أَمّاindeed وَسَيفُكَand your sword فيover النُفوسِsouls مُحَكَّمُsovereign
أَمّا وَسَيفُكَ في النُفوسِ مُحَكَّمُ
فَالعِزُّso honor أَجمَعُهُall of it إِلَيكَto you مُسَلَّمُsurrendered
فَالعِزُّ أَجمَعُهُ إِلَيكَ مُسَلَّمُ
Indeed, with your sword sovereign over souls,
all honor, in its entirety, is surrendered to you.
مَنwho لاnot يُطيعُكَobeys you وَالمَقاديرُand the decrees الَّتيthat
مَن لا يُطيعُكَ وَالمَقاديرُ الَّتي
تُرضيplease وَتُجديand enrich بَعضُpart of ماwhat يَستَخدِمُhe employs
تُرضي وَتُجدي بَعضُ ما يَستَخدِمُ
Who does not obey you, when the decrees that
please and enrich are part of what he employs?
فَلِكُلِّso for every قَلبٍheart مِنfrom سُطاكَyour might مُرَوَّعٌterrified
فَلِكُلِّ قَلبٍ مِن سُطاكَ مُرَوَّعٌ
وَبِكُلِّand on every وَجهٍface مِنfrom جَميلِكَyour kindness ميسَمُa mark
وَبِكُلِّ وَجهٍ مِن جَميلِكَ ميسَمُ
Every heart is terrified by your might,
and every face bears a mark of your kindness.
عُوِّدتَyou were accustomed to فَصلَsettling الأَمرِthe affair أَشكَلَgrew obscure ناطِقاًspeaking
عُوِّدتَ فَصلَ الأَمرِ أَشكَلَ ناطِقاً
أَوor ساكِتاًsilent فَالسَيفُfor the sword عَنكَfor you مُتَرجِمُan interpreter
أَو ساكِتاً فَالسَيفُ عَنكَ مُتَرجِمُ
You are accustomed to settling affairs grown obscure, whether speaking
or silent, for the sword interprets for you.
وَخُصِصتَand you were singled out بِالإِبداعِfor inventiveness فيin فَعَلاتِكَyour deeds الthe
وَخُصِصتَ بِالإِبداعِ في فَعَلاتِكَ ال
حُسنىfinest لِيَظهَرَso that may appear عَجزُthe inability of مَنwhoever يَتَهَمَّمُaspires
حُسنى لِيَظهَرَ عَجزُ مَن يَتَهَمَّمُ
You were singled out for inventiveness in your deeds—the
finest—to expose the inability of whoever aspires.
وَمَتىand when يَجيءُcould produce بِمِثلِهاtheir like مِنfrom نَفسِهِhimself
وَمَتى يَجيءُ بِمِثلِها مِن نَفسِهِ
مَنone who ظَلَّkept يُبصِرُهاbeholding them فَلاyet not يَتَعَلَّمُlearns
مَن ظَلَّ يُبصِرُها فَلا يَتَعَلَّمُ
When could he produce their like himself—
one who keeps beholding them yet does not learn?
لَوif لَمnot يَعِزَّwere mighty بَنوthe sons of أَبيكَyour father وَيَكرُمواand were noble
لَو لَم يَعِزَّ بَنو أَبيكَ وَيَكرُموا
طالواthey surpassed الوَرىhumankind شَرَفاًin honor بِأَنَّكَbecause you مِنهُمُare among them
طالوا الوَرى شَرَفاً بِأَنَّكَ مِنهُمُ
Even had your father's sons not been mighty and noble,
they would have surpassed humankind in honor because you are one of them.
أَبشِرrejoice بِسَبقِكَin your outstripping مَنthose who تَقَدَّمَcame before موقِناًcertain
أَبشِر بِسَبقِكَ مَن تَقَدَّمَ موقِناً
أَنَّthat الفَضائِلvirtues لاnot العُصورَthe ages تُقَدِّمُgive precedence
أَنَّ الفَضائِل لا العُصورَ تُقَدِّمُ
Rejoice in outstripping those who came before, certain
that virtues, not the ages, give precedence.
كُنّاwe were نَظُنُّكَthinking you تابِعاًfollowing آثارَهُمtheir footsteps
كُنّا نَظُنُّكَ تابِعاً آثارَهُم
فَأَبَنتَso you showed بِالإِعجازِthrough inimitable achievement أَنَّكَthat you مُلهَمُare inspired
فَأَبَنتَ بِالإِعجازِ أَنَّكَ مُلهَمُ
We thought you were following their footsteps,
but through inimitable achievement you showed that you are inspired.
وَلَقَدand indeed سَمِعتَyou heard كَماas سَمِعناwe heard عَنهُمُabout them
وَلَقَد سَمِعتَ كَما سَمِعنا عَنهُمُ
وَعَلِمتَand you learned بِالإِحسانِthrough excellence ماwhat لَمnot يَعلَمواthey knew
وَعَلِمتَ بِالإِحسانِ ما لَم يَعلَموا
You indeed heard of them just as we heard,
and through excellence you learned what they did not know.
أَفَهَلhave you then ظَفِرتَfound بِمَنanyone who جَرىran فيin ذاthis المَدىcourse
أَفَهَل ظَفِرتَ بِمَن جَرى في ذا المَدى
مُذsince قامَarose بِالإِحسانِwith excellence فيهِمamong them قَيِّمُa guardian
مُذ قامَ بِالإِحسانِ فيهِم قَيِّمُ
Have you found anyone who ran this course,
since a guardian of excellence arose among them?
قَلبُthe heart of الهُدىguidance بِكَthrough you لَنnever يُراعَbe alarmed وَقَهرُهُand overpowering it
قَلبُ الهُدى بِكَ لَن يُراعَ وَقَهرُهُ
لَنnever يُستَطاعَbe possible وَقدُهُand its tether لاnot يُفصَمُbe snapped
لَن يُستَطاعَ وَقدُهُ لا يُفصَمُ
The heart of guidance, through you, will never be alarmed, and overpowering it
will be impossible, and its tether cannot be snapped.
لِلَّهِhow wondrous بَذلُكَyour giving حينَwhen لاno مُستَمنَحٌone asked for gifts
لِلَّهِ بَذلُكَ حينَ لا مُستَمنَحٌ
يُرجىis hoped for وَمَنعُكَand your protection حينَwhen لاno مُستَعصَمُone sought for refuge
يُرجى وَمَنعُكَ حينَ لا مُستَعصَمُ
How wondrous your giving, when no giver
can be hoped for, and your protection, when no refuge remains!
لَنnever يَكشِفَwill uncover الحَقُّtruth الجَلِيُّclear لِثامَهُits veil
لَن يَكشِفَ الحَقُّ الجَلِيُّ لِثامَهُ
إِلّاexcept وَوَجهُكَwhile your face بِالعَجاجِin battle dust مُلَثَّمُis veiled
إِلّا وَوَجهُكَ بِالعَجاجِ مُلَثَّمُ
Clear truth will not lift its veil
unless your face is veiled in battle dust.
وَإِذاand when عَزَمتَyou resolve عَلىupon اِجتِياحِravaging قَبيلَةٍa tribe
وَإِذا عَزَمتَ عَلى اِجتِياحِ قَبيلَةٍ
كَثُرَmultiply اليَتيمُorphans بِحَيِّهاin its encampment وَالأَيِّمُand widows
كَثُرَ اليَتيمُ بِحَيِّها وَالأَيِّمُ
When you resolve to ravage a tribe,
orphans and widows multiply in its encampment.
يَخشىfears عَوادِيَكَyour assaults الهِزَبرُthe lion بِغيلِهِin its thicket
يَخشى عَوادِيَكَ الهِزَبرُ بِغيلِهِ
وَيَخافُهاand fears them تَحتَbeneath التُرابِthe earth الأَرقَمُthe speckled viper
وَيَخافُها تَحتَ التُرابِ الأَرقَمُ
The lion in its thicket fears your assaults,
and the speckled viper beneath the earth fears them.
وَتُصيبُand you strike شاكِلَةَthe flank of الرَمِيِّthe target مُفَوِّقاًnocking an arrow
وَتُصيبُ شاكِلَةَ الرَمِيِّ مُفَوِّقاً
وَتَطيشُand miss عَنكَyou إِذاwhen رُميتَyou are shot at الأَسهُمُthe arrows
وَتَطيشُ عَنكَ إِذا رُميتَ الأَسهُمُ
You strike the target's flank as you nock your arrow,
while arrows miss you when you are shot at.
إِنَّindeed المُظَفَّرَthe victorious one مَنis he whose أَبَتrefused فَتَكاتُهُhis deadly assaults
إِنَّ المُظَفَّرَ مَن أَبَت فَتَكاتُهُ
أَنthat تَخرُجَdepart الأَيّامُthe days عَمّاfrom what يَرسُمُhe decrees
أَن تَخرُجَ الأَيّامُ عَمّا يَرسُمُ
The victorious one is he whose deadly assaults refuse
to let the days depart from what he decrees.
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday ناطِقٌa speaker بِلِسانِهِمin their tongue
في كُلِّ يَومٍ ناطِقٌ بِلِسانِهِم
مِنfrom خَوفِهِمtheir fear فَلِذاكَtherefore ماnot يَستَعجِمُfalls mute
مِن خَوفِهِم فَلِذاكَ ما يَستَعجِمُ
Every day a voice speaks in their tongue,
out of their fear; that is why it never falls mute.
وَإِذاand when اِمتَطىmounts سَيفُthe Sword of الخِلافَةِthe Caliphate عَزمَهُhis resolve
وَإِذا اِمتَطى سَيفُ الخِلافَةِ عَزمَهُ
فَلِدَولَةٍthen for a realm تُبنىbeing built وَأُخرىand another تُهدَمُbeing demolished
فَلِدَولَةٍ تُبنى وَأُخرى تُهدَمُ
When the Sword of the Caliphate mounts his resolve,
it is to build one realm and tear another down.
وَإِذاand when نَظَرتَyou examine إِلىat عَواقِبِthe outcomes of رَأيِهِhis judgment
وَإِذا نَظَرتَ إِلى عَواقِبِ رَأيِهِ
أَيقَنتَyou become certain أَنَّthat ظُنونَهُhis surmises تَتَنَجَّمُdivine by the stars
أَيقَنتَ أَنَّ ظُنونَهُ تَتَنَجَّمُ
When you examine the outcomes of his judgment,
you are certain that his surmises divine by the stars.
فَاِسأَلهُso ask him عَمّاabout what لَمnot يَكُنhas existed بِكِنايَةٍby an allusion
فَاِسأَلهُ عَمّا لَم يَكُن بِكِنايَةٍ
فَالغَيبُfor the unseen مِنfrom أَفكارِهِhis thoughts يُستَعلَمُis learned
فَالغَيبُ مِن أَفكارِهِ يُستَعلَمُ
Ask him by an allusion about what has not yet been,
for the unseen is learned from his thoughts.
وَلِذاكَand therefore حُقِّقَwas confirmed ظَنُّهُhis surmise فيماin what أَتىoccurred
وَلِذاكَ حُقِّقَ ظَنُّهُ فيما أَتى
وَظُنونُand the surmises of أَهلِthe people of الخافِقينَeast and west تَوَهُّمُare delusion
وَظُنونُ أَهلِ الخافِقينَ تَوَهُّمُ
Thus his surmise proved true in what occurred,
while the surmises of those in east and west are delusion.
رَقّاكَraised you عَزمُكَyour resolve مُخطِراًbraving peril لاnot يُرتَقىbe climbed
رَقّاكَ عَزمُكَ مُخطِراً لا يُرتَقى
فَعَلِمتَso you learned مِنof ذاthis المَجدِglory ماwhat لاnot يُعلَمُis known
فَعَلِمتَ مِن ذا المَجدِ ما لا يُعلَمُ
Your resolve raised you, braving peril, where none can climb,
and you learned of this glory what is otherwise unknown.
وَإِذاand when عَلاrises باغيthe seeker of الغَنيمَةِspoils هِمَّةًin ambition
وَإِذا عَلا باغي الغَنيمَةِ هِمَّةً
وَأَطاعَهُand obeys him المِقدارُfate جَلَّgrows great المَغنَمُthe booty
وَأَطاعَهُ المِقدارُ جَلَّ المَغنَمُ
When the seeker of spoils rises in ambition,
and fate obeys him, the booty grows great.
شَرَفَO glory of المَعاليlofty attainments فُزتَyou attained بِالشَرَفِhonor الَّذيwhich
شَرَفَ المَعالي فُزتَ بِالشَرَفِ الَّذي
قَدindeed باتَcame to يَحسُدُهُenvy it السُهىal-Suha وَالمِزرَمُand al-Mizram
قَد باتَ يَحسُدُهُ السُهى وَالمِزرَمُ
O glory of lofty attainments, you gained the honor which
al-Suha and al-Mizram have come to envy.
وَقَتَلتَand you slew مَنone whom لَوif غَيرُكَsomeone other than you المُجتاحُهُhis destroyer
وَقَتَلتَ مَن لَو غَيرُكَ المُجتاحُهُ
لَأَبَتwould have refused نِزارٌNizar أَنthat يُطَلَّbe shed unavenged لَهُfor him دَمُblood
لَأَبَت نِزارٌ أَن يُطَلَّ لَهُ دَمُ
You slew one whom, had another destroyed him,
Nizar would have refused to leave his blood unavenged.
وَجَنَيتَand you harvested أَثمارَthe fruits of العَواليlofty spears وَاِجتَنىand he harvested
وَجَنَيتَ أَثمارَ العَوالي وَاِجتَنى
وَمِنَand of الجَناthe harvest أَريٌhoney وَمِنهُand of it عَلقَمُbitter colocynth
وَمِنَ الجَنا أَريٌ وَمِنهُ عَلقَمُ
You harvested the fruits of lofty spears, and he harvested;
and of the harvest some is honey, and some bitter colocynth.
وَإِذاand when الوَغىbattle عَبَسَتfrowned وَطالَand lasted long عُبوسُهاits frowning
وَإِذا الوَغى عَبَسَت وَطالَ عُبوسُها
عِندَduring النِزالِcombat فَعَنthen from فُتوحِكَyour conquests تَبسِمُit smiles
عِندَ النِزالِ فَعَن فُتوحِكَ تَبسِمُ
When battle frowns and its frowning lasts long
during combat, your conquests make it smile.
ظَفَرٌa victory جَميعُall الطيبِperfume أَضحىhas become كاسِداًunsold
ظَفَرٌ جَميعُ الطيبِ أَضحى كاسِداً
مُذsince أَصبَحَتbecame أَخبارُهُits tidings تُتَنَسَّمُbreathed in
مُذ أَصبَحَت أَخبارُهُ تُتَنَسَّمُ
A victory that has left all perfume without buyers,
ever since its tidings began to be breathed in.
وَلَقَدand indeed تَحَقَّقَتِbecame certain العَواصِمُal-'Awasim أَنَّهاthat they
وَلَقَد تَحَقَّقَتِ العَواصِمُ أَنَّها
بِسِواكَby anyone but you ياO سَيفَSword of الهُدىGuidance ماnot تُعصَمُare protected
بِسِواكَ يا سَيفَ الهُدى ما تُعصَمُ
Al-'Awasim have indeed realized that they
cannot be protected by anyone but you, O Sword of Guidance.
غَرَضَa target of النَوائِبِcalamities لَمnot تَزَلceased فَمَنَعتَهاso you defended them
غَرَضَ النَوائِبِ لَم تَزَل فَمَنَعتَها
قَسراًby force كَماas مَنَعَdefended العَرينَthe lair الضَيغَمُthe lion
قَسراً كَما مَنَعَ العَرينَ الضَيغَمُ
They had always been calamities' target, but you defended them
by force, as the lion defends its lair.
ماnot زُرتَهاyou visited them إِلّاexcept لِيَأمَنَso that may be safe خائِفٌone afraid
ما زُرتَها إِلّا لِيَأمَنَ خائِفٌ
وَيُغاثَand may be relieved مَلهوفٌone distressed وَيُثرِيَand may become rich مُعدِمُone destitute
وَيُغاثَ مَلهوفٌ وَيُثرِيَ مُعدِمُ
You visited them only so that the fearful might be safe,
the distressed relieved, and the destitute enriched.
فَلتَعتَصِمso let seek refuge بِكَin you ذيthese الثُغورُfrontiers وَأَهلُهاand their people
فَلتَعتَصِم بِكَ ذي الثُغورُ وَأَهلُها
مِمّاfrom what تَخافُthey fear فَطَودُfor the mountain of عِزِّكَyour might أَيهَمُis inaccessible
مِمّا تَخافُ فَطَودُ عِزِّكَ أَيهَمُ
Let these frontiers and their people seek refuge in you
from what they fear, for the mountain of your might is inaccessible.
وَلَقَدand indeed عَمَمتَyou embraced all المُذنِبينَthe guilty صَنائِعاًwith favors
وَلَقَد عَمَمتَ المُذنِبينَ صَنائِعاً
حَتّىuntil لَظَنّواthey truly thought أَنَّهُمthat they لَنnever يُحرَمواwould be deprived
حَتّى لَظَنّوا أَنَّهُم لَن يُحرَموا
You indeed embraced even the guilty with favors,
until they thought they would never be deprived.
فَدَعِso leave الأُلىthose who مَرَقواrebelled فَإِنَّfor indeed بِعادَهُمtheir distance
فَدَعِ الأُلى مَرَقوا فَإِنَّ بِعادَهُم
عَنfrom ذاthis الجَنابِcourt لَهُمfor them عِقابٌa punishment مُؤلِمُpainful
عَن ذا الجَنابِ لَهُم عِقابٌ مُؤلِمُ
Leave those who rebelled, for their distance
from this court is a painful punishment for them.
أَولادُthe sons of مِرداسٍMirdas لِسَيفِكَfor your sword طُعمَةٌprey
أَولادُ مِرداسٍ لِسَيفِكَ طُعمَةٌ
فيin كُلِّevery أَرضٍland أَنجَدواthey entered Najd أَوor أَتهَمواthey entered Tihama
في كُلِّ أَرضٍ أَنجَدوا أَو أَتهَموا
The sons of Mirdas are prey for your sword
in every land, whether they enter Najd or Tihama.
وَلَوَand if اِنَّهُمthat they عَقَلواrestrained لَدَيكَbefore you ظُنونَهُمtheir surmises
وَلَوَ اِنَّهُم عَقَلوا لَدَيكَ ظُنونَهُم
لَرَأَواthey would have seen بِكَin you الرَشَدَright guidance الَّذيwhich عَنهُto it عَمواthey were blind
لَرَأَوا بِكَ الرَشَدَ الَّذي عَنهُ عَموا
Had they restrained their surmises before you,
they would have seen in you the guidance to which they were blind.
وَمِنَand of السَفاهَةِfolly أَنthat تَضِلَّshould stray حُلومُهُمtheir minds
وَمِنَ السَفاهَةِ أَن تَضِلَّ حُلومُهُم
مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماwhen وَضَحَbecame clear الطَريقُthe road الأَقوَمُstraightest
مِن بَعدِ ما وَضَحَ الطَريقُ الأَقوَمُ
It is folly that their minds should stray
after the straightest road has become clear.
قَدindeed عايَنواthey beheld عَينَthe very essence of الرَدىdeath لَمّاwhen رَأَواthey saw
قَد عايَنوا عَينَ الرَدى لَمّا رَأَوا
فيat تَلِّTall خالِدٍKhalid القَناthe spears يَتَحَطَّمُwere shattering
في تَلِّ خالِدٍ القَنا يَتَحَطَّمُ
They beheld death itself when they saw
the spears splintering at Tall Khalid.
لَمّاwhen أَبانَrevealed خَليفَةٌKhalifa عَنof رُشدِهِhis sound judgment
لَمّا أَبانَ خَليفَةٌ عَن رُشدِهِ
فِعلَthe deed of اِمرِئٍa man تَزكوflourish لَدَيهِin his keeping الأَنعُمُfavors
فِعلَ اِمرِئٍ تَزكو لَدَيهِ الأَنعُمُ
When Khalifa revealed his sound judgment
with the deed of a man in whose keeping favors flourish,
فيamid فِتيَةٍyoung men جَعَلواmade رِضاكَyour approval سِلاحَهُمtheir weapon
في فِتيَةٍ جَعَلوا رِضاكَ سِلاحَهُم
فَلِذاكَtherefore أَحجَمَdrew back مَنthose whom لَقوهُthey met وَأَقدَمواand they advanced
فَلِذاكَ أَحجَمَ مَن لَقوهُ وَأَقدَموا
amid young men who made your approval their weapon,
those they met drew back, while they advanced.
نُصِرَwere given victory القَليلُthe few عَلىover الكَثيرِthe many فَماand not اِنجَلَتlifted
نُصِرَ القَليلُ عَلى الكَثيرِ فَما اِنجَلَت
عَنهُمfrom them وَفيand on أَرماحِthe spears of حِزبِكَyour party لَهذَمُa keen spearhead
عَنهُم وَفي أَرماحِ حِزبِكَ لَهذَمُ
The few were given victory over the many; the battle did not lift
from them with a single keen blade left on your party's spears.
غارَتsank هُنالِكَthere فيinto النَواظِرِthe eyes وَالطُلىand the throats
غارَت هُنالِكَ في النَواظِرِ وَالطُلى
عِندَduring الطِعانِspear-thrusting كَماas تَغورُsink الأَنجُمُthe stars
عِندَ الطِعانِ كَما تَغورُ الأَنجُمُ
They had sunk there into eyes and throats
during the thrusting, as stars sink out of sight.
فَإِذاso when بَعَثتَyou sent إِلىto العَدُوِّthe enemy طَليعَةًa scouting detachment
فَإِذا بَعَثتَ إِلى العَدُوِّ طَليعَةً
أَغنَتsufficed غَناءَfor the service of الجَيشِthe army وَهوَwhile it is عَرَمرَمُvast
أَغنَت غَناءَ الجَيشِ وَهوَ عَرَمرَمُ
When you send a scouting detachment against the enemy,
it does the work of an army, vast though that army be.
بِظُبىًwith sword-edges إِذاwhen خَرِسَfell silent الكُماةُthe champions بِمَوقِفٍat a battlefield
بِظُبىً إِذا خَرِسَ الكُماةُ بِمَوقِفٍ
فَلَهاthen they have كَلامٌspeech فيin الجَماجِمِthe skulls يُفهَمُunderstood
فَلَها كَلامٌ في الجَماجِمِ يُفهَمُ
With sword-edges which, when champions fall silent on a battlefield,
have a speech in skulls that is understood.
وَبِهاand with them نَحَتheaded toward جِسرَBridge الحَديدِIron عَصائِبٌbands
وَبِها نَحَت جِسرَ الحَديدِ عَصائِبٌ
كانَتhad been عَلىat بابِGate الحَديدِIron تُخَيِّمُencamping
كانَت عَلى بابِ الحَديدِ تُخَيِّمُ
With them bands made for Jisr al-Hadid,
which had been encamped at Bab al-Hadid.
وَالرومُand the Romans بَينَbetween مُؤَرَّقٍone kept awake سُلِبَrobbed of الكَرىslumber
وَالرومُ بَينَ مُؤَرَّقٍ سُلِبَ الكَرى
أَوor نائِمٍone sleeping بِهُجومِof the assault of جَيشِكَyour army يَحلُمُdreams
أَو نائِمٍ بِهُجومِ جَيشِكَ يَحلُمُ
The Romans are either sleepless, robbed of slumber,
or asleep, dreaming of your army's assault.
يَتَجَلَّدونَthey steel themselves ضَرورَةًof necessity مَعَwith عامِهِمtheir year
يَتَجَلَّدونَ ضَرورَةً مَعَ عامِهِم
لَمّاwhen دَنَوتَyou drew near بِأَيِّwith what داهِيَةٍcalamity رُمواthey were struck
لَمّا دَنَوتَ بِأَيِّ داهِيَةٍ رُموا
They steel themselves of necessity throughout their year;
when you drew near, what calamity struck them!
مُتَمَسِّكينَclinging بِهُدنَةٍto a truce ماnot تَنقَضيends
مُتَمَسِّكينَ بِهُدنَةٍ ما تَنقَضي
إِلّاexcept وَأَنتَwhile you are عَلىupon الخَليجِthe gulf مُخَيِّمُencamped
إِلّا وَأَنتَ عَلى الخَليجِ مُخَيِّمُ
Clinging to a truce that does not end
without your being encamped upon the gulf.
وَمَتىand when رَكَزتَyou planted بِدارِat the abode of مَسلَمَةَMaslama القَناthe spears
وَمَتى رَكَزتَ بِدارِ مَسلَمَةَ القَنا
زُرقَblue الأَسِنَّةِspearheads سَلَّمواthey surrendered أَوor أَسلَمواembraced Islam
زُرقَ الأَسِنَّةِ سَلَّموا أَو أَسلَموا
When you plant the spears at Dar Maslama,
their spearheads blue, they surrender or embrace Islam.
فَليَستَكِنso let submit مَلِكٌa king تَفُلُّyou rout جَميعَهُhis whole force
فَليَستَكِن مَلِكٌ تَفُلُّ جَميعَهُ
بِعِصابَةٍwith a band مِمّاfrom what فَلَلتَyou have routed وَتَهزِمُand you defeat
بِعِصابَةٍ مِمّا فَلَلتَ وَتَهزِمُ
Let a king submit, whose whole force you rout
with a band from those you have shattered and defeat.
هَيهاتَfar from possible تَجحَدُكَdeny you المُلوكُthe kings سَفاهَةًfoolishly
هَيهاتَ تَجحَدُكَ المُلوكُ سَفاهَةً
ماwhat قَدalready تَعالَمَهُhave all known it السَوادُthe multitude الأَعظَمُthe greatest
ما قَد تَعالَمَهُ السَوادُ الأَعظَمُ
Far be it for kings, in folly, to deny you
what the vast multitude has come to know.
رِدءُthe support of الخِلافَةِthe caliphate مِنfrom مَضائِكَyour prowess عاصِمٌa protector
رِدءُ الخِلافَةِ مِن مَضائِكَ عاصِمٌ
وَرِداؤُهاand its robe بِجَميلِwith the beauty of صُنعِكَyour deeds مُعلَمُembroidered
وَرِداؤُها بِجَميلِ صُنعِكَ مُعلَمُ
The caliphate's bulwark protects it through your prowess,
and its robe is embroidered with your gracious deeds.
مَجدٌa glory تَخَرَّمَتِwere carried off العَمالِقُthe Amalekites دونَهُshort of it
مَجدٌ تَخَرَّمَتِ العَمالِقُ دونَهُ
وَتَمَزَّقَتand were torn apart عادٌ'Ad وَبادَتand perished جُرهُمُJurhum
وَتَمَزَّقَت عادٌ وَبادَت جُرهُمُ
A glory short of which the Amalekites were carried off,
'Ad was torn apart, and Jurhum perished.
فيin كُلِّevery يَومٍday بَلدَةٌa town تُحتازُis taken مِنfrom
في كُلِّ يَومٍ بَلدَةٌ تُحتازُ مِن
أَرضِthe land of العَدُوِّthe enemy وَقَلعَةٌand a fortress تُتَسَلَّمُis received
أَرضِ العَدُوِّ وَقَلعَةٌ تُتَسَلَّمُ
Every day a town is taken from
the enemy's land, and a fortress is received.
وَكَذاand thus إِلىuntil أَنthat تَملِكَyou possess الدُنياthe world بِماwith what
وَكَذا إِلى أَن تَملِكَ الدُنيا بِما
جَمَعَتit contains وَيُسعِدَكَand may favor you البَقاءُlasting life الأَدوَمُmost enduring
جَمَعَت وَيُسعِدَكَ البَقاءُ الأَدوَمُ
And so until you possess the world with all
it contains, and the most enduring life favors you.
فَاِندُبso appoint لِمَملَكَةِfor the kingdom of العِراقِIraq ضَراغِماًlions
فَاِندُب لِمَملَكَةِ العِراقِ ضَراغِماً
عَلَّمتَهُمyou taught them فَرسَtearing apart العِدىthe foes فَتَعَلَّمواso they learned
عَلَّمتَهُم فَرسَ العِدى فَتَعَلَّموا
Appoint lions for the kingdom of Iraq,
whom you taught to tear foes apart, and they learned.
مِنfrom كُلِّevery مَنone who لِسُراهُfor his night travel ظَهرُthe back of مَطِيَّةٍa riding-beast
مِن كُلِّ مَن لِسُراهُ ظَهرُ مَطِيَّةٍ
وَلِطَعنِهِand for his stabbing ثُغَرَthe throats of العُداةِthe enemies مُطَهَّمُa well-formed steed
وَلِطَعنِهِ ثُغَرَ العُداةِ مُطَهَّمُ
From every man who has a riding-beast's back for his night journeys,
and a well-formed steed for stabbing the enemies' throats,
جَنّابُleading alongside ماwhat وَلَدَsired الوَجيهُal-Wajih وَلاحِقٌand Lahiq
جَنّابُ ما وَلَدَ الوَجيهُ وَلاحِقٌ
رَكّابُriding ماwhat وَلَدَsired الجَديلُal-Jadil وَشَدقَمُand Shadqam
رَكّابُ ما وَلَدَ الجَديلُ وَشَدقَمُ
leading alongside him the offspring of al-Wajih and Lahiq,
riding the offspring of al-Jadil and Shadqam.
كَيماso that تُرىit may be seen عَضُدِيَّةً'Adudi تُركِيَّةًTurkish
كَيما تُرى عَضُدِيَّةً تُركِيَّةً
قَدindeed طالَماfor so long اِستَولَتheld sway عَلَيهاover it الدَيلَمُthe Daylamites
قَد طالَما اِستَولَت عَلَيها الدَيلَمُ
So that it may be seen as 'Adudi and Turkish,
after the Daylamites have so long held sway over it.
قَدindeed آنَthe time has come أَنthat تَروىbe quenched بِقُربِكَby your nearness أَنفُسٌsouls
قَد آنَ أَن تَروى بِقُربِكَ أَنفُسٌ
ظَمِئَتhave thirsted وَأَنand that تَحياlive بِعَدلِكَby your justice أَعظُمُbones
ظَمِئَت وَأَن تَحيا بِعَدلِكَ أَعظُمُ
The time has come for souls to be quenched by your nearness,
souls that have thirsted, and for bones to live through your justice.
لَنnot يَدفَعَwill repel الإِصباحَthe morning عَنfrom إِشراقِهِits radiance
لَن يَدفَعَ الإِصباحَ عَن إِشراقِهِ
مِنfrom بَعدِafter مَطلَعِهِits rising الهَزيعُthe night-watch المُظلِمُdark
مِن بَعدِ مَطلَعِهِ الهَزيعُ المُظلِمُ
The morning cannot be held back from shining,
after its rising, by the dark watch of night.
رُمseek أَيَّwhatever مَملَكَةٍkingdom أَرَدتَyou wish فَإِنَّماfor only
رُم أَيَّ مَملَكَةٍ أَرَدتَ فَإِنَّما
حَلَبٌAleppo إِلىto كُلِّall المَمالِكِkingdoms سُلَّمُa ladder
حَلَبٌ إِلى كُلِّ المَمالِكِ سُلَّمُ
Seek whatever kingdom you wish, for
Aleppo is a ladder to all kingdoms.
وَبِصَدرِكَand in your breast القَلبُthe heart الَّذيwhich لَمّاnot yet يُرَعbeen frightened
وَبِصَدرِكَ القَلبُ الَّذي لَمّا يُرَع
وَبِكَفِّكَand in your palm العَضبُthe sharp sword الَّذيwhich لاnot يَكهَمُgrows blunt
وَبِكَفِّكَ العَضبُ الَّذي لا يَكهَمُ
In your breast is the heart that has never yet known fear,
and in your palm the sharp sword that never grows blunt.
وَاِرجِعand return رُجوعَthe return of اللَيثِthe lion وَهوَwhile he is مُظَفَّرٌvictorious
وَاِرجِع رُجوعَ اللَيثِ وَهوَ مُظَفَّرٌ
وَالسَيفُand the sword يَقطُرُdrips مِنfrom غِرارَيهِits two edges الدَمُblood
وَالسَيفُ يَقطُرُ مِن غِرارَيهِ الدَمُ
Return as the lion returns, victorious,
with blood dripping from the sword's two edges.
مُتَجَلبِبَcloaked in النَصرِvictory الَّذيwhich عُوِّدتَهُyou were accustomed to
مُتَجَلبِبَ النَصرِ الَّذي عُوِّدتَهُ
إِذsince كانَit was خَلفَكَbehind you حَيثُماwherever تَتَيَمَّمُyou head
إِذ كانَ خَلفَكَ حَيثُما تَتَيَمَّمُ
Cloaked in the victory to which you are accustomed,
for it has followed you wherever you head.
فَدِمَشقُfor Damascus مِثلُlike الغابِthe thicket هِزبَرُهُits lion
فَدِمَشقُ مِثلُ الغابِ هِزبَرُهُ
وَالجَفنُand the sheath فارَقَهُhas left it الحُسامُthe keen sword المِخذَمُthe severing
وَالجَفنُ فارَقَهُ الحُسامُ المِخذَمُ
For Damascus is like the thicket bereft of its lion,
and the sheath forsaken by the keen, severing sword.
وَبِأَهلِهاand in its people عَطَشٌa thirst إِلَيكَfor you وَكُلُّهُمand all of them
وَبِأَهلِها عَطَشٌ إِلَيكَ وَكُلُّهُم
كَالنَبتِlike vegetation نَكَّبَهُhas shunned it السَحابُthe cloud المُرزِمُthundering
كَالنَبتِ نَكَّبَهُ السَحابُ المُرزِمُ
Its people thirst for you, and all of them
are like vegetation shunned by the thundering cloud.
وَسَيَقدَمُand will arrive العِزُّglory الأَشَمُّlofty عَلَيهِمُupon them
وَسَيَقدَمُ العِزُّ الأَشَمُّ عَلَيهِمُ
وَالعارِضُand the raincloud السَحّاحُpouring down ساعَةَthe moment تَقدَمُyou arrive
وَالعارِضُ السَحّاحُ ساعَةَ تَقدَمُ
Lofty glory will come upon them,
and the downpouring cloud, the moment you arrive.
شَعبانُSha'ban شَعَّبَscattered يَومَهُمtheir day فَليَرقَبواso let them await
شَعبانُ شَعَّبَ يَومَهُم فَليَرقَبوا
إِنَّindeed المُحَرَّمَMuharram لِلسُهادِof sleeplessness مُحَرِّمُa forbidder
إِنَّ المُحَرَّمَ لِلسُهادِ مُحَرِّمُ
Sha'ban scattered their day; let them await:
Muharram shall forbid sleeplessness.
عامٌa year حُلولُكَyour arrival فيهِمُamong them بِحُلولِهِwith its arrival
عامٌ حُلولُكَ فيهِمُ بِحُلولِهِ
عامٌa year يُبَجَّلُis honored عِندَهُمamong them وَيُعَظَّمُand is exalted
عامٌ يُبَجَّلُ عِندَهُم وَيُعَظَّمُ
A year whose coming brings your arrival among them
is a year they honor and exalt.
ياO غامِرَyou who flood المُتَظَلِّمينَthose seeking redress بِعَدلِهِwith his justice
يا غامِرَ المُتَظَلِّمينَ بِعَدلِهِ
حَتّامَuntil when مالُكَyour wealth فيin اللُهىlavish gifts يَتَظَلَّمُcomplains of injustice
حَتّامَ مالُكَ في اللُهى يَتَظَلَّمُ
O you who flood those seeking redress with your justice,
how long will your wealth plead injustice amid your largesse?
أَنتَyou الَّذيthe one who لَوif لَمnot تُطِعobey حُكمَthe decree of النَدىgenerosity
أَنتَ الَّذي لَو لَم تُطِع حُكمَ النَدى
ماnot كانَwas مَخلوقٌa creature عَلَيهِover him يَحكُمُrules
ما كانَ مَخلوقٌ عَلَيهِ يَحكُمُ
You are the one who, had you not obeyed generosity's decree,
no created being could have ruled over you.
يَغنىbecomes rich الَّذيthe one whom تَحبوهُyou give to أَوَّلَthe first مَرَّةٍtime
يَغنى الَّذي تَحبوهُ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ
وَسِواكَand anyone but you يَنقُصُreduces نَيلَهُhis gift فَيُتَمَّمُso it is supplemented
وَسِواكَ يَنقُصُ نَيلَهُ فَيُتَمَّمُ
The one you give to becomes rich the very first time;
others' gifts fall short and must be supplemented.
فَالجودُso generosity إِلّاexcept مِنfrom يَدَيكَyour two hands مُصَرَّدٌmeager
فَالجودُ إِلّا مِن يَدَيكَ مُصَرَّدٌ
وَالظَنُّand expectation إِلّاexcept فيin نَداكَyour bounty مُرَجَّمُconjectural
وَالظَنُّ إِلّا في نَداكَ مُرَجَّمُ
Generosity, unless from your hands, is meager,
and hope, except in your bounty, is mere conjecture.
قُلsay لِلعُفاةِto the supplicants مَضىhas gone عَنِfrom البَحرِthe sea القَذىdebris
قُل لِلعُفاةِ مَضى عَنِ البَحرِ القَذى
فَرِدواso come to مَشارِعَهُits watering places وَلاand do not تَتَلَوَّمواdelay
فَرِدوا مَشارِعَهُ وَلا تَتَلَوَّموا
Tell the supplicants: the debris has left the sea;
so come to its watering places, and do not delay.
إِنَّindeed المَكارِمَnoble virtues أَفرَقَتrecovered مِنfrom دائِهاtheir illness
إِنَّ المَكارِمَ أَفرَقَت مِن دائِها
مُذsince أَفرَقَrecovered المَلِكُthe king الأَجَلُّmost august الأَعظَمُgreatest
مُذ أَفرَقَ المَلِكُ الأَجَلُّ الأَعظَمُ
Noble virtues have recovered from their sickness,
since the most august, greatest king recovered.
فَلتَبرُدِso let cool الآنَnow القُلوبُthe hearts فَإِنَّهاfor they
فَلتَبرُدِ الآنَ القُلوبُ فَإِنَّها
كانَتhad been بِنيرانِwith fires of الأَسىgrief تَتَضَرَّمُblazing
كانَت بِنيرانِ الأَسى تَتَضَرَّمُ
Let hearts now cool, for they
had been blazing with the fires of grief.
لاmay not عادَكَrevisit you الأَلَمُthe pain المُلِمُّafflicting فَلَمfor not يَزَلceased
لا عادَكَ الأَلَمُ المُلِمُّ فَلَم يَزَل
قَلبُthe heart of العَلاءِglory لِأَجلِهِbecause of it يَتَأَلَّمُsuffers
قَلبُ العَلاءِ لِأَجلِهِ يَتَأَلَّمُ
May afflicting pain never revisit you, for ceaselessly
the heart of glory has suffered because of it.
وَالعيدُand the feast يَقصُرُfalls short عَنof سَلامَتِكَyour well-being الَّتيwhich
وَالعيدُ يَقصُرُ عَن سَلامَتِكَ الَّتي
هِيَit فيin النُفوسِsouls أَجَلُّnobler مِنهُthan it وَأَعظَمُand greater
هِيَ في النُفوسِ أَجَلُّ مِنهُ وَأَعظَمُ
The feast falls short of your well-being, which
is nobler and greater than it in people's souls.
فَاِسعَدso rejoice بِهاin it وَبِهِand in it وَدُمتَand may you remain مُسَلَّماunharmed
فَاِسعَد بِها وَبِهِ وَدُمتَ مُسَلَّما
ماas long as طافَcircles بِالبَيتِaround the House المُحَرَّمِthe Sacred مُحرِمُa consecrated pilgrim
ما طافَ بِالبَيتِ المُحَرَّمِ مُحرِمُ
Rejoice in both, and may you ever remain unharmed,
as long as a consecrated pilgrim circles the Sacred House.
فَلِكَثرَةِfor the abundance of الدَعَواتِprayers فيin أَرجائِهِits precincts
فَلِكَثرَةِ الدَعَواتِ في أَرجائِهِ
قَدindeed كادَalmost يَفهَمُهاunderstand them الحَطيمُal-Hatim وَزَمزَمُand Zamzam
قَد كادَ يَفهَمُها الحَطيمُ وَزَمزَمُ
So abundant are the prayers within its precincts
that al-Hatim and Zamzam have almost understood them.
كُلُّall الوَرىcreation داعٍpraying وَجُلُّand most of دُعائِهِمtheir prayers
كُلُّ الوَرى داعٍ وَجُلُّ دُعائِهِم
أَلّاthat not يُزيلَremove اللَهُGod ظِلَّكَyour shade عَنهُمُfrom them
أَلّا يُزيلَ اللَهُ ظِلَّكَ عَنهُمُ
All creation prays, and most of their prayers are
that God should not remove your shade from them.
أَغنىmade independent نَوالُكَyour gifts بَعضَهُمsome of them عَنfrom بَعضِهِمothers among them
أَغنى نَوالُكَ بَعضَهُم عَن بَعضِهِم
كَيso that لاnot يُرىis seen فيon الأَرضِearth غَيرَكَother than you مُنعِمُa benefactor
كَي لا يُرى في الأَرضِ غَيرَكَ مُنعِمُ
Your gifts freed some of them from needing others,
so that no benefactor but you should be seen on earth.
فَلِذاكَtherefore أَلسُنُهُمtheir tongues لِسانٌa tongue واحِدٌone
فَلِذاكَ أَلسُنُهُم لِسانٌ واحِدٌ
يُثنيpraises بِماfor what خَوَّلتَyou bestowed وَالدُنياand the world فَمُa mouth
يُثني بِما خَوَّلتَ وَالدُنيا فَمُ
Thus their tongues are a single tongue,
praising what you bestowed, while the world is a mouth.
زادَincreased الثَناءُpraise بِمَأثُراتِكَthrough your glorious deeds بَهجَةًin beauty
زادَ الثَناءُ بِمَأثُراتِكَ بَهجَةً
وَلَرَبَّماand often زانَadorned السِوارَthe bracelet المِعصَمُthe wrist
وَلَرَبَّما زانَ السِوارَ المِعصَمُ
Praise gained beauty through your glorious deeds;
often it is the wrist that adorns the bracelet.
وَأَطاعَنيand obeyed me فيكَconcerning you الكَلامُspeech وَهَلand did دَرَتknow
وَأَطاعَني فيكَ الكَلامُ وَهَل دَرَت
هَذيthese العُقودُnecklaces لِأَيِّfor what شَيءٍthing تُنظَمُare strung
هَذي العُقودُ لِأَيِّ شَيءٍ تُنظَمُ
Speech obeyed me concerning you; did
these necklaces know for what they were being strung?
وَلَقَدand indeed تَعَمَّدتُI deliberately chose الإِطالَةَlengthiness عالِماًknowing
وَلَقَد تَعَمَّدتُ الإِطالَةَ عالِماً
أَنَّthat اِستِماعَhearing ثَناكَyour praise مالاsomething not يُسأَمُfound wearisome
أَنَّ اِستِماعَ ثَناكَ مالا يُسأَمُ
I deliberately chose lengthiness, knowing
that listening to your praise is never wearisome.
Sol 6.1