ فَحلَ القَومِ عِنِّينا
How often wealth among us has brought a calamity,
And how much wealth among us
A dire one that leaves the tribe's virile champion impotent.
Has led to arrogance, leaving the people's mischief
فَاِنظُرso consider أَخاman of العَقلِreason وَالتَدبيرِand foresight إِنَّindeed لَهُit has
فَاِنظُر أَخا العَقلِ وَالتَدبيرِ إِنَّ لَهُ
شَأناًimportance عَظيماًgreat وَدَوِّنهُand record it الدَواوِيناthe registers
شَأناً عَظيماً وَدَوِّنهُ الدَواوِينا
Consider, man of reason and foresight: it has
So look, oh wise reasonable man, for it
Great importance; record it in the registers.
Has great stature; record it in the books
لَمnot يَهتَدِfound a way المَرءُthe man كِسرىKhosrow أَنto يُدَبِّرَهُdevise it
لَم يَهتَدِ المَرءُ كِسرى أَن يُدَبِّرَهُ
وَكانَand he was أَرجَحَهاthe foremost of them عَقلاًin intellect وَتَمكِيناand in power
وَكانَ أَرجَحَها عَقلاً وَتَمكِينا
Not even Khosrow could find a way to devise it,
Not even Chosroes found guidance to manage it
Though he was foremost among them in wisdom and power.
Though he was the wisest and most enabled of them
وَصاحِبٍand a companion قالَsaid ليto me وَالعَينُwhile the eye تَحرُسُهُkept watch on him
وَصاحِبٍ قالَ لي وَالعَينُ تَحرُسُهُ
حِيناًat one time وَيَنطِقُand he speaks بِالشَكوىwith complaint أَحاييناat other times
حِيناً وَيَنطِقُ بِالشَكوى أَحايينا
A companion said to me, while the eye kept watch on him
A friend said to me, while the eye watched him
At times, and at others he voiced his complaint:
At times, while he complained, saddening me:
أَماdo you not تَرىsee قَومَناour kinsmen فِيناtoward us وَماand what صَنَعُواthey did
أَما تَرى قَومَنا فِينا وَما صَنَعُوا
لَمdid not يَترُكُواthey leave أَمَلاًhope فِيناin us لِراجِيناfor those hoping in us
لَم يَترُكُوا أَمَلاً فِينا لِراجِينا
"Do you not see our kinsmen, how they treat us, and what they have done?
Do you not see what our people did to us
They have left no hope in us for anyone who looks to us.
They left no hope for us hopeful ones
مالُواthey sided عَلَيناagainst us مَعَwith الأَيّامِthe days وَاِستَمَعُواand they listened
مالُوا عَلَينا مَعَ الأَيّامِ وَاِستَمَعُوا
فِيناabout us أَقاوِيلَthe sayings of شانِيناour detractors وَقالِيناand our haters
فِينا أَقاوِيلَ شانِينا وَقالِينا
They sided against us with the days, and listened
They turned against us over time and listened
To the sayings about us of our detractors and our haters,
To our slanderers and backbiters
مِنfor غَيرِno شَيءٍthing سِوىexcept قَصرٍrestraint بِأَلسُنِناin our tongues
مِن غَيرِ شَيءٍ سِوى قَصرٍ بِأَلسُنِنا
عَمّاfrom what يُعابُis blameworthy وَطُولٍand length فيin عَواليناour spears
عَمّا يُعابُ وَطُولٍ في عَوالينا
For nothing but restraint of our tongues
With no fault but brief lapses in our speech
From what is blameworthy, and length in our spears;
And lengthy boasting of our glories
وَأَنَّناand that we نَرِدُenter الهَيجاءَbattle تَحسَبُناyou would think us
وَأَنَّنا نَرِدُ الهَيجاءَ تَحسَبُنا
مِنfrom زَأرِناour roaring فيin الوَغىthe fray جِنّاًjinn مَجانيناmad
مِن زَأرِنا في الوَغى جِنّاً مَجانينا
And because we enter battle—you would think us,
And that we return the war cries thinking us
From our roaring in the fray, mad jinn.
From our cries in war, demons possessed
وَلاand do not نُباليwe care شَقَقناwe split فيin عَجاجَتِهاits dust
وَلا نُبالي شَقَقنا في عَجاجَتِها
هَوادِيَthe necks of القَومِthe men أَوor شَقَّتsplit هَوادِيناour necks
هَوادِيَ القَومِ أَو شَقَّت هَوادِينا
We care not whether, amid its dust, we split
We care not if we split its ruggedness
The men's necks, or our own necks are split.
Or the people's valleys or split our valleys
وَيُكرِهُand forces to bend الصَعدَةَthe lance السَمراءَbrown أَصغَرُناour youngest
وَيُكرِهُ الصَعدَةَ السَمراءَ أَصغَرُنا
سِنّاًin years وَيُفحِمُand silences كَهلَthe mature man of القَومِthe tribe ناشِيناour youth
سِنّاً وَيُفحِمُ كَهلَ القَومِ ناشِينا
Our youngest makes the brown lance submit,
And their youngest scorns the bronze-skinned elderly
In years; and our youth silences the tribe's mature man.
And silences the people's talking elders
نَحنُwe المُلوكُthe kings وَأَردافُand the deputies of المُلوكِthe kings وَفيand in
نَحنُ المُلوكُ وَأَردافُ المُلوكِ وَفي
بَحبُوحَةِthe heart of العِزِّglory شادَraised العِزَّglory بانيناour builder
بَحبُوحَةِ العِزِّ شادَ العِزَّ بانينا
We are kings and kings' deputies, and in
We are the kings, the kings' relatives, and in
The very heart of glory our builder raised glory.
The prime of glory we built glories
نَحميwe defend عَلىover الجارِthe neighbor وَالمَولىand the client وَيَأمَنُناand trusts us
نَحمي عَلى الجارِ وَالمَولى وَيَأمَنُنا
عَلىthrough اِختِلافِthe changing of اللَياليthe nights مَنwhoever يُصافِيناbefriends us sincerely
عَلى اِختِلافِ اللَيالي مَن يُصافِينا
We guard neighbor and client, and we are trusted
We protect neighbor and patron, and those unlike
Through the changing nights by those sincere in friendship with us.
Trust us in the changing nights, befriending us
آباؤُناour fathers خَيرُthe best of آباءٍfathers إِذاwhen ذُكِرُواthey are remembered
آباؤُنا خَيرُ آباءٍ إِذا ذُكِرُوا
كانُواthey were المَشاوِذَthe turbans وَالناسُand other people التَساخِيناthe boots
كانُوا المَشاوِذَ وَالناسُ التَساخِينا
Our fathers are the best of fathers; when remembered,
Our fathers were the best fathers when named
They were the turbans, while other men were the boots.
They were the proud, the noble people
أَيّامُناour days لَمhave not تَزَلceased غُرّاًwhite-blazed مُحَجَّلَةًwhite-footed
أَيّامُنا لَم تَزَل غُرّاً مُحَجَّلَةً
وَلاand not تُباعُare traded بِأَيّامٍfor days لَياليناour nights
وَلا تُباعُ بِأَيّامٍ لَيالينا
Our days have always been white-blazed and white-footed,
Our days remain wrapped in honor
Nor would our nights be traded for days.
And cannot be traded for any days or nights
تَرَعرَعَgrew up المُلكُkingship فيin أَبياتِناour houses وَنَشاand was raised
تَرَعرَعَ المُلكُ في أَبياتِنا وَنَشا
حَتّىuntil اِستَوىgrew full وَمُرَبِّيهِand its nurturers مُرَبِّيناour nurturers
حَتّى اِستَوى وَمُرَبِّيهِ مُرَبِّينا
Kingship grew up in our houses and was raised,
Kingship was raised in our homes and grew
Until it stood full-grown; its nurturers were our nurturers.
Until it stood straight, we its straight raisers
ياO لَيتَwould that شِعريI knew أَيُّwhich الذَنبِsin كانَwas لَناours
يا لَيتَ شِعري أَيُّ الذَنبِ كانَ لَنا
حَتّىso that بِهِbecause of it اِجتيحَwas swept away دانيناour near kin وَقاصِيناand our distant kin
حَتّى بِهِ اِجتيحَ دانينا وَقاصِينا
Would that I knew what sin was ours,
Oh I wish I knew what sin was ours
That through it our near and distant kin were swept away!
That caused our near and far to be lost
أَضحَتbecame بَساتِينُناour orchards نَفديwe ransom بِأَحسَنِهاwith their finest
أَضحَت بَساتِينُنا نَفدي بِأَحسَنِها
شِقصاًa share لِأَدنىbelonging to the lowest خَسيسٍwretch مِنamong مَواليناour clients
شِقصاً لِأَدنى خَسيسٍ مِن مَوالينا
Our orchards have come to this: with their finest we ransom
Our gardens became cheap, their best
A share belonging to the lowest wretch among our clients.
Traded for the slightest, lowest of our patrons
بِجُلَّةِfor a basket of التَمرِdates وَالشاةِand a ewe الرَعُومِfond of her lamb غَدَتwent
بِجُلَّةِ التَمرِ وَالشاةِ الرَعُومِ غَدَت
أَملاكُناour estates وَاِحتَمَتand were protected أَملاكُthe estates of عاديناour enemy
أَملاكُنا وَاِحتَمَت أَملاكُ عادينا
For a basket of dates and a nursing ewe went
To Allah we belong; kinship did not benefit
Our estates, while our enemy's estates remained protected.
Nor the spears of tribal protectors avail us
إِنّاindeed we إِلىto اللَهِGod لاneither أَرحامُناour kinship ties نَفَعَتavailed
إِنّا إِلى اللَهِ لا أَرحامُنا نَفَعَت
وَلاnor طِعانُthe spear-thrusts of حُماةِthe defenders of القَومِthe tribe يَحميناprotect us
وَلا طِعانُ حُماةِ القَومِ يَحمينا
We turn to God: neither our ties of blood availed us,
This is the reward for what our tongues dictated
Nor do the spear-thrusts of the tribe's defenders protect us.
Oh for the men and what their pens dictated
هَذاthis الجَزاءُthe reward لِماfor what سَنَّتestablished أَسِنَّتُناour spearheads
هَذا الجَزاءُ لِما سَنَّت أَسِنَّتُنا
ياO لَلرِجالِmen, to the rescue وَماand what أَمضَتaccomplished مَواضيناour keen swords
يا لَلرِجالِ وَما أَمضَت مَواضينا
This is the reward for what our spearheads established—
The day of misfortune when companies came
O men, come to our aid!—and what our keen swords accomplished,
Bent toward us, with death assailing us
يَومَon the day of العَطيفَةِal-Atifah إِذwhen جاءَتcame مُغَلِّسَةًbefore dawn
يَومَ العَطيفَةِ إِذ جاءَت مُغَلِّسَةً
كَتائِبٌbattalions نَحوَناtoward us بِالمَوتِwith death تُردِيناbring us down
كَتائِبٌ نَحوَنا بِالمَوتِ تُردِينا
On the day of al-Atifah, when there came before dawn
Three thousand were martyred, no more
Battalions bearing death toward us, to strike us down.
Than thirty in count, their spears and the darkness of battle shields hiding us
تُوفيmake up fully ثَلاثَةَthree آلافٍthousands مُضَمَّنَةًguaranteed
تُوفي ثَلاثَةَ آلافٍ مُضَمَّنَةً
وَلاand do not تجاوِزُexceed فيin عَدٍّa count ثَلاثيناthirty
وَلا تجاوِزُ في عَدٍّ ثَلاثينا
Making up a full three thousand, guaranteed,
As we retreated, and the glitter of swords revealing us
Yet not exceeding thirty in number:
A thrust with which our father Ibrahim - before descending the two seas - entrusted us
رِماحُهُمtheir spears وَظَلامُand the darkness of النَقعِbattle-dust يَستُرُناconceals us
رِماحُهُم وَظَلامُ النَقعِ يَستُرُنا
وَكَرُّناand our charge وَضِياءُand the gleam of البيضِthe bright swords يُبدِيناreveals us
وَكَرُّنا وَضِياءُ البيضِ يُبدِينا
Their spears, while the dark battle-dust concealed us;
Until they withdrew, their souls raging
And our charge, while the gleam of bright swords revealed us.
With anger at our audacity
طَعناًspear-thrusting بِهِwith it كانَused to إِبراهيمُIbrahim وَالِدناour father
طَعناً بِهِ كانَ إِبراهيمُ وَالِدنا
مِنfrom قَبلِbefore أَنthat يَنزِلَhe settle in البَحرَينِBahrain يُوصِيناenjoin upon us
مِن قَبلِ أَن يَنزِلَ البَحرَينِ يُوصِينا
Spear-thrusts such as our father Ibrahim
And before, their advance was turned back four times
Had urged upon us before he settled in Bahrain,
By us, so who can elevate us to glory?
حَتّىuntil تَوَلَّواthey turned away وَقَدand already جاشَتseethed نُفُوسُهُمُtheir souls
حَتّى تَوَلَّوا وَقَد جاشَت نُفُوسُهُمُ
غَيظاًwith rage لِماat what عايَنُوهُthey witnessed of it مِنof تَحامِيناour mutual defense
غَيظاً لِما عايَنُوهُ مِن تَحامِينا
Until they turned away, their souls seething
The day of youths, we do not tire, aroused
With rage at the mutual defense they had witnessed from us.
Like angry, provoked lions
وَقَبلُand earlier رَدَّتdrove back رُبُوعَthe encampments of القَومِthe tribe أَربَعَةٌfour
وَقَبلُ رَدَّت رُبُوعَ القَومِ أَربَعَةٌ
مِنّاof us فَمَنso who ذاis there إِلىin مَجدٍglory يُسامِيناrivals us
مِنّا فَمَن ذا إِلى مَجدٍ يُسامِينا
And earlier, four had driven back the tribe's encampments,
Followed by the family of Hajjaj, and what
Four of us—so who can rival us in glory?
The mother of scabies birthed is not like our mange
يَومَon the day of الشَباناتِal-Shabanat لاnot نَثنيwe turn back أَعِنَّتَهاtheir reins
يَومَ الشَباناتِ لا نَثني أَعِنَّتَها
كَأُسدِlike the lions of خَفّانَKhaffan هِيجَتroused أَوor عِفرِّيناIfrin
كَأُسدِ خَفّانَ هِيجَت أَو عِفرِّينا
On the day of al-Shabanat, we did not turn their reins back,
They left no spear points in their hands
Like roused lions of Khaffan or Ifrin.
As we approached, clashing with them
تَتلُوهُمُfollows them آلُthe house of حَجّافِHajjaf وَماand those whom وَلَدَتbore
تَتلُوهُمُ آلُ حَجّافِ وَما وَلَدَت
أُمُّthe mother of العَجَرَّشِal-Ajarrash مِثلَlike الجُربِthe mangy ones طُلِّيناwe were coated
أُمُّ العَجَرَّشِ مِثلَ الجُربِ طُلِّينا
The house of Hajjaf followed them, along with those borne by
Who but us faced them with our weapons? No,
Umm al-Ajarrash; like mangy beasts, we were coated.
By He who clarified the Furqan, revealing
لَمdid not يَترُكُواthey leave فَضلَany spare length of رُمحٍa spear فيin أَكُفِّهِمُtheir palms
لَم يَترُكُوا فَضلَ رُمحٍ في أَكُفِّهِمُ
وَنَحنُand we نَقصدُهاhead toward them قَرعاًclashing فَتُخَطِيناso they miss us
وَنَحنُ نَقصدُها قَرعاً فَتُخَطِينا
They left no spare length of spear in their palms,
And how many a stand we have with no fault
And we headed straight at them, clashing, yet they missed us.
Nor faith or worldly blame
هَلcould غَيرُناanyone but us كانَever يَلقاهُمface them بِعُدَّتِناwith our equipment
هَل غَيرُنا كانَ يَلقاهُم بِعُدَّتِنا
لاno وَالَّذيby Him who بَيَّنَmade clear الفُرقانَthe Criterion تَبييناplainly
لا وَالَّذي بَيَّنَ الفُرقانَ تَبيينا
Could anyone but us have faced them with our equipment?
Oh loss of life, oh loss of our deal
No, by Him who made the Criterion plain.
Oh ill luck of the most miserable present and loss
وَكَمand how many لَناwe have مِنof مَقامٍa stand لاnot نُعابُwe are faulted بِهِfor it
وَكَم لَنا مِن مَقامٍ لا نُعابُ بِهِ
وَلاnor نُذَمُّare we censured بِهِfor it دُنياin worldly affairs وَلاnor دِيناin religion
وَلا نُذَمُّ بِهِ دُنيا وَلا دِينا
How many a stand is ours for which we cannot be faulted,
We feared the transference of the kingdom among Mudar
Nor censured in worldly affairs or in religion!
So hello to you, oh kingdom of Yaman
ياO ضَيعَةَthe waste of العُمرِa lifetime ياO خُسرانَthe loss of صَفقَتِناour bargain
يا ضَيعَةَ العُمرِ يا خُسرانَ صَفقَتِنا
ياO شُؤمَthe ill fortune of حاضِرِناour townsmen الأَشقىthe most wretched وَبادِيناand our nomads
يا شُؤمَ حاضِرِنا الأَشقى وَبادِينا
O wasted lifetime! O the loss of our bargain!
If the kings of Rome turned away, they did not reach
O the ill fortune of our wretched townsmen and our nomads!
A tenth of what our brothers did to us
كُنّاwe used to نَخافُfear اِنتِقالَthe passing of المُلكِkingship فيto مُضَرٍMudar
كُنّا نَخافُ اِنتِقالَ المُلكِ في مُضَرٍ
فَمَرحَباًso welcome بِكَto you ياO مُلكَkingship of اليَمانيناthe Yemenites
فَمَرحَباً بِكَ يا مُلكَ اليَمانينا
We once feared kingship passing to Mudar;
We complained to them of deprivation and sought
Welcome, then, O rule of the Yemenites!
Glory and gardens from them
فَإِنfor if تَوَلَّتtook power مُلُوكُthe kings of الرُومِRum ماnot بَلَغَتreached
فَإِن تَوَلَّت مُلُوكُ الرُومِ ما بَلَغَت
مِعشارَa tenth of ماwhat صَنَعَتdid إِخوانُناour brothers فِيناto us
مِعشارَ ما صَنَعَت إِخوانُنا فِينا
If the kings of Rum took power, they would not reach
So today we rejoice if they leave an eighth
A tenth of what our brothers have done to us.
To our wealthy from the inheritance of his grandfather
كُنّاwe used to نَضِجُّcry out مِنَfrom الحِرمانِdeprivation عِندَهُمُunder them
كُنّا نَضِجُّ مِنَ الحِرمانِ عِندَهُمُ
وَنَطلُبُand seek الجاهَstanding فيهِمamong them وَالبَساتِيناand orchards
وَنَطلُبُ الجاهَ فيهِم وَالبَساتِينا
We once cried out at deprivation under them,
I sacrifice myself for he who said, while poetry flows
And sought standing among them, and orchards.
Before me, recorded by the narrators
فَاليَومَso today نَفرحُwe rejoice أَنthat يُبقُواthey leave لِمُوسِرِناfor our wealthy man
فَاليَومَ نَفرحُ أَن يُبقُوا لِمُوسِرِنا
مِنfrom إِرثِthe inheritance of جَدَّيهِhis two grandfathers سَهماًa share مِنout of ثمانيناeighty
مِن إِرثِ جَدَّيهِ سَهماً مِن ثمانينا
Today, then, we rejoice that they leave our wealthy man
Oh seeker of vengeance, rise, fear not our power
One share out of eighty from his two grandfathers' inheritance.
For we do not respect those who don't respect us
أَفديI would ransom الَّذيthe one who قالsaid وَالأَشعارُwhile the poems سائِرَةٌcirculate
أَفدي الَّذي قال وَالأَشعارُ سائِرَةٌ
قَبليbefore me يُدَوِّنُهاrecord them الرَاوُونَthe reciters تَدوِيناin writing
قَبلي يُدَوِّنُها الرَاوُونَ تَدوِينا
I would ransom the man who said—his verses circulating
So the cups of injustice will be served boiling hot
Before me, with reciters setting them down in writing—
To those who served us the cup of betrayal
ياO طالِبَseeker of الثّأرِvengeance قُمrise لاdo not تَخشَfear صَولَتناour onslaught
يا طالِبَ الثّأرِ قُم لا تَخشَ صَولَتنا
فَماfor we do not نُراعيprotect بِهاwith it مَنthose who لاdo not يُراعِيناprotect us
فَما نُراعي بِها مَن لا يُراعِينا
'O seeker of vengeance, rise; do not fear our onslaught,
No enemy of ours is more deserving of our hate
For with it we do not defend those who do not defend us.
Than the cousin who pained us endlessly
فَسَوفَso in time يُسقىwill be given drink بِكاساتِfrom cups of العُقوقِdisloyalty عَلىin
فَسَوفَ يُسقى بِكاساتِ العُقوقِ عَلى
حَرِّthe heat of الظَماthirst مَنhe who بِكَأسِfrom the cup of الغَبنِinjustice يَسقِيناmakes us drink
حَرِّ الظَما مَن بِكَأسِ الغَبنِ يَسقِينا
He shall be given cups of disloyalty, in
More dear than the son of Ali and the nobles
Thirst's burning heat, who makes us drink from the cup of injustice.
Of our fathers that injustice reached our valley
فَماfor not المُعاديthe enemy لَناof ours أَولىmore deserving بِبَغضَتِناof our hatred
فَما المُعادي لَنا أَولى بِبَغضَتِنا
مِنthan اِبنِa son of عَمٍّa paternal uncle مَدىthroughout الأَيّامِthe days يُؤذيناharms us
مِن اِبنِ عَمٍّ مَدى الأَيّامِ يُؤذينا
Our enemy is no more deserving of our hatred
The obstinate took from us what he wants
Than a cousin who harms us throughout the days.'
Secretly and openly, indirectly and directly
أَعزِزhow grievous عَلىfor اِبنِthe son of عَلِيٍّAli وَالأَكارِمِand the noble ones مِنamong
أَعزِز عَلى اِبنِ عَلِيٍّ وَالأَكارِمِ مِن
آبائِناour forefathers أَنthat يُسيمَgraze الضَيمُoppression وادِيناour valley
آبائِنا أَن يُسيمَ الضَيمُ وادِينا
How grievous to Ibn Ali, and to the noble ones among
Our leaders wanted to extinguish our embers
Our forefathers, that oppression should graze our valley!
Then add the Ahsāʾ to those who abandoned us
نالَobtained المُعانِدُthe adversary مِنّاfrom us ماwhat يُحاوِلُهُhe seeks to achieve
نالَ المُعانِدُ مِنّا ما يُحاوِلُهُ
سِرّاًsecretly وَجَهراًand openly وَتَعرِيضاًand by insinuation وَتَعييناand explicitly
سِرّاً وَجَهراً وَتَعرِيضاً وَتَعيينا
The adversary obtained from us what he sought,
Oh how ugly their views of us! Had they known
Secretly and openly, by insinuation and explicitly.
The truth of precedence, they wouldn't choose mollifiers
رامَتsought ذَوُوthose holding أَمرِناour command إِطفاءَto extinguish جَمرَتِناour ember
رامَت ذَوُو أَمرِنا إِطفاءَ جَمرَتِنا
فَبَعدَهاthen after that أَلحِقِjoin الأَحساءَal-Ahsa يَبرِيناto Yabrin
فَبَعدَها أَلحِقِ الأَحساءَ يَبرِينا
Those who command us sought to extinguish our ember;
Tell them, may Allah not empower them
Then, after that, join al-Ahsa to Yabrin.
And increase their weakness and subjugation
ياO قُبحَthe ugliness of آرائِهِمtheir judgments فيناabout us فَلوfor if عَرَفُواthey knew
يا قُبحَ آرائِهِم فينا فَلو عَرَفُوا
حَقَّthe worth of السَوابِقِthe swift steeds ماnot اِختارُواthey would choose البَراذِيناthe packhorses
حَقَّ السَوابِقِ ما اِختارُوا البَراذِينا
How ugly their judgments about us! Had they known
Do they resent us except that through us
The worth of swift steeds, they would not have chosen packhorses.
They became obeyed kings, obeyed by us?
فَقُلso say لَهُمto them لاmay not أَقالَraise from a fall اللَهُGod صَرعَتَهُمtheir fall
فَقُل لَهُم لا أَقالَ اللَهُ صَرعَتَهُم
وَزادَand may He increase أَمرَهُمُtheir condition ضَعفاًin weakness وَتَوهِيناand enfeeblement
وَزادَ أَمرَهُمُ ضَعفاً وَتَوهِينا
So say to them: may God never lift them from their fall,
Their early ones gained footing through our first ones
And may He increase their condition in weakness and enfeeblement.
Thus their later ones gained footing through our later ones
هَلdo يَنقِمُونَthey resent عَلَيناin us غَيرَanything except أَنَّthat بِناthrough us
هَل يَنقِمُونَ عَلَينا غَيرَ أَنَّ بِنا
صارُواthey became مُلوكاًkings مَطاعِيماًlavish feeders مَطاعِيناfierce spear-thrusters
صارُوا مُلوكاً مَطاعِيماً مَطاعِينا
Do they resent anything about us except that through us
How much we sufficed them in trying times
They became kings, lavish hosts and fierce spear-thrusters?
If only they reciprocated good with good
عَزَّتgrew mighty أَوائِلُهُمtheir forebears قِدماًlong ago بِأَوَّلِناthrough our forebears
عَزَّت أَوائِلُهُم قِدماً بِأَوَّلِنا
لِذاكُمُfor that reason عَزَّgrew mighty تاليهِمtheir successors بِتاليناthrough our successors
لِذاكُمُ عَزَّ تاليهِم بِتالينا
Their forebears grew mighty long ago through our forebears;
We protect and strike the king beneath them
Thus their successors grew mighty through our successors.
Strikes that send the chicks of resolve fleeing
كَمhow many قَدindeed كَفَيناهُمُwe spared them مِنof يَومِa day of مُعضِلَةٍcrisis
كَم قَد كَفَيناهُمُ مِن يَومِ مُعضِلَةٍ
لَوَif only اِنَّهُمthey were مَنthose who عَلىfor الحُسنىkindness يُكافِيناrepay us
لَوَ اِنَّهُم مَن عَلى الحُسنى يُكافِينا
How many a day of crisis have we spared them!
Soon they will know the biggest losers are they
If only they were people who repaid us for kindness!
If they call for help, shouting, "Oh defenders!"
نَحميwe defend وَنَضرِبُand strike رَبَّthe wearer of التاجِthe crown دُونَهُمُin their defense
نَحمي وَنَضرِبُ رَبَّ التاجِ دُونَهُمُ
ضَرباًwith blows يُطيرُthat send flying فِراخُthe nestlings of الهامِthe skulls سِجّيناto Sijjin
ضَرباً يُطيرُ فِراخُ الهامِ سِجّينا
We defend them and strike the wearer of the crown in their defense,
Did we not protect and strike for them
With blows that send the skulls' nestlings flying into Sijjin.
Blows that send the concepts of resolve fleeing?
فَسَوفَso in time يَدرُونَthey will know أَنَّthat الأَخسَرينَthe greatest losers هُمُthey are
فَسَوفَ يَدرُونَ أَنَّ الأَخسَرينَ هُمُ
إِذاwhen اِستَغاثُواthey cry for help وَنادُواand call out يالمُحامِيناO defenders!
إِذا اِستَغاثُوا وَنادُوا يالمُحامِينا
They will come to know that they are the greatest losers,
Soon they will know the biggest losers are they
When they cry for help and call out, 'O defenders!'"
If they call for help shouting, "Oh defenders!"
Sol 6.1