هَلْ في قِطارِ النَّصْرِ نسرٌ واقعٌ

هَلْ في قِطارِ النَّصْرِ نسرٌ واقعٌ

أَو في مَسَالِحَهَ سِماكٌ أَعْزَلُ

أَو في مَسَالِحَهَ سِماكٌ أَعْزَلُ

Is there an Alighting Eagle in victory's caravan,

Is there a falling eagle in the train of victory,

or an Unarmed Simak among its outposts?

Or a weaponless warrior among its arms?

أَودعت من قِطعِ السّحائبِ شِبْهَهَا

أَودعت من قِطعِ السّحائبِ شِبْهَهَا

فالبَرْقُ يُصْلِتُ والرَّوَاعِدُ تَصْهلُ

فالبَرْقُ يُصْلِتُ والرَّوَاعِدُ تَصْهلُ

They were endowed with the likeness of cloud-fragments,

The clouds borrowed its likeness,

so lightning draws its sword, and thunderclouds neigh.

So lightning flashes and thunder rumbles.

يَا آلَ عِمْران بدائِعُ فضلِكُمْ

يَا آلَ عِمْران بدائِعُ فضلِكُمْ

بالفعلِ تستوفي المقال وتُفْضِلُ

بالفعلِ تستوفي المقال وتُفْضِلُ

O house of Imran, the wonders of your excellence

O House of Imran, the marvels of your nobility

fulfill in deeds all that words can say, and surpass it.

In deeds fully realize words and excel.

فلآل عمران على كلِّ الورى

فلآل عمران على كلِّ الورى

فضلٌ به نطقَ الكتابُ المُنْزَلُ

فضلٌ به نطقَ الكتابُ المُنْزَلُ

For the house of Imran, above all humankind,

For the House of Imran has a preference over all people

has a distinction proclaimed by the revealed Book.

As the revealed Book has declared.

ما مَرَّ في التنزيلِ فضلٌ أَوَّلٌ

ما مَرَّ في التنزيلِ فضلٌ أَوَّلٌ

إِلا ومعناهُ لَكُمْ يُتَأَوَّلُ

إِلا ومعناهُ لَكُمْ يُتَأَوَّلُ

No earlier merit occurs in revelation

No excellence was first mentioned in revelation

without its meaning being interpreted as yours.

Except that its meaning pertains to you.

أَتُرَاهُمُ عَلِموا الذي لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا

أَتُرَاهُمُ عَلِموا الذي لَمْ يَعْلَمُوا

في الدِّينِ أَو عَمِلُوا الذي لم يَعْمَلُوا

في الدِّينِ أَو عَمِلُوا الذي لم يَعْمَلُوا

Do you suppose they knew what others did not know

Did they know what they did not know

in religion, or did what others did not do?

In religion or do what they did not do?

أَما الملوكَ فإِنهم خولٌ لكم

أَما الملوكَ فإِنهم خولٌ لكم

حقًا وإِنْ عظُمَ الذي قد خُوِّلُوا

حقًا وإِنْ عظُمَ الذي قد خُوِّلُوا

As for kings, they are your servants,

Kings are but deputies for you,

truly, however great what they have been granted.

Though exalted is he who was deputized.

أَبداً سُيُوفُكُمُ تُسلُّ فَتَحْتَوِي

أَبداً سُيُوفُكُمُ تُسلُّ فَتَحْتَوِي

أَملاكَهُمْ ويبيحُها مَنْ يَسْأَلُ

أَملاكَهُمْ ويبيحُها مَنْ يَسْأَلُ

Your swords are ever drawn, and seize

Forever your swords give victories

their dominions, making them available to whoever asks.

And conquer their realms however much asked.

لَكُمُ التقدَّمُ بالتأَخُّرِ بَعْدَهُمْ

لَكُمُ التقدَّمُ بالتأَخُّرِ بَعْدَهُمْ

كم آخِرٍ تلقاهُ وهو الأَوَّلُ

كم آخِرٍ تلقاهُ وهو الأَوَّلُ

You take precedence by coming later than they did;

Yours is precedence though coming last after them.

how many a last-comer you meet who is first!

How many a last one did you meet who was first!

أَوليسَ سادَ الأَنبياءُ جميعَهُمْ

أَوليسَ سادَ الأَنبياءُ جميعَهُمْ

وأَتى أَخيرَهُمْ النبيُّ المُرْسَلُ

وأَتى أَخيرَهُمْ النبيُّ المُرْسَلُ

Did he not surpass all the prophets,

Did not the last of prophets lead them all

and come last among them—the Prophet sent as messenger?

And the messenger prophet come at the end?

كلُّ الزمانِ بكم ضَحوكٌ مُسْفِرٌ

كلُّ الزمانِ بكم ضَحوكٌ مُسْفِرٌ

تَنْدَى معاطِفُهُ أَغَرُّ مُحَجَّلُ

تَنْدَى معاطِفُهُ أَغَرُّ مُحَجَّلُ

All time, through you, smiles and shines,

All time smiles through you, radiant,

dewy in its folds, white-blazed and white-footed.

Its coats grow lighter, more splendidly adorned.

سيَّرْتَمُوهُ لنا نهاراً مُشْرِقًا

سيَّرْتَمُوهُ لنا نهاراً مُشْرِقًا

أَو هَلْ مَع البَدْرَيْنِ لَيْلٌ أَلْيَلُ

أَو هَلْ مَع البَدْرَيْنِ لَيْلٌ أَلْيَلُ

You set it coursing for us as a radiant day;

You made it for us a bright day

or can there be a deeply dark night beside two full moons?

Unless the two moons are a dark night.

بدرانِ قد وَقَفَ الكمالُ عليهما

بدرانِ قد وَقَفَ الكمالُ عليهما

والبدرُ ينقصُ بالمِحاقِ ويَكْمُلُ

والبدرُ ينقصُ بالمِحاقِ ويَكْمُلُ

Two full moons, upon whom perfection has come to rest,

Two full moons whose perfection has halted them

while the moon wanes in its dark phase and grows full.

While the moon wanes with loss and grows full.

ومُهَنَّدَانِ جَلاهُما شَرَفاهُما

ومُهَنَّدَانِ جَلاهُما شَرَفاهُما

بِيضٌ مُهَنَّدَةٌ وسُمْرٌ ذُبَّلُ

بِيضٌ مُهَنَّدَةٌ وسُمْرٌ ذُبَّلُ

And two Indian-steel blades, burnished by their honors—

And two Muhannads whose nobility exalted them,

bright Indian-steel swords and tawny, slender spears.

White and tawny, splendid and magnificent.

فمحمدٌ منه المحامِدُ تَعْتَلِي

فمحمدٌ منه المحامِدُ تَعْتَلِي

وأَبو السعودِ به السعادَةُ تُشْمَلُ

وأَبو السعودِ به السعادَةُ تُشْمَلُ

From Muhammad, then, praiseworthy deeds rise high,

Muhammad derives glories from it

and through Abu al-Su'ud, good fortune is spread to all.

And Abul Saoud, through it, gains good fortune.

وغَضَنْفَرَانِ وإِنَّما عاباهما

وغَضَنْفَرَانِ وإِنَّما عاباهما

بيض مهندة وسمر ذبلُ

بيض مهندة وسمر ذبلُ

And two lions, whose only blemish is

Branches whose lawful and pleasing union

bright Indian-steel swords and tawny, slender spears.

Joined them in power and towering glory.

فرعانِ ضَمَّهُمَا الحلالُ المُرْتَضَى

فرعانِ ضَمَّهُمَا الحلالُ المُرْتَضَى

في العِزِّ والشرفُ الرفيعُ الأَطْوَلُ

في العِزِّ والشرفُ الرفيعُ الأَطْوَلُ

Two branches, joined by an approved lawful bond

Bilal and his son made firm their rule

in honor, and by lofty, towering nobility.

Thus shouldering the past and future.

وأَقرَّ مُلْكَهُما بِلالٌ وابْنُهُ

وأَقرَّ مُلْكَهُما بِلالٌ وابْنُهُ

فتكفَّلا الماضِي وما يُسْتَقْبَلُ

فتكفَّلا الماضِي وما يُسْتَقْبَلُ

Bilal and his son secured their kingship,

The martyr's successor glad eyes

taking charge of the past and what is to come.

Stream down joyous faces.

خَلَف السَّعيدُ به الشَّهيدَ فأَعْيُنٌ

خَلَف السَّعيدُ به الشَّهيدَ فأَعْيُنٌ

مُنْهَلَّةٌ في أَوجُهٍ تَتَهَلَّلُ

مُنْهَلَّةٌ في أَوجُهٍ تَتَهَلَّلُ

The Fortunate succeeded the Martyr in it; eyes

A departed king yet his glory remains,

stream with tears in faces beaming with joy.

While the sayer of his glory departs.

ملكانِ ذلك راحِلٌ وثناؤهُ

ملكانِ ذلك راحِلٌ وثناؤهُ

باقٍ وذا باقٍ ثَنَاهُ يَرْحَلُ

باقٍ وذا باقٍ ثَنَاهُ يَرْحَلُ

Two kings: that one has departed, but his praise

Time reaped its harvest, then came Lias's

remains; this one remains, while his praise travels.

His endeavors plucked from its yield.

كان الزمانُ جَنَى فجاءَ لياسرٍ

كان الزمانُ جَنَى فجاءَ لياسرٍ

ونصولُهُ ممَّا جَنَى تَتَنَصَّلُ

ونصولُهُ ممَّا جَنَى تَتَنَصَّلُ

Time had done wrong, then came to Yasir,

The sun of daybreak shone on his brow—

while its blades disavowed the wrong it had done.

A crown studded with rare stars.

وَأَغرَّ فوقَ جبينِهِ شمْسُ الضُّحَى

وَأَغرَّ فوقَ جبينِهِ شمْسُ الضُّحَى

تاجٌ بأَفرادِ النجومِ مُكَلَّلُ

تاجٌ بأَفرادِ النجومِ مُكَلَّلُ

And a radiant man, above whose brow the morning sun

Noblest in nature, though the gracious

is a crown wreathed with peerless stars.

May sometimes affect graciousness.

متكفلٌ أَعلى المكارِمِ شِيمَةً

متكفلٌ أَعلى المكارِمِ شِيمَةً

ولَرُبَّما يتكلَّفُ المُتَكَفِّلُ

ولَرُبَّما يتكلَّفُ المُتَكَفِّلُ

By nature, he pledges the highest noble deeds—

Long may he kiss the ground whose carpet

though one who pledges them often must strain—

Is not worn by the passage of time.

لمُقَبِّلٍ طولَ الزمانِ بساطَهُ

لمُقَبِّلٍ طولَ الزمانِ بساطَهُ

والورد لَيْسَ مَدَى الزَّمانِ يُقَبَّلُ

والورد لَيْسَ مَدَى الزَّمانِ يُقَبَّلُ

to anyone who kisses his carpet throughout time;

He breathes content, a firmly rooted mountain,

yet a rose is not kissed throughout all time.

And flows generosity, a flaming fire.

يَهْفُو ارتياحاً وهو طودٌ ثابتٌ

يَهْفُو ارتياحاً وهو طودٌ ثابتٌ

ويسيلُ جوداً وهو نارٌ تُشْعَلُ

ويسيلُ جوداً وهو نارٌ تُشْعَلُ

He sways with delight, though he is a steadfast mountain,

His brilliance grows in the gloom of woes

and flows with bounty, though he is a blazing fire.

And perfume emerges from the embers.

ويزيدُ في ظُلَمِ الخطوبِ ضِياؤُهُ

ويزيدُ في ظُلَمِ الخطوبِ ضِياؤُهُ

في الجَمْرِ أَجْدَرُ أَن يفُوحَ المَنْدَلُ

في الجَمْرِ أَجْدَرُ أَن يفُوحَ المَنْدَلُ

His radiance grows amid the darkness of calamities;

His softness reveals the ruggedness of aloofness

on glowing coals, aloeswood is likeliest to exhale its scent.

And water runs pure and untroubled.

ويشِفُّ عن صَلَفِ الخُشُونَةِ لِينُهُ

ويشِفُّ عن صَلَفِ الخُشُونَةِ لِينُهُ

والماءُ يُشْرِقُ وَهْوَ عَذْبٌ سَلْسَلُ

والماءُ يُشْرِقُ وَهْوَ عَذْبٌ سَلْسَلُ

His gentleness reveals the pride of sternness,

It startles when the delight of his face shines

and water shines, though sweet and smoothly flowing.

As a whetstone startles when it sharpens.

وتَرُوعُ حينَ يروقُ بَهْجَةُ وَجْهِهِ

وتَرُوعُ حينَ يروقُ بَهْجَةُ وَجْهِهِ

ولقَدْ يروعُ كما يروقُ المُنْصلُ

ولقَدْ يروعُ كما يروقُ المُنْصلُ

The splendor of his face awes even as it delights,

His happiness adorns the glances of eyes

and a sword-blade indeed awes just as it delights.

As though it lined them with kohl.

ويزينُ أَلحاظَ العيونِ رُواؤُهُ

ويزينُ أَلحاظَ العيونِ رُواؤُهُ

فكأَنما هي من سناهُ تُكْحَلُ

فكأَنما هي من سناهُ تُكْحَلُ

His beauty adorns the eyes' glances,

He hits his mark though his archer’s arrows go astray,

as though they were lined with kohl from his radiance.

And every arrow deals death to a foe.

ويصيبُ والرامي تطيشُ سِهامُه

ويصيبُ والرامي تطيشُ سِهامُه

فلكلِّ سهمٍ من عدُوٍّ مَقْتَلُ

فلكلِّ سهمٍ من عدُوٍّ مَقْتَلُ

He hits the mark while an archer's arrows go astray;

Towns and lands nearly transfer to be near him.

for each arrow there is a fatal spot in a foe.

Why wouldn’t he travel ceaselessly?

ويكادُ ينتقلُ البلادُ وأَهْلُهَا

ويكادُ ينتقلُ البلادُ وأَهْلُهَا

شوقاً إِليه فكيفَ لا يَتَنَقَّلُ

شوقاً إِليه فكيفَ لا يَتَنَقَّلُ

The lands and their people are almost on the move

With his sharpened blade he opens them all

in longing for him—how, then, could he not journey?

And with its opening he shuts them.

بحُسامِهِ المشحوذِ يُفْتَحُ كُلُّها

بحُسامِهِ المشحوذِ يُفْتَحُ كُلُّها

وبَحدِّهِ المفتوحِ منها يُقْفَلُ

وبَحدِّهِ المفتوحِ منها يُقْفَلُ

With his sharpened sword, all of them are opened;

The House of Zuray planted through him an orchard

and with its edge, what is open among them is shut.

Whose vegetation and springs grew verdant.

زَرَعَتْ به آلُ الزُّرَيْعِ حَدِيقةً

زَرَعَتْ به آلُ الزُّرَيْعِ حَدِيقةً

رقَّ النباتُ بها ورقَّ المَنْهَلُ

رقَّ النباتُ بها ورقَّ المَنْهَلُ

Through him, the house of al-Zuray' planted a garden,

To establish his rule they made him firm

where the plants grew tender and the spring grew clear.

As if he were unshakable Mount Thahlan.

واسْتَثْبَتَتْهُ لمُلْكِها فكأَنَّه

واسْتَثْبَتَتْهُ لمُلْكِها فكأَنَّه

ثَهْلانُ ذو الهَضباتِ لا يَتَحَلْحَلُ

ثَهْلانُ ذو الهَضباتِ لا يَتَحَلْحَلُ

They established him firmly for their kingdom, as though he were

Faithful to them, behind him is a lion cub,

Thahlan with its plateaus, never budging.

Honeycomb to the wolves among stallions.

ووفَا لها منه هِزَبْرٌ خَلْفَه

ووفَا لها منه هِزَبْرٌ خَلْفَه

طُلْسُ الذِّئابِ مع الذَّوابِلِ تَعْسِلُ

طُلْسُ الذِّئابِ مع الذَّوابِلِ تَعْسِلُ

And in him a lion kept faith with them; behind him

Like a lofty-saddled mule he bears his saddle—

dusky wolves lope alongside slender spears.

Towering, as the mule grew up strong.

كالأَجْدَلِ الغِطْرِيفِ يَحْمِلُ سَرْجَهُ

كالأَجْدَلِ الغِطْرِيفِ يَحْمِلُ سَرْجَهُ

سامِي التَّليلِ كما اشْرَأَبَّ الأَجْدَلُ

سامِي التَّليلِ كما اشْرَأَبَّ الأَجْدَلُ

Like a noble falcon, his saddle is borne

He appears, now a finger pointing to him

by a steed holding its neck high, as a falcon stretches upward.

In reverence, now an onlooker reflecting.

يبدو فإِمَّا إِصْبَعٌ يُومِي بها

يبدو فإِمَّا إِصْبَعٌ يُومِي بها

لِجَلاَلِهِ أَو ناظِرٌ يَتَأَمَّلُ

لِجَلاَلِهِ أَو ناظِرٌ يَتَأَمَّلُ

He appears: either a finger gestures

Greetings on the Feast of the Sacrifice, no,

toward his majesty, or an onlooker gazes intently.

Greetings to him through whom every feast comes first.

أَهلاً بعيدِ النَّحْرِ بلْ أَهلاً بمَنْ

أَهلاً بعيدِ النَّحْرِ بلْ أَهلاً بمَنْ

منه بعيدِ النَّحْرِ عيدٌ أَوَّلُ

منه بعيدِ النَّحْرِ عيدٌ أَوَّلُ

Welcome to the Feast of Sacrifice—rather, welcome to him

Encampments lie close as pearls on a thread

from whom, on the Feast of Sacrifice, comes a foremost feast.

Joined in merriment, settled like flies.

بُزْلٌ كأَمثالِ الدِّنانِ تجانَسَتْ

بُزْلٌ كأَمثالِ الدِّنانِ تجانَسَتْ

مَعَهَا على طَرَبٍ ذباب نُزَّلُ

مَعَهَا على طَرَبٍ ذباب نُزَّلُ

Mature camels, like wine-jars, find their match

Scenes of battle line the field of fervor

in sword-points swooping down on them in delight.

Where a mauled lion lies alongside the wounded.

ومواقِفٌ ضُرِبَتْ على خَطِّ الوَغَى

ومواقِفٌ ضُرِبَتْ على خَطِّ الوَغَى

فجريحُ لَبَّاتٍ بها ومُجَدَّلُ

فجريحُ لَبَّاتٍ بها ومُجَدَّلُ

And positions are established along the battle-line:

Attempts whose lengthy strains leveled out

there, one wounded in the throat, another laid low.

Equally frustrating the abridger and elaborater.

وتطوُّلٌ طالَ القرائِح فاسْتوَى

وتطوُّلٌ طالَ القرائِح فاسْتوَى

في العَجْزِ عنه مُقَصِّرٌ ومُطَوِّلُ

في العَجْزِ عنه مُقَصِّرٌ ومُطَوِّلُ

And bounty outstripped poetic invention, making equal

Among the noble deeds is to abridge them,

in failure to describe it, the brief and the expansive.

As the spokesman fell short of what was done.

ومِنَ المكارِمِ أَنْ يكونَ مُقَصِّراً

ومِنَ المكارِمِ أَنْ يكونَ مُقَصِّراً

فيهِنَّ باعُ القول عمَّا يَفْعَلُ

فيهِنَّ باعُ القول عمَّا يَفْعَلُ

And among noble qualities is that it should fall short—

the reach of speech concerning them—of what he does.